Playoff question

[LasVegasPatsFan]

How is it that if the season ends today the two wildcard teams would be the Jests and Donkeys. How is it that Pitt can still get in with a Houston loss and a Jets loss. How do they get ahead of Denver? If Houston and the Jets both lose, shouldn't Baltimore and Denver get in (if they both win)???

 

[PowerAlley.com]

I have been pretty confused by how all the scenarios unfold. I just would prefer if we dont face Denver. Even though we "used to" own them, I dont want to see Pittsburg either.

 

[upstater1]

How is it that if the season ends today the two wildcard teams would be the Jests and Donkeys. How is it that Pitt can still get in with a Houston loss and a Jets loss. How do they get ahead of Denver? If Houston and the Jets both lose, shouldn't Baltimore and Denver get in (if they both win)???

Pitt has head-to-head advantage over Den.

Don't pay attention to "season ends today" rankings.

Some of the tiebreakers (such as common games) don't kick in until after next week.

Also, look up this week's thread titled: The Patriots wild card opponent will be:

All the scenarios are explained there.

 

[LasVegasPatsFan]

Head to head...thanks.

 

[MassPats38]

I don't know if it was mentioned in the playoff thread (I am not as interested in the "what-ifs" since the Pats made the cut), but Yahoo has a "scenario generator" incorporating these rules and allowing you to visually run through all these "what ifs." You just select wins or losses for the various games and it changes seeding and teams in the playoff picture.

A neat toy, although I still tend to reference the CBS Sportsline playoff race page for who's who in the playoff race as it gives the explanation for the seeding (although the current page still has Denver in over Baltimore, despite the head to head loss by Denver).

 

[jmt57]

As upstater, those 'if the season ended today' ranking are pretty much meaningless because other tiebreakers such as common opponents will kick in for some teams after Sunday's games. In addition, two-way tiebreakers such as head-to-head usually don't come in to play with three or four way ties.

You can find more discussion on the topic in these threads:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england.../307801-patriots-wild-card-opponent-will.html
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...t-next-weeks-afc-games-playoff-scenarios.html
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/307309-5-real-wild-card-candidates.html

 

[PYPER]

How is it that if the season ends today the two wildcard teams would be the Jests and Donkeys. How is it that Pitt can still get in with a Houston loss and a Jets loss. How do they get ahead of Denver? If Houston and the Jets both lose, shouldn't Baltimore and Denver get in (if they both win)???

Pitt beat Denver so if it comes down to just those two teams, they get in. If more teams are involved, the head-to-head tie breaker can't be used b/c not all of the teams played one another.

 

[Triggerfish]

Pitt beat Denver so if it comes down to just those two teams, they get in. If more teams are involved, the head-to-head tie breaker can't be used b/c not all of the teams played one another.

Actually, PITT, BAL, and DEN can all be tied and the Steelers still get in at the #6 seed. If other teams end up in the tie (Houston, Jets) Steelers are out.