Playoff Watch: AFC

[RIyankee]

Coming into Week 16...


NFL Tiebreakers

Seed  Team             Record  AFC    DIV    Notes

1*    Pittsburgh       14-1
2*    New England      13-2
3*    Indianapolis     12-3
4*    San Diego        11-4
5     NY Jets          10-5    7-5    3-3    Need: W@StL OR Denver L OR Buffalo L
6     Denver            9-6    6-5    3-3    Need: W vs Ind OR Buffalo L

* - clinched seed

On the bubble...

Buffalo      9-6/5-6/3-3 NOTE: need W vs Pitt AND NYJ L OR Denver L
Jacksonville 8-7/5-6/3-3 NOTE: need W @Oakland AND Buffalo L AND Denver L
Baltimore    8-7/5-6/3-3 NOTE: need W vs Miami AND Buffalo L AND Denver L AND Jacksonville L

Remaining games...

NY Jets
12/12 N.Y. Jets at Pittsburgh Lost 6-17
12/19 Seattle at N.Y. Jets Won 37-14
12/26 New England at N.Y. Jets Lost 23-7
01/02 N.Y. Jets at St. Louis, 1:00 p.m.

Baltimore
12/12 N.Y. Giants at Baltimore Won 37-14
12/19 Baltimore at Indianapolis Lost 10-20
12/26 Baltimore at Pittsburgh Lost 20-7
01/02 Miami at Baltimore, 1:00 p.m.

Denver
12/12 Miami at Denver Won 20-17
12/19 Denver at Kansas City Lost 17-45
12/25 Denver at Tennessee Won 37-16
01/02 Indianapolis at Denver, 4:15 p.m.

Jacksonville
12/12 Jacksonville at Chicago Won 22-3
12/19 Jacksonville at Green Bay Won 28-25
12/26 Houston at Jacksonville Lost 21-0
01/02 Jacksonville at Oakland, 4:15 p.m.

Buffalo
12/12 Cleveland at Buffalo Won 37-7
12/19 Buffalo at Cincinnati Won 33-17
12/26 Buffalo at San Francisco Won 41-7
01/02 Pittsburgh at Buffalo, 1:00 p.m.

I'll update this exact post each week.

[FreeYayo]

I'd love to see the Bengals make a push for the playoffs. But with a likely loss this weekend against the Pats I I just don't see it happening.

[reelbiggecko]

Somebody's going to hurt me for saying this, but the only team I see that might slip out of the playoffs is the Jets, although their 2-win cushion could be enough to hold off the rest of the league. Baltimore has a tough road ahead and will need to win a big game at either Pittsburgh or Indianapolis, but I've been saying for weeks that they will beat the Steelers and I'm standing by it.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Originally posted by FreeYayo
I'd love to see the Bengals make a push for the playoffs. But with a likely loss this weekend against the Pats I I just don't see it happening.

Cincinnati has showing me somethin' ever since Marvin Lewis jumped on board.

[#1PaFan]

Denver keeps beating themselves. They could easily be 9-3 and probably 10-2.

[FreeYayo]

Originally posted by BroadwayBomber55


Cincinnati has showing me somethin' ever since Marvin Lewis jumped on board.

Yeah you've got to love the direction they are going in. Considering they were talked about being a playoff contender at the beginning of the season. When was the last time playoffs and Bengals has been thrown around in the same sentence?
I'd say not since the days of the Iggy Shuffle

[RIyankee]

Originally posted by FreeYayo

Yeah you've got to love the direction they are going in. Considering they were talked about being a playoff contender at the beginning of the season. When was the last time playoffs and Bengals has been thrown around in the same sentence?
I'd say not since the days of the Iggy Shuffle

For the Bengals to take the next step, they must improve their defense for 2005.

[PinstripePride]

Originally posted by #1PaFan
Denver keeps beating themselves. They could easily be 9-3 and probably 10-2.

That Oakland game was a killer for them.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Originally posted by #1PaFan
Denver keeps beating themselves. They could easily be 9-3 and probably 10-2.

