@mjp28 said:

Actually the list is long and distinguished.     

@tour2ma said:

Zombo Herbert?

I always thought Frank Zombo was your son...

Actually the list is long and distinguished.     

Zombo said:

That's my boy!

Zombo Herbert?

I always thought Frank Zombo was your son...

@dutch-oven said:

That would leave a bad taste in my mouth if I was a coach or player. 

Yeah.  It would wouldn't it......even if we did qualify for the playoffs.  We want to head into a playoff game on the heels of a win don't we.....

@orion said:

To me, it's still the three body gravitational rule.  Too complicated to predict.  More data needed.  

IMO, we've gotta win 2 out of 3.  And that would be this 2 week stint in NY.

Yep, they need to win 2 of 3.

But in reality, for their future, I think they need to beat Pittsburgh. They need to finally beat Pittsburgh with Ben at QB and in a game that means something. 

Going 11-5 for the season is phenomenal, but also going 0-4 vs Baltimore and Pittsburgh? 

That would leave a bad taste in my mouth if I was a coach or player. 

@hoorta said:

The Dolphins only path to the playoffs is to win out.... One loss virtually cooks them, barring Baltimore suffering a major................

To me, it's still the three body gravitational rule.  Too complicated to predict.  More data needed.  

IMO, we've gotta win 2 out of 3.  And that would be this 2 week stint in NY.

@mjp28 said:

Hey SD how are things in sunny ️ California ?   Isn't this fun kicking around playoff scenarios better than the alternative.

We all know how much easier this could have been if they would have won that exciting CLE/BAL game -but-they didn't so we move on.

First secure a spot then see who the BROWNS line up against, I personally don't like TEN so we'll see what happens starting with the CLE/NYG game.  Beginning of the year I thought this might be a gimmie but it's turned into a great flex matchup.  And of course:

GO BROWNS, 10-4 over and out......baby !        

Thanks for asking- i hope all is well in Youngstown.  The weather is perfect today 70 Sun.  We have some occasional brush fires pop up- had one really close Wednesday.  The fire crew out here is amazing.  A Wedgwood pie would make the day perfect- can’t have the best of both worlds.   

I am ready for Browns playoff football.  18 long years!!!  And you are right the few times we’ve been involved this late-we needed a miracle.  
 

If we get any type of output from the defense we can hang with ANYONE and beat anyone.  Hasn’t been the case since maybe the late 80s.

@sdbacker80 said:

We won’t play them again unless it’s AFC championship.  I was saying the Dolphins are essentially fighting the Browns/Colts/Titans for a playoff spot.  Ravens are playing three teams wanting a premium draft pick 

Hey SD how are things in sunny ️ California ?   Isn't this fun kicking around playoff scenarios better than the alternative.

We all know how much easier this could have been if they would have won that exciting CLE/BAL game -but-they didn't so we move on.

First secure a spot then see who the BROWNS line up against, I personally don't like TEN so we'll see what happens starting with the CLE/NYG game.  Beginning of the year I thought this might be a gimmie but it's turned into a great flex matchup.  And of course:

GO BROWNS, 10-4 over and out......baby !        

@jiggins7919 said:

I REALLY don't want to play them again. Sadly, it's the most likely scenario, right? I don't see any way that Ravens lose their games coming up. They won't even be close from what I'm seeing. 

We will not play them again unless it’s AFC championship.  I was saying the Dolphins are essentially fighting the Browns/Colts/Titans for a playoff spot.  Ravens are playing three teams wanting a premium draft pick 

@jiggins7919 said:

I REALLY don't want to play them again. Sadly, it's the most likely scenario, right? I don't see any way that Ravens lose their games coming up. They won't even be close from what I'm seeing. 

Why would you think that?   All WCs play the division champs in the first round, so we would not see them there.  We would be more likely to see the Steelers.   Here would be the  matchups under the current standings:

@sdbacker80 said:

looking at who the Ravens play they are essentially up against us 

I REALLY don't want to play them again. Sadly, it's the most likely scenario, right? I don't see any way that Ravens lose their games coming up. They won't even be close from what I'm seeing. 

@hoorta said:

Yeah, I played with that simulator too.... The Dolphins only path to the playoffs is to win out.... One loss virtually cooks them, barring Baltimore suffering a major upset...  (right now they're double digit favorites against the Jags) 

Too bad we got Par-kayed on MNF, we could have darn near eliminated the Ratbirds, now they're a near lock to get in...  

PS, win the next two, and we're in.    

