Tag: Rooting guide

Packers playoff rooting guide: Who can help Green Bay in Week 17?

The Packers will be rooting hard for a few teams (and one in particular) during Week 17. And, of course, Matt LaFleur’s team needs to beat the Vikings.

The Green Bay Packers are officially alive in the NFC playoff race entering Week 17.

Once 4-8, the Packers now only need three individual results over the final two weeks to clinch a playoff spot in the NFC: two wins (vs. Vikings, vs. Lions) and one Commanders loss (either vs. Browns or vs. Cowboys).

The Packers could also get in with two wins and two Giants losses (vs. Colts, at Eagles).

Elimination also looms over this week. If the Packers lose, a win by either the Lions or Commanders would mathematically eliminate Green Bay entering the final week.

A win over the Vikings on Sunday afternoon ensures that Week 18 will mean something to the Packers.

The top of the NFC also factors in. Will Week 18 mean something to the Eagles and Cowboys? The Packers may need one of the teams to provide an assist in the season finale.

So, here’s the quick rooting guide for Week 17:

– Bears over Lions

– Colts over Giants

– Browns over Commanders

– Saints over Eagles

The big one is, obviously, the Commanders. If Washington loses, the Packers will know they need nothing more than wins over the Vikings and Lions at home to finish the season to get into the playoffs.

A loss by the Lions is simply insurance against elimination, and a Giants loss keeps open another realistic possibility for sneaking in.

Finally, an Eagles loss would ensure Week 18 means something to both Philadelphia and Dallas. The Packers may need help from the two teams (vs. Giants and Commanders) in the season finale. The Cowboys won on Thursday night, keeping pressure on the Eagles this week and next week too if the Saints can pull off the upset.

It’s no longer “win and get a lot of help” in Green Bay. It’s “win and get a little bit more help.” The Packers’ magic number for getting into the playoffs could be down to one by the end of Week 17.

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Week 16 Rooting Guide: Here’s who can help Cowboys for now and for April

There’s a whopping 7 games for the Cowboys to care about this weekend, other than their own NFC East battle. Here’s who can help Dallas. | From @KDDrummondNFL

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Week 16 has arrived, and thanks to the Christmas holiday, the majority of NFL action is taking place on Saturday. That includes the Dallas Cowboys, who will take on the Philadelphia Eagles while seeking revenge for a Week 6 loss. Dallas sits at 10-4 on the season, having already clinched a playoff berth with three games remaining. It’s the earliest Dallas has clinched a playoff berth since 2016 when they clinched in Week 13.

But Dallas isn’t in a position to celebrate, or rest, just yet. Dallas is currently sitting as the top wild-card team which would earn them the No. 5 seed and a matchup against the NFC South champion. Tampa Bay currently sits in that position with a 6-8 record. Dropping lower would mean a road rematch against one of the quality division winners, Philadelphia or Minnesota, or the team that eliminated them last postseason, San Francisco. Here’s the rooting guide for Week 16, which includes some draft considerations for the division as well.

Packers playoff rooting guide: Who can help Green Bay in Week 16?

The Packers need to win and get a bunch of help in Week 16.

The Green Bay Packers are 6-8 and entering Week 16 with an eight percent chance of making the postseason, per FiveThirtyEight. Matt LaFleur’s team is coming off a win over the lowly Los Angeles Rams but now faces a much tougher test in the 8-6 Miami Dolphins.

This year it will be Christmas in Miami, and the Packers need to win out to have a shot at the playoffs. However, even that won’t be enough, as they will need some help along the way.

Right now, Green Bay is still chasing the Giants, Commanders, and Seahawks, and two of the three (New York and Washington) have the head-to-head tiebreaker. However, another team in the mix is the Lions, who are 7-7 and have a head-to-head win over the Packers as well.

So, here’s the quick rooting guide for Week 16:

– Vikings over Giants

– 49ers over Commanders

– Chiefs over Seahawks

– Panthers over Lions

If Green Bay wins and gets the first three results, their playoff chances increase to 25 percent. It’s a sizable jump and means the Packers would be on a three-game win streak after beating a quality opponent. If the Giants, Commanders, and Seahawks win, their chances decrease to five percent, even with a win over Miami. Also, if the Lions win, it drops down another percent.

The Packers could also use a win from the Cowboys over the Eagles to help increase the chances of Week 18 meaning something to both clubs. The two teams play the Giants and Commanders.

Obviously, Green Bay needs to worry about the opponent at hand first. The Dolphins are currently trying to snap a three-game losing streak, and they have an explosive offense that could cause problems for the Packers’ defense. However, a win would mean Green Bay is gaining momentum heading into a tough matchup against a divisional foe.

Next week, the Packers will face the Vikings, who have already clinched the NFC North. A win this week would certainly boost their confidence and give them something to play for. Minnesota won the first meeting but hasn’t swept the regular season series since 2017.

Will Green Bay get some help this weekend and keep the door open for the postseason? Or will the Packers be all but eliminated come next week?

