Predicting what’s ahead in an NFL season is no easier than forecasting

Given all the variables http://www.denverbroncosteamonline.com/dalton-risner-jersey , it’s probably harder.The team of September, the Chiefs, went mediocre on us in October and early November. Those struggling Patriots who were 2-2 now seem on course for yet another hosting role in the AFC playoffs.Early season woes for the Giants that were dismissed as temporary have become chronic. That ugly 0-2 start for the Saints has turned into a beautiful six-game winning streak.See?No matter. Here are some things to look for as we move through November and December.MORE QB INJURIESThis has been the overriding story of the season, with Aaron Rodgers, Carson Palmer, sensational rookie Deshaun Watson and Sam Bradford all going down. Ryan Tannehill didn’t even make it out of the preseason, and Andrew Luck’s shoulder didn’t heal enough after winter surgery for him to suit up.Speculating who might be the next quarterback or three who will suffer a major injury is ghoulish. Consider, though, that nine teams (Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Green Bay, Arizona Drew Lock Jersey , Tennessee, Oakland, Houston, Miami and Baltimore) have had to go to backups because of injured starters.OFFICIATING CONTROVERSYThis one is unavoidable, and will occur weekly. Seems as if no weekend goes by without a pool reporter being sent to talk to game officials about a decision.As video replay becomes more refined — we can just about count the blades of grass under a receiver’s hands as he cradles (or doesn’t) a pass — and the NFL rulebook remains far too complex, officiating will continue to play a huge role in outcomes of games.One request: no more reversals like what we saw in Falcons-Lions and Patriots-Jets that fans will be questioning into the new year.HOTTER SEATSOther than Hue Jackson in Cleveland, the fire figures to burn very hot under the Buccaneers’ Dirk Koetter; the Giants’ Ben McAdoo; the Bengals’ Marvin Lewis, whose contract is up this year; the Colts’ Chuck Pagano, who could get a pass because he’s had no, ahem, luck with his passer; and possibly the Lions’ Jim Caldwell. New York and Detroit are among the league’s biggest underachievers, and that likely won’t change in 2017.PASSION IF NOT SKILLIt would be difficult to find a club that would trade its roster for what the Jets or Bears have. It also would be tough to point out any teams that play with more passion and dedication.There’s no reason to believe either of them will stop giving their all for 60 minutes. New York is 4-5 in a year some projected it wouldn’t win a game and was tanking for the top overall draft pick. With any finishing power http://www.denverbroncosteamonline.com/dre_mont-jones-jersey , the Jets would be in the playoff hunt.Chicago is 3-5 despite an inept passing game, and has beaten Pittsburgh and Carolina. The Bears simply don’t go away. Maybe they aren’t the Monsters of the Midway, but they sure are pesky.Give tremendous credit to coaches Todd Bowles and John Fox. And expect more of the same from both teams the rest of the way.A TIE OR TWOOne thing we’ve learned from the reduced overtime period (from 15 minutes to 10) is that a tie is hardly unlikely. Indeed, getting more than one possession in OT can be problematic.So expect at least one deadlock down the stretch, and let’s hope it won’t figure into playoff tiebreakers.EARLY CLINCHINGSWith two highly regarded divisions, the AFC West and North, turning soft, watch for the Steelers and Chiefs to be selling playoff tickets by mid-December. Same for the Patriots, but that’s a yearly occurrence in the mediocre AFC East.Barring a stunning turnaround, the Eagles, at 8-1 the league’s top team, will be making postseason plans about a month from now. The Saints T.J. Hockenson Jersey , too, if their defense remains stout.A WIN FOR SAN FRANCISCO. AND FOR CLEVELAND.Just kidding.Actually, the 49ers beating the Giants this Sunday hardly is farfetched, though the odds would be much shorter if Jimmy Garoppolo was ready.San Francisco then has a bye before hosting Seattle, visiting Chicago and Houston, home for Tennessee and Jacksonville and at the Rams.The road for Cleveland has a trip to Detroit, home for Jacksonville, at Cincinnati and the Chargers, home for Green Bay and Baltimore, then road games at Chicago and Pittsburgh.You decide which team — if either — has a better shot at a victory. NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints got two touchdown passes from Drew Brees, two interceptions by Marcus Lattimore, and rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-14 Sunday to advance to the NFC championship game.Using a dominant ball-control offense after a horrendous start Justice Hill Jersey , Brees took the Saints (14-3) on scoring drives of 92, 79 and 67 yards. And a few gambles paid off to assure New Orleans will host the Rams (13-4) next Sunday for a spot in the Super Bowl.Los Angeles, which fell 45-35 at the Superdome in November, will try again next week, with the winner taking on either Kansas City or New England in the Super Bowl in Atlanta. The Saints’ win finished off a sweep of the divisional round by teams coming off byes.Wil Lutz added two field goals for the Saints, who last got this far in 2009, when they won the Super Bowl.Philadelphia (10-8) will not repeat as NFL champion; no team has done so since the 2004 Patriots.This was really two games in one. Philly scored on its first two drives as the Saints could do virtually nothing right.After that opening period, it was all New Orleans, yet the resilient Eagles kept it close enough that when Lutz missed a 52-yard field goal with 2:58 remaining, they were only one-score behind.Nick Foles, the hero of last year’s Super Bowl run, got them in position for yet another late winning score — just like last week at Chicago and last February against New England for the championship.Then Alshon Jeffery couldn’t handle a second-down pass from the Saints 27 and Lattimore grabbed his second interception to clinch the win.PATRIOTS 41 http://www.ravenscheapstores.com/ben-powers-jersey-cheap , CHARGERS 28FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Sony Michel ran for 129 yards and had three touchdowns and New England beat Los Angeles in the divisional playoffs to earn its eighth straight trip to the AFC championship game.New England (12-5) will play at Kansas City in next week’s AFC title game. The Patriots beat the Chiefs 43-40 in Foxborough in Week 6. The Patriots finished 9-0 at home this season.It is the 13th conference championship game appearance by the Patriots during the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era.The Chargers (13-5) haven’t reached the AFC title game since the 2007 season.Philip Rivers finished 25 of 51 for 331 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He is 0-5 in games played in Foxborough, including 0-3 in the postseason.Brady finished 34 of 44 for 343 yards and a touchdown. He improves to 8-0 as a starter against Rivers, who drops to 1-8 against New England all-time.James White tied Darren Sproles‘ NFL postseason record with 15 catches, totaling 97 yards.New England scored on its first four possessions of the game to build a 35-7 halftime lead.Julian Edelman had nine catches for 151 yards.