The Raiders are probably winning their piece of crap division with only San Diego as a likely wild card threat, and we own the tie-breaker over them, and they still have a rough schedule, as does Denver. KC sucks. They're done. Baltimore is likely winning their division with being 3-0 vs the Steelers and Bengals. That leaves the Steelers as the fifth seed. The Bengals are 5-3 in conference games, and we are 4-5. They have a pretty tough schedule ahead with games against Cleveland (they can't score, but they're the best in the NFL against the pass), in Pittsburgh, the Texans (whose defense and running game are good enough to win without Schaub), Baltimore. Wouldn't be surprised if they finished 2-4, at 8-8 Where does that leave us? We are in dire need of taking the last the last three conference games, against Buffalo, KC, and Miami. We also get the weak Eagles and to be collapsing Giants. Not exactly easy, but if we go at least 4-2, we get in, not factoring the tie breakers
I think its dangerous to underrate the Bengals. I think we're going to need to be 10-6 with 3 conference wins, as you say.
No 9-7 probably doesn't do it for us because we would have to contend with the Bengals who, let's be serious, will probably beat the Browns and still have to play them twice. In addition, you still have to consider the Titans who would go 9-7 if they beat the Bills, Colts, Jaguars and took just one from the Bucs, Saints or Schaub-less Texans. And, while I'm still waiting for Denver to collapse, just beating the Chargers, Vikings, Bills and Chiefs would put them at 9-7 too. Also on their schedule are the Pats and Bears and the Bears game looks a lot better for them after the Cutler injury.
I think 9-7 can get us into the playoffs. Another benefit is that the Ravens play the Bengals week 17. That game will DEFINATELY have playoff implications whether it be the Ravens winning the division or Bengals overtaking them, and im positive the Ravens would smash the Bengals if their season was on the line.
The playoffs will be difficult to get to where we are this season. We are 5-5 with six games left in the season, Buffalo, Redskins, Chiefs, Eagles, Giants, Dolphins. The question with the Jets is how many games can we lose and still get into the playoffs. I believe the Steelers or Ravens will win the AFC North, it doesn't really matter which one for us yet, because the other will get the first WC spot. The Texans will likely win the south, and the Raiders will probably win the west, so that leaves us, the Bengals, the Bills, the Titans, and the Broncos as the contenders IMO. I think the Bengals are the biggest challenge, but they have a pretty tough schedule left with the Steelers, Texans, and Ravens, and the other 3 are not sure wins by any means (Browns, Rams, Cardinals) So hopefully that would put them around 9-7. The Bills look like they are falling apart, and a win against them this week would put us effectively 2 games ahead with the tiebreaker. Their remaining games:Jets, Titans, Chargers, Dolphins, Broncos, Patriots. Thats a pretty tough schedule, leaving them at what (my guess) around 8-8? Its tough to say because if they play as poorly as they have the last 2-3 weeks, they could do as badly as 5-11 IMO, though I guess that won't happen. The Titans are still in the race despite what people are saying, though I would not bet on them to make it. After their remaining games vs: Buccaneers, Bills, Saints, Colts, Jaguars, Texans, I would put them at 6-10 or 7-9. The Broncos are the second biggest threat, in part due to them holding the tiebreaker over us. They beat us, but I don't think they can truly continue the success they have been having. The only reason it seems like Tebow has been leading comebacks miraculously or impressively is because the opposing teams have been leaving open the opportunity to do so. In other words, if teams beat them up throughout the game and are in the fourth quarter ahead with more than one score, that won't be a factor. I expect this to happen more vs. the Chargers, Vikings, Bears, Patriots, Bills and Chiefs. So now we need to go 4-2 to tie with the Bengals, and I'm not sure who wins that tie. So we really need to be 10-6 to make the playoffs, which is 5-1. I believe that we can do that; I'm putting our chances at the playoffs at exactly 50-50 right now.
10-6 looks better this week than it did last but if anyone gets in at 9-7 it most likely won't be us. Tie-Breakers don't look good. Biggest thing is to root for Bengal losses. They pretty much have to go 3-3 or worse for us to have a chance. Looks pretty good for Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincy right now.
I agree, just sort of an overall look. I mean if you said the Jets would end up winning the division, I would believe you. That happening is not my expectation, but like a reasonable hopefulness. It's the same but more so with their overall playoff hopes.
I would like to believe we are still in it but I feel the Denver game was our waterloo. I don’t think we will win out(the only way we make the playoffs) the best case scenario is lose one & end up at 10-6 problem with that is that I think the Bengals, Ravens & Steelers will all end up at 10-6 or better with better conference records yep three teams from the same division will make the playoffs. The Bengals are a good team & Andy Dalton looks like Chad Pennington...he makes few mistakes I will be surprised if they don’t make the playoffs...
Any post that says we have a chance to make the playoffs I like and I enjoy reading. Any post that says we have no chance is no fun to read and I dislike very much. That sums it up.
9-7 is possible but we have to go 4-2 in the division. I consider cincy the only real threat for the final playoff spot and if they lose the other 2 games against BAL and PIT that is 6 losses total 4 in their division, and if they drop one other game, they would be tied with us if we are 9-7 and since we would have a 4-2 or 3-3 division record we would edge them out.
At 9-7 we aren't getting into the playoffs. We lose out on many tiebreakers. We really need to go 6-0 to make the playoffs. 5-1 may be tough, but we have a chance. at 9-7 we won't make it in.
no, you have no idea what you're taking about. Conference record is the next tiebreaker for the wild card if there's no head to head for a nondivisional opponent.
Record in the division isn't a tie breaker when the two teams that are tied are from different divisions.. The tie breaker rules are as follows (for the wild card when the two teams are not in the same division) 1. Head to Head 2. Best won - lost - tie percentage in conference games 3. best won - lost - tie percentage in common games (min. 4) 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 NFL 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
I think it is possible, there are so many games left. More than likely 10-6 should be good enough but I can see a 9-7 team get in this year.
Considering we lost to Raiders and Broncos I think there's a good possibility we're out of the POs with a 10-6 record... let alone a 9-7 one. Bengals & Titans are the biggest threats.
