This may be the Dallas Cowboys most important game of the season

[Gryphon]

The Dallas Cowboys state of the Union:
(Some comments included by 0812 post in a sport forum)

BOTTOMLINE: If Dallas loses at Washington the season may be over. Washington would jump into 2nd place because they would own the division head-to-head tie-breaker 2-0. However, Washington would have to beat the Giants and Eagles the next two respective weekends to make it to the playoffs. The Cowboys would have to win out and hope Washington loses 1 to get in the playoffs. At that point, one could conclude that we backed into the playoffs. NOT GOOD. As stated on several sports forums, this is the biggest game between these two teams since 1984. At least in '91 the Commanders were assured of the division, Dallas was fighting for wild card positioning then. Not since 1984 have both teams had as much on the line as they will come Sunday.

As for the New York, there is a good probability that Giants lose to KC this weekend. KC is in a must win or go home senerio. However, Dallas still needs the Giants to lose at Washington in week 16 or the Giants need to lose 2 out of the next 3. That is very possible since 2 out of the 3 are on the road, and the Giants road record is 3-17 over the past to years. Also one must take into account that 2 games are against AFC teams that count for or against the overall record. They do not carry as much weight as the Washington game unless the Giants lose both AFC games. The Giants currently own the tie-breaker with Dallas, because of a better division record. The Giants could lose to either KC or Oakland (but not both), but beat the Commanders and still win the division even if Dallas wins out. However, a loss to Washington would mean that conference record would be the tie-breaker and Dallas would win that (because of the conference records), but Dallas would have to win out.

for updates visit http://gryphononcowboys.blogspot.com/

THE GRYPHON

 

[TunaFan33]

Bottom line-we just need to win out. Who cares what the Gints, Panthers, etc do.

If we go in to the playoffs through back-doors, we'll make a quick exit anyways.

 

[AbeBeta]

How many times can the phrase "most important game" be used to describe our season?

 

[Gryphon]

Basically the Cowboys put themselves into a must win situation this week by not beating the Giants in NY a couple of weeks ago. Basically, all the remaining games are now must win for the division title, or we could give up one for a wildcard spot.

for updates visit http://gryphononcowboys.blogspot.com/

THE GRYPHON

 

[SkinsandTerps]

If the Commanders lose only one (not against the Cowboys), and both teams end up 9-7, and 9-7 is good enough to enter the playoffs the Commanders would still be in the playoffs over the Cowboys.

I believe.

 

[TunaFan33]

If the Commanders lose only one (not against the Cowboys), and both teams end up 9-7, and 9-7 is good enough to enter the playoffs the Commanders would still be in the playoffs over the Cowboys.

I believe.

Yep-fortunately, 4 of the 6 Skins' losses were to AFC opponents. Sure-everyone was throwing stones at them when they lost to Oakland and SD at home, but they WERE AFC opponents, nonetheless-and will have a healthy conference record when all is said and done.

 

[Idgit]

Yep-fortunately, 4 of the 6 Skins' losses were to AFC opponents. Sure-everyone was throwing stones at them when they lost to Oakland and SD at home, but they WERE AFC opponents, nonetheless-and will have a healthy conference record when all is said and done.

Well, they've got 3 division games remaining. Who knows where they'll end up?

 

[Gryphon]

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/6823575
NFL tiebreaking procedures
Nov. 11, 2003
SportsLine.com staff

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.
NOTE: Tie games count as one-half win and one-half loss for both clubs.

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


When the first Wild-Card team has been identified, the procedure is repeated to name the second Wild-Card, i.e., eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. In situations where three or more teams from the same division are involved in the procedure, the original seeding of the teams remains the same for subsequent applications of the tie breaker if the top-ranked team in that division qualifies for a Wild-Card berth.

OTHER TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES
1. Only one club advances to the playoffs in any tie-breaking step. Remaining tied clubs revert to the first step of the applicable division or Wild-Card tie breakers. As an example, if two clubs remain tied in any tie-breaker step after all other clubs have been eliminated, the procedure reverts to step one of the two-club format to determine the winner. When one club wins the tie breaker, all other clubs revert to step 1 of the applicable two-club or three-club format.
2. In comparing division and conference records or records against common opponents among tied teams, the best won-lost-tied percentage is the deciding factor since teams may have played an unequal number of games.
3. To determine home-field priority among division titlists, apply Wild-Card tie breakers.
4. To determine home-field priority for Wild-Card qualifiers, apply division tie breakers (if teams are from the same division) or Wild-Card tie breakers (if teams are from different divisions).

TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURE FOR DRAFT
If two or more clubs are tied in the selection order, the strength-of-schedule tie breaker is applied, subject to the following exceptions for playoff clubs:


1. The Super Bowl winner is last and the Super Bowl loser next-to-last.
2. Any non-Super Bowl playoff club involved in a tie shall be assigned priority within its segment below that of non-playoff clubs and in the order that the playoff clubs exited from the playoffs. Thus, within a tied segment a playoff club that loses in the Wild-Card game will have priority over a playoff club that loses in the Divisional playoff game, which in turn will have priority over a club that loses in the Conference Championship game. If two tied clubs exited the playoffs in the same round, the tie is broken by strength of schedule.

If any ties cannot be broken by strength of schedule, the divisional or conference tie breakers, whichever are applicable, are applied. Any ties that still exist are broken by a coin flip.

 

[Doomsday]

Common opponents Seattle, Denver, KC, San Fran, NYG(2), Philly(2), Oakland, SD, St Louis, Arz

Commanders 5 wins (2 left Philly & NYG), Dallas 7 wins (1 game left Rams)

I dont think 9-7 will be enough to get in anyway but Dallas would have the tie breaker if they beat the Rams so realistically the Skins have to beat Dallas and most likely winout and Dallas is going to need to win 1 more win after they beat the Skins and get some help or win out.