AFC Playoff Watch

[ravensdfan]

In reality, we hold our own destiny.

 

HTH is thrown out because of the tie. Once teams begin to drop and it comes back into play, we hold HTH over Dolphins.

If we win the Jets game, we'll hold HTH over them.

 

We just have to win. For us at least, the playoffs are already here. It's do or die time.

[Militant X 1]

In reality, we hold our own destiny.

 

HTH is thrown out because of the tie. Once teams begin to drop and it comes back into play, we hold HTH over Dolphins.

If we win the Jets game, we'll hold HTH over them.

 

We just have to win. For us at least, the playoffs are already here. It's do or die time.

and for the browns?  we split with them so how does that work again?  refresh my memory on this one.  lol!

 

#Mili

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

and for the browns?  we split with them so how does that work again?  refresh my memory on this one.  lol!

 

#Mili

Browns still have to play at both Bengals and Steelers, it's hard for them to finish better than .500 in division even if they are 2-1 now; we are 2-2 in division and more than likely this H2H will come to who gets more wins (the conf record is 3-3 browns and 4-4 ravens)

[Ravensfan23]

Browns still have to play at both Bengals and Steelers, it's hard for them to finish better than .500 in division even if they are 2-1 now; we are 2-2 in division and more than likely this H2H will come to who gets more wins (the conf record is 3-3 browns and 4-4 ravens)

 

Not completely accurate. The conference record would be important, but it's actually the 4th step in potential tie breaking scenario with the Browns.

 

1. H2H which is split as we know.

2. better divisional record

3. better record against common opponents

4. better conf record.

 

Our common games outside the division would be, NE, NYJ, Mia, Buf, GB, Minn, Chi, and Det.

 

The current situation has the Browns with wins over Minn and Buf, but losses to GB, Det and Mia. The Ravens on the other hand have a win vs Mia but losses to GB and Buf.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Not completely accurate. The conference record would be important, but it's actually the 4th step in potential tie breaking scenario with the Browns.

 

1. H2H which is split as we know.

2. better divisional record

3. better record against common opponents

4. better conf record.

 

Our common games outside the division would be, NE, NYJ, Mia, Buf, GB, Minn, Chi, and Det.

 

The current situation has the Browns with wins over Minn and Buf, but losses to GB, Det and Mia. The Ravens on the other hand have a win vs Mia but losses to GB and Buf.

true all that, i was only implying that we should finish the season with more wins than the browns; it will be very hard for them to finish any better than .500; have highlighted bellow at least the 3 games I believe they'll most probably lose, with only the Jags game as an easy one

at Bengals (6-4), vs. Steelers (3-6), vs. Jaguars (1-8), at Patriots (7-2), vs. Bears (5-4), at Jets (5-4), at Steelers (3-6)

[Ravensfan23]

true all that, i was only implying that we should finish the season with more wins than the browns; it will be very hard for them to finish any better than .500; have highlighted bellow at least the 3 games I believe they'll most probably lose, with only the Jags game as an easy one

at Bengals (6-4), vs. Steelers (3-6), vs. Jaguars (1-8), at Patriots (7-2), vs. Bears (5-4), at Jets (5-4), at Steelers (3-6)

 

oh ok I got you, I thought you were saying if we finished in a tie with the Browns. But I agree, the Browns have it tough and despite their win vs us, I'm not ready to believe in those guys. Which is exactly why I want them to beat the Bengals this week.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Disagree. The Jets are in the drivers seat for that last playoff spot. Even if they lose to us and the Panthers, they will finish at 10-6. 
 
Their remaining games include:
 
Bills
Ravens
Dolphins
Raiders
Panthers
Browns
Dolphins
 
That looks completely winnable. They have the defense to make up for bad QB play. Also, their coach has proven that he knows how to win with this handicap.
 
If I were putting my money on a team to make the playoffs in the AFC, it would be the Jets.
 
 
On the other hand, here is the Ravens schedule:
 
Bears
Jets
Steelers
Vikings
Lions
Patriots
Bengals
 
We could lose 6 of those games. Good luck to us.....

There's no way the Jets go 10-6 with or w/o Ed Reed. If they do, they deserve to make the playoffs and I'll be rooting for them. I do agree with you that they have an easy schedule the rest of the way.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

If that is true then it should assume that the Bengals will lose to both the Browns and the Ravens because it's already happened this year.
 
Also I wouldn't consider the Bengals schedule favorable at all. Just because you play at home doesn't mean it's favorable. You'd actually have to make your homefield advantage count for it to be considered favorable. Since Dalton took over at QB in 11' the Bengals have lost 8 of their 20 home games. That's just slightly better then 50% so if indeed past performances are that best predictor of future performances, this isn't a strong sign for Cincy. Also their schedule isn't so favorable because they out of their 6 remaining games, 3 are tough divisional games and a total of 5 are against playoff caliber teams. Obviously the Steelers aren't making the playoffs this year but it'll still be a tough game.
 
So there is nothing that says the Bengals will run away with this division as you suggest. So win or lose vs the Bears, it's still much better to have the Browns beat the Bengals and bring the Bengals closer to the pack then have the Bengals win and separate. If the Browns win they would have beaten the Bengals twice and given those guys 3 total division losses. This would actually put the Browns in great position to take over 1st place with the Bengals having a bye the following week. As you mentioned the Browns don't have a favorable schedule and probably won't win more then 1 or 2 games down the stretch. But in case they did and continued to hold serve in 1st place it would be much better to have a potential 3 way tie scenario with the final week of the season Bal @ Cin Cle @ Pit, determine who wins the North. Even if the Browns aren't good enough to continue in 1st place you still want the Bengals to have as many losses as possible. A lost to Cle would mean 3 straight heading into the bye. Followed by 2 of their next 3 games on the road. That would really test that notion of them going 10-6 to close out the season.

I hope you're right and I'm wrong. Time will tell! I just don't see the Brownies marching into Cincy and winning with Jason Campbell at QB. We'll see. If Cincy wins on Sunday, they will finish at 10-6. If I have underestimated any team though, it could be the Browns. With some luck, they could finish ahead of us at 9-7.

[DocMartin]

A lot of Optimism on here for sure. The reality is OUR DEFENSE is keeping us in these games. We lucked out last week against the Bengals, but if we don't start putting more points on the board every week we could run out of our luck soon.

[Ravensfan23]

I hope you're right and I'm wrong. Time will tell! I just don't see the Brownies marching into Cincy and winning with Jason Campbell at QB. We'll see. If Cincy wins on Sunday, they will finish at 10-6. If I have underestimated any team though, it could be the Browns. With some luck, they could finish ahead of us at 9-7.

 

But I don't think it's Jason Campbell as the key factor for the Browns. It's that strong Browns defense vs Andy Dalton. Someone I noticed when going back to break down the Browns vs Ravens game is a couple stats that was put on the screen. The Browns defense have not allowed a 100+ yard rusher or a 300+ yard passer in any game this season. They also have a really strong pass rush and we witnessed that the Ravens did in that area to cincy.

 

I'm looking at Andy Dalton who save a lucky hail mary completion has 6ints and 1 Td over his last two games and thinking he's gonna have his hands full with the Browns. This will not be a easy game at all.

[jimjim5]

What I think is funny is that MANY folks in this post don't believe the opposing XYZ team can't go 10-6 or 9-7, but you believe in the Ravens who exhibit the same behavior if not worse, in that we have NO offense.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

But I don't think it's Jason Campbell as the key factor for the Browns. It's that strong Browns defense vs Andy Dalton. Someone I noticed when going back to break down the Browns vs Ravens game is a couple stats that was put on the screen. The Browns defense have not allowed a 100+ yard rusher or a 300+ yard passer in any game this season. They also have a really strong pass rush and we witnessed that the Ravens did in that area to cincy.
 
I'm looking at Andy Dalton who save a lucky hail mary completion has 6ints and 1 Td over his last two games and thinking he's gonna have his hands full with the Browns. This will not be a easy game at all.

Good points! I agree it will be a dogfight. I read somewhere that the Browns are 3-1 with Campbell at the helm.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

What I think is funny is that MANY folks in this post don't believe the opposing XYZ team can't go 10-6 or 9-7, but you believe in the Ravens who exhibit the same behavior if not worse, in that we have NO offense.

I'm not sure I understand your post. I believe the Bengals will finish 10-6, the Jets will finish at 9-7 and I said we'll be lucky to finish at 8-8 after we lost Dennis Pitta. The 8-8 record does not count a victory over Chicago. Our offense hasn't been hitting on all cylinders. That's for sure but I think you're selling them short. They're averaging just under 21 points a game and with some better coaching we'd have won at least three more games. Last week against Cincy we were running a no-huddle offense and hiking the ball with 10-12 seconds on the clock. That's not the offense's fault. That's just stupid. It played right into the Bengals' hand. Marvin Lewis probably had to contain himself from laughing at us. Remember what Forrest Gump's mother told him!

[redrum52]

just saw the AFC playoff spots on the NFL Network:

 

Div. Leaders: Chiefs (9-0), Patriots (7-2), Colts (6-3), Bengals (6-4)

 

Wild Card: Broncos (8-1), Jets (5-4)

 

In the Hunt: Dolphins (4-5), Titans (4-5), Browns (4-5), Ravens (4-5), Chargers (4-5)

 

#Mili

Next 2 weeks are huge.  First of course we need to win, but I'm pretty sure if we get the next 2 and Colts win tonight, we have the 6 seed.  In the next 2 weeks, Browns play the Bengals and Steelers, and the Chargers play the Chiefs.  So if the Browns can pull of the sweep this week, and the Chargers fall to the Chiefs, that essentially puts the Division in our own hands the rest of the way.  This season has the 09 feel to it in which we didn't know I think til the last week against the Raiders if we were going to be in.  I like this though, it will show you what the team is made of mentally.

 

I'd also like the say, the rest of the league better hope the team doesn't find any cohesiveness on the o-line, cause if they manage to come together now, we will be an extremely dangerous team by the playoffs.

[jimjim5]

Sorry. Bad grammar on my end. You're one of the people that my post was not directed towards.

I'm not sure I understand your post. I believe the Bengals will finish 10-6, the Jets will finish at 9-7 and I said we'll be lucky to finish at 8-8 after we lost Dennis Pitta. The 8-8 record does not count a victory over Chicago. Our offense hasn't been hitting on all cylinders. That's for sure but I think you're selling them short. They're averaging just under 21 points a game and with some better coaching we'd have won at least three more games. Last week against Cincy we were running a no-huddle offense and hiking the ball with 10-12 seconds on the clock. That's not the offense's fault. That's just stupid. It played right into the Bengals' hand. Marvin Lewis probably had to contain himself from laughing at us. Remember what Forrest Gump's mother told him!

[RavensAllTheWay]

The way I see it, we should absolutely win all 3 games of the Jets/Steelers/Vikings stretch of 3 straight home games.  That would put us at 7-5.  With the way the rest of the AFC is looking right now (10 teams currently below .500), it looks like 9-7 will get in at this rate, meaning if we go 2-2 in the Bears/Lions/Patriots/Bengals games, we should be in.

 

I don't care how bad our offense is, if we lose even one of those three straight home games, we've messed up.  2-1 won't cut it.

[dhstandard]

A lot of Optimism on here for sure. The reality is OUR DEFENSE is keeping us in these games. We lucked out last week against the Bengals, but if we don't start putting more points on the board every week we could run out of our luck soon.

 

Yeah, but the offense couldn't get any worse.....

[Ravensfan23]

Good points! I agree it will be a dogfight. I read somewhere that the Browns are 3-1 with Campbell at the helm.

 

Yea he fits that Norv Turner system really well. Yea Campbell has never been a poor imo just never lived up to his high draft status and a lot of that imo has been the wrong system(redskins) and lack of talent around him(raiders). But he's always been a capable QB and a fairly good decision maker. He's no stud but he's definitely consistent enough to make that Browns team formidable for anyone.

 

What I think is funny is that MANY folks in this post don't believe the opposing XYZ team can't go 10-6 or 9-7, but you believe in the Ravens who exhibit the same behavior if not worse, in that we have NO offense.

 

I don't think it's that we have no offense, we just can't really find that necessary spark to either "get it going at times" or "keep it going others". I think Joe made a really good point when he was talking about how the offense has got to play better. He mentioned how they have put together some really good halves, but never a complete game and because of they the confidence is still there.

 

I think this offense needs that NYG game type performance from last to get them sparked again.

[jimjim5]

Yea he fits that Norv Turner system really well. Yea Campbell has never been a poor imo just never lived up to his high draft status and a lot of that imo has been the wrong system(redskins) and lack of talent around him(raiders). But he's always been a capable QB and a fairly good decision maker. He's no stud but he's definitely consistent enough to make that Browns team formidable for anyone.

 

 

I don't think it's that we have no offense, we just can't really find that necessary spark to either "get it going at times" or "keep it going others". I think Joe made a really good point when he was talking about how the offense has got to play better. He mentioned how they have put together some really good halves, but never a complete game and because of they the confidence is still there.

 

I think this offense needs that NYG game type performance from last to get them sparked again.

 

Results are facts. The team's potential, talent, last year's results, and talk is nothing. Have you been watching the Ravens for the past 10 weeks?

[Tank 92]

The Ravens are obviously a work in progress. With the way most teams are playing, there's reasonable hope they can pull it together and go on a PO run.

[Gordo52]

Chiefs and Broncos combined have only faced 1 team with a winning record. If we can't heat up soon I think the AFC belongs to the pats.

(Thinking out loud)
I hate how quiet they are. I think they're extremely under the radar and come playoff time they'll be able to beat anyone. The injuries definitely hurt but I think they can get through them if Gronk & Talib stay healthy.

I think the success we've had against them the last couple seasons was largely responsible from players who are no longer here. Whether it's communication on defense or being able to go up and fight for the ball for a 3rd down. Something we've had a lot of trouble with this year.

Reed,Pollard,Lewis,Boldin,Pitta will all be missed when we face them. I'm really hoping some guys will step up before then. I'm not worried about Joe at all but if Rice keeps averaging 2 ypc then there's no way we go to the playoffs. All those players listed above are missed vs anybody. I've moved on with it awhile ago and have no bad things to say about the FO. It's just, when I think about facing them in the past I remember those players playing huge roles. This season is completely different.

I'm not trying to think like a Ravens fan right now. I just think Brady shows up PM in his statistically career best year and beats them in the playoffs.

A lot can change between now and week 14-playoffs. I just hate how they're getting no normal media attention. (Even though I hate it when they do, lol).

[Gordo52]

Having said all that, if Rice can come back to normal, o-line play at least average, defense tightens up in the 4th and we get some good TE play (maybe Pitta comes back) things are completely different. I still wouldn't feel as comfortable facing NE as years past, but it's still a long season. A lot of big IF's but crazier things have happened.

I just have no reason to believe those thing until we see some progress.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Having said all that, if Rice can come back to normal, o-line play at least average, defense tightens up in the 4th and we get some good TE play (maybe Pitta comes back) things are completely different. I still wouldn't feel as comfortable facing NE as years past, but it's still a long season. A lot of big IF's but crazier things have happened.

I just have no reason to believe those thing until we see some progress.

That's what bothers me most. I have seen progress on the defensive side of the ball but not much, if any, on the offensive side, especially in the running game. The Bears game needs to be that breakout game for Ray Rice and maybe it will be.

[Ravensfan23]

Results are facts. The team's potential, talent, last year's results, and talk is nothing. Have you been watching the Ravens for the past 10 weeks?

 

Yes I have been watching and I don't see an offensive void of talent, I see one that just hasn't found it's footing yet. Is that to say we have nothing to worry about or that things are great? No not at all. I'm not sure how you can say potential and more importantly talent is nothing. Talent is everything because if we didn't have it we would have no shot what so ever, but we do.

 

Just watching the results of a play or game is very unproductive imo. Reason being is because the results just tell you what happened but it doesn't tell you why. Yes right now this offense is bad, but that doesn't mean that they  can't put it together within the next couple weeks and have a explosion over the last few games.

[Gordo52]

That's what bothers me most. I have seen progress on the defensive side of the ball but not much, if any, on the offensive side, especially in the running game. The Bears game needs to be that breakout game for Ray Rice and maybe it will be.

Yes and I sure hope so. I'm not worried about the D at all. They're good enough to win a championship. If the offense can control the clock and put some points up, imagine how well that would benefit the D.

[Alexir]

We better give the ball to Pierce against the abysmal defense that is Chicago...

[gabefergy]

We better give the ball to Pierce against the abysmal defense that is Chicago...

Completely agree.

[Ravensfan23]

We better give the ball to Pierce against the abysmal defense that is Chicago...

 

It's gonna be cold, windy, rainy and nasty. The perfect type game for a guy like Pierce, with his one cut and go style and ability to break tackles I'm looking for a really good game from him.

 

If he can help jump start this running game, it would only help this offense while making this playoff push.

[wizard1]

Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs? Are you kidding me? I just hope we can win a game.

http://youtu.be/U7fjDS0jKiE

[flaccopoe]

TEN's done... again.