Atlanta/Tampa Bay?

[JoeyHarris]

Who are we rooting for? The Bucs, right?

 

[Boysboy]

Who are we rooting for? The Bucs, right?

Atlanta-b/c if all three of us end up with identical records at the end, I believe we win the tiebreaker.

 

[JoeyHarris]

But we have the head-head over the Bucs... that can never be taken from us. We might not have a better conference record than the Falcons by the end of the season.

 

[grp05]

But we have the head-head over the Bucs... that can never be taken from us. We might not have a better conference record than the Falcons by the end of the season.

But if Atlanta loses to Tampa and we split NYG/Philly, we'll have the better division record, which would be the tiebreaker.

I think our chances of catching Tampa are slim. The worst they should finish is 2-1 (unless you're betting on some magic from SD or Oakland), which means we would need to go 3-0 for our head-to-head tiebreaker to matter.

If Tampa beats Atlanta, and we beat Baltimore and Philly, we're basically in.

 

[Boysboy]

But we have the head-head over the Bucs... that can never be taken from us. We might not have a better conference record than the Falcons by the end of the season.

I drew out this scenerio on other threads...

1) Dallas beats the Giants and Ravens, but loses @Philly.

2) Tampa beats Oakland, but loses @Atlanta and San Diego.

3) Atlanta beats Tampa and St. Louis, but loses @Minny.

All 3 finish 10-6. Here's the interesting part-b/c 3 teams are involved in a tiebreaker, the FIRST tier would be to compare Tampa and Atlanta H2H b/c they're in the same division...Tampa would get the better b/c of better conference record.

Then the SECOND tier would be to compare Dallas and Tampa-of course, we win out b/c Dallas beat them H2H.

So ultimately, we get one of the WC spots.

As for Philly, we're going to have to accept the fact that they play lowly Cleveland next week, and then after that the Skins who are missing both of their OTs and a banged up Portis. So by the time we play them in their house in the last week, I can't imagine them losing to us when everything's on the line.

Anyhow-this is a very possible scenerio that could play out.

 

[JoeyHarris]

but this is what i'm talking about. tampa has the easier schedule going forward. the way i figure it, we want atlanta to tank, to make sure they aren't in. it looks like the sixth seed is really the only one up for grabs, because tampa looks they they got a lock on the fifth due to their schedule.

 

[grp05]

but this is what i'm talking about. tampa has the easier schedule going forward. the way i figure it, we want atlanta to tank, to make sure they aren't in. it looks like the sixth seed is really the only one up for grabs, because tampa looks they they got a lock on the fifth due to their schedule.

This is probably true. However, if we are able to make the playoffs, that 5th seed vs. Minnesota sure looks nice. Then again, anyone else think Romo would like some payback vs Arizona?

God I hope we make it.

Edit - Also, because I can't resist...don't forget that last year going into the playoffs we split december and ended up 13-3, while the Giants finished 10-6. If we pull off the upset this Sunday, what a reversal of fortune that would be...

 

[Boysboy]

but this is what i'm talking about. tampa has the easier schedule going forward. the way i figure it, we want atlanta to tank, to make sure they aren't in. it looks like the sixth seed is really the only one up for grabs, because tampa looks they they got a lock on the fifth due to their schedule.

The San Diego game won't be a gimme-when Norv Turner's *** is on the line, that's when he pulls out his best performances. He's going to make sure the Chargers can finish strong so he can reaffirm to AJ Smith he's the guy.(He did this in Washington numerous times as well)

I'm not saying they're a lock to beat Tampa, but I won't be surprised if it happens.

Also-the Bucs play poorly on the road, so they could struggle against Atlanta.

 

[JoeyHarris]

man... just going over it. the eagles win over the giants was even bigger than i thought. god, i will be rooting for the Commanders so hard in a week.

 

[Idgit]

As for Philly, we're going to have to accept the fact that they play lowly Cleveland next week, and then after that the Skins who are missing both of their OTs and a banged up Portis. So by the time we play them in their house in the last week, I can't imagine them losing to us when everything's on the line.

Anyhow-this is a very possible scenerio that could play out.

You can't see this team winning a game in Philly? Honestly? Not a gimme, by any stretch, but that's definitely a game we could easily win.

 

[JoeyHarris]

ok... ran more numbers. love that playoff generator. under most circumstances, this giants game means very little compared to the philly game. the cowboys could lose this one, beat baltimore, and beat philly and get in. conversely, the could beat the giants, the ravens, and lose to philly and stay home. no doubt philly beats cleveland and washington, so it looks like the playoffs start a week early for us this year.

 

[Reality]

It really is not that complicated on who to root for ..

If a team fighting for a wildcard spot is playing a team that is not fighting for a wild card spot, you root for the other team.

