NFL: Which team is about to get hot?

[OCGuy81]

Of the teams in playoff contention right now, which do you think is about to get hot and has the best chance to win it all?

Cardinals, despite having a good record, I think have benefited from an easy schedule and I don't see them beating Seattle again.

Packers, good offense with Aaron Rodgers, but weak D.  Should've never given up so many second half points to Atlanta on Monday.

I'm thinking the Eagles are poised to go deep in the playoffs and win it all.

[Thing 342]

I contend that the Falcons will win their division and host a playoff game by going 6-10.

[triplemultiplex]

Arizona is not going very deep in the playoffs with Drew Stanton.  In fact, I'm expecting Seattle to come back and win that division because they are getting hot at the right time.

The Eagles have a lot of potential to beat some folks come January.  I see them as threat to Green Bay.

I have no reason not to expect Denver vs. New England for the AFC championship.  Anything else would be a fun surprise.

[Alps]

Green Bay might be the team to beat overall.

[cjk374]

I know who ain't gonna heat up at all...the Saints, err uhhh, the Ain'ts.   

I'm also thinking Green Bay is the team to beat.

[spooky]

Green Bay might be the team to beat overall.

I'm also thinking Green Bay is the team to beat.

The Bills agree.

[golden eagle]

Seattle looks to be the hottest team to beat on the NFC side. Their defense is starting to look like the D of last year. I believe the Patriots are the best in the AFC, but keep an eye out on the Steelers. Anytime they're in the playoff hunt, I can never count them out. Can't stand them, but you gotta give them their due.

[nexus73]

NFC: Seattle's D is in Beast Mode.  The Dallas O is potent.  The negative for the Cowboys is that if they wind up tied with the Eagles, Philly wins the division, so there's a big edge to the Seahawks as they are going to take out Arizona and St. Louis in the last two games most likely.

AFC: Pats playing tough.  Denver is getting banged up. 

Most likely SB: NE-Seattle.

Darkhorse: Dallas

Rick 

[Pete from Boston]

Green Bay might be the team to beat overall.

I'm also thinking Green Bay is the team to beat.

The Bills agree.

I was near a lot of Bills fans during that game.  You had to feel a little happy for them–they don't often have a lot to get excited about.

[silverback1065]

Go Lions!

[golden eagle]

A key for Dallas this weekend is if DeMarco Murray will play. He had hand surgery yesterday (his non-carrying hand, from my understanding). My guess is that he'll play through it.

[triplemultiplex]

The playoffs are set.

And the Cowboys are red hot.  They played well in December for the first time in a long time.  It's not all on Romo this year with Murray running so well.

Hard to believe that either Carolina or Arizona will get to win a playoff game.  A team with a losing record or a team with an unremarkable backup quarterback.

Seattle is in great position to host the NFC championship since there's no way they would have to play Dallas or Green Bay before then.

The Pack is holding together, but we are not invincible.  Red Zone offense has become a problem down the stretch.  Nice to see that d-bag Suh is still a world class jackass.   At least Rodgers has a week off to rest that ankle.

One of those AFC North teams is going to upset Denver or New England down the road.  They are good at toppling 1 and 2 seeds in Divisional rounds, historically.  Only question is who it will fall victim this year?

[oscar]

Hard to believe that either Carolina or Arizona will get to win a playoff game.  A team with a losing record or a team with an unremarkable backup quarterback.

At least Carolina at 7-8-1 can (and I predict will) win one playoff game, rather than end up one-and-done after going 12-4 like its last two trips to the playoffs. 

But only one playoff win.  Carolina would likely go to Seattle in the second round, and Seattle has owned Carolina lately.

[Thing 342]

Disgruntled Falcons fan here:

Carolina and Dallas look like the two 'hot' NFC teams. The Panthers looked good in their game against the Falcons, and I think their defense is back up to the level that it was in last year's 12-4 season. This is not the same team that went 60+ days without winning, and they're not playing the same Arizona team who started off 9-1. I think they beat an Arizona squad which has had pretty much no offense in its past few games by a touchdown. Dallas also looks good, having blown out its past four opponents, scoring over 35 points in each contest. Detroit brings in one of the NFL's best defenses, and they rendered Eddie Lacy ineffective for most of last week's game against the Packers. However, the Lions' D's best player is currently suspended for the entire game, and I think DeMarco Murray is better RB than Lacy, so I think Dallas wins at home.

I think this will boil down to to a Seahawks - Cowboys NFCCG, as the Seahawks will easily beat the Panthers in Seattle, and the Cowboys will upset the Packers because of Rogers's injury.

[nexus73]

ESPN's breaking news said Suh won his appeal.  I don't think it will make any difference though.  Cowboys win and the NFC title will be Dallas at Seattle.  Seattle won't lose twice at home to Dallas.

AFC: Denver at NE is what it comes down to.  Take the Pats at home.  Belichick knows how to beat Peyton M.

Super Bowl: Repeat time.  Brady runs for his life and tosses picks.  Seahawks feast on the turnovers and unleash the Beast.

Rick

[ajlynch91]

Whatever happens, as long as dallas doesn't make it to the Super Bowl, I'll be alright with this season. And for once, the Bears might climb out of NFL mediocrity once all these firings are done. We've been putting a much needed rebuild on hold for the last few years by consistently being around 8-8 or better but not a playoff team. Now we can start from the bottom. I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

[Thing 342]

ESPN's breaking news said Suh won his appeal.  I don't think it will make any difference though.  Cowboys win and the NFC title will be Dallas at Seattle.  Seattle won't lose twice at home to Dallas.

AFC: Denver at NE is what it comes down to.  Take the Pats at home.  Belichick knows how to beat Peyton M.

Super Bowl: Repeat time.  Brady runs for his life and tosses picks.  Seahawks feast on the turnovers and unleash the Beast.

Rick

Ah, that karma houdini Ndamukong Suh. The final score will probably be closer with him in the game, but still think that some crucial Jim Caldwell clock management error will decide the game somehow.

I haven't really followed the AFC this season, but I think that Andy Dalton will get his first playoff win against the currently-slumping Colts, and that a poor performance by Joe Flacco will doom the Ravens against the Steelers. In the next round, I think that Peyton's age will finally catch up to him and lead the Broncos to be upset by the Steelers, and that the Pats will easily get past the Bengals, leading to a Patriots - Steelers AFCCG.