Playoff possibilities & why Houston should be more optimisitc

[mussop]

Some see rainbows and butterflies others see a big pile of shiny crap.

[TheMatrix31]

#1) Miami wins every game but loses to us giving us the Wild Card spot via the tie breaker, N.Y Jets go 2-1, Baltimore Ravens go 1-2, and Jacksonville goes 1-2. We win this scenario because Miami swept the N.Y Jets in their division so the Jets automatically get eliminated.



....very possible, but what about Pittsburgh and Tennessee?

[itssharif]

Originally Posted by TheMatrix31

#1) Miami wins every game but loses to us giving us the Wild Card spot via the tie breaker, N.Y Jets go 2-1, Baltimore Ravens go 1-2, and Jacksonville goes 1-2. We win this scenario because Miami swept the N.Y Jets in their division so the Jets automatically get eliminated.



....very possible, but what about Pittsburgh and Tennessee?

Actually in this scenario if Miami wins every game but the one against us the best record both the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers can have would be 8-8 because Miami faces them both.

However a REALLY crazy scenario which I did not post that can also come true is if the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and our Houston Texans all tie at 9-7 which is very possible. If that were to happen we CAN also win this tie breaker assuming the Jets sole loss didn't come to the Atlanta Falcons an NFC team. If their sole loss derives from the Indy or Cincy game even though they have us head to head I believe we still win this tie breaker because of the win-loss percentage in common games amongst the 3 teams combined together. Please don't quote me on that though I'm not 100% sure but more like 90% sure. I believe we have Pittsburgh beat by a good enough margin in common games percentage that it does not matter how the New York Jets do but just as long as one of their losses are to one of the AFC teams remaining on their schedule.

[HPF Bob]

The Texans will need to run the table and come out 9-7 to have any chance. I wouldn't expect Denver to lose a playoff berth but there are ways to eclipse the other 7-6 and 6-7 teams with a three-game streak. Another key will be if NE rests their stars the final weekend because they'll have nothing to play for.

[Fonz the Boss]

Texans blow out teams when they play meaningless games like the one against Seattle.... but then they plain blow it when the pressure games suddenly show up. They will probably blow out the Rams this week. Let's see how they do when the pressure starts again vs the Dolphins.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by mussop

Some see rainbows and butterflies others see a big pile of shiny crap.

That was hillarious........

[kravix]

Originally Posted by mussop

Some see rainbows and butterflies others see a big pile of shiny crap.

So it is not enough to play meaningful games in December with a chance at the playoffs this year, we neeed to clinch the Division. Eventually that wont be enough and we will need the Division and 1st round bye. Then undefeated, I guess sooner or later when Kubiak cant blow out other NFL teams 100-0 we will have to fire him.

There are 8 teams on the cusp in the AFC right now, all fighting for wildcard spots and even with the up and down season the Texans are one of them. Before last week we all but assured of having no shot for the playoffs. These scenarios are not stars and planets aligning with some holiday miracles and voodoo magic sprinkled in. All the Texans need to do is take care of the last 3 games and see how the league unfolds.

When was the last time the Texans played a game in December they had to win to contiue to have a playoff shot that was not unfeasable?

[nunusguy]

I think the Colts go to FLA tomorrow night and lose to the Jags, thereby effectively ending any long-shot hopes we have for the playoffs, not that those chances were very realistic anyway.
I dunno but think the Colts have just about everything wrapped they can wrap up and I suspect they will limit the amount of time their starters are in the game, plus they've got some legitimately injured players to rest and get well. The Jags on the other hand are still in the thick of the wild-card race and therefor have every motivation to pull out all of the stops and win their remaining games.

[NBT]

Not very likely, but a delicious scenario none the less.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by mussop

Some see rainbows and butterflies others see a big pile of shiny crap.

That's the way I remember the 60's.....

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It's possible but extremely small odds. Despite what many are saying, the Texans still have a lot to play for. For many, they are in a can't win situation - lose and they are losers, win and they are still losers because they are typical-Texans-winning-when-it-doesn't-matter-yada-yada....

[cadams]

i actually think a win by sdg this week would be prefereable under your scenarios. they would still need to win next week against tenn to "clinch" the bye for certain (getting to 12 wins), i think. AND if they clinched in week 16, then nwe would have no reason to win against the texans in week 17 assuming they have clinched the east by then. of course, if cincy rests in week 17, that could be an issue as well.

all this said, if the texans win the next two they should go into week 17 with a chance to make the playoffs. if they don't, they won't. so hopefully they will win the next two, and we can start this discussion up the monday after christmas.

[Nconroe]

nice analysis of some possible scenarios, I'd be real pleased if we get to 9-7 given way things have gone so far. I''ll be watching anyways.

[nunusguy]

I thought Indys unbeaten season would come to an end last night vs the Jags, but that was based largely on my expectation that they wouldn't play their starters the whole game. Anyway they ended up partially resting Freeney and one or two other defensive guys, but as near as I could tell Peyton and the offense went the whole game ?
In what was a tremendous contest if you like offensive games, the Jags lost in the end the way we often do by making a mistake or failing to make a play as much as having Peyton beat you. At any rate, the outcome was a positive for us in our very, very long-shot of having any chances to land in the play-offs.

[Mike]

I am already throwing up in my mouth thinking about rooting for the Possum Eaters playing the Dolphins this weekend, but we need a Miami Loss, along with the Jets and Ravens losing.

If all three happen, then that makes next weeks game against the Dolphins interesting. Scary, but we have never lost to the Dolphins and we have played them 4 times.

[cadams]

actually, i am pretty sure you need to root for the fish this weekend unless you think tenn will lose another game. tenn has the tie-breaker against the texans if we both had the same records . . .I think