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| The tandem of rookies RG3 (10) and Alfred Morris (46) is the basis of everything the Redskins do on offense. Photo credit to NY Daily News. |
Yesterday, I reviewed the first nine weeks of the regular
season. So today, naturally, I am looking back at the second half of the
regular season, which was very
different for many teams and all too similar for others. My predictions for
this weekend will come tonight on The
All-Sports Crew’s blog and in each of my Wild-Card previews, which will
start coming out tomorrow.
These are the NFL standings for the final 8 weeks of the
regular season:
AFC East
|
AFC North
|
AFC South
|
AFC West
|
1. NE (7-1)
|
1. CIN (5-3)
|
1. IND (6-2)
|
1. DEN (8-0)
|
T-2. MIA (3-5)
|
2. BAL (4-4)
|
2. HOU (5-3)
|
2. SD (3-5)
|
T-2. NYJ (3-5)
|
3. CLE (3-4)
|
3. TEN (3-4)
|
T-3. OAK (1-7)
|
T-2. BUF (3-5)
|
4. PIT (3-5)
|
4. JAC (1-7)
|
T-3. KC (1-7)
|
NFC East
|
NFC North
|
NFC South
|
NFC West
|
1. WAS (7-0)
|
T-1. GB (5-2)
|
T-1. ATL (5-3)
|
1. SEA (6-1)
|
2. DAL (5-3)
|
T-1. MIN (5-2)
|
T-1. CAR (5-3)
|
2. SF (5-2-1)
|
3. NYG (3-4)
|
3. CHI (3-5)
|
3. NO (4-4)
|
3. StL (4-3-1)
|
4. PHI (1-7)
|
4. DET (0-8)
|
4. TB (3-5)
|
4. ARI (1-6)
|
Of course the talk of the NFL in the second half of the
season was the Redskins entering their bye week 3-6, voting Robert Griffin III
a captain when they returned, and then going on to win their final 7 games to
clinch the NFC East for the first time since 1999. Hidden in the shadow was the
Colts’ run to nearly take back the AFC South and Cincinnati doing the same in
the AFC North.
AFC East
The Bills had a decent offense, but their defense was
atrocious. Ryan Tannehill did not carry his momentum into the second half of
the season and the Jets were at the mercy of Mark Sanchez. The Patriots didn’t
need to win 7 of their last 8 to run away with this division, but they did and
now hold the AFC’s #2 seed.
AFC North
Baltimore seemed hot in the second half of the season,
winning their first three games. They’ve dropped 4 of 5 now and only a win
against the reeling Giants kept the Bengals from claiming the division. An
injury to Ben Roethlisberger hurt Pittsburgh more than some people want to
admit.
AFC South
Houston struggled late and Indy didn’t, allowing the Colts
to come within a Week 15 loss in Houston of winning the AFC South. Jacksonville
repeated their first-half record and the Titans struggled despite Chris Johnson
getting into a groove and Jake Locker putting up big numbers in several games.
AFC West
The Broncos had an easy schedule but never let an opponent
give them a serious scare as they rolled through the competition. The question
for them is whether the lack of competition will hurt them in the postseason.
San Diego only had the second best record during the second half because their
competition was Oakland and Kansas City.
NFC East
The Giants suffered their typical late-season collapse and
for once there was a team there to take advantage. In fact, there were two
teams. The Redskins, as I mentioned, never lost in the second half of the
season. The Cowboys made a late run at a division title but came up short in
Week 17 against Washington. Philly has won just one game since the Phillies last
victory and Andy Reid was fired the day after the regular season ended.
NFC North
Green Bay and Minnesota went neck-and-neck for the NFC North
title and Green Bay held off the Vikings, despite losing to them in Week 17.
Chicago, as I said early, was a product of an easy schedule. They lost to the
good teams they faced in the second half.
NFC South
Carolina, as they did last year, picked it up in the second
half. The hole was too deep for them, but they had the same record as the
Falcons. If they can put things together for a full season, 2013 could be a
scary year in the NFC South.
NFC West
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