DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Playoff scenerios

The game next week in Cincy is HUGE and will decide our playoff fate. Here are the scenerios as they stand:

A) We win @ Cincy and win vs SF- we are assured a playoff spot. We are a game up on the Titans so they would be unable to catch up. And if Pitt loses one of their last 2 games we also clinch the division.

B) We win @ Cincy and lose vs SF- we still earn a playoff birth. Even if the Titans win out. If we finish with the same record our division schedule is the same as well. However we would have a one game advatage in conference play giving us the tiebreaker. Also if Pitt loses both there games we would win the division.

C) We lose @ Cincy and win vs SF- things will begin to look sketchy now. Our conference play record would be the same, going to who has the best percentage in common games played. If the Titans win out they would be 4-1. If we lose to Cincy, we'll be 3-2. Tennessee would get the wild card. We could still win the division in Pitt loses both games.

D) We lose @ Cincy and we lose vs SF- playoff hopes would seriously be looking bad here. Theres no shot to win the division even if Pitt drops both games. The Titans would clinch a spot if they win out. A loss to the Jets or Colts would give us the better conference record and a playoff birth.


The Titans: they play the Jets at home (a game I expect them to win). Then they play the Colts at Indianapolis. The Colts have already clinched a first round bye and you can bet their starters won't play long before being pulled in that game. The Titans should win that game as well. Any loss and they are done.

Pittsburgh: As long as they finish with the same record as us they win the division. Any loss compared to a Browns win and the division is ours. It is possible that if Cleveland and Tennessee wins out and Pitt loses to Baltimore then Pitt would not make the playoffs.

We need to beat Cincy to clinch a playoff spot. A loss to Cincy, even if we beat SF, will seriously hurt. Cincinnati isn't going to be an easy game. The last time we played they put up 46 points against us. We've averaged only 3 points more a game than them but or defense has also given up 10 more points than theirs this season. Carson Palmer always has a field day against us as well. They have Chris Henry back and they are playing at home, this is no easy game at all. They will be playing the role of spoiler, they have nothing to lose.

I will not be comfortable until we are able to come out of Cincy with a win. If not, then our hopes will take a serious hit.

they said if the playoffs were today it would be
Jacksonville 5 seed at pittsburgh div win 4 seed

and Cleveland at San Diego

crush cincy

interesting year.. we still have a chance to be the number 3 seed.


a) we win out.. pitts loses 1 of their last 2 and chargers lose 1 of their remaining 2... we are #3
b) we win 1 of our last 2.. pitts loses last 2 and chargers lose last 2 ... we are #3

if i figured that out right

Cinn game is huge, a must win..

But in order for us to win, we must break the cycle.

Just win & everything else will work itself out.....

Any chance Cincy tanks it on purpose so that Pitt doesn't win the division and they get a better draft pick?

No, but seriously....

Pittsburgh has to lose to both St Louis as well as Baltimore for us to win the division, and I simply don't see that happening at all. Is it possible? Yes, but not likely.


From NFL.COM:


AFC
Division leaders W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
1. *New England Patriots 14-0 5-0 11-0 MIA (1-13), @ NYG (9-5) = 10-18 (.357)
Now that home-field advantage is wrapped up, there's nothing left to play for in the regular season ... or is there?
2. z-Indianapolis Colts 12-2 4-0 8-2 HOU (7-7), TEN (8-6) = 15-13 (.536)
The Colts are locked into the No. 2 playoff position. With nothing to play for in final two weeks, might be time to get healthy.
3. y-San Diego Chargers 9-5 3-1 7-3 DEN (6-8), @ OAK (4-10) = 10-18 (.357)
Don't tell the Chargers they have nothing to play for. A No. 3 seed means avoiding the Patriots for one more week.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-5 5-0 7-4 @ STL (3-11), @ BAL (4-10) = 7-21 (.250)
Not the way you want to enter the playoffs if you're the Steelers, who are looking just to hang on in the AFC North.

