1. Indianapolis 14-0
2. San Diego 10-4
3. New England 9-5
4. Cincinnati 9-5
5. Baltimore 8-6
6. Denver 8-6
---------------------
Jacksonville 7-7
N.Y. Jets 7-7
Pittsburgh 7-7
Miami 7-7
Tennessee 7-7
Houston 7-7


Yahoo has a playoff generator which makes things easy.

For the Steelers

they must beat Baltimore and Miami

and get help in the form of

Jacksonville losing to New England or Cleveland

N.Y. Jets losing to Indianapolis or Cincinnati

Houston losing to Miami or New England

and Denver losing to Philadelphia or Kansas City


I think what's important is the Steelers need to beat the Ravens and get all the help they need this Sunday because in Week 17, New England and Cincinnati would be in a position to manipulate the system and maybe roll over if they would rather face a different opponent.

With game being at Pittsburgh they will win.

I just want the Steelers to handle THEIR business. I hope the other stuff happens but it all means squat if the Steelers don't win.

Non wrote: 1. Indianpolis 14-0
2. San Diego 10-4
3. New England 9-5
4. Cincinnati 9-5
5. Baltimore 8-6
6. Denver 8-6
---------------------
Jacksonville 7-7
N.Y. Jets 7-7
Pittsburgh 7-7
Miami 7-7
Tennessee 7-7
Houston 7-7


Yahoo has a playoff generator which makes things easy.

For the Steelers

they must beat Baltimore and Miami

and get help in the form of

Jacksonville losing to New England or Cleveland

N.Y. Jets losing to Indianapolis or Cincinnati

Houston losing to Miami or New England

and Denver losing to Philadelphia or Kansas City


I think what's important is the Steelers need to beat the Ravens and get all the help they need this Sunday because in Week 17, New England and Cincinnati would be in a position to manipulate the system and maybe roll over if they would rather face a different opponent.

Yes, I think since the Bengals have already beaten both the Steelers and Ravens twice already, they would like to avoid both of them in the playoffs if they could, unless it would be in the AFC championship game when it would be played in Cincy, and avoid either Indy or SD. Losing the inside track on a first round bye really damaged the Bengals chances today of going deep into the playoffs!

Really want the Bengals to win out, and the Pats to drop one (Jax or Houston) so the Bengals get Denver. Love another shot at those guys.

Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Miami over Houston
Philadelphia over Denver
New England over Jacksonville (Patriots are 7-0 at home)
Indianapolis over N.Y. Jets (Colts are 7-0 at home)

That's a lot to ask but if that all plays out then the Steelers would just have to beat Miami in Week 17.

All I want for Christmas is another shot at them bungals.

Miami needs to win, obviously, against the Texans

Let's say all those things happen

Steelers beat Ravens
Colts beats Jets
Patriots beat Jags
Eagles beat Broncos
Dolphins beat Texans

the Steelers-Dolpins game in Week 17 would be for a playoff spot

Baltimore wins by 3 or 7.

Confused about a tie-breaker between Wild Cards..According to the scenario generator Baltimore will be out if the following happens(winners listed first)

Pitt-Bal
Mia-Hou
Phi-Den
NE-Jax
SD-Tenn
IND-NYJ

eliminates Jets, Titans, Jags

then

Mia-Pit
Den-KC
Bal-Oak

Miami 9-7
Denver 9-7
Baltimore 9-7

Yahoo has Denver at 5th and Miami at 6th. Baltimore out. Baltimore beat Denver head to head...Would it go to Divsion since they all three would be 7-5 in conference? If thats the case Miami will be 4-2 and Denver 4-2 and Baltimore 3-3. I see how Baltimore would be out but how would Denver be ahead of Miami?

Although their chances are minimal, the Steelers do not deserve a playoff spot this year. They are light years behind last year's team. The secondary and offensive line need completely rebuilt, several coaches need fired, several players need to toughen up, and someone needs to introduce this team to 3rd dimension of a football game - special teams play. I'm a huge Steelers fan, but this is just not a playoff caliber team. Personally, i'd rather not see them get embarrassed in a playoff game and more importantly, i'd rather see this season finish with a reality check so that the necessary changes are made this offseason. It's evident that things need to change!

sportswizuhrd wrote: Confused about a tie-breaker between Wild Cards..According to the scenario generator Baltimore will be out if the following happens(winners listed first)

Pitt-Bal
Mia-Hou
Phi-Den
NE-Jax
SD-Tenn
IND-NYJ

eliminates Jets, Titans, Jags

then

Mia-Pit
Den-KC
Bal-Oak

Miami 9-7
Denver 9-7
Baltimore 9-7

Yahoo has Denver at 5th and Miami at 6th. Baltimore out. Baltimore beat Denver head to head...Would it go to Divsion since they all three would be 7-5 in conference? If thats the case Miami will be 4-2 and Denver 4-2 and Baltimore 3-3. I see how Baltimore would be out but how would Denver be ahead of Miami?

I'll check to be sure but it probably is common opponents.

I don't think the division record would apply to three teams from different divisions.

