Shutdown Corner Playoff Projection – The Ravens will be in, and the Packers will be out

It's never too early to project what the playoff bracket will look like in January, even after just one week.

Through the season we'll try to guess what the NFL playoff picture will look like when the season ends. To see through which teams are for real, and which are going to collapse despite their great early-season record. You might be 6-2 at the halfway mark, but that doesn't mean you'll be standing on top of your division at the end. It's important to note this is our ever-changing prediction of how we think things will play out and not necessarily a current plugging-in of teams with the corresponding records.

Think of it as "bracketology" for the pigskin set.

Every week, we'll also answer the pressing questions you will have about things like New Orleans being projected as the top seed in the NFC:

We saw you pick New Orleans to the Super Bowl. Now we see you have them as the top seed. Really, the Saints?

Did you see how well the Saints' defense played? New Orleans held Atlanta to 17 points! There is room on this bandwagon.

Detroit winning the NFC North and not Green Bay or Chicago? Has Ndamukong Suh kicked you in the head?

I like Detroit's offense with Reggie Bush. How soon we forget this was a playoff team two seasons ago. Green Bay is solid, but I am concerned about its defense right now.

So you don't think Baltimore is in trouble after getting blown out in Denver?

Baltimore is not that bad. Peyton Manning is just that good.

Kansas City's win over mighty Jacksonville really impressed you that much?

Whenever you hold an offense scoreless in the NFL, it is impressive. I believe in Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

Why is Dallas ahead of Philadelphia, after that show by the Eagles on Monday night?

Dallas' defense created six turnovers. Let's see what happens now that NFL defensive coordinators have film of Chip Kelly's offense.

Judging by your NFC West pick, can we guess who you're picking in this Sunday night showdown?

Frank Schwab may love Seattle, but I saw Colin Kaepernick make plays with his arm against Green Bay. Who's got it better than San Fran? Nobody in the NFC West.

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