After week 17, who is the best team in the NFL?

[tk13]

Alright, we've done this every quarter of the season... now it's time for the playoffs. And this question may be more "up in the air" than ever. Most of the teams who started hot have stumbled down the stretch or faced injuries. Who is the best team in the NFL? Will that team win the Super Bowl?

AFC
1) Denver 12-4
2) New England 12-4

3) Cincinnati 12-4
6) Pittsburgh 10-6

4) Houston 9-7
5) Kansas City 11-5

NFC
1) Carolina 15-1
2) Arizona 13-3

3) Minnesota 11-5
6) Seattle 10-6

4) Washington 9-7
5) Green Bay 10-6

[Vietnam58]

Pit and Seattle. . but its so up in the air. .

[ClevelandBronco]

How can it not be Arizona or Carolina?

[DenverChief]

KC is the most dangerous team in the AFC.

If Manning is legit healthy Denver is scary too

Arizona and Carolina are crazy scary in the NFC

[tk13]

How can it not be Arizona or Carolina?

I think they'll be the favorites, but Carolina lost just last week. Arizona got completely slaughtered by Seattle today.

And while Seattle is obviously good, they lost at home to the Rams just last week too. Other than that they've been dominant down the stretch though.

[DenverChief]

I think they'll be the favorites, but Carolina lost just last week. Arizona got completely slaughtered by Seattle today.

And while Seattle is obviously good, they lost at home to the Rams just last week too.

It is incredibly hard to go 16-0. The fact they lost one game in the grand scheme of things means nothing.


Arizona really had nothing to play for.

[ThaVirus]

Recency bias is such a bitch but I'll try and rank the playoff teams in order assuming neutral field and reasonable health.

1. Cardinals
2. Panthers
3. Seahawks
4. Patriots
5. Bengals
6. Steelers
7. Chiefs
8. Broncos
9. Packers
10. Vikings
11. Redskins
12. Texans

[Why Not?]

Cards played Vanilla and not to get hurt. If Palmer stays healthy, I think they win the Super Bowl

[Toby Waller]

remember? someone said the Steelers were 5 to 1 odds before today and not qualifying for playoffs yet on this site somewhere

[Vietnam58]

How can it not be Arizona or Carolina?

didnt the cards get smoked by Seatle today? i didnt watch the game am i missing something did they sit their starters?

[Toby Waller]

didnt the cards get smoked by Seatle today? i didnt watch the game am i missing something did they sit their starters?

they knew Carolina was winning at some point and werent losing a top 2 seed anyway

[Baby Lee]

Recency bias is such a bitch but I'll try and rank the playoff teams in order assuming neutral field and reasonable health.

1. Cardinals
2. Panthers
3. Seahawks
4. Patriots
5. Bengals
6. Steelers
7. Chiefs
8. Broncos
9. Packers
10. Vikings
11. Redskins
12. Texans

Today, as we stand here?

1. Panthers
2. Cardinals
3. Chiefs
4. Broncos
5. Steelers
6. Seahawks
7. Redskins
8. Bengals
9. Patriots
10. Texans
11. Vikings
12. Packers

[Mile High Mania]

I think the Cards are the best team, SEA is the most dangerous and CAR isn't far behind either. Either of those 3 will win it all.

[BigMeatballDave]

I went with Carolina, but it could easily be Arizona or Seattle.

[Kiimo]

1. Carolina
2. Seattle
3. Arizona
4. KC
5. Steelers
6. Denver
7. NE

[KChiefsQT]

We're the hottest team coming in!

[scho63]

[QUOTE=ThaVirus;11997972]Recency bias is such a bitch but I'll try and rank the playoff teams in order assuming neutral field and reasonable health.

1. Cardinals
2. Panthers
3. Seahawks
4. Patriots
5. Bengals
6. Steelers
7. Chiefs
8. Broncos
9. Packers
10. Vikings
11. Redskins

That's a pretty good ranking IMHO. The Redskins have been playing pretty good and may shock someone in the first round.

A lot of these teams are trending DOWN

[O.city]

I don't understand why the hell I'm supposed to think ne is thus juggernaut.

They're banged up sure and Hoodia is hoodie, but they aren't good.