Wild cards W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
5. Jacksonville Jaguars 10-4 2-3 7-3 OAK (4-10), @ HOU (7-7) = 11-17 (.393)
Their win at Pittsburgh on Sunday sent a message around the AFC and nearly solidified the No. 5 seed.
6. Cleveland Browns 9-5 3-2 7-4 @ CIN (5-9), SF (4-10) = 9-19 (.321)
They still have an outside shot at a division crown, but their main focus right now is just getting in.

Still in the hunt W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
Tennessee Titans 8-6 3-2 5-5 NYJ (3-11), @ IND (12-2) = 15-13 (.536)
The remaining schedule includes one team playing for next season and another that is likely to be resting for the playoffs.



NFC
Division leaders W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
1. z-Dallas Cowboys 12-2 4-1 9-1 @ CAR (5-9), @ WAS (7-7) = 12-16 (.429)
Home-field advantage was almost a certainty, until their loss on Sunday put that in jeopardy.
2. z-Green Bay Packers 12-2 3-1 8-2 @ CHI (5-8), DET (6-8) = 11-16 (.407)
They've wrapped up the division and now the Cowboys have given Green Bay a reason to play hard for at least another week.
3. y-Seattle Seahawks 9-5 5-1 8-3 BAL (4-10), @ ATL (3-11) = 7-21 (.250)
All that momentum gained from their five-game winning streak came to a sudden halt with their loss to Carolina.
4. y-Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-5 5-0 8-2 @ SF (4-10), CAR (6-8) = 10-18 (.357)
The No. 3 seed would be up for grabs had the Bucs not played Seattle this season. But they did, and lost 20-6 in Week 1.

Wild cards W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
5. New York Giants 9-5 3-3 7-5 @ BUF (7-7), NE (14-0) = 21-7 (.750)
What once seemed impossible -- and not too long ago -- is now reality: The Giants actually could miss the playoffs.
6. Minnesota Vikings 7-6 2-3 5-5 CHI (5-8), WAS (7-7), @ DEN (6-8) = 18-23 (.439)
If the regular season ended today, the Vikings would be in the playoffs. The way they're playing now, they might be in at the end, too.

Still in the hunts W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
New Orleans Saints 7-7 3-3 6-4 PHI (6-8), @ CHI (5-8) = 11-16 (.407)
They're still in it after finally getting back to .500 on Sunday, and a plus-.500 conference mark is playing in their favor.
Washington Redskins 7-7 2-3 5-5 @ MIN (7-6), DAL (12-2) = 19-8 (.704)
Remaining schedule is a beast, but the stars could be starting to align for a team many are cheering for.
Arizona Cardinals 6-8 2-3 3-7 ATL (3-11), STL (3-11) = 6-22 (.214)
If they had won a game or two more, they could look at their final two games as their ticket in. But ...
Detroit Lions 6-8 3-2 4-7 KC (4-10), @ GB (12-2) = 16-12 (.571)
How impressive was the Lions' start to the season? They've lost six straight and they still haven't been eliminated.
Carolina Panthers 6-8 2-3 6-4 DAL (12-2), @ TB (9-5) = 21-7 (.750)
Like a cockroach, the Panthers just won't go away. The exterminators, however, are on their way.
Philadelphia Eagles 6-8 2-4 4-7 @ NO (7-7), BUF (7-7) = 14-14 (.500)
Big win at Dallas, but most likely too little, way too late.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
How would you like to be an NFC fan of one of the 8 teams scrambling for a WC slot, and trying to figure out the scenarios??

And yes, I realize that simple math dictates that we can still win the division......but I just see us losing to Cincy.

By our track record, we lose this one.. Thats why i said we need to break the cycle.

L-W-L-W-L-W-BYE-W-W-L-W-W-L-W-W- WEEK 16- WEEK 17-

You see what I'm saying here?

I see exactly what you're saying. I'm also hoping that the loss to the 49ers further causes the Bengals locker room to implode.

We lose to Cincy and we're done.

That's just my opinion due to the Titans schedule and us needing another AFC win, and cincy in particular, for that tiebreaker.

We have played in a blizzard and won with great production..

I think this team might have turned a corner, and really soaked in whats at stake. I feel we run the table now.

This is a good football team, I think we can hang with anyone. We allways give Colts a hard time, We owe the Pats, and I think we hand it to :Pitts this time around..


SuperBowl

Browns 28
Greenbay 26

It's our year dawg, I feel it

Quote:

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SuperBowl

Browns 28
Greenbay 26

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Let's beat Cincy first before we make plane reservations.....

I think the Jets are capable of beating the Titans next week... Jets are better lately.

Yeah, I mentioned this in the other post on Gameday. The simple breakdown is this:
We are IN if we beat Cincy OR Tenn loses one of it's last two games.

That's all. The San Fran game won't really matter. It only comes into play if Pittsburgh starts losing, and we have a chance to win the division.

what a merry Christmas that would be, a Browns playoff game!

what I see is no back-to-back losses this year.

I see 3 strings of two-in-a-row...when for a few years we couldn't do it once.

I see us getting our second 3-in-a-row on our way to our first 4-in-a-row

The way I see it, if Tennessee loses a game in the next 2 weeks we're in.
If we lose to Cincy and Tennessee wins out, we're out.
If we beat Cincy, then we're in. San Francisco game matters not even if Tennessee goes 2-0.

So basically, if we beat Cincy, we're in. If we lose to Cincy, we're out, because I don't expect Tennessee to lose vs NYJ and @IND (who will be resting their good players)....that's a lot riding on the game this week @Cin.

Another intresting point is the lack of yellow flags flying around.. This team has really grown up here in recent weeks, could be a sign of great things to come

Quote:

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you wanna hear something scary: my brother said before the preseason started, his super bowl pick was the Browns vs the Packers. Considering we were one of the worst teams last year and the Packers were only 8-8 behind the Bears, that was a pretty bold pick. Today it is just a reasonable but unlikely pick. Funny how much can change in a year.

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That's why we play the games. I dare say no one thought we'd be in this position near
the end of the season.especially after the first loss.

The way we've been playing I don't see us losing to the bengals or SF

Beleveland wants it more.

I don't care who we play.. whether it be San Diego or Pitt. At first I was wanting to play Pitt, thinking that its our best chance to win, but i think we can handle San Diego too though.. Only thing about San Diego right now though is that they have lots of momentum and confidence going, while Pitt doesnt after these past few losses.

I want no part of SD. LT will rip us a new one. Our Defense has improved but not that much. And the game would be in sunny SD. No half foot of snow to make Andra Davis look like an All-Pro.

One question I have would be has a team with the worst (in this case 32nd) ranked Defense ever made the playoffs before? I don't recall one but then I don't recall what I had for lunch yesterday......

LT and Willie Parker...

not much of a difference IMO....


Weather would be the only factor...

Also going against the Steelers... Ben holds on to the ball.. you gotta love that.

I remember one year, KC and Indy played each other, and KC had the worst defense and Indy had the 2nd worst. I wanna say that was a playoff game.

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=7980

Browns can clinch in Cincinnati
Jeff Walcoff, Staff Writer
12.17.2007
After 15 weeks of football, a trip to the playoffs for the Cleveland Browns is as simple as one more win.

The NFL has released its playoff scenarios for Week 16 and the Browns are one win or a Tennessee loss away from locking up their first postseason berth since 2002.

All the Browns (9-5) need to assure a Wild Card spot in the upcoming playoffs is:

A win over the Cincinnati Bengals (5-9)
or

A Tennessee Titans (8-6) loss vs. the New York Jets (3-11)
The Browns also are now tied for first place in the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers, however, the Steelers own the tiebreaker with two wins over the Browns this season.

Loss Sunday for Browns could cost playoff's spot

By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007

BEREA: When asked about the Browns' final two games, co-captain Willie McGinest was practically prophetic.

''It's just one game, Cincinnati. That's all that matters. Our playoff game is Cincinnati,'' McGinest said Sunday after the blizzard-swept 8-0 home victory over Buffalo.

