Playoff scenarios
 

As far as I can tell, the Texans still have a shot at a first round bye. Baltimore lost today and Pittsburgh could very well lose to SF on MNF. We have 8-2 conference record which is better than Baltimore (7-3) and Pitt (7-3). I believe if the Texans win their 2 remaining games and Baltimore falters against either Cleveland or Cincy, the Texans get the #2 seed....

We have the head-to-head tiebreaker with Pittsburgh but Baltimore has the head-to-head over us. The problem is that if the Texans tie with both then the first elimination is between Pittsburgh and Baltimore which Baltimore wins due to a 2-0 series win over Pittsburgh which then gives Baltimore the tiebreaker over us too.

So, somehow, the Steelers have to finish a game ahead of the Ravens but manage to lose again themselves while Houston wins out in order for Houston to get a first-round bye. That means Pittsburgh and Baltimore both have to lose one more time while Houston does not.

Then it will be:

New England 13-3
Houston 12-4
Pittsburgh 12-4 (loses tiebreaker)
Baltimore 11-5 as a wild card.

In any other rational scenario, we're the #3 seed.

So if we open up with a wild-card game at Reliant I'm thinking it's looking like Cinci again or the Jets or maybe someone out of the AFC west ?

NYJ (8-6): vs NYG, @ MIA
CIN (8-6): vs ARZ, vs BAL
TEN (7-7): vs JAX, @ HOU
OAK (7-7): @ KC, vs SD
SD (7-7): @ DET, @ OAK

Nobody has an easy road to the last playoff spot. We need to root for the Bagels to beat the Ratbirds the final weak of the season.

if pitt loses tonight and the pats lose one of their remaining two the texans would get the number one seed. 4 teams at 12-4, pitt out due to balt having head to head wins, then hou has best conf record between new england and baltimore

If Rithlesberger keeps throwing picks Pitt just might loose.

Well, 1 down... Of course, the Texans need to hold up their end of the bargain and win out. Let's hope the Ravens lose another game. Talk by some of wanting to see the Texans in a wildcard game b/c it gives them (and us fans) a better chance at a playoff win is just plain silly. I'd much rather take the path of playing the fewest games possible to reach the SB.

The Chron posted a pretty thorough breakdown of the all the playoff scenarios.

Texans are locked into the #3 seed.

Who do you want to see as the #6? And should the Texans win, which road game would you prefer, Pats/Ravens/Steelers?

I'd most like to play Cincy. They are not very good offensively and Yates would probably be most confident going into that game due to the win and how it happened. Plus I think they are the least talented.

I would hugely prefer Pittsburgh or Baltimore to having to play New England. NE turns almost any game into a shootout, and we are not equipped for that. With Pittsburgh we are in a slugfest and we know there line struggles. And Baltimore lays an egg about every 3 or 4 games.

Looks like our WC opponent could be any team from a group including Cinci, the Jets, the Chiefs, Oakland, and the Titans, depending of course on what the outcome of their games are next Sunday and tiebreakers ?
I'm curious about Kuibaks approach to Sundays regular season finale against the Titans, one of those possible playoff opponents ? Will he go all-out to win the game or give consideration to resting starters by limiting their snaps ?

Cincy is in the drivers seat for the last wild card slot but they have to beat the Ravens or hope for help. I do think they make a good first round opponent because I think they lack confidence in themselves, just like we do.

The Chiefs and Chargers are officially out so it is down to Cincy, the Jets, the Titans or the Raiders. It looks like the Bengals take most tiebreaker scenarios, then the Raiders, then the Titans then the Jets but it all depends on the outcomes of about six AFC games.

The Bengals and Jets are about the same, IMO. The Raiders are probably a team that could cause a lot of problems in the playoffs. One thing is for damn sure, though. We need to beat the Titans this week and put them out of their misery. I'm tired of them hanging around. Of course, we're talking Houston sports here and the sporting Gods (GODell and his merry band of 'overofficious jerks') will make sure we play -and subquently lose to- Bud at home in a playoff game. It would only be a fitting conclusion to the season for the long suffering Houston sports fan.

I think the Texans are likely to sit some of their best players on Sunday, including AJ because winning benefits them nothing at this point. They are division champs. They are the #3 seed and winning or losing doesn't change that. Even if the Titans somehow wind up as the sixth seed, the Texans know they can beat these guys when healthy. The only difference between our earlier win in Nashville and now is Schaub.

That isn't a small difference.

I'm seeing a return trip by the Raiders....

Don't think Cincy will beat the Ravens.
I think SD has already went into the tank, especially with the effort they gave last week.
Jets will likely beat Miami, but it won't matter either way.
I think the Titans will pull this off due to resting players in the 2nd half, but it won't matter for them either.

If that's the case, hopefully Kubiak will come up with a better gameplan for the run game, which was non-existent in round 1. We can't count on TJ throwing for 400+ like Schaub did to keep us in the game.

Well, I'm happy to see Jets eliminated from playoffs this year.

It would take a collosial meltdown by San Diego right now for it not to be Cinci coming here next week.

Denver loses so its definitely Cinci.

Yep, NBC just showed win against Cincy and we get New England.....