<![CDATA[Playoff Picture]]>Coming down to the next to the last week of the season and here is the playoff picture:

AFC

East Pats have clinched division, hold #1 seed at the moment

North Ravens have clinched playoff spot, lead division

South Texans have clinched division

West Broncos

Wildcards: Steelers have clinched at least a WC spot. Bengals and Jets are in a dead heat for last WC (they have the same record and the same conference record. The tie breaker would be record in common games, which I have not calculated)

In the hunt:

The Steelers and Ravens are still contesting the North. Loser still has a WC spot. Each still could potentially take #1 seed as could Texans.

The Titans are still in the hunt for the last WC spot at 7-7 compared to Jets/Bengals who are 8-6.

The Raiders, Chargers, and Chiefs are all still mathematically alive for the West title and for that last WC spot.

NFC

East Cowboys

North Packers have clinched division and hold lead for #1 seed

South Saints have clinched at least a WC spot

West 49ers have clinched division

Wildcards Lions and Falcons

In the hunt: Giants and Eagles could still take the East. Falcons could still take the South from the Saints.

Bears, Seahawks, Giants and Cardinals are all longshot chances for a WC. For any of them to get in as a WC both ATL and Detroit would have to lose both of their last 2 games. Giants merely need to beat the Jets and the Cowboys to claim the East.

There are numerous big games this week between contenders:

Giants vs. Jets The Battle of New York also could be an elimination game for the loser

Saints vs. Falcons for supremacy in NFC South

Bears vs. Packers oldest/best NFL rivalry. Packers want to put dagger into Bears playoff chances

49ers vs. Seahawks Niners likewise want to ground Seahawks playoff chances

Cowboys vs. Eagles Only a win keeps Eagles chances alive, and they love to stomp on the Boys

Chargers vs. Lions More at stake for Chargers than Lions, nevertheless Lions want to roar

Raiders vs. Chief Age old grudge match. Losers playoff chances go up in smoke

Bengals vs. Cardinals Both teams trying to keep playoff chances alive

Other games with playoff implications:

Texans vs. Colts Texans need win to keep chances for #1 seed. Also, they want to clearly demonstrate to Colts in a bad way that they are the new Sheriff in town in the AFC South

Dolphins vs. Pats Pats also need win to keep their current position as #1 seed. Dolphins would like nothing better than to bloody their lip....and have been playing well enough to do just that

Browns vs. Ravens Ratbirds need to win to keep division lead and for chance at #1 seed.

Broncos vs. Bills Broncos need win to keep their slim lead in the AFC West

Rams vs. Steelers Steelers can't take any team lightly if they want to take over AFCN lead and have chance at #1 seed

Jags vs. Titans Titans slim WC chances only stay alive by beating Jax

The ONLY games that don't have playoff implications are the Vikings/Redskins game and the Panthers/Bucs game. So, for NFL fans it should be an exciting weekend.

Note that most games are being played Saturday, Christmas Eve. Only the Bears/Packers are being played Sunday Christmas Day. And the Saints and Falcons try to box each others ears on Boxing Day, Mon. Dec. 26.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/21227/playoff-pictureRSS for NodeThu, 01 Oct 2026 05:12:29 GMTTue, 20 Dec 2011 17:24:33 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Playoff Picture on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:09:42 GMT]]>

@jrb12711 said:

Just as a note, currently the Jets own the tiebreaker, presumably on the common opponent mark.

OK, I didn't know where to pull that up.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/261774https://brownsboard.com/post/261774Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:09:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Playoff Picture on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:29:26 GMT]]>Nice write up.

Thanks!!

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/261715https://brownsboard.com/post/261715Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:29:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Playoff Picture on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:27:30 GMT]]>Just as a note, currently the Jets own the tiebreaker, presumably on the common opponent mark.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/261713https://brownsboard.com/post/261713Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:27:30 GMT