offseason2011playoffs

2011 NFL Regular Season Standings
* – Wildcard berth
Green Bay is the No. 1 seed because of a head-to-head win.
Atlanta finishes ahead of Tampa Bay because of conference schedule.
Pittsburgh over Baltimore because of head-to-head meetings.
Indianapolis finishes ahead of San Diego because of strength of victory.


NFC East
Record
NFC North
Record
NFC South
Record
NFC West
Record
12-4
13-3
13-3
9-7
9-7
10-6
11-5
7-9
8-8
10-6
11-5
4-12
5-11
5-11
4-12
4-12


AFC East
Record
AFC North
Record
AFC South
Record
AFC West
Record
15-1
12-4
10-6
10-6
10-6
11-5
9-7
6-10
9-7
8-8
5-11
4-12
3-13
3-13
4-12
3-13


2011 NFL Regular Season Results
Home team in CAPS

These were used to determine my projected records above when I compiled my 2011 NFL Season Previews individually.


Week 1:
Thursday, Sept. 8
PACKERS 27, Saints 24

Sunday, Sept. 11
49ERS 20, Seahawks 17
BEARS 23, Falcons 20
BROWNS 29, Bengals 16
BUCCANEERS 20, Lions 17
CARDINALS 24, Panthers 21
CHARGERS 24, Vikings 20
Bills 16, CHIEFS 13
JAGUARS 17, Titans 16
JETS 27, Cowboys 24
Eagles 24, RAMS 20
Giants 20, REDSKINS 17 Steelers 23, RAVENS 20
TEXANS 31, Colts 20

Monday, Sept. 12
Patriots 38, DOLPHINS 10
Raiders 13, BRONCOS 10


Week 2:
Sunday, Sept. 18
Cowboys 31, 49ERS 17
BILLS 27, Raiders 10
BRONCOS 13, Bengals 10
COLTS 26, Browns 23
Texans 21, DOLPHINS 20
Eagles 34, FALCONS 20
JETS 29, Jaguars 17
LIONS 24, Chiefs 10
Packers 33, PANTHERS 13
PATRIOTS 30, Chargers 27
REDSKINS 16, Cardinals 13
SAINTS 23, Bears 17
STEELERS 31, Seahawks 3
Ravens 27, TITANS 20
Buccaneers 31, VIKINGS 24

Monday, Sept. 19
Rams 27, GIANTS 20


Week 3:
Sunday, Sept. 25
BEARS 26, Packers 23
BENGALS 20, 49ers 10
Patriots 34, BILLS 14
BROWNS 24, Dolphins 16
BUCCANEERS 27, Falcons 23
CHARGERS 20, Chiefs 17
EAGLES 27, Giants 17
PANTHERS 23, Jaguars 16
Jets 26, RAIDERS 10
Ravens 24, RAMS 23
SAINTS 34, Texans 24
SEAHAWKS 27, Cardinals 17
Steelers 27, COLTS 24
TITANS 28, Broncos 21
Lions 31, VIKINGS 13

Monday, Sept. 26
COWBOYS 26, Redskins 20


Week 4:
Sunday, Oct. 2
BEARS 20, Panthers 7
Bills 17, BENGALS 16
Titans 34, BROWNS 31
Giants 26, CARDINALS 24
CHARGERS 23, Dolphins 13
CHIEFS 23, Vikings 17
COWBOYS 19, Lions 16
EAGLES 49, 49ers 14
Saints 41, JAGUARS 20
PACKERS 45, Broncos 17
Patriots 31, RAIDERS 6
RAMS 17, Redskins 13
RAVENS 16, Jets 6
Falcons 24, SEAHAWKS 17
Steelers 34, TEXANS 17

Monday, Oct. 3
BUCCANEERS 35, Colts 24


Week 5:
Sunday, Oct. 9
Buccaneers 28, 49ERS 12
Eagles 35, BILLS 17
BRONCOS 31, Chargers 30
COLTS 16, Chiefs 13
FALCONS 24, Packers 23
JAGUARS 20, Bengals 10
GIANTS 37, Seahawks 17
Saints 27, PANTHERS 13
PATRIOTS 28, Jets 21
STEELERS 27, Titans 23
TEXANS 24, Raiders 17
VIKINGS 20, Cardinals 14

Monday, Oct. 10
LIONS 31, Bears 17


Week 6:
Sunday, Oct. 16
BEARS 30, Vikings 10
Colts 26, BENGALS 20
Saints 28, BUCCANEERS 21
LIONS 27, 49ers 13
FALCONS 23, Panthers 17
Bills 24, GIANTS 23
PACKERS 31, Rams 20
PATRIOTS 27, Cowboys 21
RAIDERS 16, Browns 13
RAVENS 27, Texans 20
Eagles 28, REDSKINS 0
Jaguars 19, STEELERS 17

