NFL: Picking The Final Playoff Standings

The 2017-18 NFL season is nearing by the second, and with that, it means it is time to start lying down our playoff predictions. Our NFL Staff, of Caleb Henderson, Charles Post, Greg Schwochow, and Ricardo Mendoza, came together to create each teams final record and playoff fields.

AFC East:

1. Patriots (14-2)

2. Bills (6-10)

3. Dolphins (6-10)

4. Jets (2-14)

The defending champions, New England Patriots, received two nods for 13-3 from Henderson and Post, while Mendoza had QB Tom Brady and Co. reaching a 14-2 record., and Schwochow at 16-0. The Buffalo Bills were given a lowly 4-12 spot from Mendoza and Schwochow, but were boosted to a 6-10 projection because Henderson (9-7) and Post (7-9) gave them higher chances. The Miami Dolphins, after reaching the playoffs last year, are expected to take a step back as none of our writers had them earning higher than a 7-9 record. And the bottom dwelling New York Jets are just were they should be, as Schwochow has them going an embarrassing 0-16, Henderson and Post gave them a 2-14 clip while Mendoza voted for a 4-12 season. It's obvious that the AFC East is the Patriots' to lose, especially with the addition of WR Brandin Cooks.

AFC North:

1. Steelers (12-4)

2. Bengals (6-10)

3. Ravens (6-10)

4. Browns (4-12)

The Pittsburgh Steelers, with an impressive trio of QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Le'Veon Bell, and WR Antonio Brown, were given record predictions between 10-14 victories, settling on a 12-4 projection. The Cincinnati Bengals, after missing the playoffs last season, have Mendoza (9-7) predicting a bounce back year, but have Henderson (7-9) and Post (6-10) more skeptical. The Baltimore Ravens have a legitimate defense, per usual, but the backfield has us worried, as Mendoza (4-12) and Schwochow (3-13) see a complete fall off, while Henderson (8-8) and Post (8-8) see them just missing out on the postseason. Lastly, the Cleveland Browns, after going 1-15 in 2016-17, have a projected score of 3-13, since Mendoza (1-15) and Schwochow (6-10) have them on different paths. All in all, the Steelers are expected to run away with the division.

AFC South:

1. Titans (12-4)

2. Texans (10-6)

3. Colts (7-9)

4. Jaguars (3-13)

The Tennessee Titans are getting a lot of love during the preseason because of how good their offense looked last season, behind QB Marcus Mariota and RB Demarco Murray, and our entire crew projects them to take another step forward, as three of us have them at 11-5 and Schwochow predicts a 15-1 campaign. . The Houston Texans may finally have their future quarterback in Deshaun Watson, which has us projecting a 10-6 record, as Mendoza (10-6) and Schwochow (10-6) have them reaching the double-digit wins mark. The Indianapolis Colts have seemingly been a healthy Andrew Luck away from really competing, but who knows if he can stay on the field, which has us calling for 5-8 wins, and settling on 7-9. The Jacksonville Jaguars, behind QB Blake Bortles have been a laughing stock for some time now, and 2017-18 doesn't see any improvement, as 2-out-of-4 of us have them going 2-14. The Titans should win the AFC South, but the Texans and Colts could compete for a playoff spot.

AFC West:

1. Chiefs (12-4)

2. Raiders (11-5)

3. Broncos (8-8)

4. Chargers (6-10)

The Kansas City Chiefs are once again expected to reach the playoffs, as they have seemed to do every year since HC Andy Reid and QB Alex Smith came together, and Henderson (12-4) and Mendoza (12-4) have them winning 12 games, which is their projected record, even though Schwochow (14-2) and Post (10-6) have them a bit higher and lower, respectively. The Oakland Raiders are Las Vegas' most popular bet to win it all, after getting to the Wild Card Round last season, and then adding RB Marshawn Lynch - Post (12-4) has them winning the division. The Denver Broncos, two years removed from winning Super Bowl 50, are continuously stepping backwards because of QB depth. Henderson (7-9) and Post (7-9) don't have them reaching .500, and Mendoza (10-6) has them missing out on the playoffs again. The Los Angeles Chargers competed well last year, but lost too many close games to really made any true noise. All four of us have them going 6-10. The Chiefs and Raiders should battle for the top spot, but both are supposed to reach the postseason.

NFC East:

1. Giants (12-4)

2. Cowboys (10-6)

3. Eagles (8-8)

4. Redskins (6-10)

The New York Giants experienced a scare last night when star WR Odell Beckham Jr. went down with an ankle injury in the preseason, but he's good to go for the start of the season, and has each of us predicting at least 10 victories for a projection of 12-4. The Dallas Cowboys, who will be without RB Ezekiel Elliott for six games, may take a step back this year after going 13-3 last season, but all of us still have them reaching the playoffs, even though Henderson (9-7) and Mendoza (12-4) have them separated by three games. The Philadelphia Eagles were content with QB Carson Wentz's rookie season, and now with WR Alshon Jeffery, he has another weapon, but it won't be enough to reach the playoffs as Mendoza (8-8) and Post (8-8) have them right at the .500-mark. The Washington Redskins were 1 GB from clinching a playoff spot, but we have them winning 4-7 games and not even sniffing the postseason this time around. The Giants and Cowboys are clearly the class of the division, but the Eagles could make it interesting.

