Re: OT: NFL thread 2011
PLAYOFF WATCH
Here's how things stand heading into Monday's Atlanta-New Orleans tilt:
AFC: 1) New England (12-3); 2) Baltimore (11-4); 3) Houston (10-5); 4) Denver (8-7); 5) Pittsburgh (11-4); 6) Cincinnati (9-6)
Clinched first-round bye: Patriots Clinched division title: Texans Clinched playoff berths: Ravens, Steelers Still alive: Oakland (8-7), Tennessee (8-7), N.Y. Jets (8-7)
The Patriots and the AFC North champion will grab the two opening-round byes, as the Texans are locked into the No. 3 seed due to a head-to-head loss to the Ravens earlier in the season. New England only needs to defeat Buffalo at home this coming Sunday to secure home-field advantage throughout the conference tournament, but a loss to the Bills opens up the door for either Baltimore or Pittsburgh to claim the top spot.
The pivotal game in regards to the AFC race next week will take place in Cincinnati, where the Bengals host the Ravens. A Baltimore victory gives the Ravens the North title by virtue of their season sweep of the Steelers, and possibly the No. 1 seed depending on how the Patriots fare. If Cincinnati comes out on top, Pittsburgh could then take the division by besting Cleveland, and a win over the Browns plus a New England loss would put the Steelers at the head of the pack in this scenario. The Bengals would also clinch the No. 6 seed if they can knock off the Ravens, which would in turn eliminate both the Titans and Jets from consideration.
Denver holds a tiebreaker edge on Oakland in the AFC West because of a better record in common games, meaning the Broncos seize the division and the No. 4 seed with a win over Kansas City on Sunday or a Raiders loss to San Diego. Oakland comes out ahead by topping the Chargers and the Chiefs prevailing over the Broncos, and the Raiders can still earn the final Wild Card berth if Baltimore beats Cincinnati and if either the Titans fall at Houston or the Jets down Miami this weekend. Denver is not eligible to get in through the Wild Card avenue if it's defeated by Kansas City.
The Titans and Jets are still in the mix, but both have to win their finale and have the Bengals lose to Baltimore while receiving some additional help. Tennessee has the tiebreaker on New York because of a superior mark in common games, and sneaks in if the Jets win and the two finish in a three-way tie with Cincinnati (if the Raiders are also involved, however, Oakland would win out). If it's only the Titans and Bengals at 9-7, Cincinnati would go because of a head-to-head triumph over Tennessee. The Jets have to beat the Dolphins and have the Titans come up short against the Texans, plus either Denver or Oakland must lose, to extend their postseason streak.
If the Bengals don't win their game, they'll need the Jets to lose and Oakland to take the West to make it as the sixth seed.
Got all that?
NFC: 1) Green Bay (14-1); 2) San Francisco (12-3); 3) New Orleans (11-3); 4) N.Y. Giants (8-7); 5) Detroit (10-5); 6) Atlanta (9-5)
Clinched No. 1 seed: Packers Clinched division title: 49ers Clinched playoff berths: Saints, Lions, Falcons Still alive: Dallas (8-7)
The outlook is far simpler here, with five of the six entrants already decided and the winner of Sunday's colossal showdown between the Giants and Cowboys at the Meadowlands receiving the fourth seed as the NFC East champion. The 49ers would overtake the Saints for the all-important No. 2 slot if both teams finish tied because of a better record within conference play.
The Falcons still control their own destiny for the better of the two Wild Card representatives because of a victory over the Lions earlier in the season, and Atlanta can claim the NFC South by defeating New Orleans on Monday and Tampa Bay next week, though the Saints also have to lose to Carolina for that to occur. If New Orleans tops the Falcons, the Saints clinch the division and Detroit would wrap up the No. 5 seed if it can take down Green Bay on Sunday.
Four games to keep tabs on next week (all times Eastern): Detroit at Green Bay (1 p.m.), Baltimore at Cincinnati (4:15 p.m.), Kansas City at Denver (4:15 p.m.), Dallas at N.Y. Giants (8:20 p.m.).
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