Chiefs, Seahawks contenders; Steelers, Falcons pretenders
 

Chiefs, Seahawks contenders; Steelers, Falcons pretenders


Welcome to the time of year when things really become interesting in the NFL. The next four weeks will bring clarity to the currently muddled playoff picture. As usual, there are plenty of teams hoping they can do enough to keep playing well into January.

Every game, all season

Since there are so many squads still vying for postseason spots, it's worth handicapping the field at this stage. In doing so, it's also wise to operate under a designated set of rules. So this space will be devoted to teams that: 1) have a record of at least .500 or better; 2) are within one at least one game of claiming a wild-card spot; and 3) aren't alone in first place in their division. Those factors alone allow for this project to be confined to 11 teams.

There are other benefits, as well. That criteria means we can avoid dissecting the chaos that is the NFC East. It also allows for certain assumptions to be made: for example, that the postseason field will include Carolina, Arizona, New England, Denver and Cincinnati (all of whom already have won 10 games). Those factors further alleviate the need to evaluate the possibilities of all those teams hovering around the 5-7 mark. Nobody needs to waste time working out the probability of miracles happening.

Besides, there are plenty of candidates worth discussing. So here are the best guesses at who are the real contenders left in the postseason race and which teams are going to be best remembered as pretenders:

Kansas City Chiefs (7-5, second in AFC West): Kansas City has won six straight games, and the Chiefs' prospects only look better in the final four weeks of the season. Their opponents during that stretch -- San Diego, Baltimore, Cleveland and Oakland -- have a combined record of 14-34, and Kansas City has already beaten the Chargers and Raiders on the road. This isn't just about schedules, though. The Chiefs have rebounded from a 1-5 start because they've squeezed every last bit of talent out of their roster since losing Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles to a season-ending knee injury in Week 5. Quarterback Alex Smith hasn't thrown an interception in 305 attempts. Unknown running backs like Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West have kept the ground game viable. A defense that surrendered three 30-point efforts in the first four games has become suffocating. This is no longer a team hoping to make the playoffs. It's one that is now capable of doing some damage once it gets in. FINAL VERDICT: CONTENDER

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...ons-pretenders

Media is all over our balls right now. This usually doesn't end well, but I don't feel that way about this team.

Watch the Steelers offense tailspin against the Bengals and Broncos

We're basically Top 5 in defense and offensive efficiency - and this is before playing our final 4 games against really, really bad teams
http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/st...atistics/2015/

Same.

The difference between this team and teams in the past is that this one feels like it knows how to finish a team out.

The Steelers are basically the 2003 Chiefs with a worse running game.

I definitely don't see the Steelers as pretenders with Roethlisberger back. I'd swap them and Indy. The only advantage Indy has is they might win their division.

I tend to agree with the article. The Steelers are a good team, but their schedule is brutal. All the other teams have pretty easy sailing. Even though the chiefs schedule is soft, still a good chance they lose one. Which is okay because I don't think any of these teams will win out.

If we manage to win out think of the ****ing momentum we will have- OH MY GODDDD. I could seriously see us in the Superbowl if we manage to remain this hot.

THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING TIME TO BE A CHIEFS FAN

I DO NOT want to face the Steelers in the playoffs-they scare me the most, more than Denver or New England.

We're getting all the Escalades right now.

ROFLROFLROFLROFLROFL

I think we might win out. Ravens, then browns and Rams at home, finishing up at AZ which probably wont mean anything to them

Where do I pick mine up? :D

i want a black one with tinted windows and rims.:D