Playoff picture 12-18
Steve Fraser
Baltimore Ravens (11-4), Oakland Raiders (11-4) and Denver Broncos (10-5).
. The Miami Dolphins (10-5) and New York Jets (9-6) both qualify for the
postseason with wins in Week 17. The Dolphins, with a win, clinch the AFC
East.
But from there, the permutations get complicated. Here's how the various
races shake down:
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE:
It's a two-team race between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. This
is because the Oakland Raiders, the only other team that could catch the
Titans, finished AFC play at 8-4. The Tennessee Titans finished AFC play at
9-3, and for the Ravens to be in consideration for home-field advantage,
they would need a win over the New York Jets, pushing their conference mark
to 10-3.
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
Scenario Result
TEN wins, BAL wins TEN gets No. 1 seed, BAL gets No. 4
TEN wins, BAL loses TEN gets No. 1 seed, BAL gets No. 4
TEN loses, BAL wins BAL gets No. 1 seed, TEN gets No. 4
TEN loses, BAL loses TEN gets No. 1, seed, BAL gets No. 4
It is also important to note that the Ravens and Titans have both clinched
home games; neither can finish any lower than No. 4 in the playoff seedings.
This is a result of Tennessee's AFC-leading 12 wins and the fact that the
Ravens can do no worse than 11-5 overall and 9-4 in conference games, which
would give them conference-record tiebreaker advantages on whoever comes in
second place in the AFC West.
AFC WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
For the division championship, the math is simple - if Raiders win, they
take the division and the No. 2 seed in the postseason. If the Raiders lose
and the Denver Broncos win, it's Denver that claims the division.
A Broncos division title would not necessarily result in a bye week. That
would only occur if the Dolphins lost, since a Broncos/Dolphins tie at 11-5
would go to Miami on the basis of conference record (9-3 to 8-4).
Oakland would clinch the division championship if the Broncos lose to the
San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. In that scenario, the Raiders would still
need a win for a bye week if Miami defeats the New England Patriots in a 1
p.m. ET game Sunday. Should the Dolphins and Broncos both lose before
Oakland's 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday, the Raiders' result would be moot;
they would be locked into the No. 2 seed.
THE FINAL SPOTS
Oakland, Denver, Tennessee and Baltimore are playing for seeding; their
trips to the postseason are already assured. The fifth spot - and No. 3
seed, should Oakland win - will go to the AFC East winner. All three teams
with a shot at the postseason from the AFC East can conceivably win the
division - the Dolphins, New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.
Miami is the only team that controls its own destiny for the AFC East
title - with a win over the New England Patriots, the Dolphins are
champions. Miami can also clinch the No. 2 seed and the accompanying bye
with a win plus losses by both Denver and Oakland, creating a conference
record tie that the Dolphins' 9-3 AFC record would break.
The Jets control their own destiny in regards to qualifying for the
postseason; with a win over the Ravens, they are in the playoffs. However,
they can still take the AFC East with a win and a Miami loss.
Indianapolis must receive help to make the playoffs. If the Jets and
Dolphins both win in 1 p.m. ET games Sunday, the Colts are out, regardless
of the result of their 4:15 ET home clash with the NFC Central-leading
Minnesota Vikings.
All three teams can still win the division. Should the Jets or Colts win the
AFC East, they would be locked into the AFC's No. 3 seed, with the No. 1
seed being the AFC Central winner and the second seed being the AFC West
champion.
AFC EAST POSSIBILITIES
Scenario Result
MIA, NYJ and IND all win MIA wins division, NYJ make playoffs, IND out
MIA and NYJ win, IND lose MIA wins division, NYJ make playoffs; IND out
MIA and IND win, NYJ loses MIA wins division, IND in, NYJ out
MIA wins, IND and NYJ lose MIA wins division, NYJ and IND out with PIT win,
NYJ in with PIT loss
MIA loses, NYJ and IND win NYJ wins division, IND in, MIA out
MIA and IND lose, NYJ win NYJ wins division, MIA in, IND out
MIA and NYJ lose, IND win IND wins division, MIA in, NYJ out
MIA, IND and NYJ lose MIA wins division, NYJ and IND out with PIT win,
NYJ in with PIT loss
Pittsburgh needs a win over the San Diego Chargers, plus losses by the Colts
and Jets, in order to obtain the No. 6 seed. This scenario would create a
two-way tie for second place in the AFC East between the Jets and Colts,
which the Jets would win based on division record. Pittsburgh and the Jets
would then go into a tiebreaker, which the Steelers would win by virtue of
their 20-3 win over the Jets on Oct. 8.
RedFrog
Now, could you break down the NFC for me? ;)
--
RedFrog
Raider Fan in ViQueen Land
"Steve Fraser" <N...@spam.net> wrote in message
news:91kh73$p...@dispatch.concentric.net...
BeachBum
"Steve Fraser" <N...@spam.net> wrote in message
news:91kh73$p...@dispatch.concentric.net...
DXN88
it? Hehehhehe
"Steve Fraser" <N...@spam.net> wrote in message
news:91kh73$p...@dispatch.concentric.net...
Gary DeWaay
> Should the Dolphins and Broncos both lose before
> Oakland's 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday, the Raiders' result would be moot;
> they would be locked into the No. 2 seed.
Should Gruden rest some starters if this happens?
I would hope so.
Also stop every drive at the 30 and let Jano practice his in game
kicking.
Gary