Updated Playoff Picture

[English on tour]

We're toast if the Bears do win!!!

Yep, still feels odd.

Doing us a massive favour (and themselves of course) today.

 

[Mulli]

Bears are toast!

 

[AsUdUdE]

It's ashame that the lions came back to win...

Now its pretty simple for the Cardinals playoff chances:

ATL or DET needs to lose both of their final two games and the Cards need to win.. assuming that the Cardinals should make the playoffs...

Every Cardinal fan needs to be a HUUGE Charger/Saint fan this weekend as an early gift, if they both lose and the Cardinals get a win in Cinnci,it would be huge...

Lets go Rivers/Brees!!!!!!!!

 

[jmt]

Win at Cincy and see what happens. GBR!

 

[BigRedFan]

It's ashame that the lions came back to win...

Now its pretty simple for the Cardinals playoff chances:

ATL or DET needs to lose both of their final two games and the Cards need to win.. assuming that the Cardinals should make the playoffs...

Every Cardinal fan needs to be a HUUGE Charger/Saint fan this weekend as an early gift, if they both lose and the Cardinals get a win in Cinnci,it would be huge...

Lets go Rivers/Brees!!!!!!!!

So does this mean it doesn't matter if the Bears win both? In which case we should root for the Bears against Green Bay so that, possibly, the Packers would need to beat Detroit to clinch home field. Or, if the Bears need to lose 1, if they beat Green Bay, then they would have to lose to Minnesota. If Green Bay wins, will they rest starters against Detroit? That's the key question; otherwise we would need Tampa (and the saints who still have incentive to win) to beat the Falcons.

 

[TheCardinal]

So does this mean it doesn't matter if the Bears win both? In which case we should root for the Bears against Green Bay so that, possibly, the Packers would need to beat Detroit to clinch home field. Or, if the Bears need to lose 1, if they beat Green Bay, then they would have to lose to Minnesota. If Green Bay wins, will they rest starters against Detroit? That's the key question; otherwise we would need Tampa (and the saints who still have incentive to win) to beat the Falcons.

We need to get to 9-7 PLUS two of the three:
a) Bears lose/tie once
b) Lions lose both
c) Falcons lose both
(if all three happen, we get the #5 seed)

If the Bears beat GB, then yes, they would have to lose/tie at MIN to fulfill (a) above. So which of the following is more likely to occur?

a) motivated GB over DET + Vikings beat/tie CHI.
b) GB back-ups over DET

But. . . for this question to even matter, we have to assume SD over DET and SF over SEA. The question also ignores the possibility of ATL losing to NO and TB. For the fan watching this weekend, we obviously want ARI, SD, and NO to win. SF over SEA is also good (to keep pressure on GB and eliminate SEA's motivation next week). I would prefer GB over CHI, but if this doesn't happen, it's not a total loss if DET loses and SF wins to force a meaningful DET-GB game in week 17 (note: we might then need SF over STL if the DET-GB game gets flexed).

 

[BigRedFan]

I think I would prefer Chicago to win since I worry about an unmotivated GB versus motivated Detroit. If we enter the last week with the possibility that if Green Bay beats Detroit, and either Minnesota beats Chicago, or Atlanta loses to Tampa, we're in. Sure the last 2 are less likely, but having 2 possibilities makes it more likely. Although GB is motivated and will probably beat Chicago. Then we will need them to beat Detroit or Atlanta lose. This also assumes Detroit, Atlanta lose and SF win this week. Ugh Im getting tired of thinking about it. What a shame Detroit pulled that game out. Then again we were just as lucky ourselves to come back and win.

We need to get to 9-7 PLUS two of the three:
a) Bears lose/tie once
b) Lions lose both
c) Falcons lose both
(if all three happen, we get the #5 seed)

If the Bears beat GB, then yes, they would have to lose/tie at MIN to fulfill (a) above. So which of the following is more likely to occur?

a) motivated GB over DET + Vikings beat/tie CHI.
b) GB back-ups over DET

But. . . for this question to even matter, we have to assume SD over DET and SF over SEA. The question also ignores the possibility of ATL losing to NO and TB. For the fan watching this weekend, we obviously want ARI, SD, and NO to win. SF over SEA is also good (to keep pressure on GB and eliminate SEA's motivation next week). I would prefer GB over CHI, but if this doesn't happen, it's not a total loss if DET loses and SF wins to force a meaningful DET-GB game in week 17 (note: we might then need SF over STL if the DET-GB game gets flexed).

 

[BillsCarnage]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/standings/_/type/playoffs/sort/conferenceRank/order/false

 

[ajcardfan]

I think I would prefer Chicago to win since I worry about an unmotivated GB versus motivated Detroit. If we enter the last week with the possibility that if Green Bay beats Detroit, and either Minnesota beats Chicago, or Atlanta loses to Tampa, we're in. Sure the last 2 are less likely, but having 2 possibilities makes it more likely. Although GB is motivated and will probably beat Chicago. Then we will need them to beat Detroit or Atlanta lose. This also assumes Detroit, Atlanta lose and SF win this week. Ugh Im getting tired of thinking about it. What a shame Detroit pulled that game out. Then again we were just as lucky ourselves to come back and win.

For this week, all we need is for us to win and for either Atlanta or Detroit to lose. It's that simple. That's all I'm going to worry about.

