FAVORITE TEAMS

CHIEFS (4-4)

CURRENT PLACE: TWO SPOTS OUT OF LAST WILD CARD

The Chiefs are 3-2 in October but they went back and forth in wins and losses. Mahomes continues to struggle with ball management and player injuries played a small part too. However, their defense played better even though it was against the Giants. They still have a chance for an overall seed or at least the Top 4 with nine games left. They must eliminate the turnover bug and hope this defense makes slight progression overall. They have another home game against the Packers, a Sunday Night game at Las Vegas, and then play Dallas at home before their bye week.

BILLS (5-2)

CURRENT PLACE: TIED FOR SECOND IN AFC

The Bills came into October on a mission for the number one seed and taking down Houston, Miami, and Kansas City on the road caught many people’s attention. However, they couldn’t avoid Derrick Henry and the Titans and ended up losing to them. While Tennessee has an edge over the Bills, Derrick Henry may be out for the season due to a foot injury. This could be the Bills chance to take over while the Chiefs are sputtering. In November, the Bills are on the road for the next three of four games, including a short week at the Saints before the month is over. They face the Jaguars and Jets on the road before traveling home to host the Colts. The last three in November will be very tricky.

STEELERS (4-3)

CURRENT PLACE: SECOND WILD CARD SPOT

There’s no reason to panic at Pittsburgh just yet. Their defense are still elite and that’s enough to make the team potential playoff contenders as long as Ben Roethlisberger and company do their job right and smart. They managed to win three straight after losing at Green Bay. Now they enter November hoping to continue their run. After recovering from Cleveland on Halloween, they host Chicago on Monday night and Detroit in back-to-back weeks. Then they travel for the next two weeks to play the Chargers on Sunday night and Cincinnati to finish up the month. The last two games will test their endurance of long distance travel.

COLTS (3-4)

CURRENT PLACE: FIVE SPOTS OUT OF LAST WILD CARD

Carson Wentz picked up his game in October, but there are still kinks to workout. The team managed to win two of three road games and get their first division win over Houston. However, the Colts cost themselves two wins in overtime due to a missed field goal against the Ravens and Carson Wentz’s interception throw against the Titans. The average scoring did improve by 10 points this month (from 18.7 in September to 28.8 in October). The Colts face an uphill battle in November and the last two of the month are beefy games. They face the Jets at home on Thursday night, then take 10 days off before hosting Jacksonville. They travel to Buffalo and return home to face Tom Brady’s Buccaneers to finish off November. If Wentz cuts down on mistakes, it’s possible they can compete for a playoff spot and more.

BROWNS (4-4)

CURRENT PLACE: THREE SPOTS OUT OF LAST WILD CARD

Cleveland’s October didn’t fair well and Baker Mayfield went down for a week after an injury against Arizona. After October, they won only two games and their scoring average dropped to 19.4 per game that month after averaging 28.7 points per game in September. For now, the injuries on offense were the main reason and hopefully everyone returns and plays healthy because November will be a tough one. They play three of four games on the road that includes the Bengals and Patriots back-to-back, and the Ravens on Sunday night. Their only home game is the Lions prior to Baltimore. Getting as many players back healthy before that game is a must.

RAVENS (5-2)

CURRENT PLACE: TIED FOR SECOND IN AFC

The Ravens, as of now, look like playoff contenders. However, they lost their first division game to the Bengals in a blowout at home. Now they look to bounce back at home against the Vikings, but they get a break against Miami and Chicago (to an extent). Late November is when the real battle starts beginning with the Browns. Five of their last seven games are against AFC North opponents, so there’s no room for error. They must control the division and equalize against the Bengals too.

RAIDERS (5-2)

CURRENT PLACE: TIED FOR SECOND IN AFC

The Raiders struggled against the Chargers and weren’t motivated against the Bears, which led to back-to-back losses. The Gruden email scandal had plenty to do with it. After Gruden was kicked to the curb, Vegas scored 30-plus points in the last two games against the Broncos and Eagles. Derek Carr is lighting things up and the defense is playing some good football. But as I previously stated about them before the season, they must play a strong second half season to be in playoff contention.

PACKERS (7-1)

CURRENT PLACE: TIED FOR FIRST IN NFC

Green Bay is on a role and survived three of the last four road games thus far, including a great escape at Arizona on Thursday night with a game-winning interception. Defense looks good for the most part and depth is slowly but surely coming along. The Packers are looking like the best team in the NFC, even if Aaron Rodgers says that the team is stuck at 24 (scored 24 points each in the last three games). Their next four games are at Kansas City, home against Seattle, at Minnesota, and home against the Rams for potential control of first place in the NFC before the bye. More test to come from the Packers and the return of key players will play a big part in their run.

RAMS (7-1)

CURRENT PLACE: TIED FOR FIRST IN NFC

The Rams had a minor setback against Arizona. After that, they cleaned house in three road games and prevented Detroit from upsetting them at home in Jared Goff’s return. They’re playing some good football and Matt Stafford continues to play at a high-level with his new team. They enter November with challenges but they play a now Derrick Henry-less Titans at home on Sunday night, go on the road to face San Francisco on Monday night before their bye, and finish off November at Green Bay. This determines how good the Rams really are if they want the overall seed.

BUCCANEERS (6-2)

CURRENT PLACE: 4TH SEED

The Buccaneers started off their month with a bang against his former team, the Patriots, and came away victorious for Tom Brady, defeated Brady’s former AFC East rival and current in-state rival Dolphins, escaped with a win at Philly, and destroyed Chicago. They look like a legit team, right? Maybe take a different perspective. The Brees-less Saints gave Brady and the Bucs everything they had defensively and kept the motor for most of the game with a backup quarterback. They forced three sacks and three turnovers to hand the Bucs their second loss. The Saints may be Brady’s kryptonite since joining the Bucs (1-3 all-time). The Bucs go on a bye to re-cooperate before facing Washington on the road, New York at home after an eight-day break, and finish out November at Indianapolis.

GIANTS (2-6)

CURRENT PLACE: EIGHT SPOTS OUT OF LAST WILD CARD

Injuries are the theme for the Giants, but they made minimal progress with two wins in five games during October. Upsetting the Saints on the road and dominating Carolina was big, but they also got destroyed at Dallas and at home against the Rams in back-to-back weeks. Last night, they lost by a field goal to the sputtering Chiefs after a hard fought battle. The Giants may not make the playoffs with the run they’re having. They play the Raiders this weekend before a bye, then head to Tampa Bay for another Monday Night game, and then return home to face the Eagles. Their only hope is an upset somewhere and then defeating the Eagles to have any chance at a playoff spot.

SEAHAWKS (3-5)

CURRENT PLACE: FIVE SPOTS OUT OF LAST WILD CARD

The Seahawks had an off-October with three losses, including the loss of Russell Wilson due to a hand injury until November. Quarterback Geno Smith filled in okay, but losses to Pittsburgh and New Orleans showed that they miss Wilson. Beating Jacksonville was a great cooldown game before bye week. Let’s see how things pan out with this roster once Wilson returns because their next three November games will be an interesting one. They go to Green Bay after the bye, host Arizona, and finish up on Monday night at Washington.

49ERS (3-4)

CURRENT PLACE: TWO SPOTS OUT OF LAST WILD CARD

There were questions about their suspect play-calling, and plenty of it led to two losses. Their defense managed to compete and stay at Top 10 level despite the injuries plaguing them. After a lowly October, especially for me as a Niner fan, they figured everything out against Chicago and ran consistent drives to score 33 points to win. For the first time this season and maybe in awhile, they never punted all game and scored on every drive after a missed field goal in their first series. This could be the progress the team was looking for. They get a break at home for the next three of four games in November. They play division rivals Cardinals and Rams at home, go to Jacksonville, and then return home to play the Vikings.

VIKINGS (3-4)

CURRENT PLACE: ONE SPOT OUT OF LAST WILD CARD

It’s difficult to tell with Minnesota. They played a lot of close games this season. Unfortunately, they’re 2-4 in one possession games. They have the experience and talent to compete, but there are questions with ball management and play-calling after losing to the Cowboys. Their next four games in November, including three on the road, look a little bleak for them unless they get it together and finish games. They play two road games against the Ravens and Chargers, a home game against Green Bay, and a road game against the 49ers.