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Playoff Scenarios


There are 3 games that matter as far as NFC seeding on Sunday, and therefore there are 8 (2^3) scenarios that could play out. The Saints own the #1 seed with the Minnesota loss at Chicago, but the other 5 are all up in the air. Here are the playoff seedings assuming wins by the three teams (from worst-case to best):


Star-divide

Eagles, Packers, Giants win: #2 Eagles, #3  Vikings vs. #6 Cowboys, #4 Cardinals vs. #5 Packers

Eagles, Packers, Vikings win: same

Eagles, Cardinals, Vikings win: same

Eagles, Cardinals, Giants win: #2 Eagles, #3 Cardinals vs. #6 Cowboys, #4 Vikings vs. #5 Packers

Cowboys, Cardinals, Vikings win: #2 Minnesota, #3 Cardinals vs. #6 Packers, #4 Cowboys vs. #5 Eagles

Cowboys, Packers, Vikings win: #2 Vikings, #3 Cowboys vs. #6 Eagles, #4 Cardinals vs. #5 Packers

Cowboys, Cardinals, Giants win: #2 Cardinals, #3 Cowboys vs. #6 Packers, #4 Vikings vs. #5 Eagles

Cowboys, Packers, Giants win: #2 Cowboys, #3 Vikings vs # 6 Eagles, #4 Cardinals vs. #5 Packers

 

This doesn't account for ties, so we'll call it the Donovan McNabb NFL scenarios.

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

Comment 46 comments  |  6 recs  | 

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So if the Giants win...

We don’t play the Eagles in the first round, no matter what. I’m not a big fan of having to play Philly two games in a row. We take care of business, root for the Giants, and then i wouldn’t be suprised to see the Packers take care of the Cardinals…at AZ.

Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake. - Napoleon

by MadDawg03 on Dec 28, 2009 11:40 PM CST reply actions  

I don't have faith in GB beating Arz...

If the Giants beat Minn, Arz will smell blood and play to win while GB will play on the road in the playoffs regardless and will rest some people.

by death of the cool on Dec 28, 2009 11:45 PM CST up reply actions  

Did anyone think...

The Bears would win over the Vikings? It can be done… Be Positive :D

God 1st, Family Always & Dallas Cowboys 4 Life!!!!!

by CodeNamedG on Dec 29, 2009 8:03 AM CST up reply actions  

i thought it was definitely possible

These lesser teams (aside from washington i guess) are playing very well week after week.

by foyesboys on Dec 29, 2009 1:53 PM CST up reply actions  

it makes me feel weird

the thought that i would like the giants to win

Don't Panic!!!

by levcd on Dec 28, 2009 11:57 PM CST up reply actions  

Screw that. We're all Giants fans this week.

I think if you put two of my best seasons together it wouldn't come up with the numbers he's going to have at the end of the season. -Troy Aikman on Tony Romo

by Big D Bam Bam on Dec 29, 2009 7:48 AM CST up reply actions  

+1 Cowboys

& Packers too of course :)

God 1st, Family Always & Dallas Cowboys 4 Life!!!!!

by CodeNamedG on Dec 29, 2009 8:04 AM CST up reply actions  

at least there is no chance

of us playing @ philly one week after losing a home game to them. Thats the only situation i can imagine that would be really hard on us, and it can’t happen anymore.

by foyesboys on Dec 28, 2009 11:47 PM CST reply actions  

nope,

but if we both keep winning, we could see them in the NFC Championship…

Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake. - Napoleon

by MadDawg03 on Dec 28, 2009 11:54 PM CST up reply actions  

Agreed...

That is something that I definitely wanted to avoid. There is still a chance we could end up there later, but at least there would be a game in between.

If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.

by Cowboyfan729 on Dec 29, 2009 4:24 PM CST up reply actions  

this upcoming week is totally ridiculous btw

its essentially “playoffs before the playoffs”

by foyesboys on Dec 28, 2009 11:48 PM CST reply actions  

I am sure

It was planned, many months ago, to be that ridiculous. ;)

by dfan77 on Dec 29, 2009 3:46 AM CST up reply actions  

Well actually, i'd bet it was

they just didn’t no it would be this strange. Cowboys Eagles was pretty much meant to be a possible division championship. Packers Cards looked like it would have playoff implications.

by foyesboys on Dec 29, 2009 1:54 PM CST up reply actions  

Cowboys, Packers, Giants win: #2 Cowboys, #3 Vikings vs # 6 Eagles, #4 Cardinals vs. #5 Packers

Bet The House.

Coach Winters: Mississippi State's offensive set. 2nd & 2 on our own 24, what defensive set might we call?
Alvin Mack: Eagle Zipper Hero, unless the setback shifts into the I.
Coach Winters: Good..[clicks to next slide], third and seven?
Alvin Mack: Oakie Thunder Lion. {What's your assignment?}
Alvin Mack: Kill the quarterback. {{Coach Winters clicks to next slide}}
Alvin Mack: Hit the tight end so hard his girlfriend dies. {{Coach Winters clicks to next slide}}
Alvin Mack: Kill everybody.

by KD Drummond on Dec 29, 2009 12:01 AM CST reply actions  

Cowboys, Cards, Giants win

Looks like the best scenario to me

Avoid Philly in round one, then get the Cards as the 2 seed in the second round. That seems doable. And no cold weather problems in Arizona.

I dont want GB on the road, and aside from that I think I’d like to avoid Philly the most.

by U2boy417 on Dec 29, 2009 2:01 AM CST reply actions  

We really don't need. . .