 

[Buckybird]

Chances are soooo much less at making the playoffs this week after the Lions beat the Raiders in the last minute!!! Nice run by the Cards, but too little too late. We dug our own grave by losing games early in the year just the ooposite of how we're winning them now!!! Too many things have to happen with only 2 games remaining

 

[jmt]

I think I would prefer Chicago to win since I worry about an unmotivated GB versus motivated Detroit. If we enter the last week with the possibility that if Green Bay beats Detroit, and either Minnesota beats Chicago, or Atlanta loses to Tampa, we're in. Sure the last 2 are less likely, but having 2 possibilities makes it more likely. Although GB is motivated and will probably beat Chicago. Then we will need them to beat Detroit or Atlanta lose. This also assumes Detroit, Atlanta lose and SF win this week. Ugh Im getting tired of thinking about it. What a shame Detroit pulled that game out. Then again we were just as lucky ourselves to come back and win.

Speaking of motivation, we really need Buffalo to beat Denver so
San Diego stays alive vs. Lions.

 

[az1965]

For this week, all we need is for us to win and for either Atlanta or Detroit to lose. It's that simple. That's all I'm going to worry about.

I think Atlanta losing out is more probably (San Diego, Green Bay) than Detroit who play last game at home against a very bad team Tampa Bay.

 

[az1965]

Chances are soooo much less at making the playoffs this week after the Lions beat the Raiders in the last minute!!! Nice run by the Cards, but too little too late. We dug our own grave by losing games early in the year just the ooposite of how we're winning them now!!! Too many things have to happen with only 2 games remaining

Red Skins, Giants, or Ravens... we had good opportunities to win either or all of these games and gave these away.

 

[ajcardfan]

I think Atlanta losing out is more probably (San Diego, Green Bay) than Detroit who play last game at home against a very bad team Tampa Bay.

You have the schedule backwards. Detroit plays San Diego and Green Bay.


Either way, it's long odds. But, who even dreamed in October that we'd still be alive in the next to last game, much less the last one?

 

[jmt]

Red Skins, Giants, or Ravens... we had good opportunities to win either or all of these games and gave these away.

It evens out - we could have easily lost to Rams, Cowpies and Browns.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Red Skins, Giants, or Ravens... we had good opportunities to win either or all of these games and gave these away.

The Skins and Ravens don't bother me that much because they won. The Giants game bugs me because they didn't deserve to win and won because of the atrocious call on Victor Cruz "giving himself up". The Cards would be sitting at 8-6 if the ref just makes the correct call. It was Cards ball, game over . The other games are coulda/shoulda scenarios this one was the direct result of the blown call.

 

[PACardsFan]

It evens out - we could have easily lost to Rams, Cowpies and Browns.

Excellent point. I have to keep telling myself that.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

The Skins and Ravens don't bother me that much because they won. The Giants game bugs me because they didn't deserve to win and won because of the atrocious call on Victor Cruz "giving himself up". The Cards would be sitting at 8-6 if the ref just makes the correct call. It was Cards ball, game over . The other games are coulda/shoulda scenarios this one was the direct result of the blown call.

I like to keep telling myself that, but to be fair to the Giants, there was still 2:45 left on the clock. That's way too much time with the way our offense has played this year to not expect them to get the ball back one more time.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I like to keep telling myself that, but to be fair to the Giants, there was still 2:45 left on the clock. That's way too much time with the way our offense has played this year to not expect them to get the ball back one more time.

We'll never know but the odds are highly probable, like above 98%, the Cards win. When/if NY got the ball back they would have zero timeouts, about 30 seconds on the clock, and need go a long way for a TD/FG.

2:45 left Cards 1st down, run a play, 2 minute warning, 2nd down, Cards run a play, 3rd down, 1:15 left snap ball, 4th down, take a delay with about 35 seconds left, Punt takes about 10 seconds. NY ball with 25 seconds left.

Of course Detroit just went 99 last week with no timeouts but, still, that's a very unlikely occurence and they had much more time than 30 seconds

 

[dreamcastrocks]

We'll never know but the odds are highly probable, like above 98%, the Cards win. When/if NY got the ball back they would have zero timeouts, about 30 seconds on the clock, and need go a long way for a TD/FG.

2:45 left Cards 1st down, run a play, 2 minute warning, 2nd down, Cards run a play, 3rd down, 1:15 left snap ball, 4th down, take a delay with about 35 seconds left, Punt takes about 10 seconds. NY ball with 25 seconds left.

Of course Detroit just went 99 last week with no timeouts but, still, that's a very unlikely occurence and they had much more time than 30 seconds

I dunno........ I think I'd take the under on that. The Cards D had not really formed yet. I have seen way too many Cards games lost by the defense allowing a last minute score.

 

[NuttinButTDs]

Red Skins, Giants, or Ravens... we had good opportunities to win either or all of these games and gave these away.

More importantly, Cards gave away games to Skins, Giants and Ravens. Oh the irony....

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I dunno........ I think I'd take the under on that. The Cards D had not really formed yet. I have seen way too many Cards games lost by the defense allowing a last minute score.

I have to admit the Cards probably fall in the 2%. But it is still unlikely.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

More importantly, Cards gave away games to Skins, Giants and Ravens. Oh the irony....

I'd consider the Ravens giveaway being up 21 points. Stuckey fumbling 75 yards away from a go-ahead score isn't giving the Skins game away IMO. The Giants game could have went either way.

 

[ajcardfan]

I'd consider the Ravens giveaway being up 21 points. Stuckey fumbling 75 yards away from a go-ahead score isn't giving the Skins game away IMO. The Giants game could have went either way.

Botching a simple coverage on a 4th down to give up an absurdly easy TD is giving it away. Looking back on how below average Washington has been since then makes it even more annoying.