Win Thurs and we aren't in...

[aj_law]

Ya the more I look at it, the more i think Steelers need to win out to make playoffs....I see them winning the division or out, I really feel that the Titans will win out (colts nothing to play for) and the browns could easily do so as well.

Even if the Titans win out, they're going to need help.  Pittsburgh or Cleveland would have to split their last two and the Titans would have to hang their hopes on tiebreakers.  For Jacksonville to get bounced, they'd have to lose their last two against the Jets and Texans.  Don't see it playing out that way at all.

IMO, I think the playoffs will shake out like this:

(1) Pats
(2) Colts
(3) Steelers
(4) Chargers
(5) Jaguars
(6) Browns

Browns @ Steelers - Man, going 3 for 3 is always tough to do, regardless of opponent, but it's the best possible matchup the Steelers could get.

Jaguars @ Chargers - Don't really care about this game, but IMO, Jaguars would give NE fits in Round 2, assuming Pittsburgh wins their Round 1 matchup.  And, honestly, I think this is the best possible scenario for seeing the Patriots getting bounced.  I think I would root almost as much for Jacksonville to go up to Gillette in January and pound the Pastries into the ground as I would for Pittsburgh to win their game.  Almost.

[Hercules50.]

Jaguars @ Chargers - Don't really care about this game, but IMO, Jaguars would give NE fits in Round 2, assuming Pittsburgh wins their Round 1 matchup.  And, honestly, I think this is the best possible scenario for seeing the Patriots getting bounced.  I think I would root almost as much for Jacksonville to go up to Gillette in January and pound the Pastries into the ground as I would for Pittsburgh to win their game.  Almost.

Good point!

Man, I would love to see Jax play NE....

[Puma170]

IMO, I think the playoffs will shake out like this:

(1) Pats
(2) Colts
(3) Steelers
(4) Chargers
(5) Jaguars
(6) Browns

I am not convinced that the Steelers will win out or make the playoffs.  I certainly don't see them jumping San Diego... Clearly you see the Steelers winning out and then San Diego dropping one.  Which one of their remaining games would that be?  

PUMA

[Finnegans Wake]

Bolts leapfrogged us to #3 seed, I think by virtue of a better AFC record (we're both 9-5, but they're 7-3 AFC, we're 7-4).  

Of the teams now sitting in the AFC seeding below Indy:

Pitt @ St. Lou - Good God, we had better win this.
Oak @ Jax - Jax.  
Cleve @ Cinci - Cinci sucks, but it's a rivalry game.
Denver @ SD - Denver sucks, but it's a rivalry game.

Then:

Pitt @ Balty - Balty sucks, etc.
Jax @ Houston - Possible upset, but not betting on it.
SF @ Cleve - Cleve.
SD @ Oak - SD.

Not a ton of upsets brewing, IMO.

So if the seeding holds, the WC matchups are Jax @ Pitt, and Cleve @ SD.  Unless we suddenly get a whole lot better, Jax has to be the prohibitive favorite.  SD should take care of Cleveland.  Jax @ NE and SD @ Indy follows.

 

[aj_law]

IMO, I think the playoffs will shake out like this:

(1) Pats
(2) Colts
(3) Steelers
(4) Chargers
(5) Jaguars
(6) Browns

I am not convinced that the Steelers will win out or make the playoffs.  I certainly don't see them jumping San Diego... Clearly you see the Steelers winning out and then San Diego dropping one.  Which one of their remaining games would that be?  

PUMA

Shit.

My mistake, forgot that a tie between two clubs from different divisions goes to conference record, not division record, after H2H matchup record.

Fuck.  That changes things, a lot.

Well, Denver @ San Diego on MNF next week.  Two Jekyl & Hyde teams.  Let's hope this is Denver's week "on."

[aj_law]

Cleve @ Cinci - Cinci sucks, but it's a rivalry game.
 

Geez, a couple weeks ago, I was pulling for Baltimore.  Now, it's Cincy.

*shiver*

I feel like I just stepped in shit...with both feet.

I doubt they'll show any heart though, but maybe they can pull out a win in a shootout?

 

[Finnegans Wake]

Marvin Lewis is basically Brian Billick.  Can't control a bunch of thugs.  Rarely play to potential.  A guy who's much less than advertised.

Still, I gotta jump into the shit and root for them, too.  Sad, to have to hope we get into the playoffs by default, rather than taking care of business.

Cards?  Broncos?  Jets?  Jesus.

[padgfrombf]

Cleve @ Cinci - Cinci sucks, but it's a rivalry game.
 

...I doubt they'll show any heart though, but maybe they can pull out a win in a shootout?

Maybe.  Cleveland doesn't have much of a defense, either.  Let's hope for a nice sunny day with no wind.  Maybe that will bring out a few Bungle fans as well.

[DoctorJohnnyFever]

I believe the Steelers make the playoffs just so they beat Baltimore in week 17, as that would give them the tie breaker over the Titans.

Still, let's not worry about that and just win both of them so I can go to another game this year.

[DoctorJohnnyFever]

And I see that point was already made in the original post.

I'm an idiot.