ESPN: NFL Playoff Picture: Seahawks' stumble makes Cowboys' NFC lead more comfy

[Reality]

1. Dallas Cowboys (10-1): Rinse, repeat. The Cowboys’ 10th straight win, coupled with Seattle’s flop in Tampa Bay, gave Dallas a 2.5-game lead for the No. 1 seed in the conference with five games to go. At this point, if the Cowboys do stumble, it’s more important to watch the Giants, who are only two games back in the division and handed Dallas its only loss of the season in Week 1.

http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/...eahawks-stumble-makes-cowboys-lead-more-comfy

 

[JD_KaPow]

Playofff scenarios are pretty straightforward now.

5-0 = HFA
4-1 = HFA
3-2 with win over Giants = HFA
3-2 and Giants don't win out = HFA
3-2 with loss to Giants AND Giants win out = first WC
2-3 guarantees at least first WC, everything up to HFA still in play
1-4, 0-5: things get complicated, need help

 

[DTown214]

So as long as we don't fall of a cliff and the Giants/Seahawks don't win out, we should be good.

 

[Elusive6thRing]

Playofff scenarios are pretty straightforward now.

5-0 = HFA
4-1 = HFA
3-2 with win over Giants = HFA
3-2 and Giants don't win out = HFA
3-2 with loss to Giants AND Giants win out = first WC
2-3 guarantees at least first WC, everything up to HFA still in play
1-4, 0-5: things get complicated, need help

Hopefully it won't even come into play but do you know about the tiebreakers? Let's say we lose 3 and beat the Giants and they lose once only losing to us, do you know who would win the tiebreaker since we'd be 1-1 vs each other?

 

[CATCH17]

Hopefully it won't even come into play but do you know about the tiebreakers? Let's say we lose 3 and beat the Giants and they lose once, do you know who would win the tiebreaker since we'd be 1-1 vs each other?

Right now we only have 1 division loss.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Hopefully it won't even come into play but do you know about the tiebreakers? Let's say we lose 3 and beat the Giants and they lose once only losing to us, do you know who would win the tiebreaker since we'd be 1-1 vs each other?

Division record's next, and that's where it gets complicated. We have one division loss, they would have 2 in your scenario, but we'd still have 3 losses to spread around, so it could go either way.

 

[TheSkaven]

Playofff scenarios are pretty straightforward now.

5-0 = HFA
4-1 = HFA
3-2 with win over Giants = HFA
3-2 and Giants don't win out = HFA
3-2 with loss to Giants AND Giants win out = first WC
2-3 guarantees at least first WC, everything up to HFA still in play
1-4, 0-5: things get complicated, need help

I just love that we're still in November and already have a magic number (2).

 

[speedkilz88]

Hopefully it won't even come into play but do you know about the tiebreakers? Let's say we lose 3 and beat the Giants and they lose once only losing to us, do you know who would win the tiebreaker since we'd be 1-1 vs each other?

TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.

Two Clubs

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

http://www.nfl.com/standings/tiebreakingprocedures

 

[Nova]

I have a feeling we beat the Vikes and the Giants lose to the Steelers.

This would set us up to clinch the NFCE @NYwith 3 games left to go.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I have a feeling we beat the Vikes and the Giants lose to the Steelers.

This would set us up to clinch the NFCE @NYwith 3 games left to go.

That's my feeling as well. I bet we roll the vikes 31-17

 

[Beast_from_East]

Was checking out the schedules, and I don't know if the Giants and Seahawks are going to win out. Everybody is worrying about us losing 2 games and blowing HFA, but this takes for granted that the Giants and Hawks just win out and I don't think that is the case after looking at their schedules.

Giants have road trips to Pittsburgh, Washington, and Philly.

Seahawks still have a game in Lambeau Field against the Pack.

We are 2 games ahead of the Giants and 2.5 games ahead of the Seahawks..............Maybe the Hawks win out, but I don't think the Gmen do with two division road games and a trip to Heinz Field.

I think 3-2 probably seals HFA for us, even if one of those loses is to the Giants.

 

[Deep_South]

Beating the Giants is a must win for myself, as well as others who are possibly unduly paranoid. A win gets rid of the head-to-head advantage they have right now, and hangs a another division loss on them, which breaks that tie. If they win, they own the head-to-head, and go ahead -- at least temporarily -- in the division won/loss tiebreaker.

Plus, beating the Giants in their house is a joyous occasion, to be celebrated into the wee hours, at least for those of us who can get by on a few hours sleep before the alarm goes off.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Beating the Giants is a must win for myself, as well as others who are possibly unduly paranoid. A win gets rid of the head-to-head advantage they have right now, and hangs a another division loss on them, which breaks that tie. If they win, they own the head-to-head, and go ahead -- at least temporarily -- in the division won/loss tiebreaker.

Plus, beating the Giants in their house is a joyous occasion, to be celebrated into the wee hours, at least for those of us who can get by on a few hours sleep before the alarm goes off.

If we beat the Vikes and the Gmen lose to the Steelers, then the Giants game really doesn't matter even if they beat us and take the head to head. Because they would still be 2 games back with 3 games to play. They would need us to still lose 2 out of 3 with them winning out to edge us on the tiebreak.

So if we beat the Vikes and the Steelers do us a solid and beat the Gmen, we would have to lose 3 out of our last 4 and the Giants go 4-0 during that same stretch to keep us from winning the division. That is just not going to happen.

 

[Broges74]

I'll relax when we clinch. Love this team but this is the NFL and it isn't supposed to be this easy and probably won't be.

 

[Jinxx13x]

If & when we clinch play 3rd stringers vs the eagles --- we always lose players to injury vs them

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

watching the various games yesterday and in recent weeks, there really doesn't appear to be any complete teams.

IMO, Pats and Seahawks looked average. Haven't gotten to see KC or Raiders so can't speak there. I'm just surprised on the overall level of mediocrity in the league this season.

I'm obviously biased and find it difficult to honestly judge the Cowboys against the competition but our offense seems miles ahead of the pack and our defense seems to be on par with many. It very well could get very interesting for us!!

 

[Don Corleone]

watching the various games yesterday and in recent weeks, there really doesn't appear to be any complete teams.

IMO, Pats and Seahawks looked average. Haven't gotten to see KC or Raiders so can't speak there. I'm just surprised on the overall level of mediocrity in the league this season.

I'm obviously biased and find it difficult to honestly judge the Cowboys against the competition but our offense seems miles ahead of the pack and our defense seems to be on par with many. It very well could get very interesting for us!!

The stodgy folks around here will tell you that the Cowboys have no shot with this defense. It has been 21 years since the last Cowboys super bowl. Times have changed.

 

[Longboysfan]

watching the various games yesterday and in recent weeks, there really doesn't appear to be any complete teams.

IMO, Pats and Seahawks looked average. Haven't gotten to see KC or Raiders so can't speak there. I'm just surprised on the overall level of mediocrity in the league this season.

I'm obviously biased and find it difficult to honestly judge the Cowboys against the competition but our offense seems miles ahead of the pack and our defense seems to be on par with many. It very well could get very interesting for us!!

Quite correct - no team looks like a world beater.

Yes. Pats and Seahawks did look average yesterday.

NFL does want everyone in a bunch to get better TV ratings.

Yes. We're ahead. Now need to expand the play calling and give teams way too much to think about.

 

[ufcrules1]

Quite correct - no team looks like a world beater.

Yes. Pats and Seahawks did look average yesterday.

NFL does want everyone in a bunch to get better TV ratings.

Yes. We're ahead. Now need to expand the play calling and give teams way too much to think about.

Great post. It is interesting that no team appears to be extremely dominant in the NFL right now. I feel like our team can beat any other top team out there but can also be beat by any of the top teams. It's kind of frustrating and good at the same time. What I'm happy about is we will for sure make the playoffs and have potential to have a first round bye and home field advantage. If that happens, we only need 1 win to play for for the NFC championship and if we win there we go to the super bowl.

 

[Longboysfan]

Great post. It is interesting that no team appears to be extremely dominant in the NFL right now. I feel like our team can beat any other top team out there but can also be beat by any of the top teams. It's kind of frustrating and good at the same time. What I'm happy about is we will for sure make the playoffs and have potential to have a first round bye and home field advantage. If that happens, we only need 1 win to play for for the NFC championship and if we win there we go to the super bowl.

Yes. No stumbles.

The way the schedule breaks now for us is good tests along the way to the playoffs.