[Baby Lee]

I don't understand why the hell I'm supposed to think ne is thus juggernaut.

They're banged up sure and Hoodia is hoodie, but they aren't good.

Because they were probably their best when they were overlooked.

Their first couple SB wins versus their last couple losses.

And no one's calling them a juggernaut. They're just moving their standing up a little higher than otherwise merited.

It's mystique, but it's not without precedent.

[Halfcan]

Texans are the most dangerous team for the Chiefs. If they get a win and break the curse-I think they can beat any AFC team left.

11 in a row!!

[ThaVirus]

I don't understand why the hell I'm supposed to think ne is thus juggernaut.

They're banged up sure and Hoodia is hoodie, but they aren't good.


They've been without Edelman for quite some time and they've looked like shit for it.

He'll be back for the divisional round and they should be running almost to peak performance.

[KC_Connection]

It's Seattle. Would be my pick to win it all right now.

[Halfcan]

I don't understand why the hell I'm supposed to think ne is thus juggernaut.

They're banged up sure and Hoodia is hoodie, but they aren't good.

IF we get past the Texans-I think the Chief Defense can shut out Brady like they did at Arrowhead.

[ModSocks]

I think the SB winner will come from the NFC. Seattle, AZ and Carolina are the most complete teams in the NFL.

We have no idea what we'll get from week to week with any team in the AFC, though i'd argue that KC has been the most consistent.

[KC Dan]

They've been without Edelman for quite some time and they've looked like shit for it.

He'll be back for the divisional round and they should be running almost to peak performance.
Agreed to a point. Gotta wait and see how Brady's ankle/leg turns out...He was hobbling pretty bad

[Toby Waller]

I went with Carolina, but it could easily be Arizona or Seattle.

or none of them

[O.city]

They've been without Edelman for quite some time and they've looked like shit for it.

He'll be back for the divisional round and they should be running almost to peak performance.

Tom just suffered a HAS, and I'm not assuming getting them all back makes their offense blast off.

Their offensive line is fucking awful

[Chief Roundup]

My top 5 teams
Arizona
Carolina
Kansas City
Seattle
Pittsburgh

[BossChief]

Going into the postseason, we have the third ranked scoring defense, the 7th ranked scoring offense and we are second in the NFL in turnover differential.


That's a formula for playoff success.

I'm not sure we are the best team in the NFL, but I do think we are in the conversation.

[BigCatDaddy]

AFC's SB Rep will be Pitt or NE
NFC Carolina or Cards
Most likely an NFC team wins it

[Chiefaholic]

Pit and Seattle. . but its so up in the air. .

Pitt has an offense that makes up for the inability of the defense to do their job. Unfortunately, they have to play their "A" game every week, or they get their asses handed to them. In the playoffs, they won't make it past the Bengals.

[stevieray]

Going into the postseason, we have the third ranked scoring defense, the 7th ranked scoring offense and we are second in the NFL in turnover differential.


That's a formula for playoff success.

I'm not sure we are the best team in the NFL, but I do think we are in the conversation.
We've beaten three out of the five playoff teams we've faced this season.

We're in the thick of it.

[Toby Waller]

Pitt has an offense that makes up for the inability of the defense to do their job. Unfortunately, they have to play their "A" game every week, or they get their asses handed to them. In the playoffs, they won't make it past the Bengals.

lol are you serious?
the Bengals are done just like the Texans.
The Bengals are nothing and have nothing.

[RunKC]

Right now it is really hard to not say Seattle. Wilson is playing the best ball of any QB in the last 4-6 weeks and Seattle has that defense.

They'll also get Lynch back which will make them even more dangerous.

[Toby Waller]

Right now it is really hard to not say Seattle. Wilson is playing the best ball of any QB in the last 4-6 weeks and Seattle has that defense.

They'll also get Lynch back which will make them even more dangerous.

its easy for me to say Seattle will lose.
Since when does getting a guy back after being gone multiple weeks going to help? theyll be out of sync.
What defense does Seattle have? that one the Cards and Steelers and Rams and Panthers scored points on. They dont intimidate anyone anymore

they won the last two years with homefield advantage in the playoffs. This time they will unprepared on the road against a team getting 4 defensive starters back 2 weeks ago that Seattle already showed their hand to.