Z says Cats win

Prediction from SI's P. Zimmerman:


NFC SOUTH

I'm wearing myself out, so we'll take this week by week and wrap it up quickly. Bucs lose at New England on Saturday and they're 9-5. Panthers beat the Saints and they're 10-4. Falcons lose at Chicago and they're 8-6 and barely alive. Bucs knock Atlanta out the following week while the Panthers are beating the Cowboys. Panthers are at 11-4, Bucs at 10-5. I'll give them both the win on New Year's Day, so it ends up with the Panthers winning the division and Tampa Bay getting the wild card.

 

I bet Tampa and Carolina both end up 11-5

 

The biggest thing is that regardless of what we do from here on, it's assumed that we should make it into the playoffs unless the bottom drops out. I think it's fairly safe to say TB makes it too - and certainly, one of the two will win the division.

We'll probably play them again.

 

si has collectively been on our bandwagon for 3 or 4 seasons now. i'd like to see to see it play out that way, but i don't have a great deal of faith in this team doing the job.

no reason in the world that we shouldn't smack the aints around this sunday. except in the back of your mind, there's that gnawing fear that we go down there and make bouwman(?) look like a world-beater.

 

Under Dr. Z's predictions, Atlanta loses out. Although everyone on this board would love it, I just can't see them losing the last three games of the season. I think that they lose to CHI, beat TB and lose to us.

 

Optimally, NYG loses to KC, TB loses to NE, ATL beats CHI, TB beats ATL, Panthers win out and the panthers take the #2 seed.

 

I like how you think...

 

Brilliant!!

 

There a lot of "ifs" involved but it is plausible. I think the Bears are going to tank a bit and may even lose the division to the Vikings.

 

That brings up a good point. The Vikes are on a tear right now. Sorta remind me of a certain underdog from the NFC in the 2003 season