As we approach mid-December, the NFL season is approaching the end of the regular season. With it comes the start of the post-season on the road to Super Bowl XLVIII. The teams are all now fighting for a spot in the playoffs, including many of the teams that students here at APB follow. Teams like the New England Patriots, the San Francisco 49ers, the New Orleans Saints, among others.

However, local teams are not doing so well in the playoff hunt. Teams like the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers don’t have too many chances to get in the playoffs, mainly due to the two superpowers in their division, the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs.

AFC West Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Net Pts	TD	Home	Road	Div	Pct	Conf	Pct	Non-Conf	Streak	Last 5
y- Denver Broncos	11	3	0	.786	535	372	163	68	7-1	4-2	4-1	.800	7-3	.700	4-0	1L	3-2
y- Kansas City Chiefs	11	3	0	.786	399	255	144	48	5-2	6-1	2-3	.400	7-3	.700	4-0	2W	2-3
San Diego Chargers	7	7	0	.500	343	311	32	37	3-3	4-4	2-2	.500	4-6	.400	3-1	2W	3-2
Oakland Raiders	4	10	0	.286	295	393	-98	34	3-4	1-6	1-3	.250	4-6	.400	0-4	4L	1-4

The San Francisco 49ers, the other California team, is faring better in their division, the NFC West. Although not too close to L.A., it is the next closest team.  Although they aren’t division leaders, they seem to be set for the playoffs.

NFC West Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Net Pts	TD	Home	Road	Div	Pct	Conf	Pct	Non-Conf	Streak	Last 5
y- Seattle Seahawks	12	2	0	.857	380	205	175	41	6-0	6-2	3-1	.750	9-1	.900	3-1	1W	4-1
San Francisco 49ers	10	4	0	.714	349	228	121	38	5-2	5-2	4-1	.800	7-3	.700	3-1	4W	4-1
Arizona Cardinals	9	5	0	.643	342	291	51	38	6-1	3-4	1-3	.250	5-5	.500	4-0	2W	4-1
St. Louis Rams	6	8	0	.429	316	324	-8	35	4-3	2-5	1-4	.200	3-7	.300	3-1	1W	3-2

Other teams that seem to be popular among APB students include the New England Patriots.  Their playoff chances are very high, as they are the sole leaders of their division and their aren’t too many chances of the Dolphins or the Jets catching up. Steven Martinez, a senior here at APB, said, “The Patriots are going to beat the Broncos and make it to the Super Bowl where they will meet either the Seahawks or the 49ers”. Steven and the rest of the Pats fans seem pretty confident in their team’s ability.

AFC East Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Net Pts	TD	Home	Road	Div	Pct	Conf	Pct	Non-Conf	Streak	Last 5
New England Patriots	10	4	0	.714	369	311	58	39	7-0	3-4	3-2	.600	7-3	.700	3-1	1L	3-2
Miami Dolphins	8	6	0	.571	310	296	14	33	4-3	4-3	2-2	.500	7-3	.700	1-3	3W	4-1
New York Jets	6	8	0	.429	246	367	-121	22	5-2	1-6	2-3	.400	3-7	.300	3-1	1L	1-4
Buffalo Bills	5	9	0	.357	300	354	-54	31	3-4	2-5	2-2	.500	4-6	.400	1-3	1W	2-3

Their is even a fan of the Cincinatti Bengals at APB: English teacher Mr. Villagomez.  “This is their year! They’re  just a damn right powerhouse. Behind the leadership of Marvin Lewis its hard not to win. He turned this organization around. Red rocket Andy Dalton, I trust him high and center . We have the Law Firm’s veteran leadership as well as A.J.’s Greens high hands one of the two top receivers in the NFL.”