True. Denver needs to improve their pass rush, their defense is more suitable against the run IMO. And turnovers are killing the Broncos.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Originally posted by FreeYayo

Yeah you've got to love the direction they are going in. Considering they were talked about being a playoff contender at the beginning of the season. When was the last time playoffs and Bengals has been thrown around in the same sentence?
I'd say not since the days of the Iggy Shuffle

Also, when is the last time the Bengals had a winning record since 1991 I think. The Bengals haven't had much success since their glory run in the 1980s when Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field was the Jungle and guys like Icky Woods and Anthony Munoz were donning Bengal tiger stripes.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Originally posted by reelbiggecko
Somebody's going to hurt me for saying this, but the only team I see that might slip out of the playoffs is the Jets, although their 2-win cushion could be enough to hold off the rest of the league. Baltimore has a tough road ahead and will need to win a big game at either Pittsburgh or Indianapolis, but I've been saying for weeks that they will beat the Steelers and I'm standing by it.

That's only if the Ravens improve on offense especially in the passing game and without Jamal Lewis. The Ravens are missing Jamal Lewis.

[#1PaFan]

Originally posted by PinstripePride


That Oakland game was a killer for them.

This past week against San Diego was a killer too. Denver was down by three with four minutes to go. They just got a first down & goal from the 4. FIRST play was an idiotic pass that was tipped & intercepted.
My bro is a BIG Denver fan and just went nuts. Shanahan really, REALLY surprised me with that play call. Man, I would have run at least twice in that situation. If you score, fine. If not, that's fine too; at least you're taking time off the clock.
If nothing else, you kick the game tying FG then, which is no more than the distance of an extra point.

[RIyankee]

Originally posted by #1PaFan


This past week against San Diego was a killer too. Denver was down by three with four minutes to go. They just got a first down & goal from the 4. FIRST play was an idiotic pass that was tipped & intercepted.
My bro is a BIG Denver fan and just went nuts. Shanahan really, REALLY surprised me with that play call. Man, I would have run at least twice in that situation. If you score, fine. If not, that's fine too; at least you're taking time off the clock.
If nothing else, you kick the game tying FG then, which is no more than the distance of an extra point.

I wouldn't be surpirsed if Denver runs the table...

12/12 Miami at Denver, 4:05 p.m.
12/19 Denver at Kansas City, 1:00 p.m.
12/25 Denver at Tennessee, 8:30 p.m. (Sat.)
01/02 Indianapolis at Denver, 4:15 p.m. ***

*** Since the start of the 2003 season, Peyton Manning has played a total of 3 games in one of the following weather conditions: less than 40o F, rain, or snow. His record in those games, 0-3.

[reelbiggecko]

The best pass defense Manning has faced ALL SEASON was Chicago, who is currently ranked 11th. Only four of the teams he has faced are even ranked in the top 20. He is going to stumble down the stretch and back into the playoffs.

[NYPenn]

FWIW, Mark Schlereth on ESPN is saying the Patriots will have the top seed, so he must foresee a loss in Pittsburgh's near future.

[PinstripePride]

Originally posted by #1PaFan


This past week against San Diego was a killer too. Denver was down by three with four minutes to go. They just got a first down & goal from the 4. FIRST play was an idiotic pass that was tipped & intercepted.
My bro is a BIG Denver fan and just went nuts. Shanahan really, REALLY surprised me with that play call. Man, I would have run at least twice in that situation. If you score, fine. If not, that's fine too; at least you're taking time off the clock.
If nothing else, you kick the game tying FG then, which is no more than the distance of an extra point.

Wow, I did not know that. What a kick in the junk...

[KP88]

Originally posted by NYPenn
FWIW, Mark Schlereth on ESPN is saying the Patriots will have the top seed, so he must foresee a loss in Pittsburgh's near future.

Pitt's schedule is no joke. Jets, Ravens, and Bills are all good, tough teams. I would love to see them lose, and allow NE to gain the top spot and homefield advantage in the playoffs. Playing in Pitt in January sure as hell makes me worried.

Then again, I'm sold on Ben Roethlisberger. The kid showed me something last week. Gonna be interesting, that's for sure.

[26 and counting]

The Jets could possibly finish 12-4 and have to be on the road for the first playoff game. Wow.

RI Yankee, could you do the same type of thing for the NFC Playoff Watch?

[Looie #19]

Originally posted by FreeYayo
I'd say not since the days of the Iggy Shuffle

Is that when you roll around the endzone in broken glass?

