# NFL Playoff Prediction Contest **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 5, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697 "2010-01-05T00:22:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/1 "2010-01-05T00:22:21Z")
We did this contest [last year](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=499864). This contest has two components. In one component, we make our playoff bracket with who we expect to win each round and eventually win the superbowl. This prediction is made before week 1 of the playoffs - you aren’t penalized for wrong answers, it’s just bonus points if you make get it right. The second part of the contest is predicting the actual score of each game. This will be done once per week once we know for sure what the next batch of matchups is. Your score for that week will be the difference between your predicted score and the actual score. This will be calculated by taking how many points you were off of each team’s individual predicted score (not the difference from the combined score). So for example, if you predict the game as Team A 27 Team B 17, and the actual score is Team A 35 Team B 20, then your score for that game will be 11. You were off on team A’s score by 8, and off of team B’s score by 3, hence 8+3=11. There will also be a 10 point bonus to correctly predicting the winning team. It was 5 points last year, but after how it played out I think it should have a little more weight. So in that case your actual score would be 11, minus the 10 point bonus, for a total of 1. Lower scores are better. So at the end of the year, the bonus score from the first part of the contest (with the entire bracket prediction) will be subtracted from the amount of points you have in part 2 to combine for a total score. I’m probably making this sound a bit more complex than it is - if you look over last year’s thread it should be clear how it works. So if you want to play, first you must submit a playoff bracket. We already know who the wildcard weekend teams will be, and we also know who will host the divsion weekend playoff games, so the only blanks you need to fill out are the unknowns. Again, you aren’t punished for wrong answers in this section, just a bonus for correct ones. Part 1: This is where you make a complete playoff bracket. This is only done once, at the beginning of the contest. Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs \_\_\_\_\_ San Diego Chargers vs \_\_\_\_\_\_ NFC: New Orleans Saints vs \_\_\_\_\_ Minnesota Vikings vs \_\_\_\_\_ 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: \_\_\_\_\_\_ vs \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ NFC: \_\_\_\_\_\_ vs \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) \_\_\_\_\_\_ vs \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) Part 2: This is where every week you will submit a predicted score from the matchups that weekend. A new submission is required every week. The games this week are New York Jets vs Cincinatti Bengals Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots Green Bay Packers vs Arizona Cardinals Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys A proper entry into this contest will look like [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10640663&postcount=8), although obviously with this year’s playoff teams instead of last year’s. If you miss any weeks during the contest, you will be disqualified, although you (and new people to the contest) can make predictions on any given week to see how you fared against that week’s competition. You just won’t be eligible for the overall contest. Last year’s results: 1st. VarlosZ 2. Furt 3. Ro0sh 4. Borchevsky 5. SenorBeef 6. Hamlet 7. DiggitCamara 8. CatInASuit 9. Fear The Turtle I will submit my own entry later in the week. ---
**Author:** ![UncleNito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7cd45c/32.png) [@UncleNito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleNito)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/2 "2010-01-05T02:11:35Z")
To make things a little easier for me and everyone else, here are the seeds: AFC: IND, SD, NE, CIN, NYJ, BAL NFC: NO, MIN, DAL, AZ, GB, PHL Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs NYJ San Diego Chargers vs NE NFC: New Orleans Saints vs GB Minnesota Vikings vs PHL 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: IND vs SD NFC: NO vs PHL 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) SD vs NO 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) San Diego Chargers New York Jets **34** vs Cincinatti Bengals **13** Baltimore Ravens **10** vs New England Patriots **17** Green Bay Packers **37** vs Arizona Cardinals **27** Philadelphia Eagles **33** vs Dallas Cowboys **28** ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/3 "2010-01-05T07:18:38Z")
Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs NYJ San Diego Chargers vs NE NFC: New Orleans Saints vs GB Minnesota Vikings vs DAL 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: IND vs NE NFC: GB vs MIN 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) NE vs MIN 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) Indianapolis Colts New York Jets **24** vs Cincinatti Bengals **10** Baltimore Ravens **24** vs New England Patriots **31** Green Bay Packers **35** vs Arizona Cardinals **17** Philadelphia Eagles **17** vs Dallas Cowboys **20** Uncle Nito, you have Phil and GB winning first round in the nfc. If that happens, wouldn’t Phil play NO, and GB play Min? Which brings up the question, if I have GB and Dal winning round 1, and it ends up being GB and Phil, do I still get 5 points for GB, even though I have them playing NO when they really play against NO? ---