If two teams are playing and both are fighting for a wildcard spot, root for the team that gives the most immediate help to the Cowboys. Don't worry about who has the easier schedule because nothing is a sure thing and who knows how injuries will factor in. You could root for a team one game thinking they will lose the next two but in the next two games, the other teams may be out of it and play their rookies or may lose key players due to injury.

As I have said before, you want to be in a position to control your own destiny.

For example, the Commanders, Eagles and Falcons need help to get in. Even if the Eagles beat the Cowboys, there is no guarantee they will get into the playoffs because that tie is essentially the same as a loss.

If the Cowboys win out, they are in the playoffs and the only factor then is whether it is as the 5th or 6th seed. If they go 2-1 then they will need help.

-Reality

 

[AdamJT13]

We might not have a better conference record than the Falcons by the end of the season.

If we end up in a tiebreaker with the Falcons, it will be impossible for them to have a better conference record than us. All they have is NFC games left.

 

[JoeyHarris]

If we end up in a tiebreaker with the Falcons, it will be impossible for them to have a better conference record than us. All they have is NFC games left.

true story... it's just so easy to think of the falcons not making it in the end.. where as the bucs are in such good position right now.

 

[grp05]

Assuming we win on Sunday, an Atlanta win would make it:

Dallas 9-5
Tampa 9-5
Atlanta 9-5

Assuming we win on Sunday, a Tampa win would make it:

Tampa 10-4
Dallas 9-5
Atlanta 8-6

Personally I would rather have the one game lead (and division record tiebreaker) over Atlanta than depend on Dallas keeping pace with both Tampa and Atlanta.

Then again, if we are able to keep pace with Tampa and Atlanta, the Philly game becomes meaningless. Even if Philly beat us and got a higher playoff seed than us, we would be the 6th seed by virtue of the tiebreaker over atl/tb. Assuming the playoff race is down to Dallas, Tampa, ATL, and Philly.

lol If Dallas (loss to Philly), Tampa (loss to ATL), and ATL (loss to someone) finish 2-1, with Philly finishing 3-0, this should be how it turns out:

Philly 10-5-1
Dallas 10-6
Tampa 10-6
Atlanta 10-6

hahaha Anyone see that scenario happening? Just hope Atlanta doesn't finish 3-0 or we could be screwed. The moral of this story is...BEAT PHILLY, NO MATTER WHAT.

I think I just had a stroke (jk).

 

[Boysboy]

Assuming we win on Sunday, an Atlanta win would make it:

Dallas 9-5
Tampa 9-5
Atlanta 9-5

Assuming we win on Sunday, a Tampa win would make it:

Tampa 10-4
Dallas 9-5
Atlanta 8-6

Personally I would rather have the one game lead (and division record tiebreaker) over Atlanta than depend on Dallas keeping pace with both Tampa and Atlanta.

Then again, if we are able to keep pace with Tampa and Atlanta, the Philly game becomes meaningless. Even if Philly beat us and got a higher playoff seed than us, we would be the 6th seed by virtue of the tiebreaker over atl/tb. Assuming the playoff race is down to Dallas, Tampa, ATL, and Philly.

I think I just had a stroke (jk).

That's what I've been trying to say-a 3 way tie b/w us and Tampa/Atlanta would be beneficial b/c we would win the tiebreaker. The last thing I want to do is have to travel to a buzzsaw environment in Philly to win.

 

[grp05]

That's what I've been trying to say-a 3 way tie b/w us and Tampa/Atlanta would be beneficial b/c we would win the tiebreaker. The last thing I want to do is have to travel to a buzzsaw environment in Philly to win.

Yeah, I'd rather not play any more cold weather games. At least if we have to go to Minnesota, we'd be in a dome.

 

[grp05]

If we do make the playoffs, we'd be extremely lucky weather-wise. The only chance of freezing/snowy weather would be @ NYG. Otherwise, we're looking at Tampa, Carolina, Arizona, Minnesota (dome), and Atlanta (dome). Talk about fortunate...

Actually, does it snow in Charlotte in January?

Edit - Forgot about Miami (jinx)

 

[AmericasTeam31]

If we end up in a tiebreaker with the Falcons, it will be impossible for them to have a better conference record than us. All they have is NFC games left.

They may not be able to beat our conference record, but they can match it. We both have 4 conf. losses, if we both win out, we'll both be 8-4 in NFC games. So that makes the common games tiebreaker next...

Atlanta is 1-2 with games vs. Tampa Bay and St. Louis remaining.
Dallas is 3-1 with one game vs. Philly remaining.

An ATL loss to Tampa would ensure that we hold the common games tie breaker even if we lose to NY or Philly.

That doesn't mean we'll make the playoffs, but it means we'll still hold a tiebreaker on Atl.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'll be pulling for Tampa. Between Alt and Tampa I expect Tampa with the easier remaining schedule to get enough wins to make the playsoffs.