[reelbiggecko]

Originally posted by KP88


Then again, I'm sold on Ben Roethlisberger. The kid showed me something last week. Gonna be interesting, that's for sure.

This isn't a comment on what you said, but I just realized how funny it is that I call people like Roethlisberger "the kid," when clearly he's quite a few years older than I am. Oh well, lol.

[dabomb2045]

as a Jets fan I hope we see the Chargers in the WC game.....we will beat them

[FreeYayo]

Originally posted by Looie #19


Is that when you roll around the endzone in broken glass?

HAHAHAHA
Or Icky shuffle.
I am brain dead.

[NJ Fan]

Originally posted by dabomb2045
as a Jets fan I hope we see the Chargers in the WC game.....we will beat them

Not necessarily. That was a different Chargers team you saw in mid- September. The final score was only a 6 point difference anyway, and Brees had left with a concussion during a strong 4th quarter, where the Chargers might have come back.

[RIyankee]

Originally posted by 26 and counting
RI Yankee, could you do the same type of thing for the NFC Playoff Watch?

I'll give it try this week. The NFC was so muddled heading into week 14.


***Updated top post.***

Added Denver to the remaining games list.

[dabomb2045]

Originally posted by NJ Fan


Not necessarily. That was a different Chargers team you saw in mid- September. The final score was only a 6 point difference anyway, and Brees had left with a concussion during a strong 4th quarter, where the Chargers might have come back.

Im confident we can beat the Chargers....I think we would have no chance of beating the Colts in the dome

[NJ Fan]

Originally posted by dabomb2045



Im confident we can beat the Chargers....I think we would have no chance of beating the Colts in the dome

If you say so.

Indy is going to be quite a task for the Chargers, but upsets are what makes the game more fun.

[RIyankee]

Seriously, I don't see the Jets beating the Colts or Chargers. Chad and the Jets offense looks terrible right now.

[RIyankee]

Updated top post.

[reelbiggecko]

I'm really looking forward to Pitt @ Buffalo, though it did lose a lot of its appeal after the Pats loss last night. At any rate, Buffalo's been just beating up on bad teams, should be interesting to see how "for real" they are.

[RIyankee]

bump for top post update...

[FreeYayo]

Originally posted by RIyankee

1 Pittsburgh 13-1 9-1 4-1 clinch #1 seed w/ win or NE loss
2 New England 12-2 9-2 4-1 clinch #2 seed w/ win and SD loss
3 San Diego 11-3 8-2 4-1 clinch at least a #3 seed w/ win
4 Indianapolis 11-3 7-3 5-1 host SD Week 16
5 NY Jets 10-4 7-4 3-2 clinch #5 seed w/ win vs. NE
6 Jacksonville 8-6 5-5 2-3 2 winnable games left[/code]

Look at those records going into week 16!

Some damn good football teams out there this year

[NJ Fan]

I simply cannot wait until Sunday! I haven't paid attention to playoff scenarios in ages!!!! This is fun!

[CyYoung4Vazquez]

I'm really looking forward to Pitt @ Buffalo, though it did lose a lot of its appeal after the Pats loss last night. At any rate, Buffalo's been just beating up on bad teams, should be interesting to see how "for real" they are.


Watch what you say! The Bills are coming.....

[BroadwayBomber55]

The AFC playoff race is a huge log jam. This is even more exciting than the AFC playoff race 2 years ago when almost every team except the Cincinnati Bengals at the time were still in it.

[RIyankee]

Originally posted by CyYoung4Vazquez
I'm really looking forward to Pitt @ Buffalo, though it did lose a lot of its appeal after the Pats loss last night. At any rate, Buffalo's been just beating up on bad teams, should be interesting to see how "for real" they are.


Watch what you say! The Bills are coming.....

In order for the Bills to go to the Dance...

The Bills must win both of their remaining games AND...

The Jets lose both their remaining games.
OR
The Jags AND Ravens fail to win both of their remaining games.

[JeffWeaverFan]

Question:

Lets say the Jets beat the Patsies and the Colts beat the Chargers.

