I think Atlanta is now in an advantageous position with a weak schedule. They really have only two games they may lose against the Saints and Texans and the Texans is now not very likely.

On the opposite end are the Giants, who may end up below .500 by the end of the season with a rough schedule ahead. I really do not consider them at this time with games @ Saints and against the Packers in the next two weeks.

I think the Lions are going to run into the same trouble dome teams seem to face every year at the end of the schedule...can't win on the road in December. They have three rough road games against the Saints, Packers and Oakland. I think that Oakland game is the swing game for them and they absolutely must beat the Vikings at home, which will be no small task with Suh likely suspended and Peterson coming back.

The Bears have a favorable schedule but without Cutler who know what will happen. They should win 3 and can win 4. I would hate to go into Minnesota on the last game of the year needing a victory, but I think that is what this season is going to come to. I fear the Bears are going to go into week 17 with a 1 game lead on the Lions, but with divisional records of Lions 4-3 and Bears 3-4. The Lions could afford to lose to the Packers because if the Bears lose @ Minnesota, the Lions would have the tie breaker.

Here is how I see it:

Atlanta 11-5
possibly 10-6 if they lose to the Texans

Lions 9-7
possibly 10-6 if they win @ Oakland

Bears 11-5
possibly 10-6 if they lose to the Vikings

So, Bears get the tiebreaker with the Falcons for the #5 spot.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I agree. Getting the 5 seed would be nice cuz it would most likely be the Bears vs Cowboys. I think Dallas is pretty much a lock for the 4 seed. Bears could win that with a healthy Culter. Looks like the Saints and 49ers are battling for the 2 and 3 slots. The 6 seed plays the 3 seed and the 5 seed plays the 4 seed on Wild Card Weekend.

Actually, it wouldn't be bad to get the 6 seed if the 49ers get the 3 seed. I think the Bears could win that game too. I just don't want to go to New Orleans for a playoff game.

I hope Suh appeals his suspension to play versus NO resulting in him sitting against Oakland. I think they lose both games if this happens. It also puts the Viking game much more into play as a loss.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

ESPN was saying even if he appeals it will be heard this week so pretty much no matter what he's missing the saints game.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

He has three days to appeal. That can take him to Friday. They have 10 days to provide a hearing. Then there must be some time to provide a decision.

An appeal could take several weeks to complete. Most likely it would be wrapped up next week. I doubt it would get done this week as the NFL likes to give its decisions sufficiently early that it doesn't inhibit the team's preparations.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

If he appeals, they should dock him for 3 games. He's lucky this is his first suspension as it is.

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I just hope it doesn't drag on forever like the performance enhancing suspension for the DT's from Minnesota that took like 3 seasons to wrap up cause they sued the NFL

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I don't think Atlanta's that strong or their schedule that weak. 10-6 is much more like likely.

I think 10-6 for the Bears, too. No matter who they play or how well they play there will always be a chance for huge point swings caused by interceptions. The rest of the Bear season seems unpredictable. Worst case scenario is that with a poor Hanie performance they bail out to McCown. It's worst because Martz just resists simplifying anything and he'll overwhelm McCown just like he did Hanie and cost a needless loss.

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The Cubs, I mean Sox, won, I mean lost--Tommy Williams.