The Phins can go 2-1 and we go 1-2 and they could be in-  looking at who the Ravens play they are essentially up against us 

@the-gipper said:

Cool....that is different than the thing I pasted.   Here is what I found by playing with it: 

If Browns win all 3, they are in  100%

If they win 2 of 3, they are still 99% chance of getting in. 

If the Browns lost to both Steelers and Giants, they still have an 80% chance of making the playoffs.

If they lost to the Giants and the Jets, but beat the Steelers  they have a 77% chance. 

If they lost to the Jets and the Steelers they would have a 73% chance. 

..but only 14% chance if they lose their last 3 games.  

Because Giants are out of conference, losing to them would not hurt nearly as bad as losing to the Jets. 

Yeah, I played with that simulator too.... The Dolphins only path to the playoffs is to win out.... One loss virtually cooks them, barring Baltimore suffering a major upset...  (right now they're double digit favorites against the Jags) 

Too bad we got Par-kayed on MNF, we could have darn near eliminated the Ratbirds, now they're a near lock to get in...  

PS, win the next two, and we're in.    

Zombo said:

We do not clinch, but if we beat the Giants, our playoff chances go from 87% to 95%, and if the Dolphins lose they would be 98%

NY Times Playoff Simulator

Cool....that is different than the thing I pasted.   Here is what I found by playing with it: 

If Browns win all 3, they are in  100%

If they win 2 of 3, they are still 99% chance of getting in. 

If the Browns lost to both Steelers and Giants, they still have an 80% chance of making the playoffs.

If they lost to the Giants and the Jets, but beat the Steelers  they have a 77% chance. 

If they lost to the Jets and the Steelers they would have a 73% chance. 

..but only 14% chance if they lose their last 3 games.  

Because Giants are out of conference, losing to them would not hurt nearly as bad as losing to the Jets. 

They give the RFCSs  still a 77% chance of making playoffs, even though they are currently not in position. 

@dutch-oven said:

I don't know Gip, there has been a ton of talk that 10-6 possibly not getting you in. 

They'd need a miracle at this point, I think. 

Well...I am talking mathematically....even if not probable. 

Here is something I found from the NY Times:

So....Raiders have now only a 6% chance of making playoffs. 

(first column is "making playoffs"   second column is "winning division"  third is  "getting first round bye"  last is "winning Super Bowl" 

Zombo said:

We do not clinch, but if we beat the Giants, our playoff chances go from 87% to 95%, and if the Dolphins lose they would be 98%

NY Times Playoff Simulator

I just stumbled across that link too - thanks!! 
 

doom and gloom scenario

The 11-5 scenario where the Dolphins, Ravens  and Browns were 11-5. We were out assuming the Titans win out too.

But I had the Titans winning at Packers

Colts winning at Steelers 

Dolphins winning at Buffalo

@hoorta said:

No we don't. I'd much rather see Miami in the playoffs than the stinking Ratbirds. A Dolphin loss virtually guarantees Baltimore (with their cupcake last three games Jaguars- Giants- Bengals) a playoff ticket.    

We don't need to worry about the Raiders anymore, one Browns win does it. 

the ratbirds are in with that schedule. 

assuming the worst...
I don’t know if we win a 10-6 tiebreaker with the Dolphins. 
does anyone know if a Dolphins loss and a Browns win this week gets us in?

or even 11-5?  I thought we held a tiebreaker over the Dolphins at 11-5? Maybe?  This scenario would assume the Colts win out 

@dutch-oven said:

Baker started 13 games his rookie season, and played in most of a 14th. 

This is Herberts 13th game. 

And both Herbert and Baker dealt with coaches who "had faith in" Tyrod Taylor.

In an amazing coincidence, both of those same coaches are terrible in-game managers: Earlier this season Bolts ran tried to run a QB sneak near the goal line.. while the OL dropped into passpro.

@orion said:

I went to bed when the Raiders scored the FG in OT.  Man, that's a good 'wake up' surprise!    Thank you Chargers!  (among other things, the Chargers need a kicker)

It was the most frustrating game to watch. Hahahaha. It had that old Browns feel to it, where neither team wanted to win.

@hoorta said:

We don't need to worry about the Raiders anymore, one Browns win does it. 

And that needs to come Sunday. We can't eff around and lose this game. I honestly feel like our team is angry...very similar to after the Raiders game. Our players were furious and felt like they should have won that game. I get the same feeling now, and I'd be surprised if we didn't play inspired football Sunday. It's going to be a stupid close game and full of heart attacks, but we have a good chance to win.