The Bungles could really be reeling. If they lose @SF next week and PIT also wins, everything is in play
Nope. If Pitt and Jets both win out then Pitt makes it over Jets on tie-breakers.Same scenario but Denver beats Cincy then Pittsburgh would miss the playoffs.
The Bengals game this week has zero impact on the division race.The Bungles could really be reeling. If they lose @SF next week and PIT also wins, everything is in play
They're 2 games apart in the standings with 3 to go. This is not true.The Bengals game this week has zero impact on the division race.
How do you figure?The Bengals game this week has zero impact on the division race.
So if the Bengals lose all 3 with their backup and Steelers win out, who's in?The Bengals clinch the division with any conference win or Steelers loss. Ergo, if the Steelers win Sunday, the Bengals result for division purposes is irrelevant.
As far as I can tell using the playoff machine, if the Jets win out and the Bengals lose out, the Jets are in. But if the Jets go 2-1 and both finish 10-6 the Bengals are in.So if the Bengals lose all 3 with their backup and Steelers win out, who's in?
The Bengals were 2-3 in their last 5 with Dalton. Without him, they could stink.
The Steelers, but it would still be them even if the Bengals won Sunday and lost the other two. Therefore, Sunday's Bengal game is irrelevant for the division. It's also pretty much irrelevant for the bye assuming they can beat Baltimore at home if they happen to beat Denver. And considering all they need to do is beat Baltimore at home to win the division, I'm really not worried.So if the Bengals lose all 3 with their backup and Steelers win out, who's in?
The Bengals were 2-3 in their last 5 with Dalton. Without him, they could stink.
Dalton doesn't need surgery on his thumb and might be back for the playoffs.I'm not sure if it's the new website, but to me RedOctober's post is blank. If I hit "REPLY" I can see he posted some sort of media, but it's not showing up at all when I read thread.
Anyone else get that? It could be some new filters by place of employment is using.
Long story short, what're you saying?
So, you're basing "irrelevance" on the assumption that the Bengals win a game they should win. I'm sure all the playoff teams could use some rest, let's just assign them wins for the games they should win.The Steelers, but it would still be them even if the Bengals won Sunday and lost the other two. Therefore, Sunday's Bengal game is irrelevant for the division. It's also pretty much irrelevant for the bye assuming they can beat Baltimore at home if they happen to beat Denver. And considering all they need to do is beat Baltimore at home to win the division, I'm really not worried.
I think his point is more that this week is not a conference or division game, so it's not going to cost them any tiebreaker issues with the Steelers either way. I think.So, you're basing "irrelevance" on the assumption that the Bengals win a game they should win. I'm sure all the playoff teams could use some rest, let's just assign them wins for the games they should win.
He's right that it has no impact on whether or not they win the division. I've yet to be able to find a scenario using the playoff machine where that niners game changes the AFCN division outcome. It has an impact on whether or not they make the playoffs.So, you're basing "irrelevance" on the assumption that the Bengals win a game they should win. I'm sure all the playoff teams could use some rest, let's just assign them wins for the games they should win.
You're right that their road to clinching is simple. But if they lose Sunday, that still keeps other options in play; and, as long as those options are in play, the result is relevant
If they lose Sunday, they'll have to beat Baltimore at home (highly likely, even with McCarron) to clinch a bye if they beat Denver and Denver wins their other two games. It literally has zero impact on the division race. It appears they can clinch a playoff spot with a win, but that already may be accomplished if Dallas beats the Jets the night before or Baltimore beats KC earlier in the day. I suppose it's relevant from that perspective, but the only way they miss the playoffs is if they lose out and PIT/NYJ/KC all win out since they win tiebreakers with the Chiefs and Jets. Sure it could happen, but I would imagine the Bengals inactive list Sunday will reflect what they think of the game.So, you're basing "irrelevance" on the assumption that the Bengals win a game they should win. I'm sure all the playoff teams could use some rest, let's just assign them wins for the games they should win.
You're right that their road to clinching is simple. But if they lose Sunday, that still keeps other options in play; and, as long as those options are in play, the result is relevant
You may well be right that there's a situation I missed on the playoff machine -- but this isn't about agreeing or disagreeing. There's a right answer and a wrong answer.I guess I disagree. I get the arcane tie-breaker stuff; but if the Bengals lose and the Steelers win, Pittsburgh is closer to winning the division than they are now. It very likely will prove meaningless, but in the here and now, it's not irrelevant.
If the Bengals win and the Steelers win, Pittsburgh is the same amount closer to winning the division than they would be if the Bengals lost. Again, it literally has zero impact on the division race. Who knows, the Bengals may choke the division away. It won't be because they lost to San Francisco.I guess I disagree. I get the arcane tie-breaker stuff; but if the Bengals lose and the Steelers win, Pittsburgh is closer to winning the division than they are now. It very likely will prove meaningless, but in the here and now, it's not irrelevant.
