The focus during the last week of the NFL regular season is usually on the eight or nine teams alive for two playoff spots, and all of the cool scenarios in which certain teams can reach the playoffs.
This year, however, most of the spots – and even the seedings – are locked up heading into Week 17. But there’s one really bizarre situation in the AFC.
The Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans are tied for the sixth and final playoff spot, each with a 9-6 record heading into Sunday. OK, simple enough.
In this spot, one team always holds a tiebreaker advantage over the other, and therefore controls its destiny. In this case, that edge goes to the Titans. If they beat Indianapolis on Sunday night – normally a tough task, but the Colts are expected to rest their starters because they’ve locked up the No. 2 seed in the conference and have nothing to gain with a win – Tennessee will earn the playoff berth because it has a better record within the conference than does Cleveland.
Usually, however, the team that does not hold the tiebreaker advantage (in this case, Cleveland) can only qualify by winning their game (the Browns host San Francisco on Sunday) and hoping that the other team loses.
But a Tennessee loss to the Colts would lower the Titans’ won-loss percentage within the conference to the same mark as Cleveland’s, and the Browns would win the next tiebreaker on the list, which I think is determined by which team has the duller helmet. Whatever it is, I know Cleveland would then have the tiebreaker advantage, which creates this amazing and strange scenario, assuming the Tennessee game doesn’t end in a tie:
It makes absolutely no difference whether Cleveland wins or loses.
Two teams have the same record, fighting for the same playoff spot, yet it makes absolutely no difference what one of them does. If the Titans win, they are in the playoffs, and if the Titans lose, Cleveland advances regardless of whether it wins or loses Sunday.
And thanks to the “flex” scheduling, which allows NBC to choose which game will be aired on Sunday night, the Browns will be able to kick back and watch their fate with the rest of the nation after playing a game that has absolutely no meaning just hours before.
If I were Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel, I’d keep all my best players out of the game – not to rest them, but to fly them to Indianapolis, scalp tickets behind the Titans bench and heckle them the entire game. Or better yet, work out a one-week trade with Tony Dungy where Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards and company can suit up for the Colts in exchange for a lot of cash.
OK, it’s not realistic – but it’s a shame that the Browns game doesn’t factor into the playoff equation.
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The celebrity picks:
Lance Burton, Monte Carlo headliner
(26-20-2)
Buccaneers +2 1/2 vs. Panthers
Packers -3 1/2 at Lions
Chiefs +6 at Jets
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Anthony Crivello, star of "Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular"
(25-20-3)
Bengals -3 at Dolphins
Packers -3 1/2 vs. Lions
Chargers -7 1/2 vs. Raiders
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Danny Gans, Mirage headliner
(23-23-2)
Packers -3 1/2 vs. Lions
Steelers -4 at Ravens
Redskins -8 1/2 vs. Cowboys
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Oscar Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas
(27-20-1)
Patriots -14 1/2 at Giants
Browns -10 vs. 49ers
Chargers -7 1/2 at Raiders
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Hans Klok, Planet Hollywood headliner
(23-23-2)
Steelers -4 at Ravens
Redskins –8 1/2 vs. Cowboys
Packers -3 vs. Lions
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Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas"
(19-25-4)
Giants +14 1/2 vs. Patriots
Browns -10 vs. 49ers
Redskins -8 1/2 vs. Cowboys
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Penn & Teller, Rio headliners
(27-20-1)
Eagles -7 1/2 vs. Bills
Patriots –14 1/2 at Giants
Jets -6 vs. Chiefs
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Rita Rudner, Harrah's headliner
(29-18-1)
Patriots -14 1/2 at Giants
Chargers -7 1/2 at Raiders
Titans-Colts over 39 1/2