Monday, Oct. 17
JETS 16, Dolphins 13


Week 7:
Sunday, Oct. 23
BROWNS 16, Seahawks 7
Bears 23, BUCCANEERS 20
CARDINALS 26, Steelers 24
COWBOYS 34, Rams 31
Broncos 9, DOLPHINS 6
Falcons 20, LIONS 17
JETS 20, Chargers 13
PANTHERS 16, Redskins 10
Chiefs 20, RAIDERS 10
SAINTS 30, Colts 28
TEXANS 38, Titans 24
Packers 41, VIKINGS 10

Monday, Oct. 24
Ravens 30, JAGUARS 3


Week 8:
Sunday, Oct. 30

Monday, Oct. 31
49ERS 24, Browns 16
Redskins 20, Bills 17
Lions 31, BRONCOS 13
Chargers 26, CHIEFS 10
EAGLES 34, Cowboys 31
Dolphins 19, GIANTS 17
Saints 38, RAMS 24
RAVENS 31, Cardinals 20
SEAHAWKS 23, Bengals 10
Patriots 34, STEELERS 24
TEXANS 44, Jaguars 21
Colts 34, TITANS 20
PANTHERS 23, Vikings 16


Week 9:
Sunday, Nov. 6
Jets 24, BILLS 12
CARDINALS 20, Rams 17
Packers 27, CHARGERS 24
CHIEFS 24, Dolphins 19
COLTS 31, Falcons 30
COWBOYS 28, Seahawks 17
PATRIOTS 34, Giants 20
RAIDERS 18, Broncos 8
REDSKINS 12, 49ers 6
Buccaneers 31, SAINTS 27
STEELERS 13, Ravens 10
TEXANS 33, Browns 13
TITANS 21, Bengals 17

Monday, Nov. 7
Bears 34, EAGLES 27


Week 10:
Thursday, Nov. 10
CHARGERS 28, Raiders 7

Sunday, Nov. 13
Giants 26, 49ERS 23
BEARS 24, Lions 21
Rams 28, BROWNS 27
Steelers 20, BENGALS 19
BUCCANEERS 19, Texans 16
CHIEFS 27, Broncos 17
Jaguars 23, COLTS 20
COWBOYS 26, Bills 20
Cardinals 27, EAGLES 24
Saints 34, FALCONS 31
JETS 17, Patriots 14
PANTHERS 28, Titans 27
Redskins 19, DOLPHINS 12
Ravens 26, SEAHAWKS 20

Monday, Nov. 14
PACKERS 37, Vikings 17




Week 11:
Thursday, Nov. 17
Jets 33, BRONCOS 30

Sunday, Nov. 20
49ERS 30, Cardinals 21
Chargers 26, BEARS 20
BROWNS 27, Jaguars 23
Bills 17, DOLPHINS 14
FALCONS 36, Titans 18
Eagles 23, GIANTS 20
LIONS 30, Panthers 10
PACKERS 33, Buccaneers 30
RAMS 31, Seahawks 13
RAVENS 19, Bengals 9
Cowboys 23, REDSKINS 13
VIKINGS 23, Raiders 17

Monday, Nov. 21
PATRIOTS 17, Chiefs 16


Week 12:
Happy Thanksgiving
LIONS 20, Packers 17
COWBOYS 31, Dolphins 13
RAVENS 44, 49ers 10

Sunday, Nov. 27
Browns 20, BENGALS 17
CHARGERS 48, Broncos 10
Steelers 30, CHIEFS 10
COLTS 38, Panthers 31
Patriots 30, EAGLES 16
FALCONS 34, Vikings 17
Texans 24, JAGUARS 17
Bills 19, JETS 16
Bears 23, RAIDERS 20
RAMS 34, Cardinals 20
SEAHAWKS 34, Redskins 14
Buccaneers 29, TITANS 15

Monday, Nov. 28
SAINTS 38, Giants 27


Week 13:
Thursday, Dec. 1
Eagles 35, SEAHAWKS 14

Sunday, Dec. 4
Rams 20, 49ERS 17
Chiefs 20, BEARS 14
BILLS 27, Titans 24
BROWNS 26, Ravens 20
BUCCANEERS 24, Panthers 23
CARDINALS 23, Cowboys 20
DOLPHINS 27, Raiders 20
Packers 27, GIANTS 17
PATRIOTS 30, Colts 27
Jets 40, REDSKINS 12
SAINTS 37, Lions 28
STEELERS 20, Bengals 10
Falcons 34, TEXANS 31
VIKINGS 34, Broncos 17

Monday, Dec. 5
Chargers 38, JAGUARS 17


Week 14:
Thursday, Dec. 8
Browns 23, STEELERS 20

Sunday, Dec. 11
Texans 27, BENGALS 20
Bears 24, BRONCOS 23
49ers 20, CARDINALS 17
CHARGERS 27, Bills 24
Giants 24, COWBOYS 20
Eagles 40, DOLPHINS 14
Buccaneers 31, JAGUARS 14
JETS 16, Chiefs 10
LIONS 27, Vikings 19
PACKERS 34, Raiders 9
Falcons 23, PANTHERS 16
Colts 17, RAVENS 13
Patriots 52, REDSKINS 0
Saints 38, TITANS 16

Monday, Dec. 12
Rams 27, SEAHAWKS 24


Week 15:
Thursday, Dec. 15
FALCONS 34, Jaguars 10
Saturday, Dec. 17
Cowboys 34, BUCCANEERS 27

Sunday, Dec. 18
BEARS 27, Seahawks 17
BILLS 27, Dolphins 24
Patriots 44, BRONCOS 16
CARDINALS 28, Browns 20
Ravens 21, CHARGERS 20
Packers 31, CHIEFS 10
COLTS 37, Titans 17
EAGLES 18, Jets 16
GIANTS 27, Redskins 10
Lions 30, RAIDERS 20
RAMS 28, Bengals 17
TEXANS 38, Panthers 14
Saints 26, VIKINGS 7

Monday, Dec. 19
Steelers 27, 49ERS 23


Week 16:
Thursday, Dec. 22
COLTS 27, Texans 17
Saturday, Dec. 24
BENGALS 17, Cardinals 13
BILLS 20, Broncos 17
Raiders 27, CHIEFS 24
Eagles 31, COWBOYS 10
Giants 27, JETS 24
LIONS 23, Chargers 22
Buccaneers 27, PANTHERS 23
PATRIOTS 49, Dolphins 0
Browns 16, RAVENS 13
Vikings 17, REDSKINS 12
SEAHAWKS 16, 49ers 10
STEELERS 23, Rams 20
TITANS 17, Jaguars 0
Merry Christmas
PACKERS 17, Bears 13

Monday, Dec. 26
Falcons 23, SAINTS 20


Week 17:
Sunday, Jan. 1
BENGALS 16, Ravens 10
Chiefs 34, BRONCOS 24
Steelers 41, BROWNS 14
CARDINALS 20, Seahawks 17
Redskins 13, EAGLES 10
FALCONS 27, Buccaneers 23
GIANTS 20, Cowboys 17
Colts 30, JAGUARS 20
Dolphins 13, JETS 10
PACKERS 28, Lions 27
PATRIOTS 42, Bills 17
Chargers 17, RAIDERS 14
RAMS 22, 49ers 20
SAINTS 28, Panthers 23
Titans 20, TEXANS 17
VIKINGS 22, Bears 20


2011 NFL Playoff Predictions – Wildcard Round


6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) at 3. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4)
The Eagles went to the Super Bowl in January 2003. Oh wait, no they didn’t. Everyone in Philadelphia just assumed they would when they were matched up against the Buccaneers in the NFC Championship. Tampa had never won in freezing weather, yet they managed to pull the upset thanks to a Ronde Barber pick-six, 27-10.

Now, nine years later, there’s no doubt that Philly would once again be a massive favorite in this matchup. I mean, come on, it’s the Buccaneers for crying out loud. Maybe the Packers or the Saints could defeat the “Dream Team,” but how can Tampa possibly pull it off?

Well, I think the Bucs will. They’re a team. Teams win in football; not individuals.

Buccaneers 21, Eagles 19



5. Atlanta Falcons (11-5) at 4. St. Louis Rams (9-7)
I can already see it: The Falcons are -3 over the Rams despite being the lower seed and the road team. The public is betting the hell out of Atlanta. “How are the Rams going to beat the Falcons?” clueless ESPN analysts will ask. “St. Louis stinks! They’re only in the playoffs because the NFC West sucks!” most casual football fans will exclaim.

But not me. St. Louis has been waiting for a playoff game since 2004. The rabid fans will be going nuts. Plus, the Rams might just have the better defense, and Matt Ryan hasn’t exactly been stellar in his two postseason contests.

This will be my January NFL Pick of the Month – and I’ll be eight units richer by the time this game is over.

Rams 20, Falcons 13



6. New York Jets (10-6) at 3. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
Wait a second, why is this familiar? The Jets have already slain this dragon. I’m not sure how effective Peyton Manning will be this year coming off neck surgery. No one does. That’s why I’m going to have Indianapolis bowing out early again.

Jets 17, Colts 16



5. Baltimore Ravens (11-5) at 4. San Diego Chargers (10-6)
The Ravens win playoff road games. The Chargers lose playoff home games. I really don’t need to delve into this any further, do I?

