The first eight weeks of the 2016 NFL season are now complete and the true playoff contenders are beginning to emerge. It's still too early to declare any team the Super Bowl favorite, but the pretenders are relatively clear. With eight weeks complete, we have a better idea of which teams will be in the postseason mix and also which teams aren't playoff-bound this season.
This list should change a bit each week and while it's not quite the same as power rankings, it should look somewhat similar. This accounts for team's schedules as well as their divisions, so it's not based solely on record. So, here are my projections for the NFL Playoffs after eight weeks.
AFC:
1. New England Patriots (7-1)
Tom Brady is back and he's playing some of the best ball of his career. Over 70 percent completions with 12 TDs and no picks? That's just absurd and he's the MVP favorite right now. The Patriots are the team to beat in the AFC and likely the NFL.
2. Denver Broncos (6-2)
The Broncos are once again going to lead on the strength of their defense. Denver isn't perfect, but they look like the top team in a very good AFC West (for now). The team looks very similar to last year: a stout defense and a just-good-enough offense. The Raiders (more on them below) will push for this spot.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
The Steelers could be the No. 2 team, but they need QB Ben Roethlisberger back and playing at his normal level. The Cincinnati Bengals, despite being 3-4-1, are very much in the mix for this seed. The same is true of the Baltimore Ravens. Still, the Steelers have looked like the better team thus far.
4. Houston Texans (5-3)
Houston is still atop the division in the AFC South thanks to a comeback win over the Colts. The defense is good, although the offense still has some work to do. Brock Osweiler has to keep getting better, or the Texans won't make any noise in the playoffs. The AFC South is still a mess, with all four teams posting a negative point differential. I still think it comes down to the Texans and the Colts (sorry, Titans) and that win over Colts earlier this year is critical.
5. Oakland Raiders (6-2)
It hasn't always been pretty, but the Raiders are in great position to make the postseason. The defense needs to get better, but the offense has been spectacular. This team is not perfect, but the Raiders certainly have the offense to make noise. The schedule gets harder later in the year though.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
It's tough to get a read on the Chiefs, since they've been inconsistent this year. A win over the Raiders was key and they enter a portion of their schedule where they play no one with a winning record until Week 12. They have a tough end of the year slate, but wins from here to Week 12 would give them a big cushion. It's a tough AFC Wild Card race, with the Bills, Ravens, Bengals and even the Chargers in the mix. I'll give Kansas City the nod for now, but I expect this final seed to come down to the wire.
NFC:
1. Dallas Cowboys (6-1)
Dak Prescott didn't look great against the Eagles early, but still found a way to deliver a win. Prescott has done everything Dallas has asked, and the best ground game in the NFL led by Ezekiel Elliott and a great offensive line is a major reason for the team's success. Even the defense has exceeded expectations so far this year. Dallas is the favorite in the NFC East, although the looming question of Dak or Tony could cause issues. The only team in the NFC with one loss, they deserve the top spot. The schedule is not overly challenging the rest of the way.
2. Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
This Vikings defense is absurdly good, but the team as a whole has come back down to earth after a 5-0 start. However, even with a struggling offense, I still love this defense. The offensive line must get better and quickly, but the Vikings have the making of a playoff team.
3. Seattle Seahawks (4-2-1)
The Seattle offense is struggling. The defense is great, but a hobbled Russell Wilson has not been able to move the ball enough. Even with the problematic offense, the Seahawks look like a playoff team. Remember, it's a very close race for the top of the NFC, but that tie could end up hurting Seattle.
4. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
With the Panthers struggling, the Falcons are the top team in the NFC South. Matt Ryan is playing like an MVP and the defense has been good enough. However, the Falcons are starting to struggle, much like we saw last year. The bright side is I don't trust the Saints or Bucs, and the Panthers are still 2-5. They're listed as the No. 4 seed, but in a top-heavy NFC, there isn't much difference between the top four seeds.
5. Green Bay Packers (4-3)
The Packers seemed to have their offensive problems figured out, but it wasn't enough against the Falcons. A 4-3 mark isn't ideal, but with few other proven threats in the NFC, the Packers are still in position for a Wild Card spot.
6. Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1)
I have no idea who will end up taking this spot. There's the struggling Cardinals, the 4-3 NFC East teams in the Giants, Eagles and Redskins (who have a tie), and even the 3-4 NFC South teams in the Bucs and Saints. Can the 2-5 Panthers be counted out? This could end up being close race until the end of the season. For now, I'll go with the Cardinals. This team still has talent.