i took a look at the AFC Playoffs if they started today.
obviously, Indianapolis at 10-0 are #1
after that, it gets really dicey. there are three teams at 7-3. that's New England, Cincinnati and San Diego
there is no head-to-head sweep between those teams. the next tie-breaker is conference record. that doesn't help much either. everyone is 5-3 against the AFC thus far. the next step is commom games, however, there are only two common opponents between those three teams, so that tie-breaker doesn't apply. finally, strengh of victory would solve the issue. Cincinnati has beaten teams who are 33-37, San Diego 32-38 and New England 27-43.
that leads to the following seeding:
Indianapolis #1
Cincinnati #2
San Diego #3
New England #4
as for the Wildcards, there is again a three-way-tie. this time, it's between Pittsburgh, Denver and Jacksonville. head-to-head sweep doesn't apply. conference record breaks the tie. Jacksonville is best at 5-2, Denver is 5-3 and the SB champs Pittsburgh are 4-3.
Jacksonville #5
Denver #6
looking over at the NFC. it's a little bit easier there.
New Orleans and Minnesota are entrenched at #1 and #2, respectively. Dallas and Arizona didn't play each other, but Dallas has a better conference record at 6-2 compared to 5-2 for the Cards
New Orleans #1
Minnesota #2
Dallas #3
Arizona #4
there are 3 teams with a 6-4 record vying for a Wildcard spot. those are Philadelphia, Green Bay and the NY Giants. both NY and PHI are from the NFC East, so only one team will go into the tie-breaker with Green Bay. for now, that's Philadelphia based on a 1-0 head-to-head record with NY. Philadelphia has the better conference record between themselves and the Packers at 5-2. Green Bay is 5-3
Philadelphia #5
Green Bay #6
that's how things would look like if the playoffs started today. Denver would have to play at San Diego. New England would face Jacksonville at home. Green Bay would travel to Dallas and Philadelphia would face the Cards in a rematch in Arizona.
Indianapolis, Cincinnati, New Orleans and Minnesota would have a first-round bye.
obviously, Indianapolis at 10-0 are #1
after that, it gets really dicey. there are three teams at 7-3. that's New England, Cincinnati and San Diego
there is no head-to-head sweep between those teams. the next tie-breaker is conference record. that doesn't help much either. everyone is 5-3 against the AFC thus far. the next step is commom games, however, there are only two common opponents between those three teams, so that tie-breaker doesn't apply. finally, strengh of victory would solve the issue. Cincinnati has beaten teams who are 33-37, San Diego 32-38 and New England 27-43.
that leads to the following seeding:
Indianapolis #1
Cincinnati #2
San Diego #3
New England #4
as for the Wildcards, there is again a three-way-tie. this time, it's between Pittsburgh, Denver and Jacksonville. head-to-head sweep doesn't apply. conference record breaks the tie. Jacksonville is best at 5-2, Denver is 5-3 and the SB champs Pittsburgh are 4-3.
Jacksonville #5
Denver #6
looking over at the NFC. it's a little bit easier there.
New Orleans and Minnesota are entrenched at #1 and #2, respectively. Dallas and Arizona didn't play each other, but Dallas has a better conference record at 6-2 compared to 5-2 for the Cards
New Orleans #1
Minnesota #2
Dallas #3
Arizona #4
there are 3 teams with a 6-4 record vying for a Wildcard spot. those are Philadelphia, Green Bay and the NY Giants. both NY and PHI are from the NFC East, so only one team will go into the tie-breaker with Green Bay. for now, that's Philadelphia based on a 1-0 head-to-head record with NY. Philadelphia has the better conference record between themselves and the Packers at 5-2. Green Bay is 5-3
Philadelphia #5
Green Bay #6
that's how things would look like if the playoffs started today. Denver would have to play at San Diego. New England would face Jacksonville at home. Green Bay would travel to Dallas and Philadelphia would face the Cards in a rematch in Arizona.
Indianapolis, Cincinnati, New Orleans and Minnesota would have a first-round bye.