The Titans' loss on Sunday combined with the Steelers' win means that next Sunday's Titans-Steelers' game will likely decide who finishes as the No. 1 seed and who has to settle with being No. 2. But considering how the AFC playoffs are settling out, it may be turn out to be better to finish as the No. 2.The No. 1 team gets home field throughout the AFC playoffs, and they will get to face the lowest-seeded team that advances out of the first round of the playoffs. Normally that means you get to face the No. 4 seed (if there are no upsets) or a wild card team that pulled off a shocker.
But this year, it's highly likely that the wild card teams will be a tougher matchup than either of the division champs who have to play on the first weekend of the playoffs. The Colts are on track to finish 12-4, but they have already lost the AFC South division crown to the Titans. The 9-5 Ravens are in the battle for the second wild card spot with one of the toughest defenses in the league. It's highly possible that the Colts will be seeded No. 5 and the Ravens will be No. 6 when the playoffs roll around.
In comparison, the 8-6 Broncos are assured of at worst the No. 4 seed if they can win one of their final two games to finally clinch the AFC West. Nevermind the fact that the Broncos have given up 40 more points than they have scored this year or the fact that they have beaten two teams with winning records.
And the winner of the Jets-Patriots-Dolphins' scrum for the AFC East title will likely finish up as the No. 3 seed. If Baltimore can beat the Cowboys next week and the Jaguars in Week 17, they will likely be a favorite against whichever team wins the AFC East while the Colts will be clear favorites over the Broncos.
So if you're the Titans or the Steelers, there's a chance that wrapping up the No. 1 seed ensures a second-round matchup with the high-scoring Colts or the bleed you black and blue Ravens in the second round while the No. 2 seed gets to face the Broncos or an AFC East team, in which case being the No. 1 seed won't be a whole lot of an advantage.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-14-2008 @ 11:11PM
Ron said...
What was Jeff Fisher thinking? Lousy, lousy decision and it cost 'em the game vs. Hou. Kerry Collins...........way, way, way overrated. And as a matter of fact...........I don't even think he is (rated).
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12-14-2008 @ 11:59PM
A.J. said...
Doesn't matter who's seeded where in the AFC. The NFC is the better conference this year. The only teams I could see possibly eking out a Super Bowl victory against an NFC team are the Steelers, Titans, and perhaps the Jets with enough momentum.
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12-15-2008 @ 9:20AM
BBS said...
Um, no. The best teams playing right now are in the AFC. The Colts, Steelers, and Titans could all beat anyone out of the NFC. All three have strong defenses. All three play great special teams. All three can score points. And all three are very ell coached.
AFC is the better conference this year. All this NFC love is garbage. Watch the games first before spewing this NFC love fest.
12-15-2008 @ 7:17PM
Bill said...
I would say that the NFC-AFC playing field is more even this year than in years past. Let's face it, the AFC has been top-to-bottom a much better conference for the past ten years, mainly on the strength of better Qb's. But Eli, Ryan, Romo have really changed that dynamic.
It would be a lot harder to navigate the AFC playoff field. The Carolina Panthers do not scare me. Jake Delhomme is a horrible Qb and their D is average Roll a safety over to Steve Smith and make their offense one-dimensional. The cards are the broncos of the NFC. Nobody wants to win the NFC North. The Giants, Cowboys, and Falcons are the most balanced. Falcons have a rook cube. In the end, the Cowboys and Giants are the only legit teams in the NFC.
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12-16-2008 @ 4:22AM
Carlo said...
Is this definitely how it works? I was under the impression that the #1 seed gets the team with the worst record. So lets say the Jets (#4 Seed, finish season with an 11-5 record) and the Colts (#5 Seed, finish season with a 12-4 record) both win the first round of wild card playoff games and advance to the divisional playoffs.
If the Titans are the #1 seed, would they get the Colts (lower seed) or the Jets (worse record)?
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