I always struggle with rooting for the team to lose so we get a better draft pick. You never know when the team will get on a hot streak and start playing well. I realistically don't have much hope for this year, but there is still that glimmer of hope. We've had one of the toughest schedules to open up the season. We have a winless team coming up and then a bye. There is a chance Zim somehow pulls some unexpected magic out of his rear and we go on a run. There is slightly extra hope this year with the addition of the 7th playoff team in each conference. The third Wildcard spot could be ours. Let me breakdown the scenario in which this plays out.
I took a look at the last 5 years to see what it would've taken to be the #7 seed.
2019: LA Rams 9-7
2018: Minnesota Vikings 8-7-1
2017: Detroit Lions 9-7 (tied with Cowboys & Seahawks, but had a better conference record)
2016: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7
2015: Atlanta Falcons 8-8
As you can see, 9-7 would've done the deed in the last 5 years. That means we realistically need to go 8-3 in the last 11 games. Is it likely? No, but it isn't as impossible as it seems? (Also, why couldn't we finish games against TN and Seattle? We would be a lock!) Through the first 5 weeks we've played 3 teams that are still undefeated (Packers, Titans and Seahawks). We also played the tough Colts defense that has been one of the tops in the league. We smacked the Texans, but they are a good 1-4 team similar to us that have played a tough schedule. That's a 73.9 win % for those keeping track. The rest of the year? Using the current records it is .500. That is a big drop off.
Who do we have left?
- Week 6 - Home Atlanta Falcons (0-5) This is a game we obviously need to win. Atlanta just fired their GM and Coach. That can be dangerous as some teams seem to get a interim coach bounce. If we have any shot I have to call this a WIN
- Week 7 - BYE Dalvin rest up and get healthy. Same to you Danielle.
- Week 8 - Away Packers (4-0) The Packers look good, like really good. They might be the best team in the NFC. They might be the best team in the NFL. I have to realistically chalk this up as a Loss
- Week 9 - Home Lions (1-3) The Lions aren't a good football team. If we have any hope at becoming a playoff team this has to be a WIN
- Week 10 - Away Bears (4-1) Away against the Bears is almost always a loss. There is something about that Soldier Field. This is a LOSS
- Week 11 - Home Cowboys (2-3) Dak just went down and so did their starting NT. They also needed a wild onside kick to beat winless Atlanta. I see this as a WIN
- Week 12 - Home Panthers (3-2) The return of Teddy. This would've been a great game to attend. Hopefully some of you will be able to make it. Two of Carolina's three wins came against winless Atlanta and one win LA Chargers. This is a game we should WIN
- Week 13 - Home Jaguars (1-4) The Jaguars are who we thought they were. They have a run every 10 years that gives their fanbase hope. This is not one of those years. This needs to be an easy WIN
- Week 14 - Away Buccaneers (3-2) Tompa looks ok. They are very beatable. Tommy is getting older and Gronk does not look the same. They just lost OJ Howard and Vita Vea for the season. Their RBs and WRs have been beat up all year. This is a winnable game, but for conservative reasons, I will chalk this up as a Loss
- Week 15 - Home Bears (4-1) The Bears don't have a good QB on the roster. Foles has had two good seasons his entire career and Trubisky is a BUST. I think we take care of the Bears at home and get the WIN
- Week 16 - Away Saints (3-2) This is another winnable game. New Orleans should've lost to the LA Chargers at home this past week. They beat the Lions the week before that. This is another winnable game I will chalk up as a Loss
- Week 17 - Away Lions (1-3) The Lions will be done at this point and we need to take care of business. This might be the game we need to make the playoffs. Let's hope we don't blow it like we did in 2018. This should be a WIN.