Mark80

I love how everyone comes in and says "this is the easiest way to do it" and they proceed to say the exact same things that have been said at least 10 times throughout the thread.

Per NFL rules, ties count for .5 wins and .5 losses a piece. So in that case they are really 10-6 and own the tie-breaker on us based on AFC record, so yes, it is true.

Please explain to me how we beat out Cincy, Pittsburgh, or Baltimore in your scenario. You cannot because you, in fact, are the one that is incorrect. We need at least one of those teams to lose both of their games. End of story.

I agree, our secondary has been playing exceptionally well. Take away a few ghost holding / PI calls over the past few week (or the entire season really) and they would be even more impressive. Gilmore, and Williams are playing at a Pro-Bowl level, IMO and, honestly, Robey really isn't that far behind. Injury subs have been tremendous as well (save for Duke Williams getting torched by Tommy Boy week 6). However, we will see how good this defense really is come week 17. Let's not look past a young, hungry Raiders squad who has been improving throughout the year, but the Pats are true test for our D. After being torched for 361 and 4 TDs in the week 6 spanking at home, we need to dig deep for this one. The DLine must get the pressure, the LBs must tackle Blount on the first contact, and the DBs must play the games of their lives. We played fantastic against two of the top 3 QBs in the league the last two weeks, but those QBs don't face us very often. They are not as familiar with our players, schemes, and play calls. It seems when we play the Pats that they know exactly what we are doing on D almost every play and pick it apart (they probably do know what we are doing by some satellite spying system or something). Take care of the Raiders and then get your popcorn ready, the Bills will be playing with a fire and motivation that we haven't seen in a long, long time. I think this may be our time to shine...if only the offense could put up at least 28 points for them.

Yeah, that wasn't a blanket statement, but a majority of the posters just couldn't get a handle on us not having the tie-breaker with the Ravens and their justification was "well that's what ESPN's Playoff Machine said." I agree with you and others, if we get up to 10 wins, the pieces will fall into place...they better! I mean, how much of a kick in the balls would it be if we made it to 10 beating the Pats on the road and don't get in? Brutal.

Yes, if KC loses week 16 first. Otherwise, KC would have us beat via the Head to Head tie breaker. Yes, sorry, forgot they were playing each other week 16.

You understand it incorrectly. The win% vs common opponents is a higher tie breaker than both strength of victory and strength of schedule. All you need to do is click on the link that I provided to read it straight from the NFL. But, that's OK, I'll just repeat it, again. No, the only team we could possibly win any tie-breaker with that is still technically alive are the Browns.

Still need a KC loss or KC, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh could still bump us out.

Finally someone who knows what they heck they are talking about! On a side note, the "Machine" seems to be fixed now.

You may very well be right on that one.

Edit: The ESPN playoff machine seems to be working properly now, I can no longer get a situation to show the Bills at #6 while the Ravens are out of the playoffs with the same 10-6 record (or any other team at 10-6 for that matter).

For everyone who keeps posting that we get in over the Ravens with the same record...IT IS NOT TRUE. The ESPN playoff machine, which everyone seems to point to and use does not do the tie breaker with the Ravens properly. They have the tie breaker over us based on win% vs common opponents. SOV, which ESPN is utilizing, is the tie breaker right after that. The only team that we could potentially win a tie-breaker over is the Cleveland Browns and it isn't going to come down to that, you can put that in the bank. We lose Tie Breaker to SD, KC, PIT, CIN, and BAL. KC and SD because of head to head, PIT and CIN because of AFC record, Baltimore because of win % vs common opponents. I'm putting this in it's own thread so everyone can see it and they don't have to keep posting about it in the other threads. Link to rule on nfl.com: http://www.nfl.com/s...akingprocedures If anyone can prove to me otherwise without saying "that's what ESPN playoff machine" says, then I will be very, very impressed.

I'm done correcting the ESPN playoff machine. I've done it numerous times in numerous threads. They don't do the tie-breaker properly with the Ravens. Look back a few pages for the explanation. Computers are not perfect.

No it is not. However, if 2 of Cin/Bal/Pit lose two games then we only need 1 loss by either KC or SD, not both anymore.

Detroit had ZERO secondary to speak of while he was there and the LBs were sub-par as well and downright crap after Tulloch while he was there. Otherwise, he would have done just fine there and would still be there, IMO.

I wonder what would happen to him if he played baseball or hockey and did that? Actually, no I don't. In baseball he'd get a 90 mph fastball thrown right into his back and in hockey he'd get the crap kicked out of him later in the game.

Absolutely not pissed at all. Players on the field goal kicking team are big and slow blockers for the most part. They are not used to running down a defensive back in the open field. He could have easily taken it to the house...Remember Auburn vs Alabama last year when that dude ran through the field goal kicking team for 109 yards and the game winning touchdown? They looked like idiots trying to tackle him. Or think of how many missed tackles and big plays you see on interceptions? And those have WRs and RBs out there who can actually run fast.

Two words...Bruce Arians. With what he has done there with QB injuries and HUGE injuries on the defensive side of the ball, this is a no brainer. However, we would be pretty stupid to get rid of Marrone. Hackett though, he's another story.

There is no scenario where we control our own destiny going in to week 17. None, zero, zilch. If what you are saying happens we could still be eliminated with a win vs Pats and wins by Baltimore and Cincy in week 17. Cincy would win division and Baltimore and Pittsburgh would be Wild Cards.

Exactly, unless two AFC North teams lose out. Since one must be Baltimore (as Cincy and PItt play week 17) and they have Cleveland and Houston left, this scenario is very unlikely.

Actually, you are not allowed to use a T so it's more like a Field Goal than a kick-off. That is why they punt because you can kick it off a T much farther than you can a field goal attempt when the ball is on the ground. Edit - Dude above beat me to it!

I sort of wish that was the rule the entire game. Actually, I wish that no offensive player (even the player who fumbled it) could advance a recovered fumble at any point in the game.

You are incorrect, we cannot make if those teams win next week. We also cannot make it if all 3 AFC North teams win next week. The playoff machine is not handling the #4 tie breaker correctly, win% vs common opponents. That is where Baltimore has us. Yep.

Once Lacy recovered it the first time it was over. Only Rodgers could have advanced the ball as he fumbled it and there was less than 2 minutes left in the game. As soon as Lacy got possession the play was dead.

Yeah, he also has the worst QBR since 2007, his yards per attempt are right at his career average and he's accumulated garbage stats in games that were had already pretty much lost (see 4th quarter vs Denver).