NFC North:

1. Packers (13-3)

2. Lions (9-7)

3. Vikings (8-8)

4. Bears (4-12)

The Green Bay Packers won the division last year and subsequently defeated the Dallas Cowboys before losing in the NFC title game to the Atlanta Falcons, and we projected another division title and a 12-4 record. The Detroit Lions have clinched a playoff berth twice in the last three seasons, and a projected 9-7 clip gives them a chance to again, as Henderson (9-7), Post (8-8), and Mendoza (11-5) all have them .500 or better, behind QB Matthew Stafford, while Schwochow (7-9) has them falling off a touch. The Minnesota Vikings lost RB Adrian Peterson to the New Orleans Saints, but are expected to go 8-8 for the second season in a row after starting 5-0 last year. Mendoza (8-8), Post (8-8), and Schwochow (8-8) are on the same wavelength, while Henderson (7-9) thinks the Vikings lose once more. The Chicago Bears are far and away the worst team in the NFC North, and their projected 4-12 record proves that. Post (3-13) and Schwochow (3-13) even had them tied for the third worst record in the league. The Packers are the favorites, by a lot, but the Lions and Vikings have a shot at a playoff berth, which could come down to their two matchups.

NFC South:

1. Falcons (11-5)

2. Buccaneers (10-6)

3. Panthers (9-7)

4. Saints (7-9)

The Atlanta Falcons showcased their explosive offense with MVP QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones en route to a Super Bowl 51 appearance, but it wasn't enough to get the job done. Although, their projected 11-5 season means another division title, even though Henderson (8-8) has them taking a major step backwards. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by QB Jameis Winston played well last season, and because of that, Henderson (12-4) Schwochow (12-4) have them winning the division.. The Carolina Panthers seemed shellshocked last season, after losing Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos, but 2017-18 is a year to rebound for QB Cam Newton and rookie RB Christian McCaffrey. We have them going 9-7, even though Post (10-6) has them reaching the 10-win plateau. The New Orleans Saints are far from your average fourth place team, with future Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees still slinging, but a playoff berth doesn't seem to be in the cards at 9-7, especially with Schwochow (5-11) having them at least 2 GB of everyone else.

NFC West:

1. Seahawks (11-5)

2. Cardinals (8-8)

3. Rams (4-12)

4. 49ers (3-13)

The Seattle Seahawks haven't been the same since their Super Bowl 49 loss to the New England Patriots, but they always seem to make the playoffs behind QB Russell Wilson and CB Richard Sherman. Mendoza (11-5) and Post (11-5) each project 11 victories. The Arizona Cardinals are somehow still making a little bit of noise with QB Carson Palmer and WR Larry Fitzgerald after all these years, but RB David Johnson is the real story. Henderson (9-7) even has them competing for a playoff berth, but Schwochow (6-10) thinks otherwise. The Los Angeles Rams have looked good in the preseason, behind QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley, but 2-6 wins is all we can really expect. The San Francisco 49ers are one of the worst teams in the league, but because of a successful 2017 NFL Draft, they may be on the come up. However, said improvement, may be a couple of years off. For now, we have them going 3-13. The Seahawks should run away with the NFC West, but like last year, the Cardinals could pull off an upset or two on the way there just to keep things within arms reach.

AFC Playoffs Field:

1. Patriots (14-2)

2. Chiefs (12-4)

3. Steelers (12-4)

4. Titans (12-4)

5. Raiders (11-5)

6. Texans (10-6)

All four of us had the same six teams reaching the postseason from the AFC, as the New England Patriots remain atop the AFC East at 14-2, while the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans all go 12-4 and win their division. The Oakland Raiders win more than 10 games for the second season in a row, but don't win the AFC West, which results in a home Wild Card game against the Houston Texans, who finished in second place in the AFC South at 10-6.

NFC Playoffs Field:

1. Packers (13-3)

2. Giants (12-4)

3. Falcons (11-5)

4. Seahawks (11-5)

5. Cowboys (10-6)

6. Buccaneers (10-6)

Unfortunately, the NFC field wasn't as simple as it's counterpart, even though we all had at least four of the same teams reaching the postseason. Each of us had the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, and Dallas Cowboys, but that's where the similarities take a drastic turn. Henderson had his two remaining slots go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals. Mendoza predicted the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions would both return to the playoffs. Schwochow thinks the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons reach. And Post picked the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. We decided to slot the Falcons at 11-5 into the field because two of us had them winning the division, and another had them in, which left a three-way tie between the Buccaneers, Lions, and Panthers for the final spot. We decided to give it to Tampa Bay because they have the highest projected record at 10-6, were predicted to reach the postseason by two of our writers, and host Detroit while Carolina has to travel to Ford Field.

Photo Credit: LA Times, Sporting News, & USA Today.