# NFL Wild Card Round **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 3, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236 "2011-01-03T17:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**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 10, 2011, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/181 "2011-01-10T05:48:44Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > I seem to remember Seattle beating the Bears earlier this season but not one commentator has mentioned it. Terry Bradshaw basically said that Seattle caught lightning in a bottle and has no chance vs. the Bears. > > Don’t you think that someone would at least mention the fact that Seattle won the head to head match up Yeah, the Seahawks beat the Bears in Soldier Field this season but that was the low point of the season for the Bears. They played about as terrible of a game as is possible, their offensive line was a revolving door and Cutler took a pounding. Their defense got surprised and exploited by Mike Williams and Hasselbeck was at the peak of health. Pretty much everything that could go wrong did go wrong in that game, and the Bears lost by 3 points and had a missed FG near the end of regularion. I feel pretty confident and there’s a better than average chance that Hasselbeck is going to take some big hits this time around in the cold. The retooled Bears O Line should be able to eliminate that corner blitz that handcuffed them all game last time around. Hats off to the Seahawks and you’re crazy if you don’t think they can win, but the result of the previous game has pretty much zero impact on my confidence. Their play yesterday is a much more pressing concern. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/182 "2011-01-10T06:43:20Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The Packers are not going to make it that far, but I would root for Nazi SS if they were playing the Packers. It would be awesome if Stalin could be simulated as the announcer. I thought Saturday’s games were awesome! The Seahawks played like champs, regardless of the regular part of their season. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/183 "2011-01-10T06:47:00Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > By the by, has any player pulled a more pathetic move than Vick’s flop early on when one of the Packers placed a hand on his shoulder. He might as well have swan-dived into an Olympic-sized swimming pool filled with estrogen. LOL. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/184 "2011-01-10T12:26:57Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I feel pretty confident and there’s a better than average chance that Hasselbeck is going to take some big hits this time around in the cold. Are you saying Seattle isn’t cold? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/185 "2011-01-10T13:07:01Z")
I wanted to post this to my facebook feed, but I know it would have went over the head of everyone there it was aimed at: Cheer up, Eagles fans…things aren’t that bad today… _Gray skies are gonna clear up, Put on a happy face! Brush off the clouds and cheer up, Put on a happy face!_ ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/186 "2011-01-10T13:13:28Z")
Oooh, very very subtle. Well done. (Assuming, of course, the gag is what I think it is.) ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/187 "2011-01-10T13:30:04Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Don’t go denying this when he’s QBing the Vikings in 10-15 years. You want Dio to be consistent over a span of 10 _years_ ?!?? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/188 "2011-01-10T13:44:01Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > (Assuming, of course, the gag is what I think it is.) Thank you. It is. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/189 "2011-01-10T14:09:08Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > He’s going to have to start shaving a little closer if he wants to keep up with modern times 😛 Only 10 days in to 2011, and I am nominating this for SDMB witty post of the year… ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/190 "2011-01-10T14:27:41Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Are you saying Seattle isn’t cold? 🙂 Not Chicago cold. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/191 "2011-01-10T16:50:38Z")
Here’s the unsavory truth, Bear fans: You had to root for Green Bay yesterday (now they get the weaker [stronger] team, Seattle). But hold on, we’re not done yet. You also have to root for Green Bay next week (so that, if the Bears win, they will host the NFC Championship.) If you’ve been focusing, this is the third time in four weeks you’ve been hoping Green Bay would win (week 16 vs. the Giants to give the Bears the #2 seed). Playoffs are brutal indeed. Of course, do you really want to play a Green Bay team good enough to beat Atlanta in the dome? But, do you really want to play, in Atlanta, an Atlanta team good enough to beat this Green Bay team? ---
**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 10, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/192 "2011-01-10T16:54:26Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Here’s the unsavory truth, Bear fans: > > You had to root for Green Bay yesterday (now we get the weaker [stronger] team, Seattle). But hold on, we’re not done yet. You also have to root for Green Bay next week (so that, if the Bears win, they will host the NFC Championship.) If you’ve been focusinig, this is the third time in four weeks you’ve been hoping Green Bay would win (week 16 vs. the Giants to give the Bears the #2 seed). Playoffs are brutal indeed. Hell, if this season holds true for the Bears, Hasselback will be hit by a car, the GeorgiaDome will collapse killing both other NFC playoff teams, and whoever represents the AFC will come down with food poisoning from a team dinner and have to start their practice squad. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/193 "2011-01-10T19:14:28Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > So to be clear, do you think it’s an injustice that Seattle was _in_ the playoffs in lieu of a team with a better record, or is it just the seeding that was the injustice? Seeding. No way New Orleans should have gone to Seattle (4 more wins and they beat Seattle). ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/194 "2011-01-10T19:18:06Z")
If the Packers truly have a running game they can rely on then they will be a very scary team. However, I am not convinced of this from one game. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/195 "2011-01-10T20:18:47Z")
I noticed that when the Ravens were kicking a field goal (or maybe it was an extra point) the jumbo screen behind the goalposts was showing a good looking girl in a bikini. Coincidence or attempt to distract the kicker? ---
**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 10, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/196 "2011-01-10T20:21:58Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Seeding. No way New Orleans should have gone to Seattle (4 more wins and they beat Seattle). Just out of interest, had you ever been critical of the playoff structure before this season? Because what happened with Seattle has _always_ been a possibility under the current system. Hell, if my calculations are correct, it would be theoretically possible for a 4-12 team to win its division and host a 15-1 wildcard team. And what sort of differential is sufficient to trigger your criticism? Just last year, the 10-6 Cardinals hosted the 11-5 Packers in the Wild card round. The year before that, the 8-8 Chargers hosted the 12-4 Colts. Anyone could see, from the moment they designed the system, that there might be some years where discrepancies like this would occur. Given this fact, it’s rather surprising how many people are suddenly up in arms about it this year. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/197 "2011-01-10T20:22:02Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Seeding. No way New Orleans should have gone to Seattle (4 more wins and they beat Seattle). I agree. Likewise, no way #1 seed Atlanta should have to face scary-as-fuck Green Bay while the #2 seed gets to play Seattle. They should probably use regular tie-breaker procedures (W-L record, then head-to-head, then intra-conference record, etc.) to determine seeding instead of giving the top for seeds to the division champs no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/198 "2011-01-10T20:30:20Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > it would be theoretically possible for a 4-12 team to win its division and host a 15-1 wildcard team. 16-0 wildcard team actually. ETA: take that back. They’d have to play head to head the division winners at least once. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/199 "2011-01-10T20:31:26Z")
Alternately, they could go to a “choose your own opponent” setup for the divisional round. It’ll never happen, of course, but it would be really interesting to see the strategy of maybe choosing based on matchups or injuries instead of overall record, as well as the prideful indignation of the team that gets picked by the #1 seed. ETA: > [@prr](#): > > 16-0 wildcard team actually. Think about that one again for a second. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236/200 "2011-01-10T20:44:04Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Because what happened with Seattle has _always_ been a possibility under the current system. Hell, if my calculations are correct, it would be theoretically possible for a 4-12 team to win its division and host a 15-1 wildcard team. Actually it could be 3-13 team. Every team in the division win one division game and loses everything else, causing a four way tie. Which, oddly enough, the division would go to whoever played the hardest schedule, even though they lost every game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-round/566236.md?page=11)