Explaining the NFC Playoff Picture

[hepcat]

In this post I hope to detail the potential NFC playoff match-ups.  The picture has started to clear and going into Week 17, there are only three games of any importance to the NFC.

1) Minnesota (10-5) @ Green Bay (10-5).  This game will decide the winner of the NFC North.  The winner will be the #3 seed.  The loser will fall to either the #5 or #6 seed.  

2) Seattle (9-6) @ Arizona (13-2).  Seattle has already clinched a playoff berth and will either be the #5 or #6 seed.  Arizona has already won the NFC West and clinched a first round bye, the only thing yet to be determined is if they will be the #1 or #2 seed.  If Arizona wins and Carolina loses, Arizona is the #1 seed.  If Arizona wins and Carolina wins, this game changes nothing for Arizona.

3) Tampa Bay (6-9) @ Carolina (14-1). Plain and simple, Carolina needs to win this game to assure they lock up home field advantage and the #1 seed in the playoffs.  A loss opens the door for Arizona to steal it.  

 

There are only 3 combinations for the 1st round of the playoffs.

1) #3 Green Bay vs #6 Minnesota | #4 Washington vs #5 Seattle = Green Bay and Seattle win.  Seattle owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Minnesota if both teams finish 10-6.

2) #3 Green Bay vs #6 Seattle | #4 Washington vs #5 Minnesota = Green Bay wins and Seattle loses.  Seattle would finish 9-7 with a loss, one win below 10-6 Minnesota.

3) #3 Minnesota vs #6 Seattle | #4 Washington vs #5 Green Bay = Minnesota wins.  In this scenario, it does not matter if Seattle wins or loses, they will be the #6 seed, because Green Bay owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle should both teams finish 10-6.

 

In the 2nd round of the playoffs, the 1st seed plays the lowest remaining seed.  The 2nd seed plays the highest remaining seed.  So for example, if The #3 and #5 seed win, the top seed plays the #5 team while the #2 seed plays the #3 seed.  The #6 seed automatically plays the #1 seed in the second round.  Interestingly enough, we could see a complete rematch of the 2012 first round of the playoffs.  Washington vs Seattle and Green Bay vs Minnesota would be a mirror image, including the Week 17 matchup and rematch of Green Bay and Minnesota two weeks in a row.

[Kevin Greene]

we are flexed to 4;25PM, Az ain't resting nobody

[hepcat]

9 minutes ago, Kevin Greene said:

we are flexed to 4;25PM, Az ain't resting nobody

Didn't see we got flexed.  That makes things interesting for them 

[Man Strength]

What is the tiebreaker logic that gives Zona the 1 seed if we have the same record?

[cookinbrak]

We'd have 2 conference losses, they'd have one.

[sharkkiller]

The crazy thing is that over in the AFC, the Broncos could be the #1 seed, or the #6 seed, depending on how things fall. I am so glad that we control our own destiny for the #1 seed. Relying on other teams to win or lose sucks.

[Jangler]

Panthers win, that's all that matters. We have the talent to beat every team in and trying to get in the playoffs. One game and Tampa Bay is in the way of one of the worst 15-1 teams ever.

[RelaxImaPro]

AZ wouldn't have rested anyone anyways.  Even if they didn't flex our game to 4:25 and we lost they still have to win to get the #1 seed.  If we both lose then we remain the #1 seed.  So yeah, lol good luck resting your starters against Seattle and hoping to come out with a win.

[Jangler]

Just now, pantherjack77 said:

huh?

yea!....huh

Wha? 

this sh!t hurts my brain trying to think of all if's and what if's...

Panthers win...is easy. Who we play next doesn't really matter to me, as long as it's in Charlotte.

[Jangler]

We are a better team when we are the worst _________ that week, this week we are the worst 14-1 team ever.

[ncsfinest21]

wow GB may be playing minnesota for 8 quarters straight

[bleedsgreenandgold]

If you're Seattle, would you rather go to GB to play a dumpster fire or head to Washington to play Kirk Cousins who seems to light it up at home.

 

 

[cbarrier90]

35 minutes ago, bleedsgreenandgold said:

If you're Seattle, would you rather go to GB to play a dumpster fire or head to Washington to play Kirk Cousins who seems to light it up at home.

 

 

There isn't a team in the league that would prefer to face Rodgers over Cousins.

[Mother Grabber]

7 hours ago, pantherjack77 said:

huh?

yea!....huh

Jangler is back on the sauce.

as for the playoffs, I'll just wait until Sunday when everything is set.