# NFL Playoffs Prediction Contest **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 1, 2009, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455 "2009-01-01T09:20:29Z")\ **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 1, 2009, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/1 "2009-01-01T09:20:29Z")
Sorry for starting this late. I had the idea a few days ago but it slipped my mind. Hopefully we can get some entries before game time Saturday. There will be 2 components of this contest. One will be picking your predicted playoff brackets before the playoffs begin. The other will be predicting the score of each game, once known, week to week. Part 1. We already know who will play the wild card weekend games. We also know one opponent in the divisional games - the #1 and #2 seeds. So I’m only leaving the unknowns as blanks. You don’t have to get both right to get credit - you get 5 points for correctly identified team, and 10 for picking the eventual superbowl winner. 1. Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Tennessee Titans vs \_\_\_\_\_ Pittsburgh Steelers vs \_\_\_\_\_\_ NFC: New York Giants vs \_\_\_\_\_ Carolina Panthers 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 section will be the weekly predictions of the score of each game. Scoring is determined by the total number of points a prediction is off from the actual score of each team (not the combined score) with 5 points being awarded (subtracted) for picking the actual winner. For example, if you predict team A will score 13 and Team B will score 20, and the actual score is Team A 20, Team B 35, your score would be (7 off from team A’s actual score + 15 off from Team B’s actual score) = 22. Since you correctly picked the winner, 5 is subtracted. Total is 17. Lower is better. At the end of this contest, the score from part 1 (more is better) will be subtracted from the score of part 2 (less is better) to determine your total score. So if you score 30 points in part 1, and 50 in part 2, your total will be 20 points. Sample entry: This is not intended to be my actual prediction entry, I’ll do that in a day or two. I’m just plugging in teams/numbers to give an example of what I’m looking for: 1. Divisional Games AFC Titans vs Colts Steelers vs Dolphins NFC Giants vs Falcons Panthers vs Vikings 1. Championships AFC Titans vs Dolphins NFC Giants vs Panthers 2. Superbowl Titans vs Giants 3. Superbowl Winner Titans Part 2, wildcard weekend AFC Dolphins 24, Ravens 17 Chargers 13, Colts 20 NFC Minnesota 17, Philadelphia 13 Arizona 24, Atlanta 31 And then the next week I would submit a new part 2, covering the predicted scores of the divisional games. So part 1 is submitted once, before the playoffs begin, and part 2 is submitted every week once we know what the games are, before the games actually begin. Questions/comments? ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/2 "2009-01-01T10:00:11Z")
I would put part 2 first, since it covers the Wild Card games, and it seems kind of backwards to predict the Super Bowl winners before the scores of the Wild Card games. Maybe I’m misreading what you’re proposing here, though. ---
**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 1, 2009, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/3 "2009-01-01T10:04:15Z")
Well, they both have to be submitted before the start of the first game on Saturday. Part 1 is a section that will only have to be filled out once, whereas part 2 will require a weekly entry throughout the playoffs. It doesn’t particularly matter what the order is - in this case both part 1 and this week’s part 2 would have to be submitted before the first game. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/4 "2009-01-01T20:04:43Z")
I’d do this week-by-week, rather than doing a whole bracket. One wild card that advances to the SB could make everyone’s bracket a mess. What happens if I predict the Eagles to win this week, and they lose? Do the Vikings “inherit” the score I predicted for the Eagles? I’ll play for the WC round: Atlanta 27 Arizona 24 Baltimore 17 Miami 14 Indy 24 SD 21 Philly 20 Minn 17 ---
**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 1, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/5 "2009-01-01T20:22:44Z")
Sorry if I wasn’t clear. It’s essentially 2 contests. The main contest is what you just did, predicting the scores week to week. The other contest is sort of like a bonus round - creating a playoff bracket. The scoring for the bracket part will be less significant than the main score guessing part - and you wouldn’t lose any points by guessing incorrectly, it’s just a bonus if you get it right. So if you also submit a playoff bracket, you’d be all set. Then next week you’d just predict scores again once we know what the games are. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/6 "2009-01-01T21:50:57Z")
Ah. I get it now. Divisional Games Titans vs Colts Steelers vs Fins Giants vs Iggles Panthers vs Falcons Championships Titans vs Steelers Giants vs Panthers Superbowl Steelers vs Panthers Superbowl Winner Panthers ---
**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 2, 2009, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/7 "2009-01-02T10:03:07Z")
Part 1 Bracket Ravens vs Titans Indy vs Steelers Vikings vs Panthers Falcons vs NYG Ravens vs Indy Panthers vs NYG Super Bowl Ravens vs Panthers SB Winner Ravens Part 2: Indy 27 Bolts 17 Ravens 17 Fins 6 Atl 24 Arz 13 Minn 17 Philly 10 ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/8 "2009-01-02T10:07:38Z")
Let’s give it a whirl. Part 1. Teams 1. Division Round AFC: Tennessee Titans vs Indianapolis Colts Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens NFC: New York Giants vs Minnesota Vikings Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons 1. Championship round AFC: Titans vs Steelers NFC: Giants vs Panthers 1. Superbowl Titans vs Giants 1. Superbowl winners **Tennessee Titans** Part 2: Wildcard Weekend Scores AFC Dolphins 17, Ravens 24 Chargers 10, Colts 24 NFC Minnesota 17, Philadelphia 10 Arizona 21, Atlanta 31 ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/9 "2009-01-02T13:18:27Z")
