NFL Playoff Scenario 2010 Upset by Vikings Loss

The road to Super Bowl 2010 and the NFL Playoff Scenario 2010 has been upended by the upset loss of the Minnesota Vikings to the Chicago Bears Monday night. Some, however, were not surprised, noting that recent Vikings away games were not all they should have been.

At any rate, the Minnesota Vikings Brett Favre had a great game after three mediocre ones. Some were questioning if Favre was running out of gas, much as he did last year with the Vikings. In reality, the loss could be pinned on three parts of the Vikings that had nothing to do with Favre: the special teams (allowing DEN to run the kickoff back deep into MIN territory after the Vikings tied the game 23-all), the defense (allowing a quick strike from Jay Cutler to break the tie), and Adrian Peterson (who fumbled the ball in OT to give DEN the ball on the MIN 33).

With the loss, the NFL playoff scenario for the 2010 Super Bowl shows that the Vikings no longer have a chance to gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in the NFC. Instead, the Saints now have that sewn up, but with 3 losses and four games for the Vikings and two straight losses for the Saints, both teams are reeling.

Here is the NFL playoff scenario 2010 in the NFC as it currently stands:

NFC NORTH - Minnesota Vikings have clinched NFC North division title. They can clinch a first-round bye if: they win and the Eagles lose or tie, or if they tie and the Eagles lose.

NFC SOUTH - New Orleans Saints have clinched the NFC South division and homefield advantage throughout NFC playoffs as the NFC's No. 1 seed. They also have a first-round bye.

NFC EAST - The Philadelphia Eagles have clinched a playoff spot, and with a win or tie against the Dallas Cowboys can win the NFL East Division title. The will gain a first round bye with a win or a tie combined with a Minnesota loss.

The Dallas Cowboys have clinched a playoff spot. If they beat the Eagles in their final game, they will clinch the NFC East division title. They need help for a first-round bye, as they will require both a MIN loss and an ARI loss or tie.

NFC WEST - Arizona Cardinals have clinched the NFC West division title. They will get a first-round bye if they win and both MIN and PHI lose.

Wild card: the Green Bay Packers have clinched a playoff spot.

Here is the NFL Playoff scenario 2010 in the AFC as it currently stands:

AFC NORTH - the Cincinnati Bengals have clinched the AFC North division title. They can clinch the AFC's No. 3 seed if they win and the Patriots lose or tie, or they tie and the Patriots lose.

AFC SOUTH - the Indianapolis Colts have clinched the AFC South division title, and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs as the AFC's No. 1 seed.

AFC EAST - New England Patriots have clinched the AFC East division title. To clinch the AFC's No. 3 seed the Patriots must a) win, or b) tie and have the Bengals tie, or c) have the Bengals lose.

AFC WEST - the San Diego Chargers have clinched the AFC West division title, a first-round bye and the AFC's No. 2 seed.

Wild Card:

New York Jets - Jets control their destiny and can make the playoffs with a win.

Baltimore Ravens - same as the Jets.

Miami Dolphins - MIA can clinch playoff spot with a complex set of circumstances. They need to win, plus losses by NYJ, BAL and HOU and a Jacksonville loss or tie.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Steelers can make the playoffs if they win, and one of the following scenarios occurs: HOU loses or ties and NYJ loses or ties, HOU loses or ties and BAL loses or ties, OR NYJ loses or ties, BAL loses or ties, and DEN lose or ties.

The Houston Texans can clinch a playoff spot if they win and one of the following scenarios occurs: NYJ loses or ties and BAL loses or ties, OR NYJ loses or ties and DEN loses or ties OR BAL loses or ties and DEN loses or ties.

The Jacksonville Jaguars can clinch a playoff spot if they win and one of the following scenarios occurs. It is so complex a list is required:

• PIT loss + BAL loss + DEN loss + HOU loss, OR ...
• PIT loss + BAL loss + DEN loss + NYJ loss, OR ...
• PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + NYJ loss, OR ...
• PIT loss + DEN loss + HOU loss + NYJ loss, OR ...
• NYJ loss + DEN loss + HOU loss + BAL loss

Denver Broncos can clinch a playoff spot if they win and one of the following scenarios occurs. It is so complex a list is required:

• NYJ loss or tie + BAL loss or tie, OR ...
• NYJ loss or tie + PIT loss or tie, OR ...
• NYJ loss or tie + HOU win, OR ...
• BAL loss or tie + PIT loss or tie, OR ...
• BAL loss or tie + HOU win, OR ...

Additionally, if PIT loses, DEN can make the playoffs with the following scenarios:

• BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss, OR ...
• BAL loss + HOU loss + NYJ loss, OR ...
• BAL loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss, OR ...
• HOU loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss, OR ...

Or there is one final scenario:

NYJ loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss/tie

Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com

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