01-06-2023, 03:47 AM
The biggest inconsistency:
Hypothetically,
11-6 Ravens can host the 11-5 Bengals with a coin flip.
12-4 Bengals can NOT host the 13-4 Chiefs with a coin flip.
It’s a half-game difference either way, but the approach is different. The league’s rationale would be that the two head-to-head “tiebreakers” are not the same. The Ravens would have two wins over the Bengals, and the Bengals would only have one win over the Chiefs. I think that argument is weak.
One could also argue that a neutral site game is mathematically the “same” advantage as a coin flip between home and away. I think that’s at least controversial though, and the NFL’s own logic is inconsistent with that assertion. They’re treating Baltimore’s possible coin flip as a reward (for the hypothetical division sweep).
Hypothetically,
11-6 Ravens can host the 11-5 Bengals with a coin flip.
12-4 Bengals can NOT host the 13-4 Chiefs with a coin flip.
It’s a half-game difference either way, but the approach is different. The league’s rationale would be that the two head-to-head “tiebreakers” are not the same. The Ravens would have two wins over the Bengals, and the Bengals would only have one win over the Chiefs. I think that argument is weak.
One could also argue that a neutral site game is mathematically the “same” advantage as a coin flip between home and away. I think that’s at least controversial though, and the NFL’s own logic is inconsistent with that assertion. They’re treating Baltimore’s possible coin flip as a reward (for the hypothetical division sweep).