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Cowboys Week 14 Rooting Guide: Here’s who can help Dallas’ playoff chances

A look at the matchups where there’s a clear benefit to Dallas, clinch scenarios and playoff odds with a Week 14 win. | From @KDDrummondNFL

It’s always more about what you control, but the Cowboys are in a trail position when it comes to the 2022 playoff standings. Through 13 weeks and 12 games, Dallas has amassed the league’s third-best record at 9-3, but they trail in the conference and their own division by a full two games. The target, the Philadelphia Eagles who have remained hot all season and sit as the pace car at 11-1.

Dallas will need help to catch the Eagles, but they also have to keep their eye on how other teams assemble in the playoff picture. Every potential matchup will be tough, but there are certainly some teams Dallas would rather face if they end up in the wild-card round. Here’s a look at Week 14’s action and how Cowboys’ fans should be leaning their affilition.

Week 13 might be most important slate for Cowboys’ chances at NFC No. 1 seed

If the Cowboys can tie Philly in the standings, more than likely they will win the division and the conference. Here’s why, and a Week 13 rooting guide. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys are hot, forging their way to the top of the NFC point differential totem. Net point differential is one of the leading indicators of actual team strength. Winning is winning, but being able to dominate opponents is the mark of a great team. Being able to dominate really good teams is the mark of a potential champion.

Of all the teams in the NFC, Dallas has faced more teams currently in playoff positioning than any other (7), won more than any other (5) and by a two-game margin in each. Yet still, they find themselves two games out of a bye-week slot in the playoffs; the No. 1 seed.

Since the NFL has added the seventh playoff seed in each conference in 2020, the NFC has been represented by a team that played opening playoff weekend. Still, earning a bye is still the goal even if it’s not the impediment it once was. Dallas wants to catch Philadelphia, and Minnesota for that matter, and to do so must make up ground.

Week 13’s slate of action appears to be the best opportunity to do so, as there are tough matchups abound for their chief competition.

5 Week 12 games that could help Cowboys in their playoff push, and how

With a ranking of which teams Dallas would rather face in the playoffs, a look at Sunday’s games and how they can help Dallas most. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Cowboys have the weekend off to prepare for the stretch run. After taking down their division rivals, the New York Giants, on Thursday, Dallas gets a couple extra days of rest and relaxation to prepare for their final six games as they find themselves focusing on playoff seeding. Dallas controls their own destiny when it comes to making the playoffs, courtesy of their 8-3 record.

They do not control their own destiny when looking for seeding though, so they will always be looking at the results of the other matches. The real question is, which teams do the Cowboys want in the tournament with them? Which ones are the best matchups

LSU’s playoff rooting guide for Week 12

LSU might need some help to make the playoff. Here are the ideal scenarios for the Tigers.

Somehow, someway, LSU has battled its way into the playoff race.

At 8-2, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has led LSU to an SEC West title in his first year. But with two losses, it’d be hard to say LSU controls its own destiny.

The Tennessee loss and every other conference potentially producing a zero-to-one loss conference champ makes things a little more complicated.

We don’t know what the committee is thinking. For all we know, LSU winning out might be enough, even if they don’t get help. But, LSU might end up needing some assists.

Entering the final two weeks, here’s a rooting guide laying out the ideal scenario for LSU.

Here’s which teams can help the Cowboys’ playoff push in Week 10

A look at the Week 10 NFL schedule and which results will help out the Cowboys’ potential path to the Super Bowl. | From @KDDrummondNFL

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As the NFL calendar moves to Week 10, the Dallas Cowboys are starting to see their path to the playoffs. It’s not out of the realm of possibility, but it is an uphill climb to win the division. Doing so will likely mean that Dallas is the No. 1 seed, as catching Philadelphia will require an almost perfect second half of the season. That will likely need to include a Week 11 victory over the (currently) one-loss Minnesota Vikings.

Such a feat would render the rooting guides useless. Having control of your own fate is always preferable but in this case not likely. The Cowboys’ most likely playoff destiny lies in a wild-card run, so getting to the best situation will still be dependent on other team’s results. In that light, avoiding teams which look like potential dangerous matchups in favor or more amenable opponents seems to be important. Here’s a rooting guide for the Week 10 games that could help Dallas.

LSU Rooting Guide: Here’s what helps the Tigers’ College Football Playoff chances

Here’s what LSU fans should root for to improve the Tigers’ postseason chances.

With a win over Alabama, LSU is right back in the playoff discussion.

Despite having two losses, a potential trip to the SEC Championship game means a potential trip to the playoff. A two-loss team has never made the playoff, but the SEC champion always has.

It’s possible that LSU controls its own destiny. No matter what happens elsewhere, if they win the SEC, that means the Tigers have added a win over Georgia to a resume that already includes Alabama and Ole Miss.

But it’s not a sure thing.

With a few weeks left, there are some things that can happen that would elevate the Tigers’ chances. Here’s a rooting guide for this Saturday and the weeks to come.

Colts in the playoff hunt: Week 17 rooting guide

Here is the rooting guide for the Colts as they look to clinch a playoff berth in Week 17.

The Indianapolis Colts (9-6) control their own playoff destiny as they enter Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders (8-7) at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Even though simply winning the Week 17 regular-season home finale is enough for the Colts to clinch a playoff berth, we also want certain games to play out in a way that can still benefit the Colts.

So without further ado, here is the rooting guide in Week 17 as the Colts close out the regular season at home: