Everyone,
Here is a list of games and who we should root for looking at playoff implications for week 14. I admit that I should have started this last Thursday, but better late than never.
Looking back on Thursday, Saints@Atlanta was a game that was probably good for Seattle either way. Unfortunately Atlanta beat Seattle, which means that we lose any tiebreak (head to head) with Atlanta and that means to stay in a playoff slot, Seattle has to win on Sunday. That said, having the Saints lose is really helpful for Seattle because it opens up the possibility of a first round bye if Seattle can win out. It almost insures that the NFCS winner will likely have a worse record than the NFCW winner.
The Early (10am) Games:
Indy at Buffalo: This is an AFC game which doesn't affect us all that much, but if you care at all, root for Indy because an Indy win improves Seattle's SoV (for tiebreaks). Note that it will also improve that of the Rams but the Seahawks and Rams won't use this to tiebreak against each other. Either Seattle will win the division or the Rams will and it will be decided either by raw record, head to head, or division record.
Minny at Carolina: We want to root for the Panthers. Not only does a Carolina win help clear the decks of NFC pretenders in the playoffs, but it helps set up the Seahawks for a possible first round bye because it inflicts a Minny loss and puts pressure on both the Saints and Atlanta.
Chicago at Cincy: AFC game with no Sov implications for us. Don't care.
Green Bay @ Cleveland: Root for Cleveland. Not only does Cleveland badly need a win for simple pride, but Green Bay has a tiebreak on Seattle and having them lose would be helpful. I wouldn't count on it though (the Browns are really bad)
San Fran @ Houston:Root for Houston since this helps our SoV. Correction: We want to root for San Fran since we played them twice and Houston once.
Oakland @ KC: AFC game with no SoV so we don't care.
Detroit @ Tampa: Root for Tampa. Tampa can't catch Seattle in the playoff chase and Detroit can.
Dallas @ NY Giants: As unlikely as it is, root for the Giants. Giants are out but Dallas can still catch us.
The Late (1pm) Games:
Tenn @ Arizona: Root for the Titans. Not only does this help push the Cardinals out of the playoffs (always a good thing), but it also improves Seattle's Strength of Schedule for possible tiebreaks
NY Jets @ Denver: AFC game with no SoV/SoS implications for us, so we don't care
Washington @ LA Chargers: Root for the Chargers. Anything that pushes another NFC team out of the playoff race is good for us.
Philly @ LA Rams: This is a toughie (and subject of it's own thread). My instincts are to root for the Eagles so Seattle can get an advantage winning the division, but it's worth noting that a Rams win would set up Seattle nicely for a possible first round bye IF Seattle can take care of it's own business.
Seattle @ Jacksonville: DUH! We need to get as many wins as we can especially if we want to get a first round bye which is highly unlikely but still remotely possible. Root for the Seahawks!
Sunday Night:
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh: This is an AFC game with no SOS or SOV implications so we don't care
Monday Night:
New England @ Miami: This is an AFC game with no SoS or SoV implications so we don't care.
I hope this helps and as always, these opinions are strictly my own.
Here is a list of games and who we should root for looking at playoff implications for week 14. I admit that I should have started this last Thursday, but better late than never.
Looking back on Thursday, Saints@Atlanta was a game that was probably good for Seattle either way. Unfortunately Atlanta beat Seattle, which means that we lose any tiebreak (head to head) with Atlanta and that means to stay in a playoff slot, Seattle has to win on Sunday. That said, having the Saints lose is really helpful for Seattle because it opens up the possibility of a first round bye if Seattle can win out. It almost insures that the NFCS winner will likely have a worse record than the NFCW winner.
The Early (10am) Games:
Indy at Buffalo: This is an AFC game which doesn't affect us all that much, but if you care at all, root for Indy because an Indy win improves Seattle's SoV (for tiebreaks). Note that it will also improve that of the Rams but the Seahawks and Rams won't use this to tiebreak against each other. Either Seattle will win the division or the Rams will and it will be decided either by raw record, head to head, or division record.
Minny at Carolina: We want to root for the Panthers. Not only does a Carolina win help clear the decks of NFC pretenders in the playoffs, but it helps set up the Seahawks for a possible first round bye because it inflicts a Minny loss and puts pressure on both the Saints and Atlanta.
Chicago at Cincy: AFC game with no Sov implications for us. Don't care.
Green Bay @ Cleveland: Root for Cleveland. Not only does Cleveland badly need a win for simple pride, but Green Bay has a tiebreak on Seattle and having them lose would be helpful. I wouldn't count on it though (the Browns are really bad)
San Fran @ Houston:
Oakland @ KC: AFC game with no SoV so we don't care.
Detroit @ Tampa: Root for Tampa. Tampa can't catch Seattle in the playoff chase and Detroit can.
Dallas @ NY Giants: As unlikely as it is, root for the Giants. Giants are out but Dallas can still catch us.
The Late (1pm) Games:
Tenn @ Arizona: Root for the Titans. Not only does this help push the Cardinals out of the playoffs (always a good thing), but it also improves Seattle's Strength of Schedule for possible tiebreaks
NY Jets @ Denver: AFC game with no SoV/SoS implications for us, so we don't care
Washington @ LA Chargers: Root for the Chargers. Anything that pushes another NFC team out of the playoff race is good for us.
Philly @ LA Rams: This is a toughie (and subject of it's own thread). My instincts are to root for the Eagles so Seattle can get an advantage winning the division, but it's worth noting that a Rams win would set up Seattle nicely for a possible first round bye IF Seattle can take care of it's own business.
Seattle @ Jacksonville: DUH! We need to get as many wins as we can especially if we want to get a first round bye which is highly unlikely but still remotely possible. Root for the Seahawks!
Sunday Night:
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh: This is an AFC game with no SOS or SOV implications so we don't care
Monday Night:
New England @ Miami: This is an AFC game with no SoS or SoV implications so we don't care.
I hope this helps and as always, these opinions are strictly my own.