More posts about “playoff scenarios.” We’re all grown-ups, and there are lots of sites that do the math for us.

How ’bout we all just let it play out, and then talk?

All the rest is just jerking off, asking stupid/obvious questions, and wishing for the “easiest way to the SB”.

Just man-up, folks.

by dfan77 on Dec 29, 2009 3:48 AM CST reply actions  

Well...

Aren’t we just a big ball of sunshine this morning?

by TexaninNYC on Dec 29, 2009 4:08 AM CST up reply actions  

Leave him alone. He didn’t get what he wanted for Christmas :)

by Boundforbeach on Dec 29, 2009 9:50 AM CST up reply actions  

I disagree

the way you presented the info was great.

Thanks for the fanpost and—Rec’d.

Ich bin ein Berliner--JFK

by HudBaby on Dec 29, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions  

Again

Why do you click on the post if you don’t care about “scenarios”. Do you just come on here to critique everyone’s posts? You are the same guy who dogged OCC for his statistical breakdowns.

Did your Mother ever tell you if you don’t have anything good to say, keep your mouth shut?

How ’bout you complain somewhere else?

"Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their player and motivate." Vince Lombardi

by Boyz4Life on Dec 29, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions   1 recs

+1

If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.

by Cowboyfan729 on Dec 29, 2009 4:25 PM CST up reply actions  

8 First Round Scenarios

1. Dallas, GB, Min Win – Philly @ Dallas
2. Dallas, GB, NYG Win – Bye
3. Dallas, Ariz, Min. Win – Philly @ Dallas
4. Dallas, Ariz, NYG Win – GB @ Dallas
5. Philly, GB, Min. Win – Dallas @ Minn
6. Philly, GB, NYG Win – Dallas @ Minn
7. Philly, Ariz., Min. Win – Dallas @ Minn.
8. Philly, Arizona, NYG Win – Dallas @ Arizona

So, to sumarize, if we win next week:
50% chance we play Philly again, 25% we host GB, 25% we get a bye
If we lose:
75% chance we go to Minn, 25% chance we go to Arizona

Either way, the next game is winnable. Perhaps the hardest scenario is to beat Philly twice (even if at home). No matter what, our 1st round playoff game will either be in a dome or in Phoenix.

by JimmyJohnson on Dec 29, 2009 7:46 AM CST reply actions  

well

we will know if we are playing for:

A bye or GB @ Dallas (by NYG and us winning)

or

@ Minnesota or Philly @ Dallas (by Minnesota winning and us winning)

before we kick off… If the Giants win that should get the team extra fired up.

on the other hand

if NYG win and we lose we are @ AZ or @ Minn
if Vikes win and we lose we are @ Minnesota

I am glad there is no way we have to play at Philly.
I would love the bye, like the Packers coming to Dallas.
I would prefer not to have to play Philly a 3rd time or @ Minnesota.

by 325424 on Dec 29, 2009 8:09 AM CST up reply actions  

Minn is falling apart

better to get them early, methinks.

Ich bin ein Berliner--JFK

by HudBaby on Dec 29, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions  

I think Philly is in trouble

without Jamaal Jackson.

he was the heart and soul of that line. not to mention somebody else has to make the calls.

Ich bin ein Berliner--JFK

by HudBaby on Dec 29, 2009 11:07 AM CST up reply actions  

One of the refs had McNabb on their fantasy team and he was in the championship.

I saw a dog today. Have you seen a dog? You probably have. How was school? Was it fun? Did you get a lot of homework? Huh? Do you have any friends? Do you have a best friend? Does he have a big coat, too?

by Aaron Novinger on Dec 30, 2009 6:10 PM CST up reply actions  

It's remarkable

How much that Bears-Vikings game helped us out.

Essentially ensured that we wont travel to Philly to play them, after losing to them at home. Thats huge.

There are also a lot of scenarios whereby we’d miss Philly in the first 2 rounds. Much rather play Minn or NO or AZ than them. (GB I’m not sure)

by U2boy417 on Dec 29, 2009 12:50 PM CST reply actions  

+1

The only scenario I could imagine this team REALLY struggling with was losing to philly at home and then going to philly for the playoffs. That would be such an emotional downer.

by foyesboys on Dec 29, 2009 1:56 PM CST up reply actions  

not gonna happen

if the eagles win next week they will have a bye, and we will most likely play the vikings

by Dr. Cowboy on Dec 29, 2009 2:23 PM CST up reply actions  

yep

if philly or us get the bye, we can’t meet till the nfc championship.

by foyesboys on Dec 29, 2009 5:29 PM CST up reply actions  

Yep and plus

I really think the Giants can beat Minn. Everyone’s down on NYG now, but they were eating them up after the Skins game. Things change quickly in the NFL, and teams often respond to thrashings by playing much better the next week.

In fact, regarding the 2 seed, I think that win is more likely than the Packers over AZ, since AZ will know by 4 that they may be playing for the bye and GB wont be playing for much.

by U2boy417 on Dec 29, 2009 2:12 PM CST reply actions   1 recs

yea i think the giants will play well

I think they have a real good chance at winning that game, despite how it looks on paper. The Giants just got embarassed, they will want to end their season on a positive note.

On the other hand, there are a TON of 7-8 win teams in this league. The Giants could considerable help their draft position by losing.

by foyesboys on Dec 29, 2009 5:31 PM CST up reply actions  

I made a chart that displays the info we really care about...

Who the Cowboys will end up playing after every possible outcome of the games on Sunday.

by Damnsammit on Dec 30, 2009 9:23 AM CST reply actions  

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