AFC North Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Net Pts	TD	Home	Road	Div	Pct	Conf	Pct	Non-Conf	Streak	Last 5
Cincinnati Bengals	9	5	0	.643	354	274	80	44	6-0	3-5	2-3	.400	7-4	.636	2-1	1L	3-2
Baltimore Ravens	8	6	0	.571	296	277	19	27	6-1	2-5	3-2	.600	6-4	.600	2-2	4W	4-1
Pittsburgh Steelers	6	8	0	.429	321	332	-11	34	4-3	2-5	3-2	.600	5-6	.455	1-2	1W	3-2
Cleveland Browns	4	10	0	.286	288	362	-74	33	3-5	1-5	2-3	.400	3-7	.300	1-3	5L	0-5

The NFC North is still up for grabs, with the Lions being close to elimination after last Monday’s loss to the Ravens. APB physics and robotics teacher, Mr. Rice commented on the chances his Chicago Bears of making it far this season. “We just have to beat the Eagles and the Packers. Aaron Rodgers might be a problem, but right now we just have to take it one week at a time. It is our destiny to fulfill” he said.  The Bears are divisional leaders for now.

NFC North Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Net Pts	TD	Home	Road	Div	Pct	Conf	Pct	Non-Conf	Streak	Last 5
Chicago Bears	8	6	0	.571	406	391	15	47	5-2	3-4	2-3	.400	4-6	.400	4-0	2W	3-2
Green Bay Packers	7	6	1	.536	353	362	-9	38	4-2-1	3-4	2-2-1	.500	5-5-1	.500	2-1	2W	2-2-1
Detroit Lions	7	7	0	.500	362	339	23	45	4-3	3-4	4-1	.800	6-4	.600	1-3	2L	1-4
Minnesota Vikings	4	9	1	.321	363	425	-62	41	4-3	0-6-1	1-3-1	.300	3-7-1	.318	1-2	1W	2-2-1

For anybody interested in other teams, here are the rest of the standings:

AFC South Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Net Pts	TD	Home	Road	Div	Pct	Conf	Pct	Non-Conf	Streak	Last 5
z- Indianapolis Colts	9	5	0	.643	338	319	19	35	5-2	4-3	5-0	1.000	7-3	.700	2-2	1W	3-2
Tennessee Titans	5	9	0	.357	326	355	-29	38	2-5	3-4	0-4	.000	4-6	.400	1-3	3L	1-4
Jacksonville Jaguars	4	10	0	.286	221	399	-178	22	1-6	3-4	3-1	.750	4-6	.400	0-4	1L	3-2
Houston Texans	2	12	0	.143	253	375	-122	26	1-6	1-6	1-4	.200	2-8	.200	0-4	12L	0-5

NFC East Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Net Pts	TD	Home	Road	Div	Pct	Conf	Pct	Non-Conf	Streak	Last 5
Philadelphia Eagles	8	6	0	.571	364	349	15	43	3-4	5-2	3-2	.600	7-3	.700	1-3	1L	4-1
Dallas Cowboys	7	7	0	.500	393	385	8	46	5-2	2-5	4-0	1.000	6-4	.600	1-3	2L	2-3
New York Giants	5	9	0	.357	251	357	-106	28	3-4	2-5	2-3	.400	4-6	.400	1-3	2L	2-3
Washington Redskins	3	11	0	.214	305	434	-129	37	2-5	1-6	0-4	.000	1-9	.100	2-2	6L	0-5

NFC South Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Net Pts	TD	Home	Road	Div	Pct	Conf	Pct	Non-Conf	Streak	Last 5
New Orleans Saints	10	4	0	.714	359	270	89	42	7-0	3-4	4-0	1.000	8-2	.800	2-2	1L	3-2
Carolina Panthers	10	4	0	.714	328	208	120	37	6-1	4-3	3-1	.750	7-3	.700	3-1	1W	4-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	4	10	0	.286	258	324	-66	28	3-5	1-5	1-4	.200	2-8	.200	2-2	1L	3-2
Atlanta Falcons	4	10	0	.286	309	388	-79	35	3-4	1-6	1-4	.200	3-7	.300	1-3	1W	2-3

*Tables are from NFL.com