Who to root for week 12 edition

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Patriots (8-2) at Lions (2-8)

Bengals (2-8) at Jets (8-2),

Dolphins (5-5) at Raiders (5-5), -- yeah, yeah the Dolphins are in the same division as us we have to root against them yada yada....neither team a serious threat for beating us out of a playoff spot and we have the Raiders first pick.

Panthers (1-9) at Browns (3-7), as much as it pains me to root for a Mangini led team. Pick #33 is looking like it is ours. (And yes 33 is much more valuable than 34, cause of the overnight available to work out a trade and maximize what we get)

Vikings (3-7) at Redskins (5-5), Third round pick.

Saints (7-3) at Cowboys (3-7), - not nearly as important, but it does increase the value of our 6th round pick.

Buccaneers (7-3) at Ravens (7-3), same record, afc vs nfc.

Chargers (5-5) at Colts (6-4), lower record

Chiefs (6-4) at Seahawks (5-5), want the chiefs to win the division so Oakland doesn't. Not worried about the chiefs taking homefield away from us if we win the div.

Jaguars (6-4) at Giants (6-4), same record afc vs nfc.

Eagles (7-3) at Bears (7-3), Don't really care.

Packers (7-3) at Falcons (8-2), ditto

Rams (4-6) at Broncos (3-7), hmm Rams win might help with the 1st round pick, Denver win might help with the 3rd round pick. Rams I guess.

Steelers (7-3) at Bills (2-8), Help with the picks for Bills and limit the Steelers threat.

Titans (5-5) at Texans (4-6), Worse record. But a Titans win might acutally be better for the first round pick.

49ers (3-7) at Cardinals (3-7), - doesn't matter need both to win to help with the picks.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

You bolded Panthers, whom you wish to LOSE

 

[Kulko]

I don't know, but my Prios are quite different:

1) Secure the division
2) Secure HFA
3) Keep Colts/Bolts out of playoffs
4) Make sure that the winner of the NFCW has a 7-9 record
5) further improve Draft picks

That means I definitely want the Chiefs and Jags to win, and for good measure the Titans too. Oakland I am a bit torn about, so I care neither way.

I think I dont mind the Jets winning this week, because it all comes down to next weeks game anyway, and I do not want to give them the emotional fodder of having to revenge poor performance. Let them blow out Cinci and then be overconfident.

Since Kansas has still slight advantage over SD, a San Diego win hurts probably less, but a draw would be picture perfect here.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

4) Make sure that the winner of the NFCW has a 7-9 record

Care to explain this one.....

 

[xmarkd400x]

Care to explain this one.....

I'd also be interested in seeing a losing team make the playoffs, although I can't really explain to you why. There's just something kind of neat about it.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I'd also be interested in seeing a losing team make the playoffs, although I can't really explain to you why. There's just something kind of neat about it.

In theory the worst record you could have and make the playoffs would be 3-13. The best record you could have and miss the playoffs is 14-2. And it is possible for a 15-1 team to be the wild card. In fact a 15-1 team could in theory travel to a 3-13 team for wildcard weekend.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I'd also be interested in seeing a losing team make the playoffs, although I can't really explain to you why. There's just something kind of like a train wreck about it.

Fixed that for you. . . .

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Yeah, definitely root for the Fins over Oakland because at 5-5, they are pretty much out of reach unless the Pats just crumble (wont happen) . The only reason people were giving you crap last week is because you were rooting the Steelers over Oakland when the Steelers are a threat in the wild card race.

If the Cowboys win it doesn't just help our 6th round pick. If they continue to win then they can hopefully finish with a better record than Oakland.

 

[PatsDeb]

Can I root for ties in both the Miami/Raiders game and the Colts/Bolts game? I just can't root for any of these teams to win this week.

 

[Ron Sellers]

There's a few "win-win" games where the Pats could get a double benefit from both Team A winning and Team B losing.

Bengals win: to improve draft position over Minnesota and Carolina
Jets lose: for AFCE standings

Dolphins win: to improve draft position over Raiders
Raiders lose: to improve Pats' draft position with their pick

Browns win: improve draft position over Minnesota, closer to Oakland
Panthers lose: to improve chances of that becoming the #33 pick

Redskins win: improves draft standing versus Raiders
Vikings lose: moves draft pick closer to top

Cowboys win: improves draft standing versus Vikings and Raiders
Saints lose: minimal, but it does improve that 6th round pick

Bills win: improves draft standing versus Panthers and Vikings
Steelers lose: AFC standings and playoff seedings

And though not a "win-win" it also helps in the AFC standings if the Ravens lose. Add in the Pats game and that makes eight games that are obvious who we want to root for. I know some might disagree with Miami, but with a three game lead and their injuries to Long and at QB, I'm confident the Pats will finish ahead of the Dolphins.

