Regarding Titans/Jags as the final week SNF game, I am wondering whether a scenario can be constructed - I've munched around for a while with the NFL Playoff Machine, but haven't achieved the scenario I'm about to describe (my colleagues here with more smarts and/or more time might do better) - in which both the Titans and the Jags would make the playoffs
only in the event of a tie. In such a case, it might be better to select another game for Sunday night. The prospect of an overtime driven by tacit collusion towards a tie seems unseemly to me. For an historical reference point, please refer to
you play to win the game . I do realize, however, that there is a sufficient distinction between making the playoffs as a Divisional winner as contrasted to the third wildcard slot that there still would remain a substantial incentive to play to win. Yet, would anyone believe that the risk of not making the playoffs at all might be sufficient disincentive towards going all-out (e.g. going for it on fourth down or attempting a very long field goal)?