RACE TO THE PLAYOFFS

[Xeliou66]

I think the Eagles have the best shot at the #1 seed, if they beat the Commanders next week in DC they should get it as I bet they crush the Cowboys and G-Men to end the season. The NFC West will likely come down to Seahawks/Rams in week 18, I’m predicting the Rams win it, they are playing really well right now and have a great O. Lions/Vikings week 18 will be huge. I definitely trust Baker more than Cousins right now, he’s a better QB who’s playing much better and I think the Bucs win the division, we just aren’t playing like a playoff team at all.

 

[Moab]

I think the Eagles have the best shot at the #1 seed, if they beat the Commanders next week in DC they should get it as I bet they crush the Cowboys and G-Men to end the season. The NFC West will likely come down to Seahawks/Rams in week 18, I’m predicting the Rams win it, they are playing really well right now and have a great O. Lions/Vikings week 18 will be huge. I definitely trust Baker more than Cousins right now, he’s a better QB who’s playing much better and I think the Bucs win the division, we just aren’t playing like a playoff team at all.

To me the division games tend to be the most difficult games, so the Eagles will need to bring their A game to all those games. As a bonus, you'll need to keep up with the Lions' O to keep up with them, so to me it's between those 2. Honestly, I'm thinking the rest of the NFC is hoping the Vikings get the 1 seed, just because it's the Vikings and Darnold. You didn't hear that from me...somebody hacked my account

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[Black Adam]

One of the greatest defenses I'd ever seen in my life...

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[fastforward]

The Seahawks would win the NFC West with 2 Rams losses. Obviously the 2nd Rams loss would be against the Seahawks in Week 18. Winning or losing against the Bears in Week 17 makes ZERO difference to the Seahawks divisional chances. The smart move for the Seahawks would be to pull as many starters as possible against the Bears and concentrate on their Week 18 game.

The Seahawks are currently a 3½ favourite against the Bears. The Bears ought to be favourites. I expect the line to change considerably before Thursday. Just a heads-up for gamblers.

 

[broncosmitty]

The Seahawks would win the NFC West with 2 Rams losses. Obviously the 2nd Rams loss would be against the Seahawks in Week 18. Winning or losing against the Bears in Week 17 makes ZERO difference to the Seahawks divisional chances. The smart move for the Seahawks would be to pull as many starters as possible against the Bears and concentrate on their Week 18 game.

The Seahawks are currently a 3½ favourite against the Bears. The Bears ought to be favourites. I expect the line to change considerably before Thursday. Just a heads-up for gamblers.

Seahawks need to win both of their remaining games to win the division.

And they need AZ to beat the Rams.

Otherwise they’ll lose out if they finish tied with LA, on account of like the 5th tiebreaker.

 

[Battlelyon]

Seahawks need to win both of their remaining games to win the division.

And they need AZ to beat the Rams.

Otherwise they’ll lose out if they finish tied with LA, on account of like the 5th tiebreaker.

Basically , Rams just need to win one of their next two to win the division.

 

[fastforward]

Seahawks need to win both of their remaining games to win the division.

And they need AZ to beat the Rams.

Otherwise they’ll lose out if they finish tied with LA, on account of like the 5th tiebreaker.

This is incorrect. The Rams will win the division if they beat either the Cardinals or the Seahawks. They would have 10 wins, 1 win against the Seahawks, 4 divisional wins, and a better conference record should the Seahawks also finish 10-7. If the Rams lose both games the Seahawks will win the division regardless of what happens against the Bears. If both teams finish 9-8 the 1st tie-breaker is head-to-head which would be a 1-1 tie. The 2nd tie-breaker would be divisional record with the Rams 3-3 and the Seahawks 4-2.

The Bears have nothing on the line on Thursday. The Seahawks have injuries on the line on Thursday. This is not to say both teams won't be trying to win, but the result won't have an impact on the NFC West title. Logically the Seahawks should pull key starters. That's not to say they will, but if they don't and someone gets hurt...

 

[deanpet21]

And, if Tampa loses one more game the Commanders are in.

 

[Iggloo]

Now that the Eagles lost and the Lions and Vikings both won, the #1 seed is almost certainly going to the Lions or Vikings. Philly would need the Lions to lose both and the Vikings to lose one to win the top seed, which I don't see happening.

So, depending on what shakes out in the early games next week, even the Philly-Cowboys game on Sunday afternoon may be rendered nearly meaningless. If the Vikes win for example against the Packers early next Sunday, all Philly would be playing for is the chance that the Lions lose out. Still mathematically possible I guess, but unlikely they lose to both the Niners and Vikings.

I think it is almost certain that Philly will rest starters against the Giants now, to end the year, which also means Barkley is unlikely to break the rushing record now.

 

[fastforward]

To become the #1 seed the Eagles need to win both games, have the Lions lose to both the 49ers and Vikings, and have the Vikings lose to the Packers. That's the only 1 positive outcome out of the 32 possible 5 game combination outcomes, (excluding ties).

 

[fastforward]

Technically there is a remote chance of the Seahawks winning the NFC West with a Rams win over the Cardinals and a Seahawks win over the Bears. However, this would depend on 11 other outcomes affecting strength of victory schedules with the Seahawks needing at least 10 of the 11 results to go in their favour.

They would need 10 or all 11 of the following:
2 Bills losses, 2 Broncos victories, 2 Dolphins victories, 2 49ers losses, a Packers victory over the Saints, a Packers victory over the Vikings, and a Bears victory over the Packers. Possible but extremely unlikely.

 

[Moab]

The AFC still has a lot up for grabs, the Central division title and the last 2 wild card spots. The wild card spots are up for the Chargers, Broncos, Colts, Bengals and Dolphins.

The week 17 games between the Broncos @ Bengals will probably have a huge impact and to the dismay of Dolphins fans they play at the Browns. I guess we'll find out if the cold weather thing is real.

 

[Iggloo]

I really need the Bucs out of the playoffs. They have the Eagles’ number. Always play Hurts very tough.

 

[Moab]

The race for the last 2 spots in the AFC

Chargers 9-6 - @Pats, @LV Raiders
Broncos 9-6 - @Bengals, Chiefs
Colts 7-8 - @Giants, Jags
Dolphins 7-8 - @Browns, @Jets
Bengals 7-8 - Denver, @ Pittsburgh

Big game Saturday between Broncos and Bengals, and both teams have a difficult closing stretch to get in. I think the Colts need a 3 way tie to get in over the Broncos because of their loss to them, but we'll probably have a pretty exciting week 18 in the AFC.

 

[broncosmitty]

This is incorrect. The Rams will win the division if they beat either the Cardinals or the Seahawks. They would have 10 wins, 1 win against the Seahawks, 4 divisional wins, and a better conference record should the Seahawks also finish 10-7. If the Rams lose both games the Seahawks will win the division regardless of what happens against the Bears. If both teams finish 9-8 the 1st tie-breaker is head-to-head which would be a 1-1 tie. The 2nd tie-breaker would be divisional record with the Rams 3-3 and the Seahawks 4-2.

The Bears have nothing on the line on Thursday. The Seahawks have injuries on the line on Thursday. This is not to say both teams won't be trying to win, but the result won't have an impact on the NFC West title. Logically the Seahawks should pull key starters. That's not to say they will, but if they don't and someone gets hurt...

If Seattle losses on Thursday, their season is over.

 

[fastforward]

If Seattle losses on Thursday, their season is over.

No. If the Rams lose twice they finish 9-8. The 2nd loss would be to the Seahawks which would give them 9 wins. The 1st tie-breaker is head-to-head which would be 1-1. The Seahawks would win the 2nd tie-breaker with a 4-2 divisional record with the Rams at 3-3. Even with a loss to the Bears the Seahawks would be NFC West champions, (even if the Cardinals also finished 9-8).

 

[PhilSimms11]

Could the NFL please hurry up and adopt the NBA format? The Vikings could go 14-3 and they'd be the 5-seed. That's ridiculous.

(1)KC (14-1)*
(2)BUF (12-3)*
(3)PIT (10-5)*
(4)BAL (10-5)
(5)HOU (9-6)*
(6)LAC (9-6)
(7)DEN (9-6)

(1)DET (13-2)*
(2)MIN (13-2)
(3)PHI (12-3)*
(4)GB (11-4)
(5)WAS (10-5)
(6)LAR (9-6)*
(7)ATL (8-7)*
*division leader

 

[PDay8810]

Could the NFL please hurry up and adopt the NBA format? The Vikings could go 14-3 and they'd be the 5-seed. That's ridiculous.

(1)KC (14-1)*
(2)BUF (12-3)*
(3)PIT (10-5)*
(4)BAL (10-5)
(5)HOU (9-6)*
(6)LAC (9-6)
(7)DEN (9-6)

(1)DET (13-2)*
(2)MIN (13-2)
(3)PHI (12-3)*
(4)GB (11-4)
(5)WAS (10-5)
(6)LAR (9-6)*
(7)ATL (8-7)*
*division leader

lol..keep selling your format Phil.
one of these years.