A good time for solving it used to be around 28 seconds. I practiced until I could do that. Kids always have time.
I’m tired of hearing about “complicated scenarios” ....
... the final draft on the easiest way to do the AFC wildcard. After next week, teams finish 9-7:
1. NYJ ...... 9-7 .... conference 7-5 (has S.O.V. over BALT & DEN)
2. BALT ...... 9-7 ................... 7-5 (beat DEN head-to-head)
3. DEN ...... 9-7 .................. 7-5
4. HOUS ...... 9-7 .................. 6-6 (won “common games” over PITT)
5. PITT ...... 9-7 ................. 6-6 (beat DEN head-to-head)
6. JAX at 8-8 .... conference 7-5
7. DEN at 8-8 .... conference 6-6 (has S.O.V. over MIA)
8. MIAMI at 8-8 .... conference 6-6 (would have tiebreaker over all 8-8 teams, except: (6.) JAX & (7.) DEN)
the TOP TWO get the Wildcard. If a team loses, cross them OFF and move everyone BELOW up one. The only exception: if HOUS loses, PITT jumps all the way to number 3, ahead of DEN. (PITT beat DEN head-to-head.)
If all 6 top teams lose, it’s DEN and MIAMI. (MIAMI plays PITT, so they both cannot lose.)
(... so here’s examples: HOUS must win and have 2 teams above them lose to move from 4. to 2. and get a Wildcard. JAX must win and have 4 teams above them lose to move from 6. to 2.)