Playoff Race 2022 / Race to #1 pick

Playoff Race and Race to #1 Draft Pick


Not as good as a podcast (big respect to all of you that do them past and present) But I figured with 3 weeks left I would breakdown the two most important races over the next few weeks. The race for the Playoffs and the race for the #1 pick. So let’s get started:


In the AFC:

Teams that are in:

XZ - LVR Raiders (9-1)
XZ - CIN Bengals (9-1)

Both have clinched their respective divisions.

Teams that are likely to make Playoffs:

MIA Dolphins (9-1)
Next 3 games ( CIN, NEP, WAS)

BUF Bills (8-2)
Next 3 games ( CLE, NYJ, DAL)

JAX Jaguars (8-2)
Next 3 games ( KCC, IND, GBP)

HOU Texans (8-2)
Next 3 games ( LVR, TEN, MIN)

Teams still in the Hunt:

BAL Ravens (6-4)
Next 3 games ( NYJ, CLE, SEA)

DEN Broncos (6-4)
Next 3 games ( IND, KCC, TBB)

NYJ Jets (5-4-1)
Next 3 games ( BAL, BUF, NYG)

Notable’s here:

JAX, BUF and DEN have some very favorable matchups down the stretch.

NYJ has a tougher path playing a 6-4, 8-2 and 5-5 team to close out the season.

In the NFC:

Teams that are in:

XZ - NOS Saints (8-2)
XZ - PHI Eagles (8-2)

Both have clinched their respective divisions.

Teams that are likely to make playoffs:

DET Lions (8-2)
Next 3 games ( TBB, GBP, IND)

SFO 49ers (7-3)
Next 3 games ( WAS, ARZ, CIN)

ARZ Cardinals (7-3)
Next 3 games ( PHI, SFO, PIT)

Teams still in the hunt:

MIN Vikings (6-4)
Next 3 games ( CAR, CHI, HOU)

SEA Seahawks (6-4)
Next 3 games ( NYG, LAR, BAL)

GBP Packers (5-5)
Next 3 games ( NOS, DET, JAX)

NYG Giants (5-5)
Next 3 games ( SEA, DAL, NYJ )

Notables here:

Not as easy as some of the AFC schedules, but DET and MIN seem to have some favorable matchups coming there way.

This conference has a lot of tough schedules down the stretch. I think GBP has the toughest playing 3x current 8-2 teams in NOS, DET, JAX.

ARZ and SFO both have 2 tough matchups and 1 favorable. With week 12 being very crucial as they will play each other.



On the other side of it, here are the current projected top 7 draft picks:

1. NEP Patriots ( 0-9-1)
* Owned by TBB
2. LAC Chargers (1-9)
3. KCC Chiefs (1-9)
4. PIT Steelers (1-9)
5. CAR Panthers (2-8)
* Owned by PIT
6. WAS Commanders (2-8)
7. DAL Cowboys (2-8)
* owned by BUF


Six teams are currently next at 3 and 7.
They are in no certain order:

ATL Falcons
TBB Buccaneers
LAR Rams
CLE Browns
IND Colts
TEN Titans

There you have it.
I will try to update over the next few weeks.