NFL Football Discussion Thread ~ Final Week of Regular Season

NFL ^

[CounterCounterCulture]

*** USELESS VANITY THREAD ***

And thus begins the official end to the season of 20 NFL teams as the 12 survivors jockey for their post-season slots this weekend.

AFC East  
  Team           W  L T 
  Miami          9  6 0 
  N.Y. Jets      8  7 0 
  New England    8  7 0  
  Buffalo        7  8 0 
 
AFC North  
  Team           W  L T 
y-Pittsburgh     9  5 1 
  Cleveland      8  7 0 
  Baltimore      7  8 0 
  Cincinnati     2 13 0  
 
AFC South  
  Team           W  L T 
y-Tennessee     10  5 0 
  Indianapolis   9  6 0 
  Jacksonville   6  9 0 
  Houston        4 11 0 
 
AFC West  
  Team           W  L T 
y-Oakland       10  5 0 
  Denver         8  7 0 
  Kansas City    8  7 0 
  San Diego      8  7 0 
 
NFC East  
  Team           W  L T 
yz-Philadelphia 12  3 0  
  N.Y. Giants    9  6 0 
  Washington     6  9 0 
  Dallas         5 10 0  
 
NFC North  
  Team           W  L T 
y-Green Bay     12  3 0
  Minnesota      5 10 0 
  Chicago        4 11 0 
  Detroit        3 12 0 
 
NFC South  
  Team           W  L T 
y-Tampa Bay     11  4 0  
  Atlanta        9  5 1 
  New Orleans    9  6 0  
  Carolina       6  9 0 
 
NFC West  
  Team           W  L T 
y-San Francisco 10  5 0 
  Seattle        6  9 0 
  St. Louis      6  9 0 
  Arizona        5 10 0  
x-clinched playoff berth
y-clinched division title
z-clinched first-round bye
*-clinched homefield advantage 

Official playoff scenarios

The following are the official playoff scenarios in each conference and division as determined by the NFL. Strength of victory is the season-ending winning percentage of all the opponents a team has defeated. Strength of victory can change after final week.

AFC EAST

Miami Dolphins: Can clinch AFC East division with win or tie.
To clinch home-field advantage: 1) Win AND Oakland loss AND Tennessee loss AND Pittsburgh loss AND Miami wins strength of victory tiebreaker over Oakland and Tennessee.
To clinch a first-round bye: 1) Win AND Pittsburgh loss or tie AND Oakland loss; 2) Win AND Pittsburgh loss or tie AND Tennessee loss; 3) Win AND Tennessee loss AND Oakland loss AND Miami wins strength of victory tiebreaker over Oakland and Tennessee.
To clinch a playoff spot: 1) N.Y. Jets loss or tie AND Denver win; 2) N.Y. Jets loss or tie AND Kansas City loss or tie.

New England Patriots: Can clinch AFC East division: 1) Win AND N.Y. Jets loss or tie.
To clinch a playoff spot: 1) Win AND Cleveland loss or tie AND Denver loss or tie AND Kansas City win; 2) Win AND Cleveland loss or tie AND Denver loss or tie AND San Diego loss or tie; 3) Tie AND N.Y. Jets loss AND Cleveland loss AND Denver loss AND San Diego loss AND Kansas City loss or tie.

New York Jets: Can clinch AFC East division: 1) Win AND Miami loss.
Can clinch playoff spot: 1) Win AND Cleveland loss or tie AND Denver win; 2) Win AND Cleveland loss or tie AND Kansas City loss or tie; 3) Tie AND New England loss or tie AND Cleveland loss AND Denver loss or tie AND Kansas City loss AND San Diego loss or tie.

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers: Have clinched the AFC North title.
Can clinch home-field advantage: 1) Win AND Tennessee loss AND Oakland loss.
Can clinch a first-round bye: 1) Win AND Tennessee loss; 2) Win AND Oakland loss.

Cleveland Browns: Can clinch playoff spot: 1) Win AND Denver win AND N.Y. Jets win; 2) Win AND Kansas City loss or tie AND N.Y. Jets win; 3) Win AND Denver win AND Miami win or tie; 4) Win AND Kansas City loss or tie AND Miami win or tie; 5) Tie AND N.Y. Jets loss or tie AND New England loss or tie AND Denver loss or tie AND San Diego loss or tie AND Kansas City loss; 6) New England loss AND N.Y. Jets loss AND Baltimore loss or tie AND Denver loss AND San Diego loss AND Kansas City loss.

