just for kicks what needs to happen for the panthers to be in the playoffs?

[Mage]

28 minutes ago, Camp Fodder said:

Panthers have to win out. Vikings and Redskins have to lose out. Eagles have to lose to Houston and beat the skins. It has to happen exactly like that

It’s honestly not even that unlikely outside of the Panthers winning part.  Redskins suck, Eagles aren’t beating Houston, and Vikes have to travel to Lions then play Bears.

Its sad to think we could have clinched a spot like 4 weeks ago...

[Mr. Scot]

Can't lose another game, that's for certain. We're currently the 9th seed, at one the last team with a chance and the team most likely to be eliminated next.

So what about the teams ahead of us?

Can't catch the Seahawks. Even if they lose out and we win out, they hold the tiebreaker over us. For them to go 8-8 would require them losing to the Cardinals, arguably the worst team in football right now.

Have to hope the Vikings, who suddenly look good again, lose to the Lions, who just put Kerryon Johnson on IR. Possible, but unlikely.

One thing I'm not sure of: If Philly wins out and Dallas loses out, I think Philly wins the NFC East. Don't know if the Cowboys are in better shape than the Seahawks and Vikings or not, but we hold a tiebreaker over Dallas if they were.

The Cowboys final game is against the Giants. And of course, this also requires Washington to be out since they hold a tiebreaker over us.

And all of this has to happen with Taylor Heineke as our starting quarterback.

Yeah...

I'm not making any plans 

[Nate Dogg]

 

[Bronn]

Pretty much, if the Vikings beat the Lions, we're cooked. Our best shot relies on them losing to both the Lions and Bears. Then I don't think it matters too much what Philly and Washington do, really. I don't see Philly beating Houston, and I don't see Washington beating Philly in the final week. Dallas gets their division.

TLDR: We ain't goin'

[trueblade]

30 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

One thing I'm not sure of: If Philly wins out and Dallas loses out, I think Philly wins the NFC East. Don't know if the Cowboys are in better shape than the Seahawks and Vikings or not, but we hold a tiebreaker over Dallas if they were.

Philly winning out assumes a Week 17 victory against Washington which means the best Washington could do is 8-8. If Philly wins out, and Dallas loses out, you could have Carolina, Washington and Dallas all at 8-8 and in some scenarios (at least according to playoff machine), Carolina wins the tie breaker. 

Even if Dallas wins the East, there's still a scenario where Washington, Philly and Carolina all finish 8-8 and Carolina wins the 3 way tie breaker.

All this  assume Minnesota also loses out because if they win even one of their last two, we're done.

As @Bronn said "TLDR: We ain't goin'"

[Jon Snow]

I can't believe that after everything that's happened to this team and the way they've played that there are people that still believe this team has a realistic chance of making the playoffs.  Talk about delusional.

[Bronn]

7 minutes ago, trueblade said:

Philly winning out assumes a Week 17 victory against Washington which means the best Washington could do is 8-8. If Philly wins out, and Dallas loses out, you could have Carolina, Washington and Dallas all at 8-8 and in some scenarios (at least according to playoff machine), Carolina wins the tie breaker. 

Even if Dallas wins the East, there's still a scenario where Washington, Philly and Carolina all finish 8-8 and Carolina wins the 3 way tie breaker.

All this  assume Minnesota also loses out because if they win even one of their last two, we're done.

As @Bronn said "TLDR: We ain't goin'"

If Washington is at 8-8, they win the first tiebreaker which is head to head. No way we beat them in a tie. Basically, for us to have a shot, these things need to happen.

1. Panthers go 2-0

2. Vikings go 0-2 (Lions and Bears)

3. Redskins go 0-2 (Tennessee and Philly)

4. There is some flex in what Dallas and Philly could do. Philly absolutely needs to beat Washington in the final week. But we (should) have the head to head tiebreaker over both teams should one finish 8-8 for the #6 seed. I expect Dallas will win the division with one more win, and I expect Houston to beat Philly.

[trueblade]

Just now, Bronn said:

If Washington is at 8-8, they win the first tiebreaker which is head to head. No way we beat them in a tie. Basically, for us to have a shot, these things need to happen.

Head to head doesn't apply in a three way tie.

[Bronn]

3 minutes ago, trueblade said:

Head to head doesn't apply in a three way tie.

True. Totally forgot about that. Dallas would break the tie within the East with Washington at that point, and we would hold the tiebreaker over Dallas, lol.

I don't see Dallas dropping both their last two, though, although Tampa is up and down and NYG seem to be surging.

[Mr. Scot]

Dallas losing to both Tampa and the Giants sounds like a pipe dream.

Not a big believer in the Lions beating the Vikes either.

[CatTower]

28 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

I can't believe that after everything that's happened to this team and the way they've played that there are people that still believe this team has a realistic chance of making the playoffs.  Talk about delusional.

Fact is, our last 2 opponents could be cakewalks.  Atlanta is looking at draft position and Saints won't have anything to play for if they win this week.

[Gucceland]

1 hour ago, Mage said:

It’s honestly not even that unlikely outside of the Panthers winning part.  Redskins suck, Eagles aren’t beating Houston, and Vikes have to travel to Lions then play Bears.

Its sad to think we could have clinched a spot like 4 weeks ago...

beyond the Panthers winning out, which is the most unlikely part....the Vikings are not losing to the Lions.

 

[Mage]

14 minutes ago, Gucceland said:

beyond the Panthers winning out, which is the most unlikely part....the Vikings are not losing to the Lions.

 

It’s a road divisional game.  They definitely could.  Vikings aren’t very good

[Manther]

Cam builds a time machine and goes back and kidnaps Hoke and Washington forcing RR to take over the defense.