So let's go through the schedules for 16 (and I guess 17 as well) and see how bad the kayfabe has fouled up the relevance of the games:
Week 16:
- Christmas late afternoon on FOX: MIN@NO. Minnesota must win to keep small hope alive of the #7, eliminated with a loss. New Orleans must win, or they cannot get the #1 in any capacity. (It doesn't clinch it for Green Bay -- you still have Seattle to discuss.) RELEVANT
- Saturday morning, NFL Network/Local Only: TB@DET Tampa's in with a win. RELEVANT
- Saturday afternoon, Amazon Prime Video/Local Only: SF@ARI Arizona needs a win to keep up for the #7. RELEVANT
- Saturday night, NFL Network/Local Only: MIA@LV Vegas must win or they're gone, Miami must win to help their WC position. RELEVANT
- Sunday early FOX: ATL@KC KC wins the bye with a win. RELEVANT
- Sunday early CBS: CLE@NYJ CLE may still need more help (either from Pittsburgh or Miami/Baltimore/Indy) to get in. RELEVANT
- Sunday early CBS, probably GotW: IND@PIT Might be the most relevant game of the week anywhere. RELEVANT
- Sunday early CBS: CHI@JAX IRRELEVANT, except for the chase of the #1 Draft Pick, which is now Jacksonville's.
- Sunday early FOX: NYG@BAL RELEVANT Anything in the NFC Least is now relevant, Baltimore is still hardcore in the wild-card race.
- Sunday early FOX: CIN@HOU IRRELEVANT
- Sunday late CBS: DEN@LAC IRRELEVANT
- Sunday late FOX: CAR@WAS RELEVANT, NFC Least.
- Sunday late FOX: PHI@DAL RELEVANT, NFC Least
- Sunday late FOX: LAR@SEA DECIDES THE NFC WEST
- Sunday night NBC: TEN@GB ALL SORTS OF RELEVANCE HERE
- Monday night ESPN/ABC, Finale: BUF@NE RELEVANT FOR BUFFALO POSITIONING IF NOTHING ELSE
So basically, even with so many teams eliminated, 13 of the 16 games have some relevance.
Quick back-of-notebook playoff scenarios:
AFC:
- KC magic number for the #1 is one.
- Also in: Buffalo and Pittsburgh.
- Out: Houston, Jacksonville, Denver, LA Chargers, Cincinnati, New England, New York Jets
- Two on the outside looking in: Vegas and Baltimore
- Vegas needs two wins, two Baltimore losses, and Miami to lose in Week 17 (Vegas has to beat Miami on Saturday). They may also need other results, based on Strength of Victory between themselves, Miami, and Baltimore. Any Vegas loss, Baltimore win, or Miami win and they are out.
- Cleveland wins a playoff berth with a win and a loss by any of the other 10-4/9-5s
- Indianapolis is one rung below Cleveland in this discussion. They clinch a playoff berth with a win and a loss by Baltimore or Miami.
- Tennessee is in the playoffs if they beat the Packers OR the Dolphins or Ravens lose.
NFC:
- Arizona is in with a win and a Bears loss.
- Green Bay wins the #1 if they win and the Seahawks lose. (Funny scenario, a win and a loss or tie by both Seattle and New Orleans does it, BUT both can't tie! So it's basically a win and a loss by New Orleans and a tie by Seattle.) They have HTH over the Saints and conference over the Seahawks.
- LA Rams in the playoffs with a win, a Bears loss, or an Arizona win.
- Tampa is in the playoffs with a win or a Bears loss.
- Washington wins the NFC Least with a win and a Giants loss.
So with all that in mind, how's Week 17 looking right now? (Times may be flipped here due to relevancy.)
Early:
- GB@CHI Only relevant if Chicago wins this week and Arizona, the Rams, and Tampa don't all win as well -- OR if Seattle wins or Green Bay loses.
- MIA@BUF Definitely relevant playoff positioning. Miami may still be playing for a berth.
- BAL@CIN Wild-card relevance for Baltimore.
- PIT@CLE Yep
- MIN@DET Nope.
- JAX@IND Positioning for Indy.
- LAC@KC Only if KC loses this week and help comes to keep the #1 in some doubt.
- NYJ@NE Nope.
- DAL@NYG Only if Washington doesn't clinch the NFC Least.
- WAS@PHI Same principle.
- ATL@TB Only if Tampa loses and Chicago wins, possible positioning.
- NO@CAR Positioning for NO
- TEN@HOU Positioning for TEN
Late:
- LV@DEN Only if LV wins this week and Baltimore loses.
- ARI@LAR Positioning
- SEA@SF Positioning
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