Baltimore Ravens: Can clinch playoff spot: 1) Win AND New England loss AND N.Y. Jets loss AND Cleveland loss AND Denver loss AND San Diego loss AND Kansas City loss.

AFC SOUTH

Tennessee Titans: Have clinched AFC South title.
Can clinch home-field advantage: 1) Win AND Oakland loss or tie; 2) Tie AND Oakland loss; 3) Pittsburgh loss or tie AND Miami win AND Oakland loss AND Tennessee wins on strength of victory tiebreaker over Miami and Oakland.
Can clinch a first-round bye: 1) Win or tie; 2) Miami loss AND Pittsburgh loss or tie; 3) Oakland loss AND Miami win AND Tennessee wins strength of victory tiebreaker over Oakland and Miami.

Indianapolis Colts: Can clinch playoff spot: 1) Win or tie; 2) New England loss or tie; 3) N.Y. Jets win; 4) Cleveland loss or tie AND Kansas City loss or tie; 5) Cleveland loss or tie AND Denver win.

AFC WEST

OAKLAND Raiders: Have clinched AFC West title.
Can clinch home-field advantage: 1) Win; 2) Tie AND Tennessee loss or tie; 3) Pittsburgh loss or tie AND Tennessee loss AND Miami loss; 4) Pittsburgh loss or tie AND Tennessee loss AND Oakland wins strength of victory tiebreaker over Tennessee and Miami.
Can clinch first-round bye: 1) Tie; 2) Miami loss or tie AND Pittsburgh loss or tie; 3) Miami loss or tie AND Tennessee loss; 4) Tennessee loss AND Oakland wins strength of victory tiebreaker over Tennessee and Miami.

Denver Broncos: Can clinch playoff spot: 1) Win AND Cleveland loss or tie AND New England loss or tie AND N.Y. Jets loss or tie; 2) Win AND Cleveland loss or tie AND Miami loss AND N.Y. Jets win; 3) Tie AND New England loss or tie AND N.Y. Jets loss AND Cleveland loss AND Kansas City loss or tie AND San Diego loss or tie.

Kansas City Chiefs: Can clinch playoff spot: 1) Win AND Denver loss or tie AND New England loss or tie; 2) Win AND Denver loss or tie AND Indianapolis win or tie AND N.Y. Jets loss or tie; 3) Win AND Denver loss or tie AND Indianapolis loss AND N.Y. Jets win AND Cleveland win; 4) Tie AND New England loss AND N.Y. Jets loss or tie AND Cleveland loss or tie AND Denver loss AND San Diego loss or tie.

San Diego Chargers: Can clinch playoff spot: 1) Win AND Denver loss or tie AND Kansas City loss or tie AND New England loss or tie AND N.Y. Jets loss or tie AND Cleveland loss or tie; 2) Win AND Denver loss or tie AND Kansas City loss or tie AND Miami loss AND N.Y. Jets win AND Cleveland loss or tie; 3) Tie AND Denver loss AND Kansas City loss AND New England loss AND N.Y. Jets loss AND Cleveland loss.

NFC EAST

Philadelphia Eagles: Have clinched NFC East title and a first-round bye.
Can clinch home-field advantage: 1) Win; 2) Tie AND Green Bay loss or tie; 3) Green Bay loss.

New York Giants: Can clinch playoff spot: 1) Win; 2) Tie AND New Orleans loss or tie; 3) New Orleans loss.

NFC NORTH

Green Bay Packers: Have clinched NFC North title.
Can clinch home-field advantage: 1) Win AND Philadelphia loss or tie; 2) Tie AND Philadelphia loss; Can clinch first-round bye: 1) Win or tie; 2) Tampa Bay loss or tie.

NFC SOUTH

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Have clinched NFC South title.
Can clinch first-round bye: 1) Win AND Green Bay loss.

Atlanta Falcons: Can clinch playoff spot: 1) Win or tie; 2) N.Y. Giants loss or tie; 3) New Orlean loss or tie.

New Orleans Saints: Can clinch playoff spot: 1) Win AND N.Y. Giants loss or tie; 2) Win AND Atlanta loss; 3) Tie AND N.Y. Giants loss.

NFC WEST

49ers: Have clinched NFC West title.

