Hot_Toddy
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I posted this as a reply at another forum, figured I would share it here as well....
You can count me in as calling this an absolute must win game, and stretch of games. Yes, I am saying this in October. In fact, even though our December schedule is grueling, we play 2 non-conference games. Thus, this next stretch of conference games are every bit as crucial.
Looking at this game from a "trying to get in as a wild-card scenerio", this game against Tampa may be the deciding game come the end of the season due to head-to-head.
I am usually very optimistic but, if you take a look below at conference wins, head-to-head, common opponents etc. we are ranking pretty much dead last in all tie-breaking scenerios.
It would be nice to just win the division, but I do not want the Cowboys to be the NFC version of last years 10-6 Browns who missed the playoffs. So, as of now, I'm looking at this from a "just hoping to get in the playoffs". It has to start this week with a head-to-head/conference/tie-breaking win.
There are 8 teams with a better or equal winning pct as us, and 3 which cannot be discounted (Eagles 3-3, Saints 3-4, Minnesota 3-4). That's 11 true contenders - 4 will be division winners - Leaving us with, *gulp*, 7 teams vying for 2 spots. And we are at the bottom of those 7 teams when it comes to virtually every tie-breaker as it stands now.
Go ahead and have a look at the W-L and then the conference W-L column and follow it up by looking at the tie breakers and you'll see where I'm coming from.
Bold is for teams which most likely will be in the running come December (pretty much the entire conference.) Also, note the tie-breaker rules...
Note: Looking at this, along with our current situation, it may sting a bit.....
Current NFL Standings - 2008
NFC EAST-----W L DIV CONF
NY Giants.....5 1 1-0 4-0
Washington..5 2 2-1 4-2
Dallas...........4 3 1-1 2-3<---Currently tied for last among playoff contenders
Philadelphia..3 3 0-2 2-3
NFC NORTH W L DIV CONF
Green Bay 4 3 2-0 3-3
Chicago ....4 3 2-0 3-3
Minnesota..3 4 1-2 3-2
Detroit ......0 6 0-3 0-5
NFC SOUTH W L DIV CONF
Tampa Bay ..5 2 2-1 5-1<---Head-to-head would be tie-breaker in wild-card scenerio - Or even for playoff seed if we can get things turned around for a division win
Carolina .......5 2 2-1 3-2
Atlanta ........4 2 0-2 3-2
New Orleans 3 4 1-1 2-3
NFC WEST W L DIV CONF
Arizona..4 2 1-0 2-1
St. Louis 2 4 0-1 2-3
San Francisco 2 5 1-1 2-4
Seattle 1 5 1-1 1-4
Tie Breakers
The six postseason participants from each conference will be seeded as follows:
1. The division champion with the best record.
2. The division champion with the second-best record.
3. The division champion with the third-best record.
4. The division champion with the fourth-best record.
5. The Wild Card club with the best record.
6. The Wild Card club with the second-best record.
The following procedures will be used to break standings ties for postseason playoffs and to determine regular-season schedules.
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.
Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among 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.
TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM OR AMONG DIVISION WINNERS
If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken.
1. If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie breaker.
2. If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.
Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head, if applicable.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4. Strength of victory.
5. Strength of schedule.
6. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best net points in conference games.
9. Best net points in all games.
10. Best net touchdowns in all games.
11. Coin toss.
Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)
1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.
2. Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
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 conference games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss
You can count me in as calling this an absolute must win game, and stretch of games. Yes, I am saying this in October. In fact, even though our December schedule is grueling, we play 2 non-conference games. Thus, this next stretch of conference games are every bit as crucial.
Looking at this game from a "trying to get in as a wild-card scenerio", this game against Tampa may be the deciding game come the end of the season due to head-to-head.
I am usually very optimistic but, if you take a look below at conference wins, head-to-head, common opponents etc. we are ranking pretty much dead last in all tie-breaking scenerios.
It would be nice to just win the division, but I do not want the Cowboys to be the NFC version of last years 10-6 Browns who missed the playoffs. So, as of now, I'm looking at this from a "just hoping to get in the playoffs". It has to start this week with a head-to-head/conference/tie-breaking win.
There are 8 teams with a better or equal winning pct as us, and 3 which cannot be discounted (Eagles 3-3, Saints 3-4, Minnesota 3-4). That's 11 true contenders - 4 will be division winners - Leaving us with, *gulp*, 7 teams vying for 2 spots. And we are at the bottom of those 7 teams when it comes to virtually every tie-breaker as it stands now.
Go ahead and have a look at the W-L and then the conference W-L column and follow it up by looking at the tie breakers and you'll see where I'm coming from.
Bold is for teams which most likely will be in the running come December (pretty much the entire conference.) Also, note the tie-breaker rules...
Note: Looking at this, along with our current situation, it may sting a bit.....
Current NFL Standings - 2008
NFC EAST-----W L DIV CONF
NY Giants.....5 1 1-0 4-0
Washington..5 2 2-1 4-2
Dallas...........4 3 1-1 2-3<---Currently tied for last among playoff contenders
Philadelphia..3 3 0-2 2-3
NFC NORTH W L DIV CONF
Green Bay 4 3 2-0 3-3
Chicago ....4 3 2-0 3-3
Minnesota..3 4 1-2 3-2
Detroit ......0 6 0-3 0-5
NFC SOUTH W L DIV CONF
Tampa Bay ..5 2 2-1 5-1<---Head-to-head would be tie-breaker in wild-card scenerio - Or even for playoff seed if we can get things turned around for a division win
Carolina .......5 2 2-1 3-2
Atlanta ........4 2 0-2 3-2
New Orleans 3 4 1-1 2-3
NFC WEST W L DIV CONF
Arizona..4 2 1-0 2-1
St. Louis 2 4 0-1 2-3
San Francisco 2 5 1-1 2-4
Seattle 1 5 1-1 1-4
Tie Breakers
The six postseason participants from each conference will be seeded as follows:
1. The division champion with the best record.
2. The division champion with the second-best record.
3. The division champion with the third-best record.
4. The division champion with the fourth-best record.
5. The Wild Card club with the best record.
6. The Wild Card club with the second-best record.
The following procedures will be used to break standings ties for postseason playoffs and to determine regular-season schedules.
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.
Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among 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.
TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM OR AMONG DIVISION WINNERS
If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken.
1. If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie breaker.
2. If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.
Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head, if applicable.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4. Strength of victory.
5. Strength of schedule.
6. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best net points in conference games.
9. Best net points in all games.
10. Best net touchdowns in all games.
11. Coin toss.
Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)
1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.
2. Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
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 conference games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss
