Predictions in sports, especially pro football, even simple questions of can and will a team make the post-season is a waste of time. Sure it fun for idle chat like at the barbershop/coffee breaks but sports analysts/commentators...why?
#1 and foremost...injuries, of course always unforeseeable...devastating our injury woes were this yr. Look at SD's O-line/K. Allen or Romo/Dez or Big Ben/LeVeon or Dalton or Jordy Nelson or Luck or Edelman, etc...etc..? They are season altering. Beginning of every season/camp..."we're finally healthy; we're getting healthy...." then BAM! Add to that: draft outcome, free agency, retirements (ask SF), trades, a key player having a down year like Matt Ryan, and other teams success no matter your record like a 2013 AZ team out the playoffs with a 10-6 record (T-5th best record in the NFC) Anything can happen at any time, so no point speculating esp. in January if we can or will make the playoffs.