Pats will more or less have their homefield wrapped at week 9 like Lenardo says. The real concern for them is where KC is at by then. If KC is keeping pace and does not have any serious injuries or brainfarts, then the Pats will actually be forced to do something they have not had to for years and play a complete season. That undermines their normal playoff edge, since they can usually idle the last few weeks of a season, but KC is probably dangerous enough that Darth Bill will want them in Foxborough. If KC has any sort of issue before Week 10 or so, then the Evil Empire can just kind of fuck off during their rougher weeks to avoid injury and walk away with at least 3-4 wins without even trying that hard. I mean, Ravens look good, but no rookie is going to beat the Sith Lord of New England when he has time to prepare. KC is literally the only possible obstacle to a SB return and with their defense, I think we see a repeat from last year honestly.
NFC is an open shit show, though. Cowboys look strong, both on film and paper, but I need to see them play someone with a working defense before I get on that hype train. Packers have been making due with good Defense and shitty Oline play, so until they beat someone outside the NFCN, I have a hard time getting excited about my team for the same reasons. Rams seem to be doing ok, but Gurley still looks off and beating up on a Breesless Aints team is not exactly a test. Same for the Roidhawks against a Rapelesberger free Steeler squad, yesterday. Then who knows that the deal is with the 49ers. I guess gun to my head I would say Cowboys are the best looking team in the NFC at the moment, but they also are legendary at shooting themselves in the foot in the playoffs. I think my Cowboys fan pal said it best when he stated that this feels like a year where the Cowboys go 12-4 and then lose round one to an 8-8 Packer team. I just do not have any real confidence in anyone in the NFC beyond "well they don't suck as bad as the other guys" process of elimination.
As a Packer fan, I am glad we are leading the division this early, but I know we have benefited from horribly QB play by our rivals to get there. We are destined to win this shitty division, MAYBE get one cinderella win, and then be humiliated in the NFC Divisional Round, pretty much like every other year. That's if we manage to stop Rogers from getting pounded like its Jonas Bros sleepover night at his house every game. Six sacks a game is not something he is going to survive, especially at his age.
