2:40 PM Mon, Dec 15, 2008 | Permalink
By Art Martone  Email this author | Email this entry |
It looks as if these are the roads to the playoffs for the Patriots . . .
AFC EAST TITLE
-- Pats win both their remaining games, Jets lose at Seattle on Sunday, Dolphins win at Kansas City on Sunday, Jets beat Dolphins on Dec. 28.
-- Pats win both their remaining games, Jets win at Seattle on Sunday, Dolphins lose at Kansas City on Sunday, Dolphins beat Jets on Dec. 28.
-- Pats win both their remaining games, Jets lose at Seattle on Sunday, Dolphins lose at Kansas City on Sunday. (If Pats win both games and both the Jets and Dolphins lose on Sunday, the outcome of the Jets-Dolphins game on Dec. 28 is meaningless as far as the division title is concerned.)
-- Pats split their final two games, Jets lose at Seattle on Sunday, Dolphins lose at Kansas City on Sunday, Jets and Dolphins tie on Dec. 28.
WILD CARD
-- Pats win both their remaining games AND the Ravens lose at least one of their last two.
-- Pats win both their remaining games AND the Colts lose both their remaining games.
-- Pats win one of their last two games AND the Ravens lose both their remaining games AND the Dolphins and Jets both lose on Dec. 21.
We think that's it. The Patriots cannot win the division or make the playoffs if they lose both their remaining games.
New comments
New photos
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
>>Pats win both their remaining games AND the Ravens lose at least one of their last two.
I think this is the most likely path to the playoffs. It's the only scenario that leaves most of the control in their own hands. Dallas has won 4 of their last 5. It's entirely within the realm of possibility the Ravens will fall to them next week, which just leaves it up to the Pats to win their last 2.
Report Abuse
im the biggest pats fan in texas cause i was born in concord mass we gotta do it cause theese rednecks love it when the pats fail so i guess this week ill be a dallas fan soo go cowboys beat the ravens
Report Abuse
What about if the Pats lose to Arizona but beat Buffalo, and Miami loses to Kansas City but beat the Jets. (If my numbers are correct here, the jets would be behind anyway, so let's assume they beat Seattle, but that shouldn't matter.)
All teams would have the same record (10-6), so the division would fall to the tiebreaker. If I'm counting correctly, then all three teams would have the same:
1) head-to-head records (all teams splitting head-to-head games)
2) division record (4-2)
Miami and NE should then have the
3) record in common games (10-4), with the jets trailing (9-5)
And then all teams have the same
4) record in conference (7-5)
At that point, the tie breaker would be "strength of victory" between miami and new england, whatever that means.
Report Abuse
NE @ BUF MIA @ NYJ JAX @ BAL 3rd Seed 6th seed
NE Tie JAX NE NYJ
NE NYJ JAX NYJ NE
NE MIA JAX MIA NE
NE MIA Tie MIA NE
NE Tie BAL NE BAL
NE Tie JAX NE BAL
Tie NYJ JAX NYJ NE
NE MIA JAX MIA NE
This is updated after week 16, and contains different scenarios, based on week 17 matchups. There are 7 scenarios will playoffs will make it in the playoffs. It also has what team will clinch 3rd and 6th seed, based on the results in week 17. I used the scenario maker from this link:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/playoffscenario
NE - New England Patroits
BUF - Buffalo Bills
MIA - Miami Dolphins
NYJ - New York Jets
JAX - Jacksonville Jaguars
BAL - Baltimore Ravens
Report Abuse