Wild Card picture

[andybren]

Two wild card spots. The leading contenders:

Bengals (8-3)

Kansas City (7-4)

San Diego (7-4)

Jacksonville (7-3)

We play Steelers, Browns, Lions, Bills, Chiefs.

Chiefs play Denver, Dallas, Giants, Chargers, Bengals.

Chargers play Raiders, Dolphins, Colts, Chiefs, Broncos.

Jaguars play Cardinals (today), Browns, Colts, 49er's, Texans, Titans.

On the surface of things, it looks like the Chiefs and Chargers are going to have a tough time keeping up. We still need to win games though.

[scott91575]

The Jags look to have an easy road. The others have a pretty tough schedule. I think 11-5 is a playoff birth.

[bengalboomer7]

It seems to me to be very likely that Pitt and Cincy wil play again in the first round

[HoosierCat]

It seems to me to be very likely that Pitt and Cincy wil play again in the first round

Could very well happen. If Pitt wins the division, I think it will come down to the Bengals and Chargers for the final (No. 6 seed) WC slot. And if Cincy ends up the AFCN champs, which now looks to be the 3rd seed, then the 6 seed WC would come down to Pitt or SD, and Pitt has the head-to-head vs. SD IIRC.

(Note: this assumes KC falters, which I expect.)

[andybren]

It seems to me to be very likely that Pitt and Cincy wil play again in the first round

Could very well happen. If Pitt wins the division, I think it will come down to the Bengals and Chargers for the final (No. 6 seed) WC slot. And if Cincy ends up the AFCN champs, which now looks to be the 3rd seed, then the 6 seed WC would come down to Pitt or SD, and Pitt has the head-to-head vs. SD IIRC.

(Note: this assumes KC falters, which I expect.)

Steelers did beat Chargers.

It occurs to me that the Broncos might pull their starters for the last week, so the Chiefs game could be the last challenge to the Chargers. If they lose to the Colts and beat the Chiefs and Broncos, they'd be 11-5 and the most likely competition for the #6 seed.

If the Chargers and Bengals are tied at 11-5, the second tie-breaker (after head-to-head) is winning percentage in the conference. The Chargers would have 3 conference losses (Broncos, Steelers, Colts) and the Bengals would have 3 or 4 (Jags, Colts, Steelers (possibly twice)). So we still need to beat the Steelers.

The third tie-breaker is common opponents (Steelers, Chiefs, Colts) --- the Chargers would have 2 losses (Colts, Steelers) while the Bengals would have 2 or 3 (Colts, Steelers (possibly twice)). So we need to beat the Steelers and Chiefs.

The fourth tie-breaker is stength of victory. I don't know how that is calculated, but the Chargers had 20+ point victories against the Pats and Giants, so that could be tough. I hate to say it but those points we gave up to the Ravens today could come back to bite us.

We just need to win the division and get rid of all this crap.

[AMC]

Leftwich is out a month. Could affect things.

What if it came down to the last game of the year IN KC???

Let's just pull one on the Steelers and win out! Easiest way to the playoffs!

[Columbusbengal]

What if it came down to the last game of the year IN KC???

Yep, we definitely need to avoid that scenario. I believe that KC is the toughest place to play in the NFL and they owe us for ending their undefeated season. Also, they have more experience being successful in big games (especially if we lose our third "big game" of this season). Pittsburgh is really the only "must win" game of this year.

[derekshank]

I'd rather play Pittsburgh than San Diego. If we win the division, and SD gets in, we have to deal with Brees, Tomlinson, and Gates... these guys will be able to exploit our weaknesses more than the Steelers.

I'd rather play a stout defense, with with a middle of the line offense like the Steelers. That plays more to our strengths.

[andybren]

I'd rather play Pittsburgh than San Diego. If we win the division, and SD gets in, we have to deal with Brees, Tomlinson, and Gates... these guys will be able to exploit our weaknesses more than the Steelers.

I'd rather play a stout defense, with with a middle of the line offense like the Steelers. That plays more to our strengths.

You're absolutely right. Ohalete vs. Antonio Gates?

If we win the division and the Chargers end up the #6 seed, it could happen.

But I think I'd prefer to play the Jags a 2nd time than the Steelers a 3rd time.

[Kazkal]

switch steelers with us sense were now winning the division again

Anychance madieu could come back for the playoffs ?

/crosses fingers

[walshfan]

No