NFL Playoff Schedule 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

NFL Playoff Update: San Diego Chargers Are Still Alive... Barely

Chargers QB Philip Rivers - Courtesy of San Diego Chargers

Call me crazy - and I know some of you will - but the San Diego Chargers are still in the thick of the hunt for the second Wild Card playoff spot in the AFC. It's a long shot because of the Bolts' remaining schedule, the toughest in the NFL, but it could happen.

It all starts, and perhaps ends, this weekend. San Diego has to win in Miami on Sunday.

Here are the teams competing for that second Wild Card as of today:

New York Jets 5–4
Miami Dolphins 4-5
Cleveland Browns 4-5
Baltimore Ravens 4-5
San Diego Chargers 4-5

If the Chargers beat the Dolphins tomorrow, San Diego will of course pass Miami on this list.

The Cleveland Browns will probably (if not certainly) lose to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. And the Baltimore Ravens could certainly lose to the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Chicago.

If all that happens, San Diego would be behind only the New York Jets, who will probably win at the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. But that isn't a given, either. Buffalo is a decent team at home.

If these games go as I expect and hope, the Chargers will be tied with or closely trailing only the Jets for the second AFC Wild Card spot by the end of the weekend. And then San Diego has to play the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead. And at Denver.

It's a tough road, and San Diego's defense is giving up far too many yards and points. But with Chargers' quarterback Philip Rivers back in Pro Bowl form, this team is capable. Inconsistent, but capable.

If San Diego loses on Sunday, though, any hope of a playoff bid this season goes from slim to virtually none.

Hot Trends: NFL 2013 AFC Playoff schedule and predictions

LOS ANGELES, December 30, 2013-The 2013 NFL regular season is now in the history books. The AFC playoffs are set.

1.) 13-3 Denver Broncos

2.) 12-4 New England Patriots

3.) 11-5 Cincinnati Bengals

4.) 11-5 Indianapolis Colts

5.) 11-5 Kansas City Chiefs

6.) 9-7 San Diego Chargers

How we they here: While their could has been plenty of movement among the top four seeds, no changes took place. They all won in Week 17 by double digit margins and held serve. Kansas City was locked into the five seed and the only team in either conference who had the option to rest starters.

The San Diego Chargers had all of the football gods smile upon them. Had either the defending champion Baltimore Ravens or Miami Dolphins won, San Diego would have been out. They both lost. Chiefs Coach Walrus Lite Andy Reid did bench his starters, and San Diego barely survived beating the Chiefs' backups in overtime.

Had San Diego lost, the Pittsburgh Steelers would have been in the playoffs. Instead, the Ravens, Dolphins, Steelers, and previously eliminated New York Jets all finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs. The January 4 and 5 wildcard matchups:

San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts

The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos have first round byes and the week off. Denver has home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

January 11 and 12 are the divisional matchups:

If San Diego wins, they are at Denver. If Cincinnati wins, they are at New England. The winner of the other wildcard game would not know their opponent until this wildcard is settled.

Predictions: The bottom four seeds are tomato cans. There are upsets every year, but this is a year to go with the favorites. New England and Denver are on a collision course to meet in the AFC Title Game on Sunday, January 19th. The football world wants to see Peyton Manning and Tom Brady duel again, and this year it will happen. Follow Eric Golub on Twitter @TYGRRRREXPRESS Eric Golub is an independent writer for the Communities. Read more from Eric at his TYGRRRR EXPRESS blog. Follow us on Twitter @wtcommunities

This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.

Eric Golub is a politically conservative Jewish blogger, author, public speaker, and comedian. His book trilogy is "Ideological Bigotry," "Ideological Violence," and "Ideological Idiocy."

He is Brooklyn born, Long Island raised, and has lived in Los Angeles since 1990. He received his Bachelors degree from the University of Judaism, and his MBA from USC. A stockbrokerage professional since 1994, he began blogging on March 11th, 2007, the three year anniversary of the Madrid bombings and the midpoint of 9/11. He has been inflicting his world view on his unfortunate readers since then. He blogs about politics Monday through Friday, and about football and other human interest items on weekends. Contact Eric Golub

2013 NFL PLAYOFFS

NFL 2013 Playoff Schedule

WEEK 17: 12-4

TOTAL: 162-94

BREAKDOWN OF RECORD

	NOON	3PM	NIGHT	HOME	AWAY	TV	≤ 8 PTS	OT
WK 17	6-2	6-1	0-1	8-2	4-2	3-2	6-1	0-0
TOTAL	90-49	39-34	33-11	89-44	73-50	60-33	70-61	8-11

Playoffs start on Saturday January 8....

