First Seed

[RedFire]

how did the steelers clinch a playoff berth with a titans loss? they just said it on CBS. how could they get in at 10-6...when we have the tie breaker over the steelers?

[Fricknmaniac]

While we have the tie-breaker over the Steelers, our head-to-head loss to the Titans is what cost us the ability to clinch a playoff spot with the Titans loss. The Titans loss does help us though, as either a Raiders or Jets loss would clinch us a playoff spot.

I would presume that the Steelers only had one obscure scenario where they could miss the playoffs coming into this week. It was likely something along the lines of them losing out and the Jets, Broncos, Raiders, and Titans all winning out, leaving the Steelers getting the short end of the stick because of their conference record in a 3 way tie. The difference, I believe, was that the Steelers would win any head-to-head tie with any of the teams that could catch them (Jets, Titans, Raiders, Broncos).

Whereas the Ravens would lose a head-to-head tie against the Titans or the Raiders. There still exists one scenario where the Ravens would miss the playoffs, it is the Ravens lose out, the Jets win out, and the Raiders win out. We'd be in a head-to-head tie with the Raiders for the #6 seed which we would lose based on common games.

[OUravensfan]

I'm liking our team more and more the more I watch these other so called Best in the NFL. No team is better rounded with more options and weapons on both sides of the ball compared to us

[JO_75]

[quote name='Fricknmaniac' timestamp='1324244007' post='909602']
While we have the tie-breaker over the Steelers, our head-to-head loss to the Titans is what cost us the ability to clinch a playoff spot with the Titans loss. The Titans loss does help us though, as either a Raiders or Jets loss would clinch us a playoff spot.

I would presume that the Steelers only had one obscure scenario where they could miss the playoffs coming into this week. It was likely something along the lines of them losing out and the Jets, Broncos, Raiders, and Titans all winning out, leaving the Steelers getting the short end of the stick because of their conference record in a 3 way tie. The difference, I believe, was that the Steelers would win any head-to-head tie with any of the teams that could catch them (Jets, Titans, Raiders, Broncos).

Whereas the Ravens would lose a head-to-head tie against the Titans or the Raiders. There still exists one scenario where the Ravens would miss the playoffs, it is the Ravens lose out, the Jets win out, and the Raiders win out. We'd be in a head-to-head tie with the Raiders for the #6 seed which we would lose based on common games.
[/quote]

You beat me to it, I was too busy testing it out on ESPN's Playoff Machine to make sure they could still clinch even if they did end up losing to San Fran tomorrow. Yeah it upsets me that they clinched but the Ravens can clinch win or loss tonight if the Jets and Raiders lose.

[Fricknmaniac]

Also, for those curious. We can clinch the #1 seed next week under this scenario:

The Ravens beat the Chargers and Browns.

and

The Steelers lose against either the 49ers or the Rams.

and

The Patriots (Broncos/Dolphins) and Texans (Colts) lose two out of those three games.

Edit: So as long as the Ravens win tonight against the Chargers, no matter what, when the NFL releases their clinching scenarios next week we will see one where the Ravens can clinch the #1 seed.

[redrum52]

[i]<Deleted> [/i] OH, the Ravens, ya, they should lock it up and not even pay attention to other teams. Hopefully they just go out and handle business regardless of other teams situations. Its times like this I wish coaches would tell their players pay no mind to the national media unless its something they told them to watch maybe for motivational purposes. Only the Ravens stand in their way which is upsetting cause we could have had this locked up had we taken care of business in Jax and Seattle.

[hawkprey]

I'm wondering now. With the Texans having lost, are the Steelers the next in line for the #1 seed? NE would need us to lose since we have the tiebreaker over them, but a BAL loss would put Pitt ahead of them. Looks like the Pats have a pretty bad chance at the first seed after all.

[RedFire]

[quote name='Fricknmaniac' timestamp='1324244007' post='909602']
While we have the tie-breaker over the Steelers, our head-to-head loss to the Titans is what cost us the ability to clinch a playoff spot with the Titans loss. The Titans loss does help us though, as either a Raiders or Jets loss would clinch us a playoff spot.

I would presume that the Steelers only had one obscure scenario where they could miss the playoffs coming into this week. It was likely something along the lines of them losing out and the Jets, Broncos, Raiders, and Titans all winning out, leaving the Steelers getting the short end of the stick because of their conference record in a 3 way tie. The difference, I believe, was that the Steelers would win any head-to-head tie with any of the teams that could catch them (Jets, Titans, Raiders, Broncos).

Whereas the Ravens would lose a head-to-head tie against the Titans or the Raiders. There still exists one scenario where the Ravens would miss the playoffs, it is the Ravens lose out, the Jets win out, and the Raiders win out. We'd be in a head-to-head tie with the Raiders for the #6 seed which we would lose based on common games.
[/quote]

But we are winning the division as we speak, lol. If the season ended today...it would not make sense. Is beating a team twice not the first level of tie breaking? Makes no sense the afc north wild card team is in before the division leader...this ain't the bcs where alabama gets the easiest path in to da dance, lol.

