Discovered a New Playoff Machine

[UpstatePanther]

Usually i check out the ESPN playoff machine after Week 10 when they update it. Definitely fun to fool around with at work when you have down time. But because it doesnt come out until after Week 10, i happened across this one (linky thingy) instead. Same type of concept. Difference is that this one works from Week 1, which is a nice addition.

i know i know....

but hear me out. here's how i have things shaking out:

Just a couple musings:

1) The Saints still have their hardest group of games still to play, while the Panthers are already past theirs. Saints have to play the Bills, Redskins, Rams, Panthers, Falcons (ATL), Jets, Falcons (NO), Bucs. We have to play the Dolphins, BYE, Jets, Saints, Vikings, Packers, Bucs, Falcons. The only three games im worried about in our final leg is the Saints-Vikings-Packers stretch. Well... BYE is a tough opponent. Shouldnt underestimate them... ok but seriously, only the Vikings really worry me. I feel like we have something for the Saints when we go visit them in the bayou. Even that Packers game doesnt worry me as much, since Rodgers will be rusty if he comes back at all. Meanwhile the Saints could very possibly go on a 5 game losing skid the next 5 weeks. I do NOT believe in this Saints team. The only "good" teams they have beaten are the Packers w/o Rodgers and the Lions, who nearly beat them despite giving up 52 points to New Orleans. even if they dont go on a 5 game skid, the last 8 games of their season will not be kind to them.

2) The Panthers are in prime position not just for the NFC South title, but for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Based on the schedules of other teams though, the Panther's margin of error to earn HFA is razor thin. The Eagles, Cowboys, Seahawks, Rams, and Vikings all have fairly decent shots at that 1st seed slot as well. If the Panthers want HFA, they cannot lose more than one more game. There seem to be multiple roads to the 1st seed for the Panthers if they notch 12 wins. If we can win out and notch 13 wins (which is NOT out of the question), the 1st seed is almost assured based on other team's schedules. Tall order, but by no means impossible. We do not control our destiny with respect to HFA until Week 17, and then only if we are still only at 3 losses. If we finish with 12 wins, then we will need teams like the Falcons, Saints, Skins, and Bears to win against more talented teams to help us get HFA. In conclusion, if I were to list the top shelf NFC teams in order of threat to the Panthers HFA, it would look something like this:

1. Eagles
2. Rams
3. Cowboys (dont hate, they have alot of winnable games left)
4. Seahawks
5. Vikings
6. Redskins/Saints

What do y'all think? 

[therealmjl]

I’ll tell you what I think.

i think we finish 13-3 and claim the #1 seed in the NFC 

Yep. until someone gives us our 4th loss. That’s what’s going down.

[UpstatePanther]

1 minute ago, mjligon said:

I’ll tell you what I think.

i think we finish 13-3 and claim the #1 seed in the NFC 

Yep. until someone gives us our 4th loss. That’s what’s going down.

I like your style! 

[Bronn]

AFC

#	AFC North	WLT	Div
1	Steelers	14-2	6-0
5	Ravens	10-6	4-2
13	Bengals	4-12	2-4
16	Browns	0-16	0-6

#	AFC South	WLT	Div
3	Jaguars	13-3	5-1
7	Titans	10-6	4-2
14	Colts	4-12	2-4
15	Texans	3-13	1-5

#	AFC East	WLT	Div
4	Patriots	12-4	5-1
6	Bills	10-6	4-2
8	Jets	6-10	2-4
9	Dolphins	6-10	1-5

#	AFC West	WLT	Div
2	Chiefs	13-3	5-1
10	Chargers	6-10	3-3
11	Raiders	6-10	2-4
12	Broncos	6-10	2-4

NFC

#	NFC North	WLT	Div
4	Lions	11-5	6-0
7	Vikings	10-6	3-3
11	Bears	8-8	2-4
12	Packers	6-10	1-5

#	NFC South	WLT	Div
3	Saints	11-5	5-1
6	Panthers	11-5	3-3
10	Falcons	8-8	4-2
14	Buccaneers	2-14	0-6

#	NFC East	WLT	Div
2	Eagles	13-3	5-1
5	Cowboys	12-4	5-1
8	Redskins	9-7	2-4
16	Giants	1-15	0-6

#	NFC West	WLT	Div
1	Rams	14-2	5-1
9	Seahawks	9-7	5-1
13	Cardinals	6-10	2-4
15	49ers	2-14	0-6

Generated By The NFL Playoff Predict

[JakeDel5674]

16 minutes ago, mjligon said:

I’ll tell you what I think.

i think we finish 13-3 and claim the #1 seed in the NFC 

Yep. until someone gives us our 4th loss. That’s what’s going down.

[Bronn]

Mine basically only has us losing again to NO and in Atlanta... The first being more likely than the last...

One thing I will say, is that the Minnesota game could be our ticket in or out of the playoffs.

I have to say, I think the Jags, Bills, Rams, and Eagles are all surprise teams this year.

My scenario also played out so that we'd have to travel to NO again in the wild card round, but I had us whooping that ass, then LA's ass, and then Philly's in the NFCC. Something seems familiar about those teams.

[brandon_87]

Lol OP lists out the good teams the saints beat, but forgets to include us, then tried to defend us finishing 12-4.... I'm confused now...

[UpstatePanther]

3 minutes ago, brandon_87 said:

Lol OP lists out the good teams the saints beat, but forgets to include us, then tried to defend us finishing 12-4.... I'm confused now...

I really don’t count that game as them “beating” us. We beat ourselves. Saints just happened to benefit

[t96]

49 minutes ago, mjligon said:

I’ll tell you what I think.

i think we finish 13-3 and claim the #1 seed in the NFC 

Yep. until someone gives us our 4th loss. That’s what’s going down.

Spot on. Biggest challenges will be Aints in their dome and Vikings at home in back to back weeks. I'm looking at flights from Boston for both those games right now and I haven't seen a loss in person since Rivera's been here. (have only been to two games with Rivera and Cam--Seahawks playoffs game in '15 and Pats game this year). May only make one of those two but we're winning both regardless. I also plan to drive out for the Jets game.

[brandon_87]

4 minutes ago, UpstatePanther said:

I really don’t count that game as them “beating” us. We beat ourselves. Saints just happened to benefit

I'm only about 100% sure on this, but I'm pretty sure we got the L, they got the W. There is no column for "beat ourselves". 

[TheCableGuy]

we will get a first round by and idiots like Fua and that heels clown will still find something to cry about.

[*FreeFua*]

Did my boys from Miami make it in the AFC?

[rayzor]

1 hour ago, mjligon said:

I’ll tell you what I think.

i think we finish 13-3 and claim the #1 seed in the NFC 

Yep. until someone gives us our 4th loss. That’s what’s going down.

#fakefan

 

 

 

[Burnout189]

3 minutes ago, *FreeFua* said:

Did my boys from Miami make it in the AFC?

Negative. Another year of disappointment for your Phins