SEE BELOW

Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)

Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.
Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.

common opponents between Denver, Baltimore and Miami

New England
Denver 1-0
Miami 1-1
Baltimore 0-1

San Diego
Denver 1-1
Baltimore 1-0
Miami 0-1

Pittsburgh
Denver 0-1
Baltimore 1-1
Miami 0-1

Indianapolis
Denver 0-1
Baltimore 0-1
Miami 0-1

records
Denver 2-3
Baltimore 2-3
Miami 1-4


Denver and Baltimore both would be 2-3 against common opponents and Miami 1-4 so that doesn't make sense.

The next step would be strength of victory which is the combined winning percentage of the opponents beaten. I guess Denver wins that.

here is something interesting, according to the playoff generator

if Houston wins out to finish 9-7

and Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Denver finish 9-7

and Tennessee wins out and finishes 9-7

five teams are 9-7

Baltimore and Pittsburgh make it

Tennessee hosts San Diego on Christmas night and then plays at Seattle, so if they can somehow beat San Diego there is a good chance they will finish 9-7 and take Houston out of the equation

The Steelers can actually make it at 8-8

They lose to Baltimore but beat Miami. 8-8

Jacksonville loses at New England and at Cleveland 7-9

Denver loses at Philadelphia and vs. Kansas City. 8-8

Miami beats Houston but loses to Pittsburgh. 8-8

Jets lose one. 8-8.

Tennessee splits last two 8-8.


Miami 8-8
NY. Jets 8-8

Pittsburgh 8-8

Tennessee 8-8

Denver 8-8

Miami eliminates the Jets and the Steelers go because of head-to-head over Miami, Tennessee and Denver.

Non wrote: The Steelers can actually make it at 8-8

They lose to Baltimore but beat Miami. 8-8

Jacksonville loses at New England and at Cleveland 7-9

Denver loses at Philadelphia and vs. Kansas City. 8-8

Miami beats Houston but loses to Pittsburgh. 8-8

Jets lose one. 8-8.

Tennessee splits last two 8-8.


Miami 8-8
NY. Jets 8-8

Pittsburgh 8-8

Tennessee 8-8

Denver 8-8

Miami eliminates the Jets and the Steelers go because of head-to-head over Miami, Tennessee and Denver.

We sure that we need the Dolphins to beat Houston? Looking at the paper today that if the steelers win out they will have a better AFC record than the Texans if they win out.

ust wondering...i havent read anything about the scenarios but I was justlooking at the records over lunch. Texans and Titans I dont think can match AFC record with the steelers if all win out....

but i could be wrong.

The Steelers and Texans would both be 6-6 in the conference if they win out.

Houston must get it based on common opponents.

However if Houston, Pittsburgh and Tennessee win out, Houston would get blocked by Tennessee and Pittsburgh would win the tiebreaker.

It could work out that Miami and Pittsburgh play with both wild card spots up for grabs.

That would potentially be a flex game in Week 17 in primetime.

Let's say this week

Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Miami over Houston
Indy over N.Y. Jets
NE over Jacksonville
Philadelphia over Denver

then in Week 17

Baltimore over Oakland
Denver over Kansas City

then in primetime
Pittsburgh at Miami

if Pittsburgh wins, Pittsburgh and Baltimore go
if Miami wins, Miami and Denver go

Non^^^. Why would Pittsburgh beat out Baltimore if they both end 9-7? Or have I misread your postings?

You're right.

For some reason when I read the paper today I swore that they had 7 losses in the AFC already.

Jags looking pretty with a good AFC record.....but then again....if they lose to NE then that is all that really matters because we dont expect to make it if the steelers drop another game.

Again....it is a pipe dream...but better than nothing I guess.

Footwedge wrote: Non^^^. Why would Pittsburgh beat out Baltimore if they both end 9-7? Or have I misread your postings?

Pittsburgh wouldn't beat out Baltimore.

The best scenario for the Steelers is Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Denver finishing at 9-7.

Baltimore takes the first wild card spot. Pittsburgh takes the second.

This happens if:

Pittsburgh wins both remaining games - Baltimore and Miami
Baltimore loses to Pittsburgh then defeats Oakland
Denver loses one (Philly or Kansas City)
Jacksonville loses one (New England or Cleveland)
N.Y. Jets lose one (Indy or Cincinnati)
Houston loses one (Miami or New England) or Tennessee wins out (San Diego and Seattle)

Non...you have obviously done your homework....but why would Pittsburgh get the nod over Pittsburgh on a 3 way tie? I'm obviously too lazy to look it up....but isn't the conference record the first tie breaker? If not, please explain.

What's important to note is they go through the process to determine one spot and once they establish that team, everything re-sets with the remaining teams.

If it's Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Denver at 9-7.

The first step is eliminating all but the top team in each division. That leaves Baltimore and Denver.

Then because it's those two teams, head-to-head applies and Baltimore beat Denver. Baltimore wins the first wild card spot.

In determining the second spot, the remaining 9-7 teams are back in. Denver and Pittsburgh. But again Pittsburgh beat Denver so Pittsburgh gets it.

^^^ So head to head trumps conference records. Thanks for explaining it. I always thought that conference record was the first tie breaker. I appreciate the info.

Who would the Bengals play if they go 10-6 and who would they play if they go 11-5 ?