Source

The following teams have been officially eliminated from playoff contention:

Arizona, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Minnesota, St. Louis, Seattle and Washington

WEEK 17 SCHEDULE

(all times Eastern Standard Time)

Saturday, Dec. 28 
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1:30 pm
Kansas City at Oakland, 5:00 pm 
Sunday, Dec. 29 
Atlanta at Cleveland, 1:00 pm
Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 1:00 pm 
Carolina at New Orleans, 1:00 pm
Cincinnati at Buffalo, 1:00 pm 
Dallas at Washington, 1:00 pm
Miami at New England, 1:00 pm 
Minnesota at Detroit, 1:00 pm
Tennessee at Houston, 1:00 pm 
Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 4:05 pm
Arizona at Denver, 4:15 pm 
Green Bay at N.Y. Jets, 4:15 pm
Seattle at San Diego, 4:15 pm 
Tampa Bay at Chicago, 8:30 pm  
Monday, Dec. 30 
San Francisco at St. Louis, 9:00 pm  

POSTSEASON

Wild-Card Weekend 
Saturday, Jan. 4
AFC or NFC game, 4:30 pm on ABC
AFC or NFC game, 8:00 pm on ABC 
Sunday, Jan. 5
AFC game, 1:00 pm on CBS
NFC game, 4:30 pm on FOX 
Divisional Playoffs 
Saturday, Jan. 11
AFC game, 4:30 pm on CBS
NFC game, 8:00 pm on FOX
Sunday, Jan. 12
NFC game, 1:00 pm on FOX
AFC game, 4:30 pm on CBS 
Conference Championships 
Sunday, Jan. 19
NFC Championship Game, 3:00 pm on FOX
AFC Championship Game, 6:30 pm on CBS 
Super Bowl XXXVII 
Sunday, Jan. 26
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.
6:00 pm on ABC 

[CanisMajor2002]

Defensive Passing Ranks:

		COM	ATT	PCT	YDS	YPG
11	Cincinnati	264	423	62.4	3034	202.3
18	Atlanta	271	489	55.4	3158	210.5
32	Kansas City	403	616	65.4	4181	261.3

Well, if Holcomb could own Cincy, Atlanta may be ownable too. Cleveland radio reports that Tim Couch may come back though. Questionable knee.

[BuddhaBoy]

It looks like Miami was waiting for my stupid prediction. They are killing the Pats now.

[CanisMajor2002]

Brownies score, lead Atlanta 10-0.

[NeoCaveman]

It looks like Miami was waiting for my stupid prediction. They are killing the Pats now.

Sweet! My Browns could be in the palyoffs before I go to work at 4:00. GO BROWNS.

[Mr. Mojo]

The New England Patriots don't deserve to be in the playoffs this year.

It certainly looks that way now. So far, they're looking like they'd have a difficult time beating the Bengals.

[Mr. Mojo]

It looks like Miami was waiting for my stupid prediction.

Mine too.

[Vigilantcitizen]

The Falcons have overcome Dan Reeves horrible play calling to produce a nice td drive.

Browns up 10-7.

[The Wizard]

so get this:

I get a brand new 65" SONY HDTV for Christmas and the last Jet game of the year is against Green Bay For a playoff spot, (If NE Wins).......

My wife has made plans to go next door to a neighbor's for dinner at 4 PM......

Never make plans for your husband during the football season without checking the schedule first.

[bootless]

I thoroughly enjoyed the Raiders' tail-kicking of the Chiefs yesterday! (Rooster tails on Lake Davis and all) Looking forward to the Niners tomorrow night, too.

[Republic of Texas]

Chicks!?!?!

[Vigilantcitizen]

"Well, if Holcomb could own Cincy, Atlanta may be ownable too. Cleveland radio reports that Tim Couch may come back though. Questionable knee."

Especially since our best cornerback, Ray Buchanon, has been playing through an abdominal muscle injury, which has really hampered his play.

I really like the Browns rookie running back.

[NeoCaveman]

I really like the Browns rookie running back.

He's developing into a gamer nicely after a very poor start of the season.

[Chi-townChief]

We kind of handed the TD to the Falcons but their missed FG somewhat made up for it. May the force be with us!

GOOOOOOO BROWNS !!!

[CanisMajor2002]

May the force be with us!

With that Eagles-style FGA the Force may indeed be with the Browns...since Miami is also winning... :)

[CounterCounterCulture]

MORNING GAMES

22 - Miami at New England - 10 (Halftime)
Playoff implications
Miami can clinch the division:
1. MIA win or tie
Miami clinches a first-round bye:
1. MIA win + PIT loss or tie + TEN loss
Miami clinches a playoff spot:
1. NYJ loss or tie
New England clinches East division:
1. NE win + NYJ loss or tie
New England clinches playoff spot:
1. NE win + Cleveland loss or tie + Denver loss or tie and San Diego loss or tie;
2. A tie, N.Y. Jets loss, Cleveland loss, Denver loss, San Diego loss.