Then, the Steelers will automatically get the #1 seed and both the Colts and Patriots will be tied at 12-3. Lets say that both the Colts and Patsies win their last game and both finish at 13-3. Will the seeding be:
#2- Colts
#3- Patriots
#4- Chargers

?

Or will the Patriots still be ahead of the Colts?

[FreeYayo]

Originally posted by JeffWeaverFan
Question:

Lets say the Jets beat the Patsies and the Colts beat the Chargers.

Then, the Steelers will automatically get the #1 seed and both the Colts and Patriots will be tied at 12-3. Lets say that both the Colts and Patsies win their last game and both finish at 13-3. Will the seeding be:
#2- Colts
#3- Patriots
#4- Chargers

?

Or will the Patriots still be ahead of the Colts?

Pats beat the Colts in head to head, so I'd assume the Pats would be ahead

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Pittsburgh has had one hell of a tough schedule. I got a lot of respect for that team, but you have to wonder if all these tough games will impact them in the playoffs.

[Casey37]

The real Super Bowl this year's going to be Pittburgh v NE, if there are no hickups.

[RIyankee]

Originally posted by FreeYayo
Pats beat the Colts in head to head, so I'd assume the Pats would be ahead

You assume correctly.

[RIyankee]

Originally posted by JeffWeaverFan
Question:

Lets say the Jets beat the Patsies and the Colts beat the Chargers.

Then, the Steelers will automatically get the #1 seed and both the Colts and Patriots will be tied at 12-3. Lets say that both the Colts and Patsies win their last game and both finish at 13-3. Will the seeding be:
#2- Colts
#3- Patriots
#4- Chargers

?

Or will the Patriots still be ahead of the Colts?

Pats beat the Colts in TBs.

Lets say the Jets lose out and are tied w/ Buffalo and Baltimore at 10-6. The Bills would win on tiebreakers (common opponents) and the Jets would be in 3rd place. The Jets would then lose out on TBs to Baltimore and be done.

The Jets do have TBs over Jacksonville.

[dabomb2045]

Originally posted by RIyankee
Pats beat the Colts in TBs.

Lets say the Jets lose out and are tied w/ Buffalo and Baltimore at 10-6. The Bills would win on tiebreakers (common opponents) and the Jets would be in 3rd place. The Jets would then lose out on TBs to Baltimore and be done.

The Jets do have TBs over Jacksonville.

the Jets wont lose out....and even if they did Baltimore isnt winning out.....i think the Jags or Bills will end up with the last wild card spot....I think the Bills will win out (last game of season vs Pitt will most likely mean nothing for the Steelers...so they will prob rest alot of their regulars)....I believe if the Jags win out they will get a berth no matter what the Bills do

[RIyankee]

Originally posted by dabomb2045
the Jets wont lose out....and even if they did Baltimore isnt winning out.....i think the Jags or Bills will end up with the last wild card spot....I think the Bills will win out (last game of season vs Pitt will most likely mean nothing for the Steelers...so they will prob rest alot of their regulars)....I believe if the Jags win out they will get a berth no matter what the Bills do

Jags have TBs over the Bills.

[JeffWeaverFan]

Originally posted by FreeYayo
Pats beat the Colts in head to head, so I'd assume the Pats would be ahead

Oh yeah, I forgot about that game week 1.

[JeffWeaverFan]

Originally posted by RIyankee
Jags have TBs over the Bills.

So, just getting this straight. The only way the Jets don't make the playoffs is if they lose out and both the Bills and the Ravens win out?

[BroadwayBomber55]

Updates:

Steelers beat Ravens, 20-7. Pittsburgh clinches Home Field through AFC playoffs (#1 seed).

Jaguars lose to Texans, 21-0.

Broncos still alive with win over Titans.

[RIyankee]

bump for top post update...

[BroadwayBomber55]

AFC playoff bracket:

First Round byes: Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots

Wild Card playoffs:

If Denver Broncos win...
3. Indianapolis Colts vs. 6. Denver Broncos
4. San Diego Chargers vs. 5. New York Jets

If Broncos lose and Jacksonville Jaguars win...

3. Colts vs. 6. Jaguars
4. Chargers vs. 5. Jets

If Broncos and Jags lose and Ravens win...
3. Colts vs. 6. Ravens
4. Chargers vs. 5. Jets