Halfway Through: What Record Gets Us Into The Playoffs?

The more I look at schedules the more I think that NY Giants loss in Week 3 is going to come back to haunt the Skins. The Giants play Dallas, Detroit and Minnesota the next 3 weeks. All games they could loose. Then they play @ Chicago, @ Philly, Skins, @ Buffalo and end with New England. New England may not be playing for anything by then, but the Giants have a tough schedule in my opinion. If the Skins were ahead or even with the Giants right now, I would like our chances to knock them out of the playoffs, but being a game behind AND having already lost to them, really stinks with 8 weeks to go.

Very well put. Doesn't make anything impossible, but that was a key game. ANY NFC matchup is incredibly important, especially when the #1 seed appears locked up (Dallas) and the bottom-dwelling Eagles look like they're going to stay at #4.

Duking it out for the #2 seed and having already lost to NY certainly isn't the most desirable position in which to be.

I say we'll have to finish with at least 10 wins to have a shot at the playoffs this year.

Dallas is probably going to finish 12-4, NYG could be anywhere from 9-7 to 11-5 and I wouldn't be shocked. Detroit and GB both are looking like they could put up 10-11 wins.

We're going to really have to turn it up a notch if we want any post season action this year.
I believe 9-7 should be good enough for the last wildcard. Looking at Detroit's schedule, I would be shocked if they win more than 3 games the second half of the season. The Skins' game against TB could have huge tiebreaker implications if they are overtaken in the NFC South and fall back in the wildcard mix.

Wow, that might be the dumbest comment I have seen while on these forums. Wouldn't have a good record imply that you are a good team? Honestly, you don't get 7-1 by being bad.
Why not just come back with an answer to why you think he is wrong instead of calling him names and making fun of his post?

It may run counter to the theme of this thread, but shouldn't we just be focused on winning as many as we can and let the chips fall where they may?

I mean, having a tie breaker over Detroit, but not over the Giants will mean squat unless we win at least 5 of 8, if not 6 of 8. With Dallas 2x, the Giants, Tampa, a surging Minnesota, and an always dangerous when down Philly on our schedule, we should be more concerned with just winning games.

Frankly, I don't think this team is good enough to deserve a playoff spot. Our O-line is decimated (running on the Jets doesn't count guys), our recievers haven't gotten in step, our QB is learning, but not great (on pace for a 2800 yard 12 TD, 14 INT season), and our secondary is one Shawn Springs hamstring pull away from being a disaster.

Forgive me if I am not too concerned about a playoff berth.

we need to go 5-3 to get to 10 wins. As of right now i dont see that happening with this offense struggling like it has all year.

11-5 wins the division.

10-6 is needed for the playoffs in the NFC, although a 9-7 record could squeak in if the Giants fall off the map.

we need to go 5-3 to get to 10 wins. As of right now i dont see that happening with this offense struggling like it has all year.I agree based on right now. We are an incredibly average football team overall thus far. The remaining schedule is pretty average, and if we broke it down strictly by opponents wins (admittedly an awful way to do it), we finish 4-4 for a 9-7 record. 9-7 seems most likely if our offense doesn't improve.

I think our offense will improve. If it improves right away, we can run 6-2 and potentially take the division.

It's week 8 and we don't know for sure how good each team is. We only have a half season of data. It's a good start, but things always change, and the indicators favor this team and the Eagles, while they are against the Giants and Cowboys.

Can we catch both Dallas and New York? Unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

The more I look at schedules the more I think that NY Giants loss in Week 3 is going to come back to haunt the Skins. The Giants play Dallas, Detroit and Minnesota the next 3 weeks. All games they could loose. Then they play @ Chicago, @ Philly, Skins, @ Buffalo and end with New England. New England may not be playing for anything by then, but the Giants have a tough schedule in my opinion. If the Skins were ahead or even with the Giants right now, I would like our chances to knock them out of the playoffs, but being a game behind AND having already lost to them, really stinks with 8 weeks to go.Divisional losses are always rough, but if we beat them Week 15, it won't matter.

I'm gonna say 11 wins, there aren't a lot of good teams in the NFC per se, just a lot of teams that will finish with winning records. Detroit, Green Bay, New York, Dallas, pick someone from NFC South and NFC West, and we are gonna have to step it up if we want to get in. I think 10-6 will leave us on the outside, which is a shock but right now New York/Detroit would get in ahead of us because we're 5-3 and they're 6-2.

i havent started really breaking it down yet (i.e. looking at other teams remaining opponenets, etc.) but at this point i agree with mooby that while usually 10 wins is a lock for the playoffs in the NFC i think it will take 11 wins this year . . . someone with 10 wins will be sitting it out this year in the NFC if teams stay on their current pace

go skins!

I say we need to win out and claim the Division and Home field advantage through out the playoffs on our way to the super bowl. That's how we get to the playoffs. Let's get on a 2005 run right now, and not wait a 2 or 3 weeks till our backs are against the wall. NOW IS THE TIME. Win the last 8 and we are in no ifs ands or buts. Can we do that? I doubt it, but all things are possible.