Explaining Carolina's chances to make the playoffs.

[General_Purr]

We have a pretty tough game coming up.. for our offense could struggle BIG time agaisnt the jets D.. shutdown corners and a hell of a run defense is trouble for us.

 

D will have to make plays and make points..

[Happy Panther]

...

[Carolina Cajun]

It's more than just San Fran and Zona in this race, particularly Philadelphia/Dallas.  Let me just out and say, every game from here on out is a must win.  No more taking the division talk, we have to take care of business just to make the playoffs as a wildcard.

[Happy Panther]

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.  

 

You are right. Here is a scenario with everyone at 10-6

 

[LinvilleGorge]

It's more than just San Fran and Zona in this race, particularly Philadelphia/Dallas.  Let me just out and say, every game from here on out is a must win.  No more taking the division talk, we have to take care of business just to make the playoffs as a wildcard.

 

This.  The 8 game winning streak was nice, but that 1-3 start really put us in a hole.  We got embarrassed last night.  Now let's see how this team and staff bounce back from that.  A late season collapse could still cost Riverboat Ron his job IMO.

[hepcat]

You are right. Here is a scenario with everyone at 10-6

 

 

 

What's even crazier is I found a scenario where Carolina actually beats Arizona for the final wildcard at 10-6.  It would require Chicago beating Philadelphia in Week 16.  I don't know why this is, might be a "record in common opponents game" for Arizona since they lost to Philadelphia, I don't know.  It just gets REALLY complicated if Carolina finishes 10-6.  It's nice to know they can drop one more game and still make the playoffs, but drop two and finish 10-6 and they have a good chance to miss the playoffs entirely.

[hepcat]

It's more than just San Fran and Zona in this race, particularly Philadelphia/Dallas.  Let me just out and say, every game from here on out is a must win.  No more taking the division talk, we have to take care of business just to make the playoffs as a wildcard.

 

Yep, but my post was all about what if Carolina wins two out of their last three.  If they lose two out of their last three, all bets are off.

[CharlottePanther]

If we go 10-6 and miss the playoffs, im finding a new passion. That will just show the NFL is really about luck than it is skill and voodoo type tiebreakers. So a 8-8 team in the AFC can get in but a 10-6 team cant?! To hell with that poo, I am as serious as I can be. If we miss out at 10-6 I will not spend another dime on anything NFL related or give one second of viewing to any NFL programming until they expand the playoffs to just one more team per conference. 10-6 should guarantee you a playoff spot period.

[Happy Panther]

 10-6 should guarantee you a playoff spot period.

 

Would you change the playoff to be expandable or something?

[hepcat]

If we go 10-6 and miss the playoffs, im finding a new passion. That will just show the NFL is really about luck than it is skill and voodoo type tiebreakers. So a 8-8 team in the AFC can get in but a 10-6 team cant?! To hell with that poo, I am as serious as I can be. If we miss out at 10-6 I will not spend another dime on anything NFL related or give one second of viewing to any NFL programming until they expand the playoffs to just one more team per conference. 10-6 should guarantee you a playoff spot period.

 

Might not just be Carolina missing the playoffs at 10-6.  Dallas, Philadelphia, Arizona, San Francisco, and Carolina could all finish 10-6 and in that scenario, only three out of those 5 would make the playoffs.  Two teams would be sitting at home after finishing 10-6.  

[LinvilleGorge]

Yep, but my post was all about what if Carolina wins two out of their last three.  If they lose two out of their last three, all bets are off.

 

If we lose 2 of our last 3, then we just don't deserve to go to the playoffs.  We can't be crying over spilled milk if we don't take care of business on our end down the stretch.  Right now, we have to really poo the bed to miss out on the playoffs.

[hepcat]

If we lose 2 of our last 3, then we just don't deserve to go to the playoffs.  We can't be crying over spilled milk if we don't take care of business on our end down the stretch.  Right now, we have to really poo the bed to miss out on the playoffs.

 

It's true.  With games against the lowly Jets and Falcons remaining, Carolina SHOULD be at least 11-5.  The game at home against the Saints is definitely a winnable game too.  But I wouldn't be surprised either way if Carolina finished the season 9-7 or 12-4.  

[Growl]

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

if i had something to do with it, it was because i played madden last week for the first time since the week before the arizona game.

[The Huddler]

If we can manage to win our next two and clinch the #5 seed, it would be nice to play ATL with the outcome being meaningless and possibly allow Anderson to get some reps before the playoffs...

 

That sounds nice, but I think this team relies  heavily on rhythm and tempo. I feel like if we get let the foot off the gas we may have a hard time getting started up again. Idk, that's just me.

 

I honestly think this Loss serves us well in a variety of ways. It humbles us. Yeah we were on an 8 game win streak, and that may have gotten to the head somewhat. Sometimes a loss is good for you.

 

Also, like my point above, the wildcard spot could actually benefit us. Sure, its nice to have home field, but I feel this team needs to build up momentum and go on another streak. A bye could let some steam free..