Playoff Picture Confusion

[Sandan]

It seems different sources give different results

Per Kent and Cardinals

*The Cardinals host the Falcons if Carolina beats New Orleans and the Falcons beat St. Louis. That gives the Panthers the NFC South title and makes the Falcons the top-seeded wildcard team.


*If the Panthers lose and the Falcons win, the Falcons win the division title based on a tiebreaker. Carolina would come to Arizona as the wildcard team.


*The Cowboys remain in the picture, too. If the Falcons lose and the Cowboys beat the Eagles, the Falcons and Cowboys would be 10-6. The Cowboys win the tiebreaker and come to Arizona.


*If Atlanta loses and Dallas loses, the Falcons come to Arizona.

CNN/SI Says

Extra Point: Win and the Cowboys are in. Period. Either as the No. 6 if the Falcons win, or as the No. 5 if the Falcons lose. Lose and the Cowboys are out. Period. Hard to imagine a postseason without the Cowboys, but don't expect the Eagles (who have a lot to play for in their own right) to roll out the welcome mat.

Which is it ?

 

[Buckybird]

we are playing the Cowpies, just like I said all along. Watch.

 

[joeshmo]

I have seen nothing but the first set of scenerio's. They talked about during the Dallas breakdown their last game and how lossing would mean they would need a lot of help to get into the playoffs.

 

[Heucrazy]

The Cowboys win and they are in. Atlanta and Carolina have both clinched playoff spots. This week just determines which one of them is the Divsion winner and #2 seed and which is the wildcard team. That still leaves a wildcard spot open that will be the Cowboys. The tie breaker between the Falcons and the Cowboys is to see who would be the #5 or #6 seed.

 

[ajcardfan]

we are playing the Cowpies, just like I said all along. Watch.

For that to happen, the Rams would have to beat the Falcons in Atlanta. With the Falcons still having a shot at the division and a first round bye a Rams upset is extremely unlikely since the Falcons won't be resting guys. That would be the biggest upset of the entire season if it happens.

 

[joeshmo]

The Cowboys win and they are in. Atlanta and Carolina have both clinched playoff spots. This week just determines which one of them is the Divsion winner and #2 seed and which is the wildcard team. That still leaves a wildcard spot open that will be the Cowboys. The tie breaker between the Falcons and the Cowboys is to see who would be the #5 or #6 seed.

That is not true. Dallas' official web site re-affrims what the Cards web site says and what Kent Sommers Blog stats.

 

[earthsci]

Which is it ?

Which is what? They are saying the same thing I believe.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/playoffscenario?algorithm=WinningPct

 

[earthsci]

That is not true. Dallas' official web site re-affrims what the Cards web site says and what Kent Sommers Blog stats.

I'm confused. Isn't everyone saying the same thing?

 

[Buckybird]

we are playing the Cowpies, just like I said all along. Watch.

I couldn't go on living if we play Dallas and lose.

 

[ajcardfan]

I'm confused. Isn't everyone saying the same thing?

They are saying the same thing.

 

[earthsci]

They are saying the same thing.

That's what I thought.

Dallas wins, Carolina wins, Atlanta wins - we play Atlanta
Dallas loses, Carolina wins, Atlanta wins - we play Atlanta
Dallas wins, Carolina loses, Atlanta wins - we play Carolina
Dallas loses, Carolina loses, Atlanta wins - we play Carolina
Dallas wins, Carolina wins, Atlanta loses - we play Dallas
Dallas wins, Carolina loses, Atlanta loses - we play Dallas
Dallas loses, Carolina loses, Atlanta loses - we play Atlanta

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Come on Atlanta!!!

 

[Mulli]

Come on Atlanta!!!

Agree. Will make the game far less stressful.

 

[Second Deck]

I couldn't go on living if we play Dallas and lose.

Yeah but if we beat the Cowpies it will be another chance to celebrate. I will take my chances.

 

[crisper57]

I think Carolina and Atlanta winning is the most likely scenario. So I guess we'd be playing Atlanta.

This is the scenario I'd like to see. We haven't played them yet this year, which makes it more compelling to me (Plus I'd hate to think what the valley would look like if we had the Cowboys on Sunday and UT on Monday...)

 

[Sandan]

Which is what? They are saying the same thing I believe.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/playoffscenario?algorithm=WinningPct

No.

Kent etc are saying the Falcons must lose

If the Falcons lose and the Cowboys beat the Eagles

CNN/SI is saying win and in

 

[earthsci]

Kentt etc are saying the Falcons must lose

...and the Cowboys win to set up a Cardinals-Cowboys game.

CNN/SI is saying win and in

Which is true. If the Cowboys win, they are in. If Atlanta wins then we play Atlanta. Dallas plays Chicago or Minnesota. Unless Carolina loses, in which case we play Carolina.

 

[Sandan]

ah, now I see

 

[earthsci]

If Dallas loses, they are out. I generated this scenario where Dallas and all of the other NFC playoff possible teams lose -

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/playoffscenario?algorithm=custom&16=05444505

 

[IAWarnerFan]

I don't see what the confusion is about. Unless the Falcons lose and the Cowboys win we are playing the Falcons. Rest assure we are facing the Atlanta Falcons in the WC round.

 

[Evil Ash]

I don't see what the confusion is about. Unless the Falcons lose and the Cowboys win we are playing the Falcons. Rest assure we are facing the Atlanta Falcons in the WC round.

Actually if Carolina lost to the Saints and the Falcons win, we'd be playing Carolina. Due to tie breakers the Falcons would win the division and be the #2 seed in the NFC.

How crazy is that it is the final week of the regular season and 4 of the divisions are yet to be decided? You know the league is loving this

 

[jmt]

Who's on first? earthsci has it right. I personally would like the 'Pies to lose. What a collapse by Carolina if they lose and have to go to the desert. Happy holidays to all!

 

[SuperSpck]

Don't wish to face one team over the other, it's a jinx waiting to happen.

Just face whoever the team faces and wish for a win. Easy enough.

 

[RedRob]

Soooo, making a couple of assumptions based on likelihood (I know a dangerous thing in the NFL). STRICTLY comparing the chances of playing ATL versus DAL:

60% Chance of ATL and CAR winning Sunday (doesn't matter what DAL does) - We play ATL
30% Chanceo of ATL winning and CAR losing (once again doesn't matter what DAL does) - We play CAR
10% Chance of ATL losing and DAL winning (doesn't matter what CAR does) - We play DAL

60% chance of playing of playing ATL, 30% CAR, 10% DAL...

Wow, whatever that was a waste of my time

 

[Mulli]

Do you mean Atl instead of NO?