Nfl’s Playoff Considerations Are Up In The Air

Tis the season of tiebreakers. In the scramble for playoff bids, it often comes down to “tie-breaking procedures,” steps that the NFL uses to break ties in the standings to determine who goes on and who goes home.

Everyone accepts the tie-breaking system. Granted, among many fans there’s only a vague notion as to what all the actual tiebreakers are, but we still take comfort in the existence and execution of these procedures.

Well, my friends, if you trust this tie-breaking system, you may as well believe the Warren Commission report on the JFK assassination.

For there is a nearly unbelievable flaw at hand a deep, dark secret that’s in plain view, yet nobody looks at it.

Example:

The first seven categories to break a tie for a wild card playoff spot are: head-to-head games; best percentage in conference games; best percentage in common games; best net points in conference games; best net points in all games; strength of schedule; best net touchdowns in all games.

In the improbable but not impossible event that the teams involved fall even in all those areas, the NFL then moves to the eighