the    sides

Not sure why this hit me this morning…but here’s my list. Over the next few posts we’ll play this out just like the NFL Playoffs. What makes a team hard to be a fan for? Win-loss record is part of it. Overall direction and stability of the team, sizzle factor. Example – Carolina Panthers have great stability and that might be the problem plus there is no sizzle on that team. Nothing that makes you want to watch them for 3 hours.

I’ll start with the NFC.

Division Winners:
NFC East: Redskins – no contest in this division.
NFC West: Rams – close call with the Seahawks but Rams beat them out.
NFC North: Lions – obvious call but Bear fans MIGHT have legit shot at this next year.
NFC South: Bucs – tightest race with Panthers in the running.

Wildcard Teams: Panthers, Seahawks

Wildcard Weekend:
Panthers vs. Rams
Seahawks vs. Bucs

Commentary
You can make your vote in the comments but some things to consider in the Rams/Panthers matchup. Rams have new coach, new lifeblood and opportunity to get better faster. Do the fans of the Rams buy it? Are the fans of Panthers fed up with the Fox way? I’m leaning towards that it is harder to be a Panther fan than a Ram fan. So I’d vote for Carolina.

Seahawks/Bucs – new coach vs. new QB? Seahawk fans are generally more depressed than Tampa fans due to weather. If Seahawks tank a season, not a lot to look forward to as opposed to Tampa.

AFC

Division Winners:
AFC East: Bills – and the latest hire really didn’t help.
AFC West: Raiders – I mean really…was there any doubt?
AFC North: Browns – they command this division, which is hard to do seeing that Cincy is in here as well.
AFC South: Jaguars – I thought about putting the whole city of Houston here. Which team do you root for – Texans or former Oilers/Titans? Texans for not getting in playoffs but so close? Titans and the drama at QB? Jags and their complete lack of a QB and creative game plan? Ultimately, Jags won the division by the slimmest of margins.

Wildcard Teams: Chiefs, Broncos
It’s no contest that right now if you are an AFC West fan, it pretty much sucks. Chargers pull their post-season chokefest. (And when you can explain why Norv got an extension for going 13-3 and losing in playoffs and Marty got fired for going 14-2 and losing – let me know.) The Chiefs…well, they’re the Chiefs. And the Broncos have put in McDaniels the Hun at coach.

Wildcard Weekend
Chiefs vs. Jaguars
Broncos vs. Browns

Commentary
I’m seeing an AFC West sweep this weekend. Jags are historically pretty solid and if they do draft Tebow this year, the fan base will go nuts. The Browns have some winning, have Holmgren, and have Cribbs. Basically…they have hope. The Chiefs are looking better with new Coordinators hires. Broncos are tanking. 2-8 to finish season, Cutler, Marshall, fired Mike Nolan, Scheffler, lost Dennison and Turner to Redskins…I could go on. Time to find sharp metal object.

Put your comments and votes to good use here. We’ll play through the weekend and then move to the Divisional Round.