@MikeGiardi: Jim Gray asked Tom Brady about Terence Knighton's proclamation "well done is better than well said." That's what his father always told him
The AFC Playoff Picture (formerly Ranking the AFC)
- Thread starter tims4wins
- Start date
I suppose it's obvious, but it just struck me that the top QB's pretty much predict the division winners:
Brady
Manning
Luck
Roethelsberger
And the good QB's predict the next four teams:
Flacco
Rivers
Smith
Dalton
The same applies in the NFC:
Rogers
Brees
Romo
Palmer
Then:
Wilson
Stafford
Foles
Kaepernick
Matty Ice is the only obvious exception; Eli may be a good quarterback, but not this year.
Brady
Manning
Luck
Roethelsberger
And the good QB's predict the next four teams:
Flacco
Rivers
Smith
Dalton
The same applies in the NFC:
Rogers
Brees
Romo
Palmer
Then:
Wilson
Stafford
Foles
Kaepernick
Matty Ice is the only obvious exception; Eli may be a good quarterback, but not this year.
DanoooME said:
Dalton is good. Maybe he's not great, but he's a good QB. Good means a bit above average. Like Dalton.
Take out the very top tier guys on playoff teams (Brady, Manning, Rodgers, Luck, Roethlisberger, Brees, Wilson) as well as the rookies and absolute bums and you don't see much difference between the starting QBs on likely/borderline playoff teams and a bunch of guys on non-contenders. Would you rather have a random draw from Pot A (Flacco, Stafford, Dalton, Rivers, Smith, Stanton, and Foles) or from Pot B (Kaepernick, Newton, Eli, Ryan, Cutler, Tannehill)? Not an obvious call IMO.
tims4wins said:
That's why we play the game. After Rivers & Co. come back and put another cap on Niners' season, they are very much still in.
Not likely. I'm running playoffs scenarios where they likely are in get in. If Cincy loses the next two the Ravens are in if they beat the Browns at home next week.SeoulSoxFan said:
Baltimore will be on life support if the Bengals win over Denver. They will need the Chiefs to win at home against San Diego to get into the playoffs.
A bengals win tomorrow secures a spot. But a steelers loss helps as well but the Steelers should win that game at home as that would give them the division and the pleasure of possibly knocking out the Ravens.MarcSullivaFan said:
If Buffalo beats Oakland, there will be six teams battling for two spots next week. If Buffalo loses to Oakland, they are eliminated.
Note that the Pittsburgh/Cincinnati winner wins the AFC North (regardless of tomorrow's CIN/DEN result). If PIT loses, they still get a wild card.
Note that the Pittsburgh/Cincinnati winner wins the AFC North (regardless of tomorrow's CIN/DEN result). If PIT loses, they still get a wild card.
Since Buffalo did not beat Oakland, there will be five teams battling for two spots next week.
Note that the Pittsburgh/Cincinnati winner wins the AFC North (regardless of tomorrow's CIN/DEN result). If PIT loses, they still get a wild card.
Note that the Pittsburgh/Cincinnati winner wins the AFC North (regardless of tomorrow's CIN/DEN result). If PIT loses, they still get a wild card.
Who would hold the tiebreaker between Denver and Pittsburgh if they finish with the same record?
jsinger121 said:
Yep, DEN would be 4-1 in common games, while PIT would only be 3-1. PIT's loss to the Jets kills them here.
The only team that can knock DEN out of a first round bye is CIN, assuming it wins out and DEN loses out. DEN would then only fall to #3.
Cross the Bengals off the list. They have two prime time games in a row with MNF and SNF next week. We all know how Cincy plays under the bright lights.
Stitch01 said:
Week 17 vs. Steelers is for the Division title, regardless of tonight's outcome. Tonight close to meaningless for Bengals. I have little hope they'll show up.
I guess they still have a really really outside chance of a bye if they win tonight and Broncos lose at home to Raiders, but not really.
loshjott said:
Completely wrong. If CIN loses tonight they're in serious danger of missing the playoffs with a loss next week. They've got a ton to play for.