Ravens 31, Chargers 26



2011 NFL Playoff Predictions – Divisional Round


6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) at 1. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
OK, would I bet even money – essentially what I’m doing here – on the Buccaneers winning a January game in Lambeau? No, I wouldn’t. But I don’t want to have Green Bay advance deep into the playoffs because the team is coming off a Super Bowl victory. Packer fans may shake their heads, slam their fists and proclaim that Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy would never have a post-championship hangover, but let me mention two things:

First, I received the EXACT same e-mails from Saints fans last year. “No way Drew Breeze and Shawn Payton half a let-done. your an idioot!”

Second, I picked Green Bay to win the Super Bowl in my 2010 NFL Season Previews, so please be gentle, Cheesehead fans.

Buccaneers 27, Packers 26



5. St. Louis Rams (9-7) at 2. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
I’m a big Sam Bradford fan, but there’s a huge difference between winning a home playoff game and having to pull off an upset in the madhouse formally known as the Superdome. Perhaps I’ll have the Rams winning the Super Bowl next year, but this will be a learning experience like no other.

Saints 31, Rams 20



6. New York Jets (10-6) at 1. New England Patriots (15-1)
Wait a second, why is this familiar? The Jets have already slain this dragon.

But this dragon just grew three more heads named Albert, Andre and Chad, and they are burning Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan to a crisp!

Patriots 28, Jets 21



5. Baltimore Ravens (11-5) at 2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
If Ben Roethlisberger keeps on beating Joe Flacco, I think Flacco is going to have a mental breakdown. That, or he’ll have to offer his hot girlfriends to Roethlisberger so Big Ben can do naughty things with them. OK, I’m typing this at 2:15 a.m., so I don’t know if that made any sense or not. Let’s move on before I have a mental breakdown of my own.

Steelers 24, Ravens 17



2011 NFL Playoff Predictions – Championship Sunday


6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) at 2. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
A round earlier, I said that traveling to the insane Superdome is incredibly difficult for any young quarterback. But not Josh Freeman. Freeman has already won twice in the Superdome, so he won’t be intimidated by the raucous crowd.

I think this is a pretty even matchup, and I had a tough time deciding the winner. But to make things interesting…

Buccaneers 23, Saints 20



2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5) at 1. New England Patriots (15-1)
This will obviously be billed as the more entertaining of the two matchups, but I wouldn’t agree with that. The Patriots own the Steelers. I made an eight-unit bet on New England when it traveled to Pittsburgh in November, and one of the reasons was:

Tom Brady owns the Steelers. He’s 5-1 against Pittsburgh in his career.

Well, he’s now 6-1, and because he plays them in the regular season this year, he’ll be 8-1 versus the Steelers after this matchup.

Patriots 39, Steelers 26



2011 NFL Playoff Predictions – Super Bowl XLVI at Indianapolis


Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) vs. New England Patriots (15-1)
Note that this Super Bowl prediction was changed to Saints-Patriots in my final preseason power rankings.

I know I’m going to receive 50,000 e-mails and comment posts all going like, “I know you said you’re going to get e-mails about this, but come on man, I can see the Pats in the Super Bowl, but the Bucs have no chance.”

Three things:

1. I’ve correctly predicted two of the previous four Super Bowl participants (Saints in 2009; Packers in 2010). That doesn’t mean I’ll guess this matchup correctly, but it’s not like I have no track record in this department.

2. I LOVE picking one favorite and one sleeper team to advance to the Super Bowl. My favorite (Packers) pulled through last year, while my sleeper (Saints) hit in 2009. Maybe I’ll go 2-for-2 this time. Or 0-of-2. Meh.

3. The Buccaneers certainly have a chance to win the Super Bowl this year. The ignorant will point out Tampa’s easy schedule as a reason for its 10-6 record in 2010. Well, I’d like to counter with a few items:

First, while the Buccaneers did benefit from an easy slate early on, they really improved at the end of the year, thanks in part to the emergence of LeGarrette Blount. They won in New Orleans, and lost two games to 13-3 Atlanta by a combined nine points.

Second, Tampa had major injuries issues last year. They also get stud safety Tanard Jackson back from suspension.

Third, Josh Freeman and his young wideouts will be even better with more experience.

Now that I’ve defended the Buccaneers, I can say that they’re going to lose to the Patriots, who just have an unbelievable team this season. Their offense is already great, but now, thanks to the additions of Albert Haynesworth and Andre Carter (and not to mention Mark Anderson, who has looked surprisingly good thus far in training camp and preseason), New England has an elite defense.

The Patriots are the best team in the NFL, and it’s not even close if you exclude Green Bay. That’s why I’m predicting them to raise the Lombardi Trophy in Indianapolis, to the chagrin of all the native Colts fans.

Patriots 24, Buccaneers 21






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