[Elvis]

I'm sure all 3 teams have the mindset they need to win out. But that's not going to happen.

This is why they play the games...

[actionjack]

[Elvis]

Stu at the therams.com doesn't seem to be quite up on it either. Even if the Rams lose to the Jets, they still control their own fate and would win the division by beating AZ and Seattle. The first version of his piece had it wrong, now it's unclear at best:

Let's start with the Rams. While a win over the Jets isn't essentially to staying in the postseason picture, it will help the most with controlling their own playoff fate.

[actionjack]

Stu at the therams.com doesn't seem to be quite up on it either. Even if the Rams lose to the Jets, they still control their own fate and would win the division by beating AZ and Seattle. The first version of his piece had it wrong, now it's unclear at best:

Rams beat Az and Seattle they win the division
Rams beat Jets and Az and Seattle loses to Minnesota Rams win division.

[PARAM]

Rams beat Az and Seattle they win the division
Rams beat Jets and Az and Seattle loses to Minnesota Rams win division.

I'm still having trouble with that scenario. The tie breakers are head to head. Then division record. Then common opponents (min 4). Then conference record. Then margin of victory.

If we beat the Jets and Arizona and Seattle loses to Minnesota but beats Chicago and us, it goes to margin of victory. We could still win but that's not a done deal.

[Elvis]

There is no "margin of victory." There is "strength of victory."

But i agree it could be nebulous. max is tracking it. (I'm sure others are too.)

The Rams have the advantage over Seattle, assuming they lose to MN, because we've beaten teams like Minnesota and Buffalo who have really good records.

But what if MN and Buff lose a bunch of games these last few weeks and some of the teams Seattle has beaten do a bunch of winning to end the season? Could that swing the strength of victory in Seattle's favor even if they lose to MN?

I'm not sure we know that answer to that...

[actionjack]

There is no "margin of victory." There is "strength of vicotory."

But i agree it could be nebulous. max is tracking it. (I'm sure others are too.)

The Rams have the advantage over Seattle, assuming they lose to MN, because we've beaten teams like Minnesota and Buffalo who have really good records.

But what if MN and Buff lose a bunch of games these last few weeks and some of the teams Seattle has beaten do a bunch of winning to end the season? Could that swing the strength of victory in Seattle's favor even if they lose to MN?


I'm not sure we know that answer to that...

Well first we have to beat Jets on the road AND the Cardinals at home, not small task. So if that occurs we will know before the Seattle game, which is key if we can rest players etc.

[Gareth]

Rams beat Az and Seattle they win the division
Rams beat Jets and Az and Seattle loses to Minnesota Rams win division.

And of course, there is also the scenario where the Rams beat the Jets and Seattle and lose to Arizona. In that case, we would need Arizona to lose one of their other two games.

So rooting for Carolina to beat Arizona this week is big. If that happens, we can lose the Arizona game and still win the division.

[PARAM]

There is no "margin of victory." There is "strength of victory.".

Right. Winning percentage of teams beaten.

Like you say....in flux. But we have advantages such as Buffalo (and Minnesota....of they beat Seattle).

So is it we only have to win the next two weeks and if Seattle loses to Minnesota, wk 18 doesn't matter?

[Elvis]

So is it we only have to win the next two weeks and if Seattle loses to Minnesota, wk 18 doesn't matter?

That's the question isn't it?

Most people are saying that's the case, and maybe it is no matter what. But it wouldn't shock me to find out there are some unlikely combinations of wins and losses where Seattle would win the SOV tiebreak even if the above happens...