Bills, Ravens, Titans involved in complex tiebreaker entering Week 16
The 2017 NFL season is entering its home stretch and the playoff picture, for the most part, is becoming clear.
There are exceptions, however, and the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Tennessee Titans are involved in one of the most complex scenarios in recent memory, all holding identical 8-6 records entering Week 16.
Here's a breakdown of the complexities of each team's tiebreaker, what lies ahead, and what could complicate its playoff bid.
Baltimore Ravens
Remaining schedule: Colts (Dec. 23), Bengals (Dec. 31)
Common opponents tiebreaker: The Ravens have yet to play four common opponents yet, so this tiebreaking method has yet to be enacted in most playoff standings. All three teams will play the Dolphins, Colts, Bengals, and Raiders by season's end. Baltimore is 3-0 against these teams, Buffalo is 3-1, and Tennessee is 3-2 while completing its games against common opponents.
The Ravens will lose the tiebreaker to the Bills if both teams finish 9-7 based on strength of victory. However, if the Bills lose to the Dolphins and finish with an identical record with the Ravens, Baltimore wins the tiebreaker on common games.
Other complexities/details: Simply, if the Ravens win out, they will get into the playoffs as the AFC's No. 5 seed, regardless of how the Bills and Titans perform.
If the Ravens beat the Colts but lose to the Bengals, they'd need the Titans to lose both games, with the Bills not directly impacting their positioning.
Buffalo Bills
Remaining schedule: @Patriots (Dec. 24), @Dolphins (Dec. 31)
Common opponents tiebreaker: As mentioned above, the Bills are 3-1 against common opponents with the Ravens, while the Ravens are 3-0. The Colts play Baltimore on Dec. 23 and the Bengals on Dec. 31 while Buffalo plays the Dolphins on Dec. 31, which will complete their common opponents tiebreaker schedule.
Other complexities/details: Buffalo is almost certainly guaranteed a playoff spot if it wins both of its final two games. If the Bills win out, they can only miss the playoffs if Jacksonville loses its final pair of contests and the Bills, Ravens, Titans, and Jaguars all finish at 10-6.
If the Ravens lose both of their games, they'd need the Bills to also lose both of their contests, along with a Titans win in one of their two games to have a chance, with the Chargers still in the mix.
Tennessee Titans
Remaining schedule: Rams (Dec. 24), Jaguars (Dec. 31)
Common opponents tiebreaker: Baltimore (3-0, two games remaining) and Buffalo (3-1, one game remaining) currently have superior records against common opponents than Tennessee (3-2, no games remaining). The Titans would be wishing for Bills and Ravens losses regardless, giving all three teams an identical common opponents record, meaning another tiebreak method would have to be used.
Other complexities/details: The Titans will hold the tiebreaker over the Bills if they beat the Jaguars, based on conference wins. However, Tennessee will lose the tiebreaker with a loss against the Jaguars. Winning or losing against the Rams will only matter if its record is identical to Buffalo's.
If the Jaguars lose their final two games and the Titans win their last pair, the latter will capture the AFC South.
If all three teams finish 10-6, the Ravens get in as the No. 5 seed and the Bills get in the No. 6 seed while the Titans would miss the playoffs, unless the Jaguars lose their final two games, in which case the Bills would be eliminated.