Explaining Carolina's chances to make the playoffs.

[Marc Anthony]

So now it's for real, "must wins" are coming up, no denying that.

[hepcat]

I'm thinking ARI will lose to SEA and SF.

 

If that happens, we could lose the next 2 out of 3 and still make the playoffs it appears. 

 

This is true, because two more losses for Arizona would mean they'd finish 9-7 and two more losses for Carolina would mean they'd finish 10-6.  If Arizona loses to Tennessee next week, we should throw a "Hail to the Titans" party.

[DecrypticShadow]

issue becomes if Sea has nothing to play for.....sits guys

The positive thing there is that game is played in week 16 and not 17... It may take Seattle winning in week 16 to clinch the #1 seed.. That is if we drop our 1pm game at home to the Saints. Seattle would have to win at 4:15 to clinch home field throughout the playoffs..

[SOJA]

phew, nice to see Seattle on Arizona's schedule.

especially at seattle

Sent from my batphone

[Ivan The Awesome]

As long as Growl doesn't show up to any of the games, we'll be good.

[DecrypticShadow]

Well, even if Carolina wins their next two games, San Francisco could also win their next two games going into Week 17. Carolina would still likely make the playoffs, but that game would be the difference in the #5 and #6.

It would depend on if the #5 or #6 seed was worth risking injuries over against a bitter/ nothing to lose Falcons team in Atlanta....

[Happy Panther]

so if Carolina wins and both SF and ARZ lose sunday, carolina clinches a playoffs spot?

 

It appears so. Technically CHI and Dallas could catch us but I think we own tiebreakers

[Cary Kollins]

This is true, because two more losses for Arizona would mean they'd finish 9-7 and two more losses for Carolina would mean they'd finish 10-6.  If Arizona loses to Tennessee next week, we should throw a "Hail to the Titans" party.

 

 

So let's say we drop 2 out of 3, are there any other teams that could win out and sneak in?

[DecrypticShadow]

So let's say we drop 2 out of 3, are there any other teams that could win out and sneak in?

That might depend on what Dallas does tonight..

[hepcat]

So let's say we drop 2 out of 3, are there any other teams that could win out and sneak in?

 

Yes there is.  Dallas and Philly both have a chance to finish at 10-6 and drop Carolina out of it.  It's pretty unlikely considering the teams from the NFC East and NFC North are fighting for the division title and play each other, but Dallas and Philly play each other Week 17 and one of them will lose.  That would put the division winner at 11-5 and the loser at 10-6, pending they both win their next two games going into Week 17.  

 

Edit: It gets a lot more complicated if Carolina drops two of their next three...that's why I didn't include it.  They really need to win two of their next three to be guaranteed a spot.

[hepcat]

so if Carolina wins and both SF and ARZ lose sunday, carolina clinches a playoffs spot?

 

Nah, there are still a lot of scenarios where Carolina could miss the playoffs at 10-6 because of teams in the NFC East.  If they get to 11 wins, yes they should clinch a spot.  I didn't include those scenarios in my post because it gets really complicated if Carolina finishes 10-6.  For all intensive purposes, they are battling Arizona and San Francisco for the spots.  It's far less likely a team from the NFC East or North gets the wild card because someone has to win the division over there and they play each other (the divisions are playing each other), but still not out of the realm of possibility.  

[Peppers90 NC]

philly is dangerous

[Happy Panther]

So let's say we drop 2 out of 3, are there any other teams that could win out and sneak in?

 

Dallas and Chicago and I think we would own tiebreakers. I haven't gone through all the scanarios

[hepcat]

Dallas and Chicago and I think we would own tiebreakers. I haven't gone through all the scanarios

 

There are scenarios where Carolina beats the Jets, and loses to the Saints and Falcons, where Dallas and Philly would wind up with better conference records and beat them out for the final wildcard slot.  If they all finished 10-6 that is.  NFC wins are better than AFC wins because of conference record tiebreakers.  If Carolina HAS to lose one more game, the Jets is honestly the most preferable game.