With today's win and either a Detroit, Chi, or ATL loss, the Saints earn a playoff spot. Denver just beat Chi. 13-10 in OT, so congrats to the Saints. (If ATL had lost, the Saints would have one the division, but at this point, that looks like a mere formality unless something ridiculous happens)
In other good news, Zona beat Frisco today. That definitely helps the Saints and their bid to be the #2 seed and get a first week bye.
Yep, Saints and Frisco are tied for #2. I believe SF has the tie-breaker, but they play Pittsburgh next week, then travel to Seattle the following week. The schedule's in our favor.
What is the tie breaking scenario? Losses vs the conference? All 3 of ours are to NFC teams. There's are to Dallas, Baltimore, and Az. Since B-more is an AFC team, I think that's why they have the edge, but not sure.
nfl.com doesn't specify tie-breaking procedures for home-field advantage; just for division champs and wild cards. Here are the tie-breakers for wild card, which I think is what they would follow: 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. Using number 2, SF is currently 8-2 in conference, Saints are 6-3.
Who'd a thunk that the Frisco we demolished in preseason would turn into this. Great job by Harbaugh. They have to play Pitt and Seattle but we have rivals Atlanta and Carolina to play, however, both in the dome.
Right, we finish at Minnesota vs Atlanta vs Carolina No reason we should not win all three of those. SF has vs Pittsburgh, which is in the hunt for #1 seed in the AFC at Seattle at St. Louis, both of whom are out of contention, but both will be playing at home. The key matchup is this week. If SF beats Pitt, we will likely not get the first round bye.
Exactly. Watching the game tonight reinforces how awful the Rams are and how bad of a loss that was. I'd venture to say if they played 1000x, the Saints would win 999. They just happen to catch them on that one day where the Saints were flat and expected to win just by showing up and the Rams were inspired by the Cardinals being in the house after just winning the World Series.