Neat idea, **Beef**. I look forward to coming back from a huge early deficit to win this thing . . . or else giving up a big lead at the end to lose it. **Part 1.** Divisional Round Philadelphia Eagles @ NY Giants Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers Conference Championships Carolina Panthers @ NY Giants Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans Super Bowl Carolina Panther vs. Tennessee Titans Super Bowl Winner Tennessee Titans **Part 2.** Atlanta 31, Arizona 24 Philadelphia 31, Minnesota 14 San Diego 24, Indianapolis 21 Baltimore 24, Miami 17 ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/10 "2009-01-02T15:59:20Z")
1. Divisional Games Titans vs Ravens Steelers vs Chargers Giants vs Eagles Panthers vs Falcons 1. Championships Titans vs Steelers Giants vs Panthers 2. Superbowl Steelers vs Giants 3. Superbowl Winner Giants Part 2, wildcard weekend AFC Dolphins 13, Ravens 24 Chargers 28, Colts 24 NFC Minnesota 13, Philadelphia 31 Arizona 17, Atlanta 31 ---
**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 2, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/11 "2009-01-02T17:47:15Z")
Let’s see if my NFL Prognostication skills are up to snuff, even though all evidence so far collected shows the opposite. 1. Divisional Games AFC Titans vs Ravens Steelers vs Colts NFC Giants vs Eagles Panthers vs Falcons 1. Championships AFC Titans vs Colts NFC Giants vs Panthers 1. Superbowl Colts vs Panthers 1. Superbowl Winner Colts Part 2 Wildcard weekend AFC Dolphins 16, Ravens 9 Colts 31, Chargers 20 NFC Philadelphia 27, Vikings 13 Atlanta 31, Arizona 28 ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/12 "2009-01-03T06:37:02Z")
1. Divisional Games AFC Titans vs Colts Steelers vs Ravens NFC Giants vs Cardinals Panthers vs Eagles 1. Championships AFC Colts vs Steelers NFC Giants vs Panthers 2. Superbowl Colts vs Giants 3. Superbowl Winner Colts Part 2, wildcard weekend AFC Dolphins 17, Ravens 20 Chargers 17, Colts 24 NFC Minnesota 17, Philadelphia 24 Arizona 24, Atlanta 20 ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/13 "2009-01-03T15:35:30Z")
Let’s give this a go. Part 1. Predict the progression of the playoffs. 1. Predict the divisional games (5 points per correct team) AFC: Tennessee Titans vs Baltimore Ravens Pittsburgh Steelers vs Indianapolis Colts NFC: New York Giants vs Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers vs Minnesota Vikings 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: Tennessee Titans vs Indianapolis Colts NFC: New York Giants vs Carolina Panthers 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) Indianapolis Colts vs New York Giants 2. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) Indianapolis Colts That’s come out somewhat differently than my previous prediction, mostly because I didn’t look closely enough at who played who in the Divisional games. Part 2. Predict the weekend’s scores. AFC Indianapolis Colts 31 San Diego Chargers 21 Baltimore Ravens 13 Miami Dolphins 6 NFC Atlanta Falcons 22 Arizona Cardinals 21 Philadephia Eagles 10 Minnesota Vikings 27 (Let’s be honest, those numbers were pulled out of a hat, because I suck at predicting actual scores.) ---
**Author:** ![DiggitCamara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/14 "2009-01-03T16:30:44Z")
Part 1 AFC: Tennessee Titans vs Indianapolis Colts Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens NFC: New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons 1. Predict the championship games (5 points per team) AFC: Steelers vs Colts NFC: Eagles vs Panthers 1. Predict the superbowl (5 points per team) Steelers vs Panthers 1. Predict the superbowl winner (10 points) Steelers Part 2, wildcard weekend AFC Indy 28 SD 24 Baltimore 10 Miami 3 NFC Atlanta 31 Arizona 10 Philly 30 Minn 7 ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/15 "2009-01-03T18:00:11Z")
Round 1 Ravens v Titans Colts v Steelers Eagles v Giants Falcons v Panthers Round 2 Ravens v Steelers Eagles v Panthers SB Ravens over Panthers Wildcard Round: Ravens 21 Fins 13 Colts 42 Bolts 31 Eagles 17 Vikes 10 Falcons 20 Cards 10 ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/16 "2009-01-03T18:23:28Z")
Part 1 Bracket Ravens vs Titans Indy vs Steelers Falcons vs Panthers Eagles vs NYG Ravens vs Indy Eagles vs Falcons Super Bowl Indy vs Eagles SB Winner Indy Part 2: Indy 31 Bolts 24 Ravens 24 Fins 6 Atl 24 Arz 10 Minn 17 Philly 24 ---
**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 3, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/17 "2009-01-03T21:23:51Z")
In at the last minute… the AFC North teams will probably go further than I predict, but I’m letting my hopes guide my decisions here… Part 1. Divsional Titans vs Ravens Steelers vs Indy Giants vs Eagles Panthers vs Falcons Championships Titans vs Indy Giants vs Panthers Superbowl Panthers vs Indy, Panthers win Part 2, wildcard weekend Dolphins 13, Ravens 20 Colts 31, Chargers 24 Eagles 24, Vikings 17 Atlanta 34, Arizona 27 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/18 "2009-01-03T21:30:23Z")
AFC: Ravens over Dolphins Colts over Chargers Steelers over Ravens Colts over Titans Steelers over Colts NFC: Falcons over Cardinals Eagles over Vikings Giants over Eagles Panthers over Falcons Panthers over Giants Panthers beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII ---
**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 3, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/19 "2009-01-03T21:33:39Z")
You’ll need to include your predictions of this week’s scores (quickly) if you want to be in the running. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455/20 "2009-01-04T01:39:31Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > AFC: Ravens over Dolphins > Colts over Chargers > > Steelers over Ravens > Colts over Titans As i understand it, if the Ravens win tomorrow, they will play Tennessee and not Pittsburgh next week. The Ravens are the #6 seed, so if they win they face #1. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-prediction-contest/479455.md?page=2)