If Tampa Bay wins out...

[Matt Foley]

...and Panthers lose once, who wins the division?

[Train]

Tampa would win.

If they win out any loss would knock us behind them in tiebreakers.

If we lose to Denver, and win the other two, we lose the 3rd tiebreaker, common games.

If we lose to NYG, we lose the 4th tiebreaker, Conference opponents.

If we lose to NO, we lose the 2nd tiebreaker, Division record.

This basically happened because our non-division Conference loss (Min) hits us in both the common games and conference tiebreakers, theirs (Dal) only hurts them in the conference tiebreaker.

It is possible for us to end the season tied and win the tiebreakers, but that would require them losing at least one game and then would probably come down to strenght of victory (right now we have +4 points on the Bucs). But if they win out, we have to do the same to win the division.

[mountainpantherfan]

For there to be a tie and the Panthers win the division, Tampa would have to lose to the Falcons and the Chargers or Raiders and Atlanta would have to lose to the Vikings and Carolina would have to lose all three of their remaining games.

In other words, we do not want to be in a tiebreaking senerio.

[Section 505]

Tampa would win.

If they win out any loss would knock us behind them in tiebreakers.

That's why it's so important for the Falcons to beat the Bucs at home on Sunday. (They finish up with SD and OAK at home)

If ATL wins out (11-5), TB wins final two (11-5), Panthers could actually lose to DEN and NYG, then beat NO. At 11-5 they would still win the division, and still have the #2 seed (own tiebreaker over AZ head to head).

It's all in the Yahoo Playoff Generator: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/playoffscenario?algorithm=yahooranker

[panthers55]

The key tends to be Atlanta beating Tampa this weekend and Dallas beating the Giants. If that happens and we can somehow beat Denver and upset New York. Even if we lose to NO in week 17, we still have the number 1 seed and homefield through out the playoffs. Not saying all of that is likely but it could happen.

[Delhomme17]

this is enough to make my head spin....i like the simple version...handle our business and don't worry about it.

[thunderraiden]

well if the giants win and we beat denver we are guaranteed a playoff spot, i will take that over the giants being more motivated to beat us on SNF.

[Badbak]

The key tends to be Atlanta beating Tampa this weekend and Dallas beating the Giants. If that happens and we can somehow beat Denver and upset New York. Even if we lose to NO in week 17, we still have the number 1 seed and homefield through out the playoffs. Not saying all of that is likely but it could happen.

If Dallas beats the Giants and the Panthers beat Denver I don't think it would be an upset when the Panthers beat the Giants.

[UNCG Panther Fan]

The game this weekend will be interesting. Atlanta is the better team, but Tampa just got embarassed by us... they will be looking to prove something.

[ChucktownK]

The game this weekend will be interesting. Atlanta is the better team, but Tampa just got embarrassed by us... they will be looking to prove something.

It IS at Atl and as we all know, this WHOLE damn division is undefeated at home, which in itself to me is incredible. So if this remains throughout the season then TB will have AT LEAST 2 more wins and ATL will have 2 more wins.

[Speed]

Tampa would win.

If they win out any loss would knock us behind them in tiebreakers.

I have wondered about that. But we split the season. What other tiebreaker comes into play?

[panthersphan]

I know EVERYONE'S chalking up a win for the Bucs against the Chargers.

But we all know the Chargers CAN win, they just haven't much. They can surprise people late in the year (crazy we're talking about the Chargers "surprising")

I wouldn't be SO sure that the Bucs will beat the Falcons or the Chargers

[Section 505]

If Dallas beats the Giants and the Panthers beat Denver I don't think it would be an upset when the Panthers beat the Giants.

The Giants will be favored against the Panthers in the Meadowlands regardless of the outcome of this weekend's games.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

I know EVERYONE'S chalking up a win for the Bucs against the Chargers.

But we all know the Chargers CAN win, they just haven't much. They can surprise people late in the year (crazy we're talking about the Chargers "surprising")

I wouldn't be SO sure that the Bucs will beat the Falcons or the Chargers

I've got that feeling too. It just feels like a late season chokejob from Chucky is coming.