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  • July 21, 2008 04:15 PM ET

Which Non-playoff NFL team from 2007 has the best shot at the 2008 Playoffs?

T-fo is Medium Pimpin' (135-64-14) vs TheSportsGuy. Chelsea! (58-19-10)
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Choice, argue, argue:

My pick:
The Buffalo Bills

(hide that woodie Goodell)


Ahhh good choice....

but it is the Vikings who shall make the leap next year...


The Vikings have certainly been the offseason flavor of the month, but I believe the Bills have two distinct advantages:

1. Better schedule
2. Better QB

I will address these individually. First the schedule. Cosider the draw the Vikings have. They play two of the toughest out-of-division lineups...the AFC South which had 3 playoff teams last year in the Colts, Jags and Titans- plus the 8-8 Texans...and they NFC East with the tough Panthers, Saints and Bucs. AND they draw the Super Bowl champs. The NFC North is a bloodbath each year as well.

Contrast that with the Bills schedule. Sure the Pats are a steamroller, but the Dolphins and Jets won't make anyone quiver. Then they get the AFC West, where only the Chargers are counted on to contend, and they NFC West where 9-7 might win the division.

For some reason, people want to write off Green Bay with Rogers. The Pack seem satisfied with him as their QB though. They don't even want Favre to return. That's hardly the case with the Vikings though. They have already been charged by the Pack with tampering with Favre in trying to sign him. Their response? "No comment".

That will be my 3rd: Tavaris Jackson??


The Vikings are the total package this year. Their defense should be great as usual, especially with the addition of Larry Allen.

And don't underestimate their offense. Tavaris Jackson isn't a great QB, but he has perhaps the best runningback duo in the NFL in Chester Taylor and AP. They were able to carry the team to an 8-8 record last season. With a great O-Line and added target (Bernard Berrian), Tavaris Jackson should improve significantly.

The Vikings only need to win 9 or 10 games to win the DIVISION, nevermind the wildcard. They are playing in a division in every other team appears to be on the decline. The VIkings are really the only team in the North who made any great strides.

Outside of the division they have plenty of winnable games. The Panthers, Titans, Texans, Bucs, etc. can all be beat by this Vikings team. Plus they play Atlanta and Arizona, two teams in turmoil right now.

Also consider that 6 of their opponents (2 division) finished in teh bottom half in rush defense last season (which equals 8 games). They should be able to torch teams, even if Tavaris Jackson is only an average QB.

The Bills don't have a proven QB either. Trent Edwards?


How does a fat old offensive lineman from the Niners help the Vikes on defense? I know you meant Jared Allen, but that's only one piece when they needed many.

Saying that Tarvaris Jackson "isn't a great QB" is a big compliment. He is a horrible QB. So bad that the Vikes risked tampering charges trying to get Favre to join their team. Edwards is the undisputed starter in BUF and has a LEGITIMATE supporting cast for a well rounded offense, with Lynch, Evans and Hardy.

You gonna make a case that Bernard Berrian is the answer? Please.

I'm also perplexed at people who are handing the division to the Vikes. The Packers are still the class of the division on both sides of the ball, Favre or no Favre.

The Vikes went 8-8 on a cake schedule. They only played SIX playoff teams, and went 2-4 against them. They lost to bad teams like Detroit and KC, and won games against the likes of Atlanta and San Fran.

They finished DEAD LAST against the pass and did NOTHING to correct it.

The "Total Package"??? Are you serious??? The Vikes are AP and a bag of rats playing a brutal sched. The Bills are far more well rounded, on the rise, and will make the playoffs.


Yes, the Vikings are probably worse than the Bills...

... but that is NOT the TD.

The NFC is a very weak division and there are some teams that could easily fall out of the playoffs from last year, or at the very least will decline...

Green Bay- The loss of Favre is huge. Rodgers should have breaking in period, and the Vikes should give them a good run for the Division.

Washington- They added Jason Taylor, but they only went 9-7 last year. Plus, they play in the toughest division in the NFC. The Vikes can definetly surpass them for a Wild Card Spot

New York Giants- They may be SB champs, but they lost Shockey and Strahan, which should weaken them significantly and this should also open things up for the Vikes.

The Vikes have much easier path to the playoffs then the Bills who must contend with the:

Patriots
Steelers
Browns
Broncos
Colts
Jaguars
Titans
Chargers
Texans

All of these teams are legit playoff contenders, or at the very least will make some noise. The Bills will have a tough time making the Wild Card with teams like the Jags and Titans looking to remain in power, and teams like the Browns, Texans, Broncos, etc. looking to move up,

Comments (43) Add A Comment

July 21, 2008  04:18 PM ET
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I cant hide it....The hot secretary just walked by and seen it. She gave me that...."meet me in 5 minutes" look.

July 21, 2008  04:20 PM ET
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Im gonna pretend to read Ferris Bueller's response, and have a hard time voting. Then I will vote as quick as possible for T-fo

July 21, 2008  04:20 PM ET
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sportsguy you better win this...this is too easy

July 21, 2008  04:22 PM ET
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I only see one other realistic possibility.

July 21, 2008  04:22 PM ET
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Maybe 2, but it doesn't really compare to Da Bills.

July 21, 2008  04:25 PM ET
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The Bills may not make the playoffs again until the year 2023.

July 21, 2008  04:32 PM ET
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The Vikings was the other "realistic possibility".

July 21, 2008  04:35 PM ET
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Goodell you dirty homer.

2023 = Next playoff appearance.

July 21, 2008  04:36 PM ET
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Moon....Dont hate.

The Vikes wont make the Playoff's till Tavaris can step up....And DONT give me any of that Trent Dilfer crap.

July 21, 2008  04:47 PM ET
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Heard you the first time, Moon.

July 21, 2008  04:52 PM ET
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I'd love to see who t-fo thinks will make the playoffs in the AFC. Will wait for arguments, but it's gonna take a lot to sway me.

July 21, 2008  05:07 PM ET
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10 wins...that's the benchmark for the AFC playoffs....I don't see buffalo winning more than 8...look at their schedule.

July 21, 2008  05:07 PM ET
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This shld be good

Sports Guy is 1 of the best new under rated TD'ers.........

July 21, 2008  05:08 PM ET
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http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule?team=BUF&season=2008&s easonType=REG

July 21, 2008  05:08 PM ET
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Anybdy know what the deal is with AngryCorgi?????????????????????????

July 21, 2008  05:35 PM ET
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"The Vikings are the total package this year."

I disagree. The Vikings were atrocious last year when it came to anything to do with passing. Passing offense was 28th, and passing defense was 32nd in the league. It's gonna take more than adding a defensive end and a receiver who has a habit of dropping passes to turn both of those around. Green Bay is BY FAR the most complete team in that division.

July 21, 2008  05:41 PM ET
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^ Without that DE and WR they went 8-8.... They certainly won't hurt them.

July 21, 2008  05:43 PM ET
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T-A-R-V-A-R-I-S!!!! Tarvaris!

July 21, 2008  06:10 PM ET
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<----------------------
Let's Go Buffalo!

 
July 21, 2008  06:44 PM ET
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^ Without that DE and WR they went 8-8.... They certainly won't hurt them.
TheSportsGuy is Ferris Bueller | 07/21/08, 05:41 PM

No, it won't hurt them, but trying to fix a secondary that couldn't cover a thing by trading for a defensive end won't help as much as getting a secondary player would have. And overpaying a mediocre receiver when your quarterback still has major developing to do won't turn that right around either. I'm not proclaiming them a playoff team until they play a few games and I see just how much those additions helped their flaws.

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