Eleven weeks of Premier Madden League football have come and gone. We are officially on to week 12 of the season and we are here to check who is leading each division and who is officially the bottom feeder of each division.
*Standings are taken from MyMadden
NFC East:
Leader: New York Giants (7-4) – The NFC East was one of the best divisions when we last took a look at the standings, however, they all have taken a step back. This includes the top seeded Giants who have been mediocre in their last 3 games. They played very well in their wins, however, the last three games have brought them back into reality. They are still outperforming expectations, however, if they want to win the division they will need to get things back on track soon.
Bottom: Dallas Cowboys (4-7) – From 0-5 to 4-7 isn’t as impressive as some would think, however, this Cowboys team looked as if they were on track for the number one pick. They have the roster and the Coach to save their season, however, will they be able to continue with their new running game plan with the rest of their schedule. They don’t have a favorable schedule for the rest of the season, however, the good news is that neither do their division mates.
NFC West:
Leader: Los Angeles Rams: (9-1) – The Rams are the clear number one seed at the moment. They played great football to start the season, however, their play has been slipping as of recently. Three of their last four games have been very close, within four points. Last week, the game could have gone either way in overtime, however, they suffered their first loss of the season versus the New Orleans Saints. They don’t have any room for error going forward as they only play one team below .500 for the rest of the season.
Bottom: San Francisco 49ers: (3-8) – The 49ers are still struggling this season. 3 wins at the mid season mark is not what they had in mind entering this season. This team is built to compete and they flat out just aren’t. They have had some close games with some good teams, however, given the landscape of the NFC, they aren’t making the playoffs this season. Now would be a time to see who they are going to keep going forward as well as get some young guys reps in the game.
NFC North:
Leader : Green Bay Packers (9-3) – The Packers are on a roll and they currently lead the only division in the Premier Madden League that boasts all teams having a record of over .500 or better. They have the coach, roster, and experience to continue their success, however, they only play one team that has a losing record for the rest of the season. They are 3-0 so far in the division, which if they can beat their fellow division mates one more time will go a long way in claiming that NFC North title.
Bottom: Chicago Bears (6-5) – The Bears are surging at the right moment. They have turned their season around in a big way, winning their last four games. They don’t have the roster like everyone else in their divisions, especially after trading one of their best players at the trade deadline, however, none of this has mattered. Their coach is willing his team to win and if the Bears can survive their schedule and somehow make the playoffs, they will be a tough team to beat.
NFC South:
Leader: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (8-2) – Have the Rams shown everyone in the Premier Madden League a way to disrupt Tom Brady and the Buccaneers offense? The Bucs were rolling until that Rams game, which resulted in not only a loss, but 10 interceptions thrown by Tom Brady. This is unheard of from a potential hall of fame superstar quarterback. The Bucs are currently on their first losing streak of the season, however, given their schedule and roster they should have no issue getting into the playoffs.
Bottom: Carolina Panthers: (0-11) – The Panthers are currently the only winless team in the league. Some would say that keeping Cam Newton at quarterback is contributing to the teams win total. They traded Baker which was smart for the future, however, it wasn’t for the short term. The Panthers are looking towards the future, and should be giving their young guys more reps which will help them in the long run. The fight for the one seed could be in jeopardy as the Panthers do have some winnable games left this season.
The Giants, Rams, Packers, and Buccaneers would make the playoffs at the moment as division leaders. The Vikings, Seahawks, and Lions would hold the wildcard spots. The NFC has 10 teams at .500 or better. A lot of the potential playoff teams will be facing off against one another, especially those in the NFC North. It will be an exciting finish this season, one that will most likely leave a double digit team out of the playoffs at the end of the season.
