If The Season Ended Today: Week 6 2009

With the NFL season week well into its second quarter, now would be a good time to start looking ahead to the playoffs. The dominate teams in both conferences have identified themselves as have the not so good teams. Starting today, and every Tuesday through the end of the season, we will take a hypothetical look at what would happen IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:

We will start with the AFC. If the season ended today, the Patriots, Bengals, Colts, Broncos, Steelers and Jets (by virtue of winning a tie-breaker against the Ravens) would be in the playoffs. The Broncos and Colts would get the byes and your wild card match-ups would be Patriots v/s Jets and Bengals v/s Steelers. Although the Jets won their first meeting of the season with the Patriots, the way they have been playing since that meeting, I would definitely see the Patriots winning a rematch at this point in the season. As far as the Bengals and Steelers, these are not your mother's Bengals. This game would definitely be just as competitive as their first matchup, only with a different outcome. The Steelers don't take to kind to losing, especially to a division rival, and Mike Tomlin will have them ready to go. I see the Steelers winning in Cincinnati.

With those results, the second round would feature Pittsburgh @ Denver and New England @ Indianapolis. Three of these teams are expected to be in the Divisional round and the team that isn't expected to be here is finally going to play like it. Weather will not be a problem for Pittsburgh in Denver and the STeelers will find a way to win a NFC type football game. Expect a low scoring game here. On the other hand, if you like your points in bunches, Indy and New England is where you need to be. Brady is back and the inevitable meeting with the Colts will turn into a track meet. Scores might resemble that of a low scoring college basketball game, but and the team with the ball last will win. I think the Colts defense will get to Brady just enough and the Colts will win. The AFC title game would be Pittsburgh at Indianapolis and the Colts will end the Steelers quest for a seventh Super Bowl title.

In the NFC, the Giants, Vikings, Saints, 49ers, Falcons and Packers are your playoff teams. The Vikings and Saints get the byes and your wildcard game are Packers @ Giants and Falcons @ 49ers. We already know what to expect with the Falcons and 49ers and I don't think a week has changed anything between the two teams. I see the Falcons flying high once again. As for the Giants and the Packers, this is always a tough matchup whenever they play, and with the injuries in the Giants secondary, the pressure would definitely be on the front seven to get to Aaron Rogers as well as stop the run. Thankfully for the G-men, they have the guys to do that. The Giants win this one.

The second round would feature the Falcons @ Vikings and a rematch of the Giants and Saints in the Big Easy. As much as it hurts me to type this, the Giants secondary is just not going to be up to the challenge of Drew Brees and the throw all day offense of the Saints. I see the Saints winning again in the Big Easy. Now if this game was in the Meadowlands, outside in the cold weather, things might be different. As for the Falcons and Vikings, this is a game that I'd love to see in person. If Brett Farve is still healthy I see Minnesota winning easily, but if he's not 100% (see games 12-16 of last season), this becomes a game. The Saints beat the Vikings in the NFC Championship game.

The Super Bowl would feature a game featuring New Orleans v/s Indianapolis in what could possibly be the highest scoring Super Bowl ever. I see Peyton Manning winning his second Super Bowl trophy and cementing his place as one of the best quarterbacks to play this game. Then again, this is only week 6, a lot can change the rest of the way.