A couple other teams' fate and playoff destinations are likely going to ride on that game too - SD and Baltimore in particular. No matter what happens tonight in the Denver-Cincy game the Cincy-Pitt game is going to have a lot of implications. Should be fun. I'm going to avoid rooting for any potential playoff outcome for the Pats. Doesn't really matter who gets in, and you never know if the 6 seed is going to knock off the 3 seed and throw the bracket out of whack.
Current seedings:
1. NE 12-3
2. Den 11-3
3. Cin 9-4-1
4. Ind 10-4 - whoops, my bad…they're 10-5 (thanks for the catch mwonow)
5. Pit 10-5
6. SD 9-6
- - -
7. Bal 9-6
8. Hou 8-7
9. KC 8-7
10. Buf 8-7
11. Mia 8-7
If they ended this way, the playoffs would be:
WC Round
SD at Cin
Pit at Ind
I'd see SD and Pit winning those games, to be honest. Which would mean that the divisional games would be:
SD at NE
Pit at Den
I'd be fine with those matchups. I assume any playoff game will be difficult, but that works for me. Still a lot of football to be played tonight and next Sunday, however.
1. NE 12-3
2. Den 11-3
3. Cin 9-4-1
4. Ind 10-4 - whoops, my bad…they're 10-5 (thanks for the catch mwonow)
5. Pit 10-5
6. SD 9-6
- - -
7. Bal 9-6
8. Hou 8-7
9. KC 8-7
10. Buf 8-7
11. Mia 8-7
If they ended this way, the playoffs would be:
WC Round
SD at Cin
Pit at Ind
I'd see SD and Pit winning those games, to be honest. Which would mean that the divisional games would be:
SD at NE
Pit at Den
I'd be fine with those matchups. I assume any playoff game will be difficult, but that works for me. Still a lot of football to be played tonight and next Sunday, however.
So if the Broncos do win tonight, does the NFL flex the Pats / Bills to 4:25 to have Denver / NE both playing at the same time like they did last year?
But these probably won't be the WC games.ivanvamp said:
Nevermind hosting a playoff game, as others have said the Bengals could very well lose out and miss the playoffs altogether.
After week 16:
The Patriots are locked in as the #1 seed. Indianapolis is locked in as the #4 seed. No other AFC team has a set seeding.
If Denver beats Oakland or if Pittsburgh beats Cincinnati, Denver will get the #2 seed. If Denver loses and Cincinnati wins, Cincy gets the bye and Denver drops to the #3 seed.
The Pittsburgh/Cincinnati winner wins the AFC North; the loser gets the #5 seed.
San Diego controls its own destiny - SD is in if it wins @ KC
Baltimore needs a win over CLE and a loss by SD to get in.
Houston needs a win over JAX and losses by BAL and SD to get in.
Kansas City needs a win over SD and losses by BAL and HOU to get in.
In any event, the SD/BAL/HOU/KC wild card will be the #6 seed.
The Patriots are locked in as the #1 seed. Indianapolis is locked in as the #4 seed. No other AFC team has a set seeding.
If Denver beats Oakland or if Pittsburgh beats Cincinnati, Denver will get the #2 seed. If Denver loses and Cincinnati wins, Cincy gets the bye and Denver drops to the #3 seed.
The Pittsburgh/Cincinnati winner wins the AFC North; the loser gets the #5 seed.
San Diego controls its own destiny - SD is in if it wins @ KC
Baltimore needs a win over CLE and a loss by SD to get in.
Houston needs a win over JAX and losses by BAL and SD to get in.
Kansas City needs a win over SD and losses by BAL and HOU to get in.
In any event, the SD/BAL/HOU/KC wild card will be the #6 seed.
The most likely scenario IMO is:
1. NE
4. IND hosts 5. PIT/CIN loser
3. PIT/CIN winner hosts 6. SD/BAL/HOU/KC
2. DEN
1. NE
4. IND hosts 5. PIT/CIN loser
3. PIT/CIN winner hosts 6. SD/BAL/HOU/KC
2. DEN
Of all teams that could come to Foxoboro, think my order of preference would be: Houston, Indy, SD, Baltimore, KC, Cinci, Pittsburghamfox1 said: