Tiebreakers, please explain.

[CrashDavisSports]

Miami is 8-6
Pittsburgh is 6-8

Pittsburgh can't overtake Cincinnati who has 9 wins.

Miami beat Pittsburgh head to head last week.

Kansas City and Denver have made the playoffs already regardless of what they do the rest of the way, so that 5 seed is gone.

The only seed open is the 6th seed for Pittsburgh.

Even if Miami losses both their final two games, and Pitt wins their final two, they would both be 8-8, and Miami owns the tiebreaker with head to head win, correct?

How is Pitt not officially eliminated with a Miami win today?

Just curious. Thanks anyone who responds.

 

[bengaldoug]

I don't know this, but they probably are only alive in three or more way tie scenarios, of which I don't have any specifics......

 

[Duffy]

Pittsburgh is not eliminated. They can make the playoffs if:

1. They win out.
2. Baltimore loses out.
3. Miami's entire team dies in a fiery plane crash.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I've been wondering this same question... I'm pretty sure it has a lot to do with Miami's final 2 games against teams that PIT beat. If Miami loses out to Buffalo & the Jets then we would somehow take back the lead? Buffalo has already beat them once, but the Jets lost their first time against them. Not quite sure how it works? But PIT also needs Baltimore to lose out as well.

Tall order any way you look at it... No sense in confusing yourselves over it because it wont happen

 

[DanBengalfan]

every reasonable door for the Steelers has been closed, the best I can figure several teams have to lose in order to tilt the "vs same"

using the playoff generator I can not reasonably generate a scenario that brings Pittsburgh back in.

 

[apachef4]

I don't know this, but they probably are only alive in three or more way tie scenarios, of which I don't have any specifics......

I think this is correct. If they get into a 3-way tie and each of the teams has the same head-to-head record as the others in the tie, then it moves on to other tiebreakers like conference record, SOV, etc.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Yep...as explained, a 3-way tie scenario is how Pitt would/could make it in depending on how the games play out.

Another Miami win, or Baltimore win (I think) and Pitt is out.

 

[Be Weary of Query]

Here is a scenario with the Steelers making it. Obviously they have to win out...

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/mac...1229013~2~331229022~1~331229024~1~331229026~1



It involves the Jets winning out. And the Chargers losing next week at home to Oakland. And the Ravens losing 2 of their last 3.

So...

 

[Be Weary of Query]

I guess the Chargers only have to finish 1-1 in the above scenario.

And the Dolphins have to finish 0-2 with games at Buffalo and vs. the Jets.

 

[dare2be]

I figured out the Steelers scenario...hold on while I tabulate...

 

[dare2be]

Steelers win out.
Jets win out.
Dolphins lose out.
Ravens go at best 1-2, but one of those losses has to be against the Bengals, if the ravens lose out, they are out of contention.
Charges go 1-1 at best. If the chargers lose out, they are out of contention.

This would put 5 teams at 8-8. Jets would beat out the Dolphins on division tie-breaker, Steelers would beat out the Ravens on division tie-breaker, and then the 3-way conference tie-breaker between the Steelers, Jets, and Chargers would go to the Steelers due to having the best conference record of the 3.

 

[kramer1]

Steelers win out.
Jets win out.
Dolphins lose out.
Ravens go at best 1-2, but one of those losses has to be against the Bengals, if the ravens lose out, they are out of contention.
Charges go 1-1 at best. If the chargers lose out, they are out of contention.

This would put 5 teams at 8-8. Jets would beat out the Dolphins on division tie-breaker, Steelers would beat out the Ravens on division tie-breaker, and then the 3-way conference tie-breaker between the Steelers, Jets, and Chargers would go to the Steelers due to having the best conference record of the 3.

Seems plausible.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Steelers win out.
Jets win out.
Dolphins lose out.
Ravens go at best 1-2, but one of those losses has to be against the Bengals, if the ravens lose out, they are out of contention.
Charges go 1-1 at best. If the chargers lose out, they are out of contention.

This would put 5 teams at 8-8. Jets would beat out the Dolphins on division tie-breaker, Steelers would beat out the Ravens on division tie-breaker, and then the 3-way conference tie-breaker between the Steelers, Jets, and Chargers would go to the Steelers due to having the best conference record of the 3.

Thank you for the explaination. Not tryign to suck the life out of the Steelers, just was wondering how the Miami win yesterday hadn't eliminated them.

 

[dare2be]

What life is there in the Steelers to suck from them? Aside from the gift we got last night, we're done.

I was just as dumbfounded that there was still a mathematical chance, so I had to figure it out, being the math guy that I am.