Comments on: If the AFC Playoffs Began Today

By: social flock web

social flock web — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:23:47 +0000

network web social social the web

By: Niner Watch : Patriots Daily

Niner Watch : Patriots Daily — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 16:44:05 +0000

[...] week we debuted “If The AFC Playoffs Began Today“, which will track the American conference pennant race over the next eight weeks (counting [...]

By: Beaker

Beaker — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:56:52 +0000

Great stuff. Are you the person I can complain to about the slow RSS feeds? Jesus, it’s like watching paint dry.

Oh, and it’s nice to see that ‘asshole’ comes through loud and clear. I’ll be peppering my posts with that going forward.

By: Maroney No Baloney

Maroney No Baloney — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:43:01 +0000

and people get on the guys at SOSH for being too geeky. between you guys and CHFF, there’s enough Pats minutia going around to power ten thousand geek factories.

i say that with love…great site. first stop every day for pats stuff.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:08:58 +0000

I just got a e-mail from a reader wondering about my statement that the Colts were leading the AFC prior to Sunday, even though the Pats were 8-0 and the Colts 7-0. I’m just going to cut and paste my explanation here to clear up any confusion about that point.

Prior to the game, the NFL did consider the Colts as first place overall in the conference. This is laid out weekly on nfl.com in the conference standings page.

Here are the tiebreakers as I understand them:
Two Clubs

1. Head-to-head, if applicable.

2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

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

4. Strength of victory.

5. Strength of schedule.

6. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.

7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.

8. Best net points in conference games.

9. Best net points in all games.

10. Best net touchdowns in all games.

11. Coin toss.

So, #1 didn’t apply because the game had yet to be played. #2 was even, as both teams being unbeaten had a 1.000 percentage in conference games. #3 didn’t apply because the teams to that point didn’t have any common opponents. So that moved it to tiebreaker #4, strength of victory. As I understand this one, its measured by the combined records of the teams you have beaten to date. Because of the uneven schedule so far, this is measured as a percentage. Prior to Sunday’s game, the Colts had the advantage there – even today, the teams they have beaten have a combined .534 winning percentage, and the Pats opponents only a .479. So, if the playoffs had been seeded prior to Sunday, the Colts would have been first seed on the strength of that tiebreaker.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:53:56 +0000

Great new feature, very well done. Also, Tom Clancy is quite clearly a dick.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:33:33 +0000

Maybe this just isn’t the site for humorless, grandstanding pricks, Tom.

Just so we’re all on the same page, if anyone has an idea that they think will make the site better, they are welcome to write me or anybody at any time. The e-mail addresses are easily accessible at the top of the page as well as in the ‘Meet the Staff’ section. I get a lot of great suggestions that way and we’re working on implementing as many as we can.

Further, corrections and/or clarifications (such as Kulko’s above) are always welcome too, and much appreciated.

However, if you’re here simply for the purpose of insulting me or anybody else, take a hike. But before you do, allow me to respond to you with the same level of courtesy you showed me this morning.

The Internet’s a wide open place, so Tom, consider yourself invited to head out there and find another site that is more to your liking.

Asshole.

By: T. Dungy

T. Dungy — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:43:51 +0000

Mr. Benson, or if I may be so bold to call you coach. Coach you are a role model for all of my kids, with class and dignity, you show us all the right way to do things. Coach, Thanks for being a class act. Football websites have some characters that really don’t represent their cities very well. No one can say that of you or the team. Sacrificing character for victories is not a good trade. You guys have nothing to get down about,We are very proud of you & our team. Learn from the mistakes and work them out for the rest of the season. I am very proud of you and the team. The season is not over and we can still make it all the way. God Bless you and the team.

By: Kulko

Kulko — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:32:10 +0000

Common opponents in the division is easy. They both play the same teams apart from 1 game each against the AFCS & W.
All others might not be common opponents by now, biut will be in the future so I think you should count them.

So when Pit loose they are both 6-3 with a 1-1 against each other.

Each lost once against an uncommon opponent and has the other one still coming up (Cle-Hou, Pit-Jax). So they are both 5-1 against their common opponents.

Its your job to figure out the next tiebreaker

By: Tom Clancy

Tom Clancy — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:13:27 +0000

If you want to be the top Patriots destination on the ‘net, stop writing these columns like 5th grade mash notes to the New Kids on the Block.

“OMG!!! Pittsburgh is t3h sux0rrs, MIRITE?!?!”