Although running back Jamal Lewis uttered nearly the same words a week ago, linebacker McGinest's were still right to the point. Sunday's game at Cincinnati carries much more weight than the Dec. 30 season finale at home against San Francisco.

For the Browns, the only playoff scenario they care about is the simple one — beat Cincinnati (5-9), and they're in.

But for those glass-half-empty residents of Northeast Ohio, the implications of a loss in Paul Brown Stadium are mortifying. In that instance, Cleveland could finish the season 10-6 and not make the playoffs.

Because the 49ers (4-10) are from the NFC, that outcome will not affect Cleveland's conference record, the fourth playoff tiebreaker. Record against common opponents is the third tiebreaker, and only one team that is still alive, Pittsburgh, faced San Francisco.

Should the Browns fall to the Bengals, they would need Tennesee (8-6) to lose one of its remaining two. The Titans host the New York Jets (3-11) Sunday, then visit AFC South champion Indianapolis (12-2). Although the Titans might seem overmatched against the defending Super Bowl champions, Colts coach Tony Dungy has been known to rest his starters before the playoffs. What he'll do this year is uncertain because the Colts have clinched a first-round bye.

If Tennessee and Cleveland finish 10-6, the Titans would be in by virtue of a better record versus common opponents (4-1 vs. 3-2).

There are also some brain-bending scenarios if Tennessee, Jacksonville and Cleveland end up 10-6. None of those is good for the Browns if they lose Sunday.

In that case, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Tennessee-Jacksonville tie gets broken first, and Tennessee would win based on division record.




Tennessee then would be matched up with Cleveland to determine the first wild card. If the Browns beat the Bengals, Cleveland wins based on a better conference record (8-4 vs. 7-5). If Cleveland loses to the Bengals and beats San Francisco, both would be tied with 7-5 AFC marks. But the Titans would have the edge based on a better record against common opponents (4-1 vs. 3-2).

If Cleveland lost that tiebreaker, it would be matched up with Jacksonville for the second wild card, and the Jaguars would win based on common opponents (3-2 vs. 2-3).

Seeking its first postseason appearance in five years, Cleveland is tied with Pittsburgh for the AFC North lead, but Pittsburgh holds the tiebreaker by virtue of its 2007 sweep of their series.

Even if the Browns clinch a playoff spot Sunday, there is still much to be decided. Wild-card games are Jan. 5-6.

If the playoffs began today, the Browns would play in San Diego (9-5) against the AFC West champion. But Cleveland can still face Pittsburgh, San Diego or Jacksonville in the first round and can still host Jacksonville (10-4) or Pittsburgh.

In a nutshell, the Browns get in this weekend if they win, Tennessee loses, or both tie. The possibilities should make for a frenzied atmosphere in Cincinnati on Sunday.

Although the Bengals' offensive line needs rebuilding, quarterback Carson Palmer is having a sub-par season and the defense has been plagued by injuries, Cincinnati has won five of the past six meetings with Cleveland. The Browns prevailed 51-45 on Sept. 16, rolling up a season-high 554 net yards, but giving up a season-high 531.

''They match up with us pretty good,'' Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. ''They're the type of team we've struggled with and they've put up points. It's going to be a battle and it's going to be a struggle. We realize that. That's why I talked to them after the game yesterday about winning on the road, going to Cincinnati and trying to do the things that we have to do.''

The win-and-you're-in situation may not have calmed Crennel's nerves much.

''That's the situation we've been in for about a couple of weeks now,'' he said. ''Really, it hasn't changed. We're a just a little bit closer.''

Eyes told tale

Browns strong safety Sean Jones wasn't surprised that the Bills ran a screen pass to running back Fred Jackson on fourth and 5 from the Cleveland 10 with 15 seconds left. Jones and linebacker Chaun Thompson stopped Jackson for no gain.

''Right before the play I saw the running back's eyes kind of wandering,'' Jones said. ''I was like, 'This is the same look we had earlier with that screen.' So I ran up and told D'Qwell Jackson, 'Watch the screen.' Fortunately, they ran it and we were able to get off the field.''

Brownies . . .

Game balls went to Lewis, the offensive line and tight end Steve Heiden, the entire defense for the first shutout in two years and kicker Phil Dawson. . . . The game will be shown in a 90-minute version on the NFL Network tonight at 10:30. . . . The Bills returned to to Buffalo by bus Monday after their charter plane got stuck in the mud at Cleveland Hopkins Airport about 8 a.m. The team was not on the plane at the time.


Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.



BEREA: When asked about the Browns' final two games, co-captain Willie McGinest was practically prophetic.

''It's just one game, Cincinnati. That's all that matters. Our playoff game is Cincinnati,'' McGinest said Sunday after the blizzard-swept 8-0 home victory over Buffalo.

Although running back Jamal Lewis uttered nearly the same words a week ago, linebacker McGinest's were still right to the point. Sunday's game at Cincinnati carries much more weight than the Dec. 30 season finale at home against San Francisco.

For the Browns, the only playoff scenario they care about is the simple one — beat Cincinnati (5-9), and they're in.

But for those glass-half-empty residents of Northeast Ohio, the implications of a loss in Paul Brown Stadium are mortifying. In that instance, Cleveland could finish the season 10-6 and not make the playoffs.

Because the 49ers (4-10) are from the NFC, that outcome will not affect Cleveland's conference record, the fourth playoff tiebreaker. Record against common opponents is the third tiebreaker, and only one team that is still alive, Pittsburgh, faced San Francisco.

Should the Browns fall to the Bengals, they would need Tennesee (8-6) to lose one of its remaining two. The Titans host the New York Jets (3-11) Sunday, then visit AFC South champion Indianapolis (12-2). Although the Titans might seem overmatched against the defending Super Bowl champions, Colts coach Tony Dungy has been known to rest his starters before the playoffs. What he'll do this year is uncertain because the Colts have clinched a first-round bye.

If Tennessee and Cleveland finish 10-6, the Titans would be in by virtue of a better record versus common opponents (4-1 vs. 3-2).

There are also some brain-bending scenarios if Tennessee, Jacksonville and Cleveland end up 10-6. None of those is good for the Browns if they lose Sunday.

In that case, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Tennessee-Jacksonville tie gets broken first, and Tennessee would win based on division record.




Tennessee then would be matched up with Cleveland to determine the first wild card. If the Browns beat the Bengals, Cleveland wins based on a better conference record (8-4 vs. 7-5). If Cleveland loses to the Bengals and beats San Francisco, both would be tied with 7-5 AFC marks. But the Titans would have the edge based on a better record against common opponents (4-1 vs. 3-2).

If Cleveland lost that tiebreaker, it would be matched up with Jacksonville for the second wild card, and the Jaguars would win based on common opponents (3-2 vs. 2-3).

Seeking its first postseason appearance in five years, Cleveland is tied with Pittsburgh for the AFC North lead, but Pittsburgh holds the tiebreaker by virtue of its 2007 sweep of their series.

After looking at the current playoff brackets http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/standings/playoffrace/bracket

Pittsburgh can have the division. I want to win the AFC North just as bad as any body...but think about it. If we win the division, we would host Jacksonville. The winner of that game goes on to play the Patriots.

If Pittsburgh wins the division, and we keep hold of the sixth seed (as it currently sits), Jacksonville (5) will play at Pittsburgh (4). The winner of that game will go onto play New England (1). Cleveland (6) would play at San Diego (3). The winner of that game would play Indy (2). I'd rather play an under achieving San Diego, and a beat up Indy than a pair of red hot teams in Jacksonville and New England for the first two rounds.

The two teams I don't want to play in the playoffs are Jacksonville and New England. Granted we've still got two games, but I don't see the current play off brackets changing to much.

R U KIDDING??????????????????

NEVER do u say NO to a HOME Playoff Game...I don't care who it's against...

We match up well with 2 teams...

Jax and Pitt...

Hell with that! I don't want to eek our way through the playoffs. I want to play the best team's we can. No excuses.