The eight other games either don't matter, or you could make a case for either team.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I don't know, but my Prios are quite different:

1) Secure the division
2) Secure HFA
3) Keep Colts/Bolts out of playoffs
4) Make sure that the winner of the NFCW has a 7-9 record
5) further improve Draft picks

The odds are very good (I'd say 80%+) that if the Patriots win the division, they get the #1 overall seed. If they don't win the division, you can pretty much count on 3 road games (if they get that far) so rooting for games based on HFA is next to useless.

 

[Triple-T]

Eagles (7-3) at Bears (7-3),

Packers (7-3) at Falcons (8-2),

I'd rather see both these teams winning all their games, so that they don't feel desperate when they play us. I'd like to see them letting their guard down.

 

[Pessimistic Pete]

Rooting for the Jags to lose is dumb. The Patriots are going to be the #1 seed or the #5 seed, the Jags have no impact on us. We want them to win the AFC South so the Colts don't. Bottom line.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Not going to say why right now but it's very important for us to root for the following players this week:

Jon Kitna
Michael Turner
Cedric Benson
Larry Fitzgerald
Brandon Marshall (or Sidney Rice if Marshall doesn't play)
Mercedes Lewis
Mason Crosby

Oh, and the Redskins defense. Don't forget guys!

 

[Dutchmaster617]

Rooting for the Jags to lose is dumb. The Patriots are going to be the #1 seed or the #5 seed, the Jags have no impact on us. We want them to win the AFC South so the Colts don't. Bottom line.

Plus who wouldn't enjoy a 3 game skid by NYG? It might start another run with us getting the victory this time.

 

[Kulko]

The odds are very good (I'd say 80%+) that if the Patriots win the division, they get the #1 overall seed. If they don't win the division, you can pretty much count on 3 road games (if they get that far) so rooting for games based on HFA is next to useless.

As you say yourself its only 80%, and NFL-Forecast has it at about 66% only.

So rooting for the HFA defines who to root for in steelers games other than the jets game. At least until the have lost one more game, at which point I would probabaly feel safe.

 

[Kulko]

In theory the worst record you could have and make the playoffs would be 3-13. The best record you could have and miss the playoffs is 14-2. And it is possible for a 15-1 team to be the wild card. In fact a 15-1 team could in theory travel to a 3-13 team for wildcard weekend.

Now that would be a scenario I would definitely root for, if it ever became a real possibility .

As for your original question, having a 7-9 Division champion may just create enough uproar to force the NFL to adapt there playoff system, which is really needed I think.

 

[jmt57]

I figure this is worth bumping with the early games under way.

EARLY GAMES

Panthers (1-9) at Browns (3-7), as much as it pains me to root for a Mangini led team. Pick #33 is looking like it is ours. (And yes 33 is much more valuable than 34, cause of the overnight available to work out a trade and maximize what we get)

Vikings (3-7) at Redskins (5-5), Third round pick.

Jaguars (6-4) at Giants (6-4), same record afc vs nfc.

Packers (7-3) at Falcons (8-2), Don't really care.

Steelers (7-3) at Bills (2-8), Help with the picks for Bills and limit the Steelers threat.

Titans (5-5) at Texans (4-6), Worse record. But a Titans win might acutally be better for the first round pick.


LATE GAMES

Dolphins (5-5) at Raiders (5-5), -- yeah, yeah the Dolphins are in the same division as us we have to root against them yada yada....neither team a serious threat for beating us out of a playoff spot and we have the Raiders first pick.

Buccaneers (7-3) at Ravens (7-3), same record, afc vs nfc.

Chiefs (6-4) at Seahawks (5-5), want the chiefs to win the division so Oakland doesn't. Not worried about the chiefs taking homefield away from us if we win the div.

Eagles (7-3) at Bears (7-3), Don't really care.

Rams (4-6) at Broncos (3-7), hmm Rams win might help with the 1st round pick, Denver win might help with the 3rd round pick. Rams I guess.


SNF

Chargers (5-5) at Colts (6-4), lower record


MNF

49ers (3-7) at Cardinals (3-7), - doesn't matter need both to win to help with the picks.