Lets win the woeful West

[Jetstream Green]

Only could the Cardinals's win a distinction like this. Cardinals win the west without a winning record. Somebody, tell this team that they could win the freaking division. I'm convinced that if the Cardinals win their remaining games, they win the division. The Cardinals have the best defense in this division so with a lot of help from the football gods maybe they can field just an average offense. It might be Kool-Aid talk thinking the Cardinals can win their remaining games but no one is going out on a limb when they say that 8-8 might win this sorry division.

 

[CardLogic]

I agree that 8-8 will probably win the divison, but I contend that very possibly 7-9 will do it.

My questions:

1) Has any NFL team ever won it's divison with a losing record?
2) Has any NFL team with a losing record ever made the playoffs?

 

[vince56]

Cardlogic, this is a different NFL, the past 3 years. With the format of 4 division winners in each conference being guaranteed a playoff berth and only 2 wildcards in each conference, it was inevitable that a losing team could win their division & make the playoffs while an 11-5 or 10-6 team that doesn't win their division could be left out of the playoffs.

What they need to do is either copy the NBA in each conference by having the best 6 or 8 teams in each conference make the playoffs, regardless of division, or add two wildcard teams to each conference (therefore adding another couple of games to the playoffs).

The competition committee will be all over this in the offseason if an AFC powerhouse fails to make the playoffs, for sure.

 

[kerouac9]

Here's my question: If the Cards (or 'Hawks or Rams) go 8-8 or 7-9 and make the playoffs, and an AFC team goes 9-7 (say, the Jaguars or Ravens), does the 8-8 playoff team still get to pick ahead of the non-advancing team with the better record in the NFL draft? Does anyone know?

I really don't think that the playoff rules will be jiggered if an 8-8 team makes the playoffs (which has happened before), or even if a 7-9 team does. The NFL Competition Committee doesn't just jump into the controversy of the day. Remember all the hullaballoo about overtime rules last season?

If the NBA was such a great league, then they wouldn't be so sorry when it comes to attendance. The NFL doesn't need to look to them for anything. They're not going to give the AFC an extra playoff berth just because the NFC blows for one season.

The really scary thing is that if the Cards made the playoffs, they'd be hosting a playoff game in front of 45,000 faithful fans in January. That'd be sad.

 

[earthsci]

I agree that 8-8 will probably win the divison, but I contend that very possibly 7-9 will do it.

For that to happen the Rams would have to lose the rest of their games. They play @Carolina, @Arizona, Philly and the NY Jets. Actually could happen but I doubt it.

 

[CardLogic]

For that to happen the Rams would have to lose the rest of their games. They play @Carolina, @Arizona, Philly and the NY Jets. Actually could happen but I doubt it.

Are you telling me that you don't have enough confidence in the Lambs to drop four in a row?

I am really curious though... Has any NFL team ever made the playoffs with a losing record??? Anyone know! As K9 commented I vaguely recall an 8-8 team making the wild card spot. But what about a team with a losing record?

 

[kerouac9]

As K9 commented I vaguely recall an 8-8 team making the wild card spot. But what about a team with a losing record?

No sub-.500 team has ever advanced to the NFL playoffs. It was on SportsCenter Monday night after the game.

 

[Cheesebeef]

No sub-.500 team has ever advanced to the NFL playoffs. It was on SportsCenter Monday night after the game.

are they positive about that? Who was the 8-8 team - the 1989 New York Jets? I thought I remembered them actually being 7-9 and losing to the Oilers in the first round. Did they say who that team was k-9?

edit: just found it - they were the team I was thinking of but they were 8-8 and it '91 against the Oilers where they lost.

 

[kerouac9]

are they positive about that? Who was the 8-8 team - the 1989 New York Jets? I thought I remembered them actually being 7-9 and losing to the Oilers in the first round. Did they say who that team was k-9?

edit: just found it - they were the team I was thinking of but they were 8-8 and it '91 against the Oilers where they lost.

I think that one losing team did advance to the playoffs, but it was in a strike-shortened season, and we all know that doesn't count.

 

[DKCards]

7-9 what about 6-10 and still going to the playoffs?



If the Rams and Hawks lose their remaining games and the Cards only beat them the three teams would be tied for 1st. No probable but still possible. The Rams have Car, Philly, Jets and the Cards. The Hawks have Minny, Jets, Atl, and the Cards. Anything is possible this year.

 

[Duckjake]

7-9 what about 6-10 and still going to the playoffs?



If the Rams and Hawks lose their remaining games and the Cards only beat them the three teams would be tied for 1st. No probable but still possible. The Rams have Car, Philly, Jets and the Cards. The Hawks have Minny, Jets, Atl, and the Cards. Anything is possible this year.

Well anything except the Cardinals beating Seattle in Washington.

 

[vince56]

Well anything except the Cardinals beating Seattle in Washington.

could happen. maybe.

 

[pete]

I'll tell you how it happens. Rejuvinating your defense with two home games against weak teams and giving a benched QB his second chance. Cards can gain some momentum similar to what they had before Buffalo if they win both games.

Seattle has choked at home this year. It is possible!

 

[vince56]

I'll tell you how it happens. Rejuvinating your defense with two home games against weak teams and giving a benched QB his second chance. Cards can gain some momentum similar to what they had before Buffalo if they win both games.

Seattle has choked at home this year. It is possible!

I'm just hoping Hasselback is still QBing the team at that point. We ate him alive at SDS. Great post, Pete.

 

[Dback Jon]

Well anything except the Cardinals beating Seattle in Washington.

Seahags haven't looked impressive at home this year.

 

[Duckjake]

Seahags haven't looked impressive at home this year.

Neither had the 49ers.

Cards can gain some momentum similar to what they had before Buffalo if they win both games.

You mean the same momentum they took from the 34-10 win over the Saints and parlayed into being the only team to lose to SF this year?

Or the momentum they took from the Seattle win and turned into a 38-14 loss to Buffalo?

Or the momentum they took from two straight wins, including their first road win, and used to get a 35-10 pasting from the Panthers?

The Cardinals always forget to pack the momentum when they travel.

 

[wembley88]

I have used up all the optimisim i had in the tank.

5-11 and the number 5 pick....

 

[Jetstream Green]

hey Wembley

Would you reach down deep and give us a real good speech 'ala Mel Gibson Braveheart so this Cardinal team can pull of the unthinkable...Division Champ!

 

[wembley88]

No. Scotland had a better offense back then than the Cards have now.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I

but our QB is named McCown of the clan McCown and we also have McKinnon of the clan McKinnon but alas we lost McAddley and our chieftan McGinnis.

 

[ramfanjoe]

The Cards are every bit the contenders to win the west that the Rams and Hawks are. I can easily see the Cards sweeping the niners, rams and hawks.
The niners are bad when healthy, and now their starting qb and rb are injured. The Rams D is terrible, they have looked uninspired and confused all season, they made Jay Fiedler look like Joe Montanna. I don't know what to say about Seattle, they are a complete puzzle to me, but they are obviously beatable, even at home.

I will go on record now and say that the Cards will win their next two games and the rams will lose their next two. That will put the Cards in a tie with the rams. Like I said, Seattle puzzles me, so I don't know what to say about them. However, they play both Minnesota and the Jets on the road over the next two weeks. It wouldn't shock me to see Seattle lose both those games.
Honestly, am I the only who sees this scenario as very likely?

I really believe that there will be a three way tie for first in the NFC west in two weeks. That leaves you guys playing Seattle for the division lead on December 26th. The rams play the eagles on Monday night the next day. The eagles could spot the rams a 20 point lead and still win. The winner of the Hawks/Cardinals game will go onto win the division, IMO. Seattle finishes with Atlanta at home and the Cardinals get Tampa. The way the west has gone this year, I'm guessing that both seattle and arizona lose those games.

I

 

[CardLogic]

Come on over joe, you know you want to...

 

[Mulli]

but our QB is named McCown of the clan McCown and we also have McKinnon of the clan McKinnon but alas we lost McAddley and our chieftan McGinnis.

Don't forget new additions, Fitzgerald and MacKlin.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Thinking of betting On seattle ove Minny and SF +7 over the cards.

 

[Dback Jon]

Thinking of betting On seattle ove Minny and SF +7 over the cards.