The Playoff Picture...

B.A.R.

B.A.R.

CTG Partner
Staff member
I figure we can use this thread to discuss potential match-ups and scenarios as we approach the postseason.
The first note I want to make --

Detroit or Minnesota will open the postseason ON THE ROAD, potentially as 14-3 record-holders. At worst, 13-4. That is a by-product of the NL rewarding division champs with a home playoff game. This is one thing I'd like to see the NFL make a change to for the playoffs. I'm fine with division winners receiving a bid, but we should be seeded 1-7 based on record/tiebreakers. Too many times, in recent years, we have had an NFC South team hosting with a record near .500.

In the NFC, the simplest part is Detroit wins out and they are the #1 seed. They hold the conference record tiebreaker with Philadelphia. Romo may have spouted off some incorrect info on this yesterday. Peek the tiebreaking procedures (which are different for divisions, wild cards, and seeding).
The AFC top spot (and bye week) just got interesting with the Mahomes injury. The Bills have New England twice plus the Jets to end the season. They simply need two Kansas City losses, and they should capture the #1 seed (due to a head-to-head win). Kansas City will face three playoff teams to end the season (Houston, Pittsburgh, and Denver in Mile High).
Key week 18 division matchups:
Minnesota @ Detroit
Seattle @ LA Rams

Both those could be for all the marbles in their respective divisions.

AFC Divisions are set, except for the Pittsburgh and Baltimore battle. Saturday will have a big say in that one.

I don't want to leave out Arizona. They will have a say in the NFC West battle, but they are still a game behind the other two. A win vs the Rams would hand them that tiebreaker. Games against Carolina and San Francisco also loom.

What match-ups are you looking forward to in the 1st round? Where are we seeing value?
 
Entire AFC playoff field is nearly set, only seeding left to go.

Chiefs need to win 2 of final 3 to get the 1 seed and I don’t know if they’ll do it. I think Mahomes is doubtful for Houston on Saturday and I would sit him on Christmas in Pittsburgh also.

Bills have easy slate left, should finish 14-3.
 
aplous said:
Entire AFC playoff field is nearly set, only seeding left to go.

Chiefs need to win 2 of final 3 to get the 1 seed and I don’t know if they’ll do it. I think Mahomes is doubtful for Houston on Saturday and I would sit him on Christmas in Pittsburgh also.

Bills have easy slate left, should finish 14-3.
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Agreed, no reason to rush him out there 10 days after the injury.

They have won on the road, just last year. HFA is terrific at Arrowhead but this team knows they can win anywhere.

They should be more around 9-5/10-4 right now so anything more is gravy.

Most important for them is getting #15 healthy.

High ankles are so tough to determine recovery time.
 
HUNT said:
Hard to see anyone getting in Buffalo and Philly way.
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I can see Detroit or even Green Bay being a serious threat to the Eagles and the Chiefs have that black magic voodoo going for them so they will always have a shot of beating anyone.
 
Brewers888 said:
I can see Detroit or even Green Bay being a serious threat to the Eagles and the Chiefs have that black magic voodoo going for them so they will always have a shot of beating anyone.
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Detroit doesn't have a defense anymore. They've lost double digit players.

They are done.

Group chat summed it up -- they are the Bengals moving forward.

Green Bay is so hot n cold. Great DL. They could make a run or lose in WC round. Dangerous 6 seed for sure. They might get lucky and face TB in the first round. Then, if Detroit holds into #1 seed they suddenly get a game vs a battered team...

Boom NFC Champ Game.
 
As of today, I'm not forgetting about the Baltimore Ravens as the AFC Champion/SB champion. In the NFC I'm hoping for the Rams or Cardinals to be division champs in NFC West as the 3rd or 4th seed so I can fade either one of them in the WC round.
 
B.A.R. said:
Detroit doesn't have a defense anymore. They've lost double digit players.

They are done.

Group chat summed it up -- they are the Bengals moving forward.

Green Bay is so hot n cold. Great DL. They could make a run or lose in WC round. Dangerous 6 seed for sure. They might get lucky and face TB in the first round. Then, if Detroit holds into #1 seed they suddenly get a game vs a battered team...

Boom NFC Champ Game.
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I get the doomsday thoughts of being a Lions fan but they can still win by outscoring the opponent despite a bad defense. Yes that game yesterday exposed the defense and Aaron Glenn as a coordinator but they still very much have a team that can win it all.
 
Brewers888 said:
I get the doomsday thoughts of being a Lions fan but they can still win by outscoring the opponent despite a bad defense. Yes that game yesterday exposed the defense and Aaron Glenn as a coordinator but they still very much have a team that can win it all.
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Nothing about yesterday's game is procuring my thoughts today -- as far as gameplay.

I expected Detroit to struggle vs a QB1 like Josh Allen. They always do.

I had said for weeks this was the game to lose.

Simply put, this is too many injuries at key spots.

We're the Bengals. That's it.

I know every team has injuries but this is wild.
 
B.A.R. said:
Nothing about yesterday's game is procuring my thoughts today -- as far as gameplay.

I expected Detroit to struggle vs a QB1 like Josh Allen. They always do.

I had said for weeks this was the game to lose.

Simply put, this is too many injuries at key spots.

We're the Bengals. That's it.

I know every team has injuries but this is wild.
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We'll see but I still have faith in them especially if they keep the home field advantage.
 
B.A.R. said:
Nothing about yesterday's game is procuring my thoughts today -- as far as gameplay.

I expected Detroit to struggle vs a QB1 like Josh Allen. They always do.

I had said for weeks this was the game to lose.

Simply put, this is too many injuries at key spots.

We're the Bengals. That's it.

I know every team has injuries but this is wild.
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Niners are just as decimated on both sides of the ball
 
How about this scenario:

Bengals win out finish 9-8
Broncos lose out (@Chargers, @Bengals and Chiefs) finish 9-8
Dolphins lose 1 of last three (includes two cold weather games against the Browns/Jets)
Colts lose 1 of last three (Titans, @Giants, Jaguars)

That leaves Bengals as the #7, with trips to either Buffalo/KC or KC/Buffalo, two places they have previously won in the playoffs.

Not going to happen but if you are a Bills or Chiefs fan, I think that would be the last team you would want to face in the WC/divisional round.
 
Quick story. A good buddy of mine is a member at one of Seattle's best private golf clubs and invited me to play the 3 day member/guest in August. So, my "gift" to him for the invitation was a $350 ticket on the Seahawks to win the NFC, which pays $10k. After last night, it is clear he can just rip it up....LOL
 
jimmymo said:
Quick story. A good buddy of mine is a member at one of Seattle's best private golf clubs and invited me to play the 3 day member/guest in August. So, my "gift" to him for the invitation was a $350 ticket on the Seahawks to win the NFC, which pays $10k. After last night, it is clear he can just rip it up....LOL
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Geno seems okay, right?

Bottom line is y'all need to get a win this week or next to set-up a showdown at Sofi.

NFC west only getting one team in.

But, that comes with a home game.

Then, maybe, you get a beat up Lions team in divisional round.
 
Colin Wynner said:
How about this scenario:

Bengals win out finish 9-8
Broncos lose out (@Chargers, @Bengals and Chiefs) finish 9-8
Dolphins lose 1 of last three (includes two cold weather games against the Browns/Jets)
Colts lose 1 of last three (Titans, @Giants, Jaguars)

That leaves Bengals as the #7, with trips to either Buffalo/KC or KC/Buffalo, two places they have previously won in the playoffs.

Not going to happen but if you are a Bills or Chiefs fan, I think that would be the last team you would want to face in the WC/divisional round.
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Intriguing
 
jimmymo said:
Quick story. A good buddy of mine is a member at one of Seattle's best private golf clubs and invited me to play the 3 day member/guest in August. So, my "gift" to him for the invitation was a $350 ticket on the Seahawks to win the NFC, which pays $10k. After last night, it is clear he can just rip it up....LOL
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The ole, "what have you done for me lately". It's just one game against a very good GB team. If they get in they have a shot
 
Bengals got what they needed last night. Next they need KC to drop one of these next two games to keep them interested in playing Week 18. There could be so many moving parts in the AFC Week 18 it would be delicious.

Denver / KC - Denver playing for their playoff lives, KC playing for #1 seed
Cincy / Pittsburgh - Bengals hoping to get in as #7 seed, Pittsburgh playing for division
Cleve / Baltimore - Ravens playing for division
Buffalo/NE - Buffalo playing for #1 seed

The AFC games all look like 4:30 contests for ultimate scoreboard watching.

Houston (vs. Tenn at 1:00 pm) and LAC (vs LV at 4:30) should be able to rest guys by Week 18, which gives them a mild edge.

NFC might have a lot at stake too:
Det/Minn - favorite for the Sunday night game - #1 seed/division on the line
NYG/Philly - possibly playing for #1 seed
NO/Tampa & Car/Atlanta - division on the line? seems like the 1:00 time slot for these two to work themselves out
Seatle/LAR - #2 choice for Sunday night game - could be win or go home
Niners/Cards - might split the west interest if Seattle falters, at which point these are both 4:30 games

GB (vs Chi at 1:00 pm) should be able to rest guys. Wash (vs Dal 1:00 pm) likely in as well (to quote Juba..."but not yet").

1:00 playing out the string - Mia/NYJ (with NYG/Phi at 4:30), Jax/Indy
 
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