[orlandoraven]

NO biggie about Pitt. The Ravens are about a quarter and a half away from clinching themselves with the Jets losing big.

[UMDan]

It pains me to be rooting for the Denver Tebows right now... *sigh*

[Fricknmaniac]

[quote name='RedFire' timestamp='1324249829' post='909716']
But we are winning the division as we speak, lol. If the season ended today...it would not make sense. Is beating a team twice not the first level of tie breaking? Makes no sense the afc north wild card team is in before the division leader...this ain't the bcs where alabama gets the easiest path in to da dance, lol.
[/quote]

Actually it makes perfect sense. Another reason why the Steelers were able to clinch before us is because they were swept by us. Outside of their two losses to the Ravens, they've only lost to one other team, while for the Ravens outside of the Steelers games we have three losses. And those three losses provide more opportunities to lose tiebreakers more than that one loss does.

Also there is the fact that the Ravens have three AFC games left while the Steelers only have one AFC game left, which mean they're locked in to more AFC wins (the second tiebreaker after the head-to-head outside of the division) than a lot of other teams are.

[jaege]

[quote name='BenDufusberger' timestamp='1324216715' post='909284']

That's the definition of a meaningless award. To parade any number of such trophies under anyone's noses and feel proud while doing so would require a massive act of self-delusion.
[/quote]

What? The trophy IS the trophy. Winning as a 6th seed, which is very hard, gets you nothing more than winning as a 1st seed. Same trophy, same level of meaning. Beating the Steelers, the Patriots and then the Packers to win the SB gains you nothing more than beating the Broncos, the Titans and then the Cowboys to win the title. Either way you win. Same accolades, same parades, same pride. same meaning. Tying some sort of false pride to taking out the "best" is meaningless.

[Bltravens]

Not happening at this rate, we look no better than when Mattison was the DC.

[Ravens549]

First seed...um, no.
Loss in Pittsburgh in the playoffs...probably.

[FlaStlrfan]

[quote name='Wallace17_OutRunMe' timestamp='1323808989' post='905923']

Haha good timing as always...But honestly being the number 1 seed in the AFC sometimes is a jinx I feel because they always seem to lose especially the last few seasons. The last 2 times the Steelers have went to the Super Bowl they were the number 2 seed in the AFC and the 1 seed got knocked out both times in the divisional round. Now dont get me wrong it's great to have homefield advantage throughout and be the top overall seed but I think it's just more important that you get the bye week and at least the 2 seed because the 1 seed always has a chance of getting knocked off on divisional weekend and if you win your game as the 2 seed Happy New Year you end up playing the AFC Championship game at home which believe me is a big big advantage...
[/quote]

The answer to this is so simple - because there are 4 divisions and each division winner gets seeds 1-4, the Wild Card teams often are better than the division winners. This often leads to the #1 seed having to play the best advancing team from the Wild Card round (again, forget the seed - the better team is often the lower seed).

When the #1 seed plays a legit contender, they have the misfortune of losing that game - so the #2 seed gets to play a team that has been forced to play 2 consecutive games on the road and they get them at home.

The #2 seed is just as valuable, if not more so, than the #1 - depending on the season.

[PuRock]

Shut er' down. We just gift wrapped the #1 seed to either the Steelers or Patriots. Which ever team can continue to not lose.

[JO_75]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1324265774' post='911574']
Shut er' down. We just gift wrapped the #1 seed to either the Steelers or Patriots. Which ever team can continue to not lose.
[/quote]

All I know is even if we lose tonight... when Pittsburgh loses tomorrow, it nullifies tonight's lost and we still would be leading the Division!

[darklight1216]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1324266022' post='911618']

All I know is even if we lose tonight... when Pittsburgh loses tomorrow, it nullifies tonight's lost and we still would be leading the Division!
[/quote]
"If" the Ravens lose and "when" Pitt loses? You are quite optimistic.

[1/28/01]

buh bye!!!

[PuRock]

Wasn't this thread shut down last night? Now it is back open. It should be shut down.

There is little hope that the Patriots will lose one of their final two games. Also, if we do end up in a three way tie with the Texans and Patriots. Texans would now hold the tiebreaker with a better conference record. (They just lost to a NFC team).

Statistically. The Ravens now have a 1% chance of getting the first seed. [url="http://playoffstatus.com/nfl/afcstandings.html"]http://playoffstatus.com/nfl/afcstandings.html[/url]

[1/28/01]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1324305686' post='913103']
Wasn't this thread shut down last night?  Now it is back open.
[/quote]
I do what I want