If the Steelers win out and the Bengals go 1-2 with the win over San Francisco, Pittsburgh still wins the division. What don't you understand about this?My last statement on this
Have the Bengals clinched the division? No
Until they do, no result involving them or a game involving the Steelers is irrelevant. That's what started this discussion -- the use of the word irrelevant. If the Bengals lose three and the Steelers win out, than losing to SF was relevant to Cincinnati losing the division.
If Pittsburgh loses any game, the division is over. If Cincinnati beats Denver or Baltimore, the division is over. Cincinnati-San Francisco does not have any impact on the division race.The Cincy-SF game absolutely matters for the division because you can't assume Pitt wins out. That's what's being left out in this analysis, I think. if Pitt wins out then the results of this game won't matter, but if Pitt goes 2-1, then Cincy will absolutely win the division with a win this week, and don't have to win either of the last two games.
I know it was said at one point, but it's been dropped in subsequent posts. I believe that's where the confusion lies. You must assume Pitt wins out to then declare that the Cincy-SF game has no impact on who wins the AFC North division.
Unless of course I'm wrong, in which case I retract my stern tone.
No it's not dude. You keep missing the fact that an 11-5 Steelers team beats an 11-5 Cincy team THAT ONLY BEATS SF THIS WEEK.If the Bengals lose three and the Steelers win out, than losing to SF was relevant to Cincinnati losing the division.
Exactly, he said in a completely non-stern tone.If Pittsburgh loses any game, the division is over. If Cincinnati beats Denver or Baltimore, the division is over. Cincinnati-San Francisco does not have any impact on the division race.
If Pats and Denver go 2-0 in the next two weeks, the Pats still need to win the Miami game to get the #1 seed, no?Pats can make it somewhat moot by going into the Meadowlands and stomping the Jets next week
Yes they do. Denver has the H2H tiebreaker with the Pats so they can't finish in a tie with them and get the #1 seed.If Pats and Denver go 2-0 in the next two weeks, the Pats still need to win the Miami game to get the #1 seed, no?
Well, Pats going 3-0 GUARANTEES it.If Pats and Denver go 2-0 in the next two weeks, the Pats still need to win the Miami game to get the #1 seed, no?
No. They can be the #1 seed by losing to Miami IF Denver loses as well.Yes they do
The object isn't to win the division outright - it's to win the division. When you can show me a single scenario where the division winner hinges on this game, I'll gladly come around to your opinion. Until then, as was said upthread, you're rejecting fact.The Bengals need to get to 12 wins to make tiebreakers not come into play. If the Bengals beat SF (in a game people are calling irrelevant) and Baltimore, they get to 12 wins.
Now, you can argue that one of those wins weighs more than the other in tiebreak scenarios ... but, as far as avoiding ending up tied with the Steelers is concerned, beating SF has relevance.
So, it is not 100% true that the SF game is irrelevant ... if it helps them avoid the tiebreaker
If Denver loses @ Steelers, I believe Pats wins vs. Titans and @ Jets clinch the #1 seed and make the Miami game irrelevant.If Pats and Denver go 2-0 in the next two weeks, the Pats still need to win the Miami game to get the #1 seed, no?
Here's the only one I can construct:The object isn't to win the division outright - it's to win the division. When you can show me a single scenario where the division winner hinges on this game, I'll gladly come around to your opinion. Until then, as was said upthread, you're rejecting fact.
Assuming we hold on to a bye (which, barring disaster, we obviously should), I can easily see Denver not making it to the AFCCG, even if they are the #1 seed. They will have to play whoever's playing best out of a pool that will include PIT, NYJ, and KC. Each of those teams is fully capable of holding Denver's offense to fewer than 10 points.So who are we rooting for next week, Pittsburgh or Denver? I say the Pats more or less have position over Cincy locked up with a one game lead, the tiebreaker, and no Dalton, and my desire to avoid PIttsburgh altogether outweighs my fear of playing Denver on the road. Go Broncos.
Exactly, he said in suddenly stern again tone.Here's the only one I can construct:
Bengals lose to Denver and Baltimore (10-5 without the 49ers game)
Steelers tie Denver, beat Baltimore and Cleveland (10-5-1)
Bengals need to beat 49ers to win the division, otherwise Steelers win..
Yeah I was referring to the 3 way tie scenario of Pitt NYJ and KC all getting to 11-5If Pats and Denver go 2-0 in the next two weeks, the Pats still need to win the Miami game to get the #1 seed, no?
Thank you - I stand corrected. Barring a tie in another game, it has no impact on the division race.Here's the only one I can construct:
Bengals lose to Denver and Baltimore (10-5 without the 49ers game)
Steelers tie Denver, beat Baltimore and Cleveland (10-5-1)
Bengals need to beat 49ers to win the division, otherwise Steelers win..
Nicely done except that Bengals need not to lose the 49ers game (they win division if they tie SF says the playoff machine).Here's the only one I can construct:
Bengals lose to Denver and Baltimore (10-5 without the 49ers game)
Steelers tie Denver, beat Baltimore and Cleveland (10-5-1)
Bengals need to beat 49ers to win the division, otherwise Steelers win..