If The Season Ended Today: Week 7, 2009

There isn't much change in the AFC playoff picture this week. With the Broncos having a bye, and the Colts, Patriots, Bengals, Steelers, Jets all winning, the only change this weeks is that if the season ended today, the Jets would get in by virture of winning a tie-breaker with the Texans (via head to head matchup) instead of the Ravens, who lost this week. That being the case, I wouldn't change any of my predictions, although I am starting to bye into the Bengals and think that their wildcard matchup with the Steelers would be a lot more competitive than I did last week. I still see the Colts coming out of the AFC.

As far as the NFC is concerned, there has been a shake up. If the season ended today, the Falcons and 49ers, who were in last week, would be out this week. The NFC playoff teams would be the Saints, Vikings, Giants, Cardinals, Packers and Cowboys (by virture of winning a tiebreaker against the Falcons due to their victory on Sunday) if the season ended today. The Saints and Vikings would have the byes and your first round matchups would be Cowboys @ Giants and Packers @ Cardinals. The Giants-Cowboys games are always interesting because you don't know what version of the teams you're going to see. Based on Sunday's performance, you'd have to take the Cowboys in this game, and unless the Giants get their act together, I would have to take the Cowboys in January should these two teams meet. Thankfully, as a Giants fan, January is a long way from today. The other matchup features another team who doesn't know what version is going to show up from one Sunday to Sunday. All of a sudden, the Cardinals can win on the road and can win big games. And playing a cold weather team in January in Phoenix might be exactly what the doctor ordered. I still wouldn't be able to bet against the Packers in this matchup, so if the season ended today, I'd be taking the two road teams in the wild card matchups.

Your divisional matchups would be Cowboys at Saints and Packers @ Vikings. The Cowboys showed that they can score points and they will definitely need them because this will be a shootout. With the emergence of Miles Austin to go along with Roy Williams, Tony Romo can throw all day if he felt like it. Then again, when you have that three headed monster at running back, the Saints will be guessing all day. These teams are evenly matched, but the Saints have 1 very large advantage . . . the Superdome. I'll take the Saints in this one, but would love to see it played on a neutral site. In the other matchup, as long as Brett Farve is healthy, I will be taking the Vikings to beat the Packers. That sets up a Vikings-Saints championship game, and much like last week, I'm going to take the Saints.

Last week, I stated my feelings about a Colts - Saints Super Bowl and they haven't changed. Peyton Manning gets his second Super Bowl trophy and enters the conversation for best quarterback ever to play the game of football.