Does the wild card team play all its divisional games on the road?

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Say NE and NYJets end with the same record. One team is the wild card. Does the wild card team have to play divisional winners on their turf even though the wild card team has a superior record?

For example, the Colts win their division at 10-6. Say the NYJets are the wild card at 12-4. Do the Jets travel to play the Colts or vice versa? Thanks.

 

[PatsWSB47]

Say NE and NYJets end with the same record. One team is the wild card. Does the wild card team have to play divisional winners on their turf even though the wild card team has a superior record?

For example, the Colts win their division at 10-6. Say the NYJets are the wild card at 12-4. Do the Jets travel to play the Colts or vice versa? Thanks.

Division winner plays at Home

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Yes, the division winners play their first game at home. In 2008 the 12-4 Colts were the wild card and they lost, playing at the 8-8 Chargers.

Now if the wild card team beats the divison winner, the next weekend the home field goes to the team with the best record. In other words, winning a division only guarantees one home game. That could come into play if the wild card team has the second best record overall, better than the second-best divsion winner.

 

[xmarkd400x]

Yes, the division winners play their first game at home. In 2008 the 12-4 Colts were the wild card and they lost, playing at the 8-8 Chargers.

Now if the wild card team beats the divison winner, the next weekend the home field goes to the team with the best record. In other words, winning a division only guarantees one home game. That could come into play if the wild card team has the second best record overall, better than the second-best divsion winner.

I thought it was the higher seed that played at home, not the team with the better record.

For example, lets say one division had two 15-1 teams. The first 15-1 team is the #1, and the second 15-1 team is the #5 (top WC spot).

Wild card weekend would look like this (winner in parenthesis)
#5 @ #4 (#5)
#6 @ #3 (#3)

The divisional weekend would look like this, since the top seed plays the lowest remaining seed:
#5 @ #1 (#5)
#3 @ #2 (#2)

The Championship game would be #5 @ #2, I believe. Even if #2 was only an 11-5 division winner.

 

[sbpatfan]

The easiest way to look at is by seeding. #1 Will always be at home. #3 will be home unless it's playing #1,2.. etc.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Yes, the division winners play their first game at home. In 2008 the 12-4 Colts were the wild card and they lost, playing at the 8-8 Chargers.

Now if the wild card team beats the divison winner, the next weekend the home field goes to the team with the best record. In other words, winning a division only guarantees one home game. That could come into play if the wild card team has the second best record overall, better than the second-best divsion winner.

Not true. The divisional round is re-seeded, so #1 always faces the lowest remaining seed (e.g., if the winners are #4 and #6, 1 plays 6 and 2 plays 4).

If it were as you suggested, then the #2 seed could get screwed out of a home game.

 

[Deus Irae]

The only way a wild card team will get a home game is if both wild card teams make the championship game. In that case, #5 would host #6.

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

If the wild card team seeded 5 (despite having the second best record in the conference) is always on the road -- then the game next week on Monday night against the Jets may be for very high stakes indeed.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Not true. The divisional round is re-seeded, so #1 always faces the lowest remaining seed (e.g., if the winners are #4 and #6, 1 plays 6 and 2 plays 4).

If it were as you suggested, then the #2 seed could get screwed out of a home game.

thanks, you're right.

Let's take care of the Lions and beat the Farkin Jets so we don't have to worry. Maybe others can beat the Jets too, why not, let's have a league-wide Jets stomping party.

 

[Mack Herron]

Some more diligent fan than I can compute the probabilities, but I suspect the chances of winning a championship will swing heavily to the team that comes away with a victory on Mon night.

 

[Urgent]

The only way a wild card team will get a home game is if both wild card teams make the championship game. In that case, #5 would host #6.

No, it's as stated: the team with the best record (including tie breakers) gets the home game for each round.

In the current situation, Jets and Pats are tied for best record. If the season ended today, Pats would be #5 seed and Wildcard away team, with the best record in football. However, if they won, they would likely have a home game the following weekend.

 

[Deus Irae]

No, it's as stated: the team with the best record (including tie breakers) gets the home game for each round.

In the current situation, Jets and Pats are tied for best record. If the season ended today, Pats would be #5 seed and Wildcard away team, with the best record in football. However, if they won, they would likely have a home game the following weekend.

I'm sorry, but you're incorrect:

During the regular season, the seeds reflect how the playoffs would stand if the season ended up to that point. The NFL playoffs are not based on a pure bracket system. In the divisional playoffs, the No. 1 seed is assured of playing the lowest-seeded Wild Card survivor. There are no restrictions on intra-division games and the higher seed of any matchup will have home-field advantage.

NFL 2010 Playoff Race - CBSSports.com

 

[Urgent]

...with the provision, I believe, that if you get a Bye, you get a guaranteed home game.

So, right now we see:

NYJ - 8-2, Bye
Bal - 7-3, Bye

KC - 6-4
Jax - 6-4
NEP - 8-2, WC
Pitt - 7-3, WC

NYJ & Bal would get Bye's (I didn't check the tie-breaker with Pitt, could be the reverse) and 8-2 NE and 7-3 Pitt would travel to 6-4 team division winners. NYJ and Bal would then host games.

Then the winners re-seed.

So Deus, you were right.

 

[Urgent]

I'm sorry, but you're incorrect:


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Yes I am. Had to work that out in my head, taking into account the Bye week thing. Right you are.

 

[Urgent]

I'm sorry, but you're incorrect:

But, of course, this is the internet. Should we call each other names for a couple pages first?

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

No, it's as stated: the team with the best record (including tie breakers) gets the home game for each round.

In the current situation, Jets and Pats are tied for best record. If the season ended today, Pats would be #5 seed and Wildcard away team, with the best record in football. However, if they won, they would likely have a home game the following weekend.

Where is that stated?

Cause on NFL Tie-Breaking Procedures it says that the division winners are higher than the wildcard regardless of record.

 

[Deus Irae]

But, of course, this is the internet. Should we call each other names for a couple pages first?

I was going to delete my post, because you had your follow up that posted seconds after my response, but you then cited to me directly in your post following, so your 3rd post wouldn't have made sense without mine there.

We can beat up on TGIAGH, though, for missing your correction....

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

ESPN has the game of the season Monday Night -- Jets v Patriots.

 

[Fencer]

I must have skimmed through the links above too quickly -- I didn't see anything one way or the other about seedings for the conference championship games.