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| When will Philly win Home Field? Two weeks? |
Philly is 10-1. Atlanta is 9-2. The next best NFC record has four losses (both GB and Minn), and likely won't enter into the discussion on top seed. Philly currently owns a seeding advantage over Atlanta, meaning that Philly needs to lose a game for Atlanta to have a shot at the top seed. Unless Atlanta loses a game, Philly can't clinch the top seed until after week 16. For every game that Atlanta loses, Philly can clinch home field one week sooner.
The NFC playoffs are seeded (and home field advantage determined) as follows:
1. The division champion with the best record.
2. The division champion with the second-best record.
3. The division champion with the third-best record.
4. The division champion with the fourth-best record.
5. The Wild Card club with the best record.
6. The Wild Card club with the second-best record.
The following is the order of procedures used to break standings ties
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
Not applicable. Philly and Atlanta don't play each other.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
Not applicable. Philly and Atlanta are in different divisions.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
Probably not applicable. Philly has only lost to Pittsburgh, a team that Atlanta doesn't play. Atlanta has lost to KC and Detroit, neither of which will play Philly. If Philly loses to St. Louis then they will lose this tiebreak since Atlanta beat St. Louis. If Atlanta loses to Carolina they will lose this tiebreak since Philly already beat Carolina.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Philly is undefeated against NFC opponents. Atlanta lost to Detroit. If Philly loses to an NFC opponent and Atlanta wins out, then this tiebreak is not applicable, since they would have the same record against NFC opponents.
5. Strength of victory.
I don't know how this is measured for certain, but Philly currently has a 301/247 PF/PA ratio and Atlanta has a 232/215, giving Philly a 53 to 17 pt wider margin of victory over Atlanta. This means that Atlanta has to outscore their remaining opponents by 36 pts more than Philly outscores its opponents in order to survive this tiebreaker. It's highly unlikely that more tiebreakers will be needed past this one.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
So all that summed up means that Philly can't afford to lose until Atlanta loses. So all of you McNabb, TO, and Westbrook owners should be shouting "Go Falcons!"
Brad