NFC Playoff Scenarios

[RelaxImaPro]

Saw this over on /r/panthers (credit to ajthomas5 for the graphic) and figured I'd try to list the different scenarios based on this:

Alright, so here's the scenarios as I can make sense of them anyways:

#1. Vikings win, Rams win, Saints win, we win: Seeding basically stays the exact same depending on what Seattle does as they could knock ATL out in that scenario.  We go to New Orleans.

#2. Vikings win, Rams win, Saints win, we lose: Once again, seeding stays the exact same except this time Seattle is eliminated.  We go to New Orleans.

#3. Vikings win, Rams win, Saints lose, we lose: Same as scenario #2.

#4. Vikings win, Rams lose, Saints lose, we lose: Again, the same thing as above.

#5. Vikings win, Rams lose, Saints win, we win or lose:  Win or lose we're stuck with the 5th seed here.  However, the Saints gain the 3rd seed and we'd be heading off to Los Angeles instead.

#6. Vikings win, Rams win, Saints lose, we win (4th seed): Things get a tad different here.  We're the 4 seed but we still play the Saints... albeit this time in Charlotte.

#7. Vikings win, Rams lose, Saints lose, we win (3rd seed): Congratulations to everyone wanting to avoid the Saints... we just avoided the Saints.  Now either Seattle or Atlanta comes to Charlotte depending on who won the Seattle/Arizona game.  Meanwhile the Saints travel out to LA.

#8. Vikings lose, Rams win, Saints lose, we win (3rd seed): Same as scenario #7.

#9. Vikings lose, Rams lose, Saints lose, we win (2nd seed): Well, I'm sure you all know this one already since it's the best-case scenario we've all hoped for... but yeah, this is our only path to the #2 seed.  First round bye and we get a weekend of stress-free football and just watch a bunch of other playoff teams beat up on each other.

That's pretty much it.  There's a few more scenarios but they're redundant.  Any scenario where we lose or the Saints win and we're locked into the 5th seed and heading down to New Orleans.  Any scenario where we win and Seattle wins and Atlanta is knocked out.  Seattle loses and Atlanta is locked into the 6th seed.

Our first priority should obviously be winning our game first and casting every bit of voodoo you can to hope Tampa Bay can finally pull one out against New Orleans.  The bit of good news is the Bucs obviously haven't quit and they'll be at home for this game.

Aside from that, assuming we get this far, there's a pretty good chance the 49ers beat the Rams.  The Rams could possibly be trying to rest up some as there's no scenario where they get the 2nd seed (they needed the Vikings to go 0-2)... so they're locked into either the 3rd or 4th seed.  Not really much to play for and since all the playoff team games are going on at the same time then they can't determine their wildcard match up by choosing to win or lose ahead of time.

Also, the 49ers have just flat out looked a TON better since Jimmy G took over.  Even if they don't rest then it's not going to be some easy win.  If they do rest then you can likely chalk that up to an ass-whoopin' by the 49ers with the way they've been playing.

The Vikings... well I don't really expect them to lose.  Bye week is at stake and they'll be at home against the Bears.  Yeah, the same Bears that already ruined our seeding once this year so I doubt they'll be doing us any favors this time around.  Now, if only Green Bay had played Rodgers the other night they likely would have beat them and we wouldn't have to worry about putting our 2nd seed hopes in the hands of the Bears.

Let me know if I fuged up or missed any, but I think that's basically it.

[Jesse]

Her s another picture for everyone: NFC Scenarios. I personally found that one a little easier to read. Either way, we have an uphill battle if we want to host a playoff game.

[RelaxImaPro]

2 minutes ago, Jesse said:

Her s another picture for everyone: NFC Scenarios. I personally found that one a little easier to read. Either way, we have an uphill battle if we want to host a playoff game.

All we need is to handle our business against Atlanta and the Saints lose to the Bucs.  It's not that crazy to think  we host at least one playoff game considering how tough Tampa played us, Atlanta and the Lions... all of which were fighting for their playoff lives.

They'll also be in Tampa for that game.  I mean, more than likely the Saints will win because they have a lot to play for... but at least we know those pirate bastards ain't just going to roll over and die like they have in years past at the end of the season.  They seem to at least be playing for pride this season which is good enough for me.

[ThPantherFan]

Bucs aren't a push over as many think. 

[Reebis21]

Maybe i missed it but is there a scenario where us and the Saints win next week, but they get 3rd and we get 5th?

***Nvm that link showed it...let’s go 9ers!***

[uncfan888]

3 minutes ago, Reebis21 said:

Maybe i missed it but is there a scenario where us and the Saints win next week, but they get 3rd and we get 5th?

If the saints win, they win the division. So yeah, I think there are a few scenarios like that haha

[RelaxImaPro]

6 minutes ago, Reebis21 said:

Maybe i missed it but is there a scenario where us and the Saints win next week, but they get 3rd and we get 5th?

Yeah my bad I left that out... was still a bit half asleep typing all that up.  We'd be playing the Rams in that case.

If the Saints win and 49ers win they get the 3rd seed.  We'd be heading out to LA then to play the Rams.  I'll add it to the OP.

[Reebis21]

21 minutes ago, RelaxImaPro said:

Yeah my bad I left that out... was still a bit half asleep typing all that up.  We'd be playing the Rams in that case.

If the Saints win and 49ers win they get the 3rd seed.  We'd be heading out to LA then to play the Rams.  I'll add it to the OP.

So if the Saints win, as long as 9ers win, we play the Rams...realistically, this is the scenario I’m thinking has the best shot to happen that winds up in our favor...a “home” game for the Rams won’t be anywhere near as bad as visiting New Orleans...and then I’m not scared of Philly or Minnesota that next round 

[RelaxImaPro]

1 minute ago, Reebis21 said:

So no matter if the Saints win, as long as 9ers win, we play the Rams...realistically, this is the scenario I’m thinking has the best shot to happen that winds up in our favor...a “home” game for the Rams won’t be anywhere near as bad as visiting New Orleans...and then I’m not scared of Philly or Minnesota that next round 

Not quite.  If the Saints lose, Rams lose and we lose the seeding remains unchanged since all those losses just canceled each other out.  However, if the Saints win and Rams lose then the Saints move to the 3rd seed, Rams move into 4th and we'll play the Rams regardless of if we win or lose.

[TheRumGone]

I dunno if I missed the thread but we got flexed to 425 right?

[RelaxImaPro]

Now... and I know this has been said several times... but if only we hadn't completely shat the bed against Chicago.  We'd be the damn 2nd seed right now.  After everything that's went down this season and all the bullshit, lol, we'd be the fuging 2nd seed had we not straight up committed suicide on the field that day.

Didn't Trubisky only complete like 2 passes or some poo?  Jeeze... that game reaaallly fuging hurts now.

[RelaxImaPro]

5 minutes ago, TheRumGone said:

I dunno if I missed the thread but we got flexed to 425 right?

Yeah.  I think all the games with seeding implications are flexed to 4:25 IIRC.  They canceled SNF next week since it fell on New Years Eve night and shuffled around all the games for that week.

So yeah.  All the pointless games at 1, all the playoff important games at 4:25.

[ickmule]

Regardless the Panthers are one and done in the playoffs. Our defense is not as good as the ranking. 

[Randolph Panther]

I think we need to sit back and just prepare for the Saints.  That just looks like how its going to play out.  If we can tackle and not give up the big running play i am sure we can beat them.  Redskins should have beat them, the Jets hung with them, no reason why we cant.