2009 AFC Playoff Picture Gets Even More Muddied as 2009 Playoffs Approach
The 2009 AFC Playoff Picture Has Left Numerous Teams with a Shot at Playoffs
In the AFC Playoff picture, there are still 12 teams that could qualify for the NFL Playoffs. With most of the games completed for week 15 of the NFL schedule, there are now six teams in the AFC that sit at 7-7 on the season. That could make the AFC Playoff picture intensely competitive as we head towards the post season, and extremely stressful for quite a few of the head coaches that still have teams with a shot.
To get a good view of the AFC Playoff picture let's start at the top. The #1 seed is going to be Indianapolis with a 14-0 record, and the #2 seed is going to be the San Diego Chargers with an 11-3 record. Right now the New England Patriots lead the AFC East with a 9-5 record, and the Cincinnati Bengals lead the AFC North with an 9-5 record. Those are the division leaders, and the top two wild card teams are the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos with 8-6 records.
New England has a better strength of schedule, meaning that they win the tie-breaker with Cincinnati even though they have the same record. In the Baltimore and Denver tie, that one is decided by the head-to-head game that Baltimore won over Denver earlier in the season. Beyond that though, things start to get a bit more hazy in the AFC Playoff scenarios.
Projected AFC Playoff Seeds:
1. Indianapolis
2. San Diego
3. New England (win #3 seed tie-breaker so far because of strength of schedule)
4. Cincinnati
5. Baltimore (beat Denver this season)
6. Denver
Beyond the top six teams it becomes a mess of tie-breakers and head-to-head match-ups that come in to play as the season comes to a close.
There are six teams tied at 7-7 trying to get into the playoffs. Those 7-7 teams are Jacksonville, Miami, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Houston.
Here are the current tie-breakers for the 7-7 teams:
- Miami finishes ahead of N.Y. Jets in division based on head to head (2-0).
- Jacksonville finishes ahead of Tennessee and Houston in division based on head to head (3-1 to Titans' 2-2 and Texans' 1-3).
- Tennessee finishes ahead of Houston based on divisional record (2-4 to Texans' 1-5).
- Jacksonville finishes ahead of Miami and Pittsburgh based on conference record (6-4 to the Dolphins' 5-5 and the Steelers' 4-6).
- Miami finishes ahead of Pittsburgh based on conference record (5-5 and the Steelers' 4-6).
- N.Y. Jets finish ahead of Tennessee based on head to head (1-0).
- N.Y. Jets finish ahead of Pittsburgh based on conference record (5-5 to the Steelers' 4-6).
- Pittsburgh finishes ahead of Tennessee based on head to head (1-0).
Source:
2009 NFC Playoff Picture
www.nfl.com/standings
Published by Ryan Christopher DeVault
Born in Seattle, Washington, I am a 31 year old college graduate working in the field of Education and Research. I am also a professional freelance writer and news content provider. I can be reached at... View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentSo much for your logic. I wish I had seen this earlier. Miami had a better shot of going 7-9 than 9-7, as they have begun to prove with their loss to Houston.
Jacksonville needs two wins, so it is critical they beat New England at home--the odds heavily favor the Pats knocking the Jags out of the playoff picture next week.
So if Denver wins at least one game they make the playoffs, but if they lose both they open the door for the winner of the Houston-Miami game.
Tie-breakers after week 15 are irrelevant. I was looking for a discussion of the likely winners/losers for the next two weeks. The Ravens are probably in with wins over both Pittsburgh and Oakland. Denver will be on the bubble with a 1-1 record (losing to Philly but beating KC). Miami has the best shot of the 7-7 teams with two home games against two bubble teams: Houston and Pittsburgh. If Houston beats Miami and then New England they still need Denver to tank both games to make the playoffs (Houston doesn't own any tie-breakers). Pittsburgh has to beat both the Ravens and Miami--it's doubtful they will beat Baltimore and there is a good chance Miami wins at home. The Jets are probably out with a loss to the Colts (unless the Colts throw the game by playing second-teamers). Tennessee is probably out with a loss to San Diego next week as well. Jacksonville needs two wins, so it is critical they beat New England at home--the odds heavily favor the Pats knocking the Jags out of the playo
Great article. Thanks
It's starting to get a little crazy...