NFL Playoff Schedule 2013 - 2014 | ESPN

Here is the NFL Playoff Schedule for 2013 -14. Keep a track here for any changes in time and latest details on qualifying teams

AFC WILD-CARD ROUND

Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts (4:35 p.m. ET on NBC, SATURDAY, JAN. 4)

San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals (1:05 p.m. ET on CBS, SUNDAY, JAN. 5)

AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND

TBA at New England Patriots (8:15 p.m. ET on CBS, SATURDAY, JAN. 11)

TBA at Denver Broncos (4:40 p.m. ET on CBS: SUNDAY, JAN. 12)

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

SUNDAY, JAN. 19, time TBA

NFC WILD-CARD ROUND

No. 6 New Orleans Saints at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles (8:10 p.m. ET on NBC: SATURDAY, JAN. 4)

No. 5 San Francisco 49ers at No. 4 Green Bay Packers (4:40 p.m. ET on Fox: SUNDAY, JAN. 5)

NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND

TBA at No. 1 Seattle Seahawks (4:35 p.m. ET on Fox: SATURDAY, JAN. 11)

TBD at No. 2 Carolina Panthers (1:05 p.m. ET on Fox: SUNDAY, JAN. 12)

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

SUNDAY, JAN. 19, time TBA

Printable 2014 NFL Playoff Bracket

The 2013-2014 NFL Playoffs are set to begin on Saturday, January 4 six days after the end of the crazy 2013 regular season. Two games will be played Saturday, January 4 and two games will be played Sunday, January 5. Second round games will be played Saturday and Sunday, January 11 and 12. Third round games will be played Sunday, January 19. The NFL Super Bowl will be played Sunday, Febuary 2nd.

I've create a printable bracket for the 2014 NFL playoffs with helmets that you can download for free and use in your office pools. As a bonus, I've also included the complete 2013-2014 NFL Postseason Schedule within the bracket spreadsheet, including kickoff times and broadcast stations. Download the file below (hosted on box.com).

Printable 2014 NFL Playoff bracket.xls download

If you enjoy this spreadsheet, please use the share buttons to send to your family, friends, and coworkers. Also, be sure to check back after the playoffs are over and I’ll be posting my Superbowl squares spreadsheet.

Hot Trends: NFL Playoff Schedule: Chiefs-Colts will kick off Wild Card Weekend

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will host the 49ers on Sunday. (USATSI)

The NFL has announced the dates and times for this weekend's wild card games. The NFL postseason will kickoff in Indianapolis on Saturday with the AFC South champion Colts hosting the fifth-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos will be the last playoff team in action this postseason. After taking Wild Card Weekend off, the Broncos will open postseason play in Denver at 4:40 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 12 in a game that will be televised on CBS.

Here's the complete wild-card schedule: Saturday, Jan. 4

No. 5 Kansas City at No. 4 Indianapolis, 4:35 p.m. ET (NBC)

Regular season result: Colts 23, Chiefs 7 at Kansas City in Week 16.

No. 6 New Orleans at No. 3 Philadelphia, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)

Regular season result: N/A Sunday, Jan. 5

No. 6 San Diego at No. 3 Cincinnati, 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)

Regular season result: Bengals 17, Chargers 10 at San Diego in Week 13.

No. 5 San Francisco at No. 4 Green Bay, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)

Regular season result: 49ers 34, Packers 28 at San Francisco in Week 1. Divisional Round Schedule Saturday, Jan. 11

Green Bay/San Francisco/New Orleans at No. 1 Seattle, 4:35 p.m. ET (Fox)

Kansas City/Indianapolis/Cincinnati at No. 2 New England, 8:15 p.m. ET (CBS) Sunday, Jan. 12

Philadelphia/Green Bay/San Francisco at No. 2 Carolina, 1:05 p.m. ET (Fox)

San Diego/Indianapolis/Kansas City at No. 1 Denver, 4:40 p.m. ET (CBS)