Week 12 made the playoff picture in both conferences extremely foggy and very hard to predict. During this week’s wrap up we will take a look at each bubble team’s chances at making the playoffs. But first, a few thoughts on some of Week 12’s action.

I’ve been criticizing every person who has been calling for the Nick Foles era in Philadelphia. And I feel very proud of myself for predicting the inevitable. Foles didn’t play bad on Monday night, but he didn’t play good enough. If you can’t lead your team to a victory at home in primetime against a team as ugly as Carolina, you should not be running the show with the Eagles. Foles will see his last few games as an NFL starter in the coming weeks, if Vick doesn’t come back, and he really needs to step it up if he ever wants to be a starter in this league. Its looking like the Eagles will be clearing house at the seasons end. The only team with a stranger situation at quarterback right now? Arizona. The Cardinals started Ryan Lindley this week. (crickets) Most people have never even heard of this guy. Arizona let there sixth round pick throw 52 passes against the Rams this week. Might as well try everything to stop this 7 game skid, right?

Lets start our playoff preview with the AFC. My locks are Denver, New England, Baltimore, and Houston. With two spots up for grabs, lets take a look at the “contenders.”

• Indianapolis Colts (7-4) – The Colts are the closest thing to a lock in the conference. Average football with an awful schedule has resulted in 7-4 and in control of their own destiny. The Colts best win this season is against the Packers before they finally put it together, and their ‘impressive’ season includes a loss to the Jags. They play Houston twice, but in week 17 the Texans could have their backups on the field all game. Look for the Colts to finish around 9/10 wins and take a wild card spot.
• Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) – The Steelers are embarrassing without Big Ben, quite honestly. Batch is old, Byron can’t move, and we may even see a Brian Hoyer sighting this season. If they get Big Ben back, they should take home the final playoff spot, but a tough schedule down the stretch scares me, and if they can’t get Roethlisberger back in time, I think they’re out this season.
• Cincinnati Bengals (6-5) – The Bengals seem to be a team that would capitalize if the Steelers falter without their anchor. The Bengals have an average schedule the rest of the way, and have started clicking at the right time. I could see 9/10 wins for the Bengals at the year’s end, and that should be enough to get them in.
• Miami Dolphins (5-6) – Miami has been a nice story this season, but I don’t see them having a shot at the playoff this year. New England and San Francisco back to back is a tall order for the young fins, and I think they will wind up 7-9 at the years end.
• San Diego Chargers (4-7) – Never say never, right? The Chargers schedule for the rest of the year – Bengals, @Steelers, Carolina, @Jets, Raiders. A 5 game win streak is possible! The Chargers have the most firepower on offense among the wild card contenders, and although its farfetched, a push for the playoffs is very possible.

In the NFC, my locks are Atlanta, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Green Bay. I’m not worried about Green Bay’s performance this week. They should be in. One spot remains for a bunch of teams that look like they don’t want to earn it.

• Seattle Seahawks (6-5) – The lone team left from my prediction that the NFC West would compete for these spots this season. Seattle’s biggest test will be San Francisco week 16. They should beat the Cardinals and Rams at home, Buffalo on the road is a toss up, and Chicago on the road is a loss. I think the Seahawks will wind up 9-7, and that may just be enough for the final wild card spot.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) – Theres no doubt the Bucs are playing the best football out of all the teams in the hunt. The problem? Three of their remaining games – @ Atlanta, @ New Orleans, @ Denver. If they find a way to win one of those, they could wind up 9-7 and hoping for a slip up from Seattle down the road. But I think it will be more than likely that the Bucs are watching the playoffs from home this season.
• Minnesota Vikings (6-5) – I picked the Vikings early on, but they have no hope for the final spot. Packers twice, at Houston, and the Bears at home. The only light game is at St. Louis, but at this point, that may not even be easy for the Vikings. It’ll be 7-9 the hard way for Minnesota this season.
• Washington Redskins (5-6) – The Redskins schedule is favorable the rest of the way – home to Baltimore and the Giants. They will probably drop Baltimore, but I think they will shock the Giants on Monday Night. At Cleveland, at Philadelphia, home to Dallas. 9-7 is very, very do-able, and they hold the tiebreaker over Seattle. Unfortunately for the Skins, 4-1 is going to be tough, and an early season debacle against the Rams may come back to haunt them.
• New Orleans Saints (5-6) – Its going to be tough for the Saints to make it. At Atlanta and @ New York Giants is a tough way to open up the playoff push. And I don’t think 8-8 will do it this year, the Saints need to finish at least 9-7. The schedule is favorable after those two tough games, and if they pull off an upset, it may be possible. But its a reach.
• Dallas Cowboys (5-6) – The Cowboys have an easy schedule the rest of the way. Two home games against the Saints and Steelers will be the tests along with away at Cincinnati, and if they win out, a season ending clash at Washington would decide their fate. But seriously, who has faith in the Cowboys? Not me. I can’t wait to see what kind of drama we’ll see in Jerryworld in the offseason.

My picks are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Washington. Go big or go home. I believe in RG3.

The Michael Vick Award for Best Performance goes to Robert Griffin III. RG3 was a stud on thanksgiving – 311 yards and four touchdowns. Jerry Jones was in awe after the game. RG3 may have had his coming out party in front of a national audience.

The Kyle Orton Award for Worst Performance goes to the entire New York Jets organization. Seriously, the management, the owners, the players, the coaches, and the fans. Anybody at this game probably should have just stayed home and enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving meal with the family. Seriously. Even you, Mark Sanchez. 49-19 to your rivals on Thanksgiving is just embarrassing.

The Golden Tate Award for Most Deceiving Performance goes to Justin Forsett. Even the replacement refs would have called him down on his lone touchdown run against the Lions! If it wasn’t for a bonehead challenge flag, Forsett wouldn’t even be accepting this award. For those who haven’t seen it – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbgeZhW2tzE

Apologies for not writing last week – Thanksgiving break got the best of me. Should be back on track till seasons end.