Prime Time
Screw You Guys..Im Goin Home!!!
AND THATS WHY WE PLAY THE GAMES 
Miami as the number one Wildcard seed is best?
- Thread starter CpuFan
- Start date
There's been some conflicting information in this thread, so ... here's how it works:
Top four seeds are the division winners. It doesn't matter if a wildcard team has a better record - the two wildcards are the 5 and 6 seeds, playing away games in round one.
If you don't get the 1 or 2 seed, the only real difference between being a division winner and a wildcard team is whether you get a home or away game in the first round. Either way, if you win in round one you travel to a 1 or 2 seed in the second week.
It's really a little too soon to assume how the seedings will go, except for the Bengals or Ravens being 4th. If the Pats win the division, it's quite possible they could get a bye (they hold a head-to-head win over Tennessee, for starters). If the Chiefs drop another game or two, it's possible they could lose the 1 seed in a tiebreak (they haven't played the Colts, Titans or Patriots, so if AFC records are even the tiebreak would go to common games or even strength of victory).
In fact, the Patriots are in an excellent position to take the 2 seed and a bye if they can beat the Colts and Dolphins in their next two games.
It's true, as mentioned earlier in the thread, that Miami will have a tough time getting either the 2 seed as division winner or the 5 seed as the first wildcard, due to the Fins' losses to the Colts and Titans. In fact, the 2 seed is almost out of the question, since the Colts and Titans would BOTH have to lose a few games. The top wildcard (5 seed) is unlikely but would require only ONE of those teams to drop some games down the stretch.
Keep in mind that the Colts/Titans runner-up (wildcard) is guaranteed at least three losses, since they play each other next week (barring a tie). Since that same game also assures a win for one of them, it makes Miami getting the 2 seed less likely.
The most you can really say now is that if Miami makes the playoffs it will most likely play the Pats, Colts or Titans in the first round, home or away. If you consider returning to Tennessee the worst-case scenario, then hope for the Colts to win that division.
These charts you see online (at ESPN, etc.) about playoff seedings 'if the season ended today' are of limited use, since there are key games among those teams remaining to be played. The season isn't ending today, those games will be played, and there is no huge edge among the 1-2-3 seeding order with five games remaining.
It will all become a bit clearer after next week's games: Colts/Titans and of course Pats/Fins.
Top four seeds are the division winners. It doesn't matter if a wildcard team has a better record - the two wildcards are the 5 and 6 seeds, playing away games in round one.
If you don't get the 1 or 2 seed, the only real difference between being a division winner and a wildcard team is whether you get a home or away game in the first round. Either way, if you win in round one you travel to a 1 or 2 seed in the second week.
It's really a little too soon to assume how the seedings will go, except for the Bengals or Ravens being 4th. If the Pats win the division, it's quite possible they could get a bye (they hold a head-to-head win over Tennessee, for starters). If the Chiefs drop another game or two, it's possible they could lose the 1 seed in a tiebreak (they haven't played the Colts, Titans or Patriots, so if AFC records are even the tiebreak would go to common games or even strength of victory).
In fact, the Patriots are in an excellent position to take the 2 seed and a bye if they can beat the Colts and Dolphins in their next two games.
It's true, as mentioned earlier in the thread, that Miami will have a tough time getting either the 2 seed as division winner or the 5 seed as the first wildcard, due to the Fins' losses to the Colts and Titans. In fact, the 2 seed is almost out of the question, since the Colts and Titans would BOTH have to lose a few games. The top wildcard (5 seed) is unlikely but would require only ONE of those teams to drop some games down the stretch.
Keep in mind that the Colts/Titans runner-up (wildcard) is guaranteed at least three losses, since they play each other next week (barring a tie). Since that same game also assures a win for one of them, it makes Miami getting the 2 seed less likely.
The most you can really say now is that if Miami makes the playoffs it will most likely play the Pats, Colts or Titans in the first round, home or away. If you consider returning to Tennessee the worst-case scenario, then hope for the Colts to win that division.
These charts you see online (at ESPN, etc.) about playoff seedings 'if the season ended today' are of limited use, since there are key games among those teams remaining to be played. The season isn't ending today, those games will be played, and there is no huge edge among the 1-2-3 seeding order with five games remaining.
It will all become a bit clearer after next week's games: Colts/Titans and of course Pats/Fins.
DeDolfan
Practice Squad
No, not a wild card team but likely have a wild card game tho. As Fibby said, the div winners are not wild cards. But 2 div winners will play on wild card weekend.
DeDolfan
Practice Squad
Normally i would say that is so. But this is not a "normal" season for us. usually we start out strong, fizzle and tank. This yr we fizzled from the start and now look to be getting it together. NE will tell the tale for us. We turn that corner, then momentum is in our corner and will be fun as hell to watch. Sooner or later, bad trends have to stop. The Jets ain't no mo' !!
DeDolfan
Practice Squad
Two more weeks will tell a lot. This will be a fun weekend of ball to watch !!!
DeDolfan
Practice Squad
Nice cleanup job !!! Thanks !!
Yes, 5th is unlikely. The loser of the Colts-Titans game would need to lose at least two of its other four, and Miami would need to finish very strong but still lose the division. There would need to be upsets, but not an impossible string of them.
PhinPhreak
Perennial All-Pro
There is a Scenario where the Fins can get in front of the Colts/Titans, If there is a 3 way tie head to head goes out the window for the first tie breaker and if the Fins can win that then they can get the
5 seed. and actually the Titans/Colts could wind up out all together.
The catch is one of the 2 will have to go 2-3 the rest of the season to possibly give Denver and Balt/Cincy a shot at the tie.
5 seed. and actually the Titans/Colts could wind up out all together.
The catch is one of the 2 will have to go 2-3 the rest of the season to possibly give Denver and Balt/Cincy a shot at the tie.
There cannot be a 3-way tiebreak among the Fins, Colts and Titans. If those teams have the same records, the Colts & Titans would first run a two-way tiebreak to decide their division winner. Whichever team loses that then emerges to any wildcard tiebreak that would be necessary (two-way with the Fins, in this case). And the Fins lose that, whichever team it is.
For playoff seedings, the division winners are seeded 1-4 ahead of the wildcards, no matter what the records are.
In order to have our loss vs the Titans/Colts tossed out, we'd have to get into a 3-way tiebreak with a wildcard contender from a third division. Right now that does not look likely - Broncos and Bengals/Ravens are too far behind.
But things could change. They usually do, one way or another, in December.
PhinPhreak
Perennial All-Pro
With the extra division winner it's even harder to get a first round bye, here we are worrying about where the Fins are going to seed and the Titans have a 9-2 record, if the season ended today (famous saying) the 9-2 Titans would have to visit the 6-5 Bengals.
Imagine only 2 losses and not only not getting a bye, but playing on the road for your first playoff game. That Sucks.
Imagine only 2 losses and not only not getting a bye, but playing on the road for your first playoff game. That Sucks.
McKnight80
☠️ Banned ☠️
we need homefield, pats are strong at home
PhinPhreak
Perennial All-Pro
In my opinion the Pats are the least impressive of the AFC divison leaders, while you can't argue the fact that they are 9-2, the way they are winning games can only last for so long before it catches up to them.
If the Pats win that game I will bet you anything it will be because the Fins handed them the game, they won't win it on their own.