Fathead Blog

1. Green Bay Packers (14-1) — If anyone in the NFC is going to knock out the champs they will have to do it on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.

2. New Orleans Saints (12-3) – Drew Brees breaks Dan Marino’s single-season passing record and the Saints keep rolling. They could be the biggest threat to the Packers title defense.

3. New England Patriots (12-3) — The Pats are a win over the Bills away from home-field advantage in the AFC.

4. Baltimore Ravens (11-4) – Huge game coming up at Cincinnati with Baltimore playing for the division title and a bye with an outside shot at the top seed in the AFC.

5. San Francisco 49ers (12-3) – With a win at St. Louis the 49ers lock up a first-round bye. Who saw that coming?

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) – The Steelers shouldn’t have a problem beating Cleveland on Sunday. The question is, what will it do for them? They could get the 1 or 2 seed with some help.

7. Detroit Lions (10-5) – The Lions are back in the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. Looks like they will be at the Giants, Cowboys or Saints.

8. Houston Texans (10-5) – Texans have lost two straight and a chance for a playoff bye. A third straight loss to the Titans on Sunday could lead to a third meeting against the Titans in the playoffs.

9. Atlanta Falcons (9-6) – Things got out of hand against the Saints, but Falcons clinch playoff spot anyway after Chicago lost. They too, could be headed for a third meeting with a division rival.

10. Dallas Cowboys (8-7) – The playoffs start a week early in the NFC East. Will Tony Romo’s hand be ready?

11. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) – The Bengals win and they will be at Houston in the first round. It won’t be easy with the Ravens coming to town.

12. New York Giants (8-7) – The Giants ended the Eagles season by beating the Jets. They can end the Cowboys season with a win this week.

13. New York Jets (8-7) – The Jets don’t look like they are going to another AFC title game. They need a lot of help to squeak into the final playoff spot.

14. Philadelphia Eagles (7-8) – This team will have the whole offseason to be kicking themselves for missing the playoffs. Getting to .500 with a win over Washington won’t be much consolation.

15. Denver Broncos (8-7) – Tim Tebow better not play like he did in Buffalo or the Broncos will be home for the playoffs. Does anyone want to win the AFC West?

16. Tennessee Titans (8-7) – Titans need a win and some help. Losing to the winless Colts may come back to haunt this team.

17. Arizona Cardinals (7-8) – Beating the Bengals last week would have made their game agaist Seattle a big one.

18. Oakland Raiders (8-7) – Just win (and get some help) baby. Raiders can still win the AFC West or take the last wild card spot if things go their way on Sunday.

19. Seattle Seahawks (7-8) – Seahawks host the Cardinals with second place in the NFC West on the line. Winner gets to .500.

20. San Diego Chargers (7-8) – Too little, too late for this bunch. We will see how bad they want to eliminate the Raiders on Sunday.

21. Chicago Bears (7-8) – Bears went from a definite playoff team to five straight losses without Jay Cutler. Two years in a row they go down with a Cutler injury.

22. Carolina Panthers (6-9) – The Panthers are the third best team in the NFC South. If they can take another step in 2012 they will be in the playoff hunt.

23. Washington Redskins (5-10) – Still a lot of work to do for Shanahan to get the Skins back to the playoffs. Will he draft a quarterback in 2012?

24. Buffalo Bills (6-9) – Bills enjoyed Tebow Time on Sunday. Now they go for the sweep of Tom Brady and the Pats.

25. Miami Dolphins (5-10) – Dolphins can eliminate the Jets with a win. This isn’t the same team the Jets dominated earlier in the season.

26. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) – Orton vs. Tebow. Too bad the Chiefs lost last week or the division title would be up for grabs here. Somebody petition the league and see if we can get this game played inside a steel cage.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11) – Another disappointing season in Jacksonville. On the bight side, the Jags finally finished ahead of the Colts.

28. Cleveland Browns (4-11) – Browns could be headed for a sixth consecutive loss in Pittsburgh.

29. Minnesota Vikings (3-12) – Costly win on Sunday. Not only did the Vikings lose Peterson, they also lost their chance at the top pick in the draft.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11) – From 4-2 to 4-11. The defense is terrible.

31. Indianapolis Colts (2-13) – Colts are playing like they don’t care if they get the first pick in the draft. They could make it three wins in a row on Sunday.
32. St. Louis Rams (2-13) – How did these guys beat the Saints?