---

7 - Atlanta at Cleveland - 10 (Halftime)
Playoff implications
Atlanta clinches a playoff spot:
1. ATL win or tie
2. NO loss or tie
Cleveland clinches a playoff spot:
1. A win, Denver win and N.Y. Jets win;
2. A win and N.Y. Jets win;
3. A win, Denver win and Miami win or tie;
4. A win, and Miami win or tie;
5. A tie, N.Y. Jets loss or tie, New England loss or tie, Denver loss or tie, and San Diego loss or tie; OR a loss, N.Y. Jets loss, Baltimore loss or tie, Denver loss, and San Diego loss.
*There are other scenarios in which Cleveland can clinch a playoff berth if it is determined that after this week's games they will own the strength of victory tiebreaker over the teams they are tied with.

---

14 - Baltimore at Pittsburgh - 20 (Halftime)
Playoff implications
Pittsburgh had already clinched the AFC North division:
Pittsburgh clinches a first-round bye:
1. Wins + TEN loss
Baltimore clinches a playoff spot:
1. BAL win + NE loss + NYJ loss + CLE loss + DEN loss + SD loss

---

7 - Carolina at New Orleans - 3 (Halftime)
Playoff implications
New Orleans can clinch a playoff berth with:
1. NO win + ATL loss

---

6 - Tennessee at Houston - 0 (Halftime)
Playoff implications
Tennessee had already clinched South division.
Tennessee clinches a first-round bye:
1. TEN win or tie
2. MIA loss + PIT loss or tie

---

3- Cincinnati at Buffalo - 20 (Halftime)
Playoff implications – NONE

---

7 - Dallas at Washington - 7 (Halftime)
Playoff implications – NONE

---

28 - Minnesota at Detroit - 17 (Halftime)
Playoff implications – NONE

---

AFTERNOON GAMES

Green Bay at N.Y. Jets
Playoff implications
Green Bay has clinched NFC North division title. Green Bay clinches home-field advantage:
1. GB win or tie
Green Bay can clinch first-round playoff bye with:
1. A win or tie against the N.Y. Jets or a Tampa Bay loss or tie.
NY Jets clinch East division:
1. NYJ win + MIA loss
NY Jets clinch playoff spot:
1. A win, Cleveland loss or tie;
2. A tie, New England loss or tie, Cleveland loss, Denver loss or tie, and San Diego loss or tie.
Eagles clinch home-field advantage with:
1. GB loss

---

Arizona at Denver
Playoff implications
Denver clinches a playoff spot:
1. A win, Cleveland loss or tie, New England loss or tie, N.Y. Jets loss or tie;
2. A win, Cleveland loss or tie, Miami loss, N.Y. Jets win;
3. A tie, New England loss or tie, N.Y. Jets loss, Cleveland loss, and San Diego loss or tie.

---

Seattle at San Diego
Playoff implications
San Diego clinches a playoff spot:
1. A win, Denver loss or tie, New England loss or tie, N.Y. Jets loss or tie and Cleveland loss or tie;
2. A win, Denver loss or tie, Miami loss, N.Y. Jets win and Cleveland loss or tie;
3. A tie, Denver loss, New England, N.Y Jets loss and Cleveland loss.

---

Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Playoff implications – LITTLE – Colts already have wildcard playoff berth. At best #5 seed

---

SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

Tampa Bay at Chicago
Playoff implications
Tampa Bay had already clinched South division. Bucs cannot clinch home-field advantage
Tampa Bay clinches a first-round bye:
1. TB win + GB loss

[Vigilantcitizen]

"With that Eagles-style FGA the Force may indeed be with the Browns..."

We gave up hall of fame kicker Morten Anderson for this guy Feely who has cost us two big games(Chicago,Seattle, both at home in the dome) this year by missing easy 30 yards or less chip shots at the end of both games.

The good news for us Falcons fans, Carolina is leading the Saints 7-3 at halftime. If the Saints lose, we're in no matter what. I'm not counting on that though after what happened in the Giants-Eagles game yesterday.

[rs79bm]

call me crazy, but I'm enjoying the Cowboys at Skins' game. Darrell Green's last game. 7,7 third quarter.

[Dog]

I am still shattered after my beloved Eagles lost to those dastardly stinking Giants.

But I want to say.....

GO JETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NeoCaveman]

In Cleveland, we are rooting for Miami.