**Author:** ![UncleNito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7cd45c/32.png) [@UncleNito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleNito)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/4 "2010-01-06T00:43:01Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) > Uncle Nito, you have Phil and GB winning first round in the nfc. If that happens, wouldn’t Phil play NO, and GB play Min? Which brings up the question, if I have GB and Dal winning round 1, and it ends up being GB and Phil, do I still get 5 points for GB, even though I have them playing NO when they really play against NO? Yeah, I screwed up. Make it: NFC: New Orleans Saints vs PHL Minnesota Vikings vs GB 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) NFC: What the hell, I’ll be a homer: NO vs GB All other picks stay the same (including NO over GB in the NFC championship). **SB** , does that make sense or do I have to rewrite my whole bracket? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/5 "2010-01-06T01:48:02Z")
It seems fine, I’ll just overwrite your earlier picks with the later adjustments. And yeah, you’ll have to mind your seeding on your own, certain combinations on division weekend aren’t possible. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/6 "2010-01-06T02:42:20Z")
Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs Ravens San Diego Chargers vs Bengals NFC: New Orleans Saints vs Eagles Minnesota Vikings vs Packers 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: IND vs Chargers NFC: GB vs MIN 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) Colts v. Packers 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) Indianapolis Colts New York Jets **13** vs Cincinatti Bengals **20** Baltimore Ravens **24** vs New England Patriots **15** Green Bay Packers **33** vs Arizona Cardinals **13** Philadelphia Eagles **38** vs Dallas Cowboys **20** One… Two … Three … HOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMEEERRRRR!!! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/7 "2010-01-06T15:16:57Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) > > NE vs MIN > > 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) > > Indianapolis Colts I guess this could make strategic sense, but did you mean to pick a team you don’t have advancing to the Superbowl as your winner? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/8 "2010-01-06T16:28:01Z")
Part 1: This is where you make a complete playoff bracket. This is only done once, at the beginning of the contest. Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs **Ravens** San Diego Chargers vs **Bengals** NFC: New Orleans Saints vs **Packers** Minnesota Vikings vs **Cowboys** 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: \*\*Colts \*\*vs **Bengals** NFC: \*\*Packers \*\*vs **Vikings** 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) \*\*Colts \*\*vs **Packers** 2. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) **Green Bay Packers** **Part 2:** New York Jets \*\*21 \*\*vs Cincinatti Bengals **24** Baltimore Ravens \*\*31 \*\*vs New England Patriots **10** Green Bay Packers \*\*24 \*\*vs Arizona Cardinals **21** Philadelphia Eagles \*\*10 \*\*vs Dallas Cowboys **13** ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/9 "2010-01-06T18:51:49Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > I guess this could make strategic sense, but did you mean to pick a team you don’t have advancing to the Superbowl as your winner? Whoops! I changed my mind several times while posting, and I guess I missed a spot. I’ll probably change that. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/10 "2010-01-06T18:57:33Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) > > Indianapolis Colts I’d like to change this to New England Patriots if it isn’t too much trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Redwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dfb087/32.png) [@Redwing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redwing)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/11 "2010-01-06T20:01:22Z")
AFC: IND, SD, NE, CIN, NYJ, BAL NFC: NO, MIN, DAL, AZ, GB, PHL Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs NYJ San Diego Chargers vs NE NFC: New Orleans Saints vs GB Minnesota Vikings vs PHL 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: IND vs SD NFC: NO vs MN 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) SD vs MN 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) Vikings New York Jets 24 vs Cincinatti Bengals 17 Baltimore Ravens 9 vs New England Patriots 21 Green Bay Packers 21 vs Arizona Cardinals 10 Philadelphia Eagles 31 vs Dallas Cowboys 28 ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/12 "2010-01-06T20:18:45Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > We did this contest [last year](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=499864). > Part 1: > This is where you make a complete playoff bracket. This is only done once, at the beginning of the contest. Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs\*\* Baltimore\*\* San Diego Chargers vs **New York Jets** NFC: New Orleans Saints vs **Philadelphia** Minnesota Vikings vs **Green Bay** 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: **Indianapolis** vs **San Diego** NFC: **New Orleans** vs **Green Bay** 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) **San Diego** vs **Green Bay** 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) **Green Bay** Part 2: This is where every week you will submit a predicted score from the matchups that weekend. A new submission is required every week. The games this week are New York Jets **24** vs Cincinatti Bengals **14** Baltimore Ravens **20** vs New England Patriots **17** Green Bay Packers **31** vs Arizona Cardinals **20** Philadelphia Eagles **27** vs Dallas Cowboys **14** ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/13 "2010-01-06T20:46:18Z")
Part 1: This is where you make a complete playoff bracket. This is only done once, at the beginning of the contest. Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs Cincinnati San Diego Chargers vs New England NFC: New Orleans Saints vs Green Bay Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: Indianapolis vs New England NFC: New Orleans vs Dallas 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) Indianapolis vs New Orleans 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) Indianapolis Part 2: This is where every week you will submit a predicted score from the matchups that weekend. A new submission is required every week. The games this week are New York Jets **14** vs Cincinatti Bengals **17** Baltimore Ravens **17** vs New England Patriots **31** Green Bay Packers **30** vs Arizona Cardinals **21** Philadelphia Eagles **14** vs Dallas Cowboys **16** ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/14 "2010-01-08T18:53:03Z")
Thanks for the reminder how much I suck at this 😃 But since I’m a glutton for punishment (and humiliation): Divisional AFC: Indy vs Bal SD vs Cin NFC: NO vs GB Min vs Dal Championship Indy VS SD NO vs Dal Superbowl Indy vs Dal SB Winner Dal This weeks games: New York Jets 17 vs Cincinatti Bengals 20 Baltimore Ravens 17 vs New England Patriots 14 Green Bay Packers 27 vs Arizona Cardinals 21 Philadelphia Eagles 13 vs Dallas Cowboys 24 ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/15 "2010-01-08T21:18:51Z")
AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs Ravens San Diego Chargers vs Jets NFC: New Orleans Saints vs Packers Minnesota Vikings vs Cowboys 1. AFC: Chargers vs Colts NFC: Vikings vs Packers 1. Colts vs Packers 2. Indianapolis Part 2 New York Jets 24 vs Cincinatti Bengals 17 Baltimore Ravens 20 vs New England Patriots 10 Green Bay Packers 31 vs Arizona Cardinals 28 Philadelphia Eagles 21 vs Dallas Cowboys 31 ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/16 "2010-01-08T21:23:12Z")
\*\*Part 1: 1. Predict the divisional games\*\* (5 points per correct team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs New York Jets San Diego Chargers vs Baltimore Ravens NFC: New Orleans Saints vs Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys **2. Predict the championship games** (5 points per team) AFC: San Diego Chargers vs Indianapolis Colts NFC: New Orleans Saints vs Minnesota Vikings **3. Predict the superbowl** (5 points per team) San Diego Chargers vs Minnesota Vikings **4. Predict the superbowl winner** (10 points) San Diego Chargers **Part 2:** The games this week are New York Jets 20 vs Cincinnati Bengals 9 Baltimore Ravens 27 vs New England Patriots 23 Green Bay Packers 34 vs Arizona Cardinals 23 Philadelphia Eagles 16 vs Dallas Cowboys 20 ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/17 "2010-01-08T22:04:40Z")
I don’t feel too confident, actually. It seems like there are a lot of very good teams this year. I wouldn’t be at all shocked if any of the following teams won the Super Bowl: New England, Indy, Baltimore, San Diego, Philly, Dallas, New Orleans, Green Bay, and Minnesota. And I’d only be a little shocked if Arizona won. (That leaves the Jets and Bengals as pure fodder, if you’re counting.) So, our guiding principles are as follows: Norv Turner and Wade Phillips are terrible coaches who will never have substantial playoff success. Brett Favre just isn’t going to win another Super Bowl, because that would be too weird. The winner of Jets/Bengals will give a free ride to their divisional round opponent. After that, I’m pretty much just flipping coins. **Part 1.** Divisional Round: Cincinatti @ Indy New England @ San Diego GB @ Minnesota Philly @ NO Conference Championships: New England @ Indy GB @ New Orleans Super Bowl: New Orleans vs. Indy SB Champion: New Orleans **Part 2.** New York 13, Cincinnati 21 Baltimore 17, New England 28 Philadelphia 24, Dallas 21 Green Bay 31, Arizona 21 ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/18 "2010-01-08T23:46:00Z")
Part 1. Teams 1. Division Round AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs Baltimore Ravens San Diego Chargers vs New York Jets NFC: New Orleans Saints vs Arizona Cardinals Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys 1. Championship round AFC: Colts vs Jets NFC: Saints vs Vikings 1. Superbowl Colts vs Vikings 1. Superbowl winners Indianapolis Colts Part 2: Wildcard Weekend Scores AFC Bengals 16, Jets 17 Patriots 14, Ravens 20 NFC Cowboys 30, Eagles 28 Cardinals 27, Packers 24 ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/19 "2010-01-09T00:35:05Z")
Sounds fun, here we go! Part 1: AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs. **Bal\*\*\*\*timore** San Diego Chargers vs. **Cincinnati** NFC: New Orleans Saints vs. **Green Bay** Minnesota Vikings vs. **Dallas** Conference Championships: AFC: \*\*San Diego @ \*\ ***Indianapolis** NFC: \*\*Green Bay @ \*\ ***Minnesota** Super Bowl: \*\*Minnesota @ \*\ ***San Diego** Super Bowl Champion: \*\*San Diego \*\*Part 2:New York **13** Cincinnati **20** Baltimore \*\*24 \*\*New England \*\*20 \*\*Green Bay \*\*31 \*\*Arizona \*\*17 \*\*Philadelphia \*\*19 \*\*Dallas **23** ---
**Author:** ![mrpayday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@mrpayday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrpayday)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697/20 "2010-01-09T06:27:02Z")
Part 1: This is where you make a complete playoff bracket. This is only done once, at the beginning of the contest. Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs Baltimore Ravens San Diego Chargers vs Cincinatti Bengals NFC: New Orleans Saints vs Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs San Diego Chargers NFC: New Orleans Saints vs Dallas Cowboys 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) Indianapolis Colts vs Dallas Cowboys 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) Dallas Cowboys Part 2: This is where every week you will submit a predicted score from the matchups that weekend. A new submission is required every week. The games this week are New York Jets 6 vs Cincinatti Bengals 28 Baltimore Ravens 31 vs New England Patriots 13 Green Bay Packers 17 vs Arizona Cardinals 10 Philadelphia Eagles 27 vs Dallas Cowboys 31 I haven’t been paying much attention this year so don’t laugh when I fail badly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-prediction-contest/523697.md?page=2)