Race for #1 AFC Seed

[DocBar]

Originally Posted by ObsiWan

But remember Chris O. wasn't all that bad. There was some chat about keeping him around and letting Slaton go around these parts; especially after that preseason game where he was the only healthy back.

Chris O. was horrible for us. Slaton was just a lot more horribler.

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by DocBar

Chris O. was horrible for us. Slaton was just a lot more horribler.

"Horrible" is a bit strong.
He just had two pro bowl caliber RBs and a solid 3rd guy in front of him. In the Ron Dayne/Ahman Green days I would have welcomed having him as a backup.

There was just no way he was going to crack our lineup this season.

[HJam72]

23-17.

Locker may be a problem for us.

[DocBar]

Originally Posted by ObsiWan

"Horrible" is a bit strong.
He just had two pro bowl caliber RBs and a solid 3rd guy in front of him. In the Ron Dayne/Ahman Green days I would have welcomed having him as a backup.

There was just no way he was going to crack our lineup this season.

Did you watch the preseason games? The only thing of note he did was tote the rock for one whole game. He averaged ~3YPC or so. He showed no vision and no aptitude for the ZBS. I think horrible is almost an understatement.

[DocBar]

Originally Posted by HJam72

23-17.

Locker may be a problem for us.

Locker has one helluva quick release!!! I was pretty impressed with his play today. I just wish he played for someone outside our division.

[TdotTexas2Step]

Let's hope the Patriots lose tomorrow, or we end up dropping to the 3rd seed.

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by DocBar

Did you watch the preseason games? The only thing of note he did was tote the rock for one whole game. He averaged ~3YPC or so. He showed no vision and no aptitude for the ZBS. I think horrible is almost an understatement.

Watched every one of them. And I say again, you're comparing him to Foster, Tate, and Ward. Most the league pales in comparison to that trio. Foster and Tate are two of the top ten RBs in the league. Ward would start on some teams and, at a minimum, be a solid #2 on others (I'll bet the Giants wished they had him back given how their running game sucked tonight). Of course Chris O. looked bad compared to those guys.

I'll agree that he wasn't a fit for our zone blocking scheme. That's why he's elsewhere. But "horrible"...? okay, horrible for us. Okay enough for Cleveland. How about that?

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by TdotTexas2Step

Let's hope the Patriots lose tomorrow, or we end up dropping to the 3rd seed.

I'm confused, what tie-breaker gives them a higher seeding than us?
Assuming they beat the Chefs, they'll have the same overall (7-3) and conference (6-2) record as us. So what gives them the edge?

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by ObsiWan

I'm confused, what tie-breaker gives them a higher seeding than us?
Assuming they beat the Chefs, they'll have the same overall (7-3) and conference (6-2) record as us. So what gives them the edge?

I'm also wondering this. Even looking at common opponents it's tied there (1-1). They lost to Pittsburgh while Htown lost to Oakland.

[80tothezone]

Originally Posted by DocBar

Chris O. was horrible for us. Slaton was just a lot more horribler.

both backs have the same problem in that they have no vision and they run withtheir head down. What makes foster great is yhe field vision he has and the agility and explosion he posses. I think slaton had the speed and possible agility but witout vision or tackle breaking str he wasn't going to ammount to much

[brakos82]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

I'm also wondering this. Even looking at common opponents it's tied there (1-1). They lost to Pittsburgh while Htown lost to Oakland.

Next step is strength of victory (W-L record of teams beaten). And I'm about to take a shower and go to bed, somebody else do the damn math. LOL

[MojoMan]

Below are the NFL Tie Breaking Procedures.

I know this is a little confusing, but the Wild Card procedures are the same procedures that are used to break ties between division leaders. It says so at the bottom of the procedures page linked above:

TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM

If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken.

If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie breaker.
If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.

Two Clubs

Head-to-head, if applicable.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in conference games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss.

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)

Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.

Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in conference games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

When the first Wild-Card team has been identified, the procedure is repeated to name the second Wild-Card, i.e., eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. In situations where three or more teams from the same division are involved in the procedure, the original seeding of the teams remains the same for subsequent applications of the tie breaker if the top-ranked team in that division qualifies for a Wild-Card berth.

[MojoMan]

So, the tie breaker between the Ravens, Patriots and Texans after a New England win tonight would be:

Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.

This would also apply if all three teams win out. If someone wants to calculate that, knock yourself out.

[NitroGSXR]

What's a common game?

[MistaRed]

An opponent that both teams in the tie-breaker have played

[MojoMan]

Originally Posted by MistaRed

An opponent that both teams in the tie-breaker have played

Or that all three teams have played in case of a three way tie. I am not sure that there will be four common opponents between these teams, which is the minimum number required to use this criteria.

[thunderkyss]

In the case of New England, we've played Miami, Oakland, & Pittsburgh.... the Patriots will also play the Colts this season.

With Baltimore, we've played Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Jacksonville, & Cincinnatti... they will also play the Browns & Indy.

[80tothezone]

Originally Posted by MojoMan

So, the tie breaker between the Ravens, Patriots and Texans after a New England win tonight would be:

Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.

This would also apply if all three teams win out. If someone wants to calculate that, knock yourself out.

the ravens beat us head to head so would we take the seed below them?

[MojoMan]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

In the case of New England, we've played Miami, Oakland, & Pittsburgh.... the Patriots will also play the Colts this season.

With Baltimore, we've played Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Jacksonville, & Cincinnatti... they will also play the Browns & Indy.

So, there are not four common teams between these three.

Therefore, the next tie-breaker would be "Strength of Victory."

Definition: A part of the NFL's tiebreaking proceedure, strength of victory is figured by calculating the combined winning percentage of the opponents a team has beaten.

Examples:

If two teams end with identical records, combine the records of the opponents in each of the team's wins and calculate the total winning percentage. The team whose opponents have the higher winning percentage wins the tiebreaker.

http://football.about.com/cs/footbal...rengthofvi.htm

This appears to be the tie-breaker that will apply after New England beats Kansas City tonight, which they probably will.

[MojoMan]

Originally Posted by 80tothezone

the ravens beat us head to head so would we take the seed below them?

If it was a two-way tie, Baltimore will get the higher spot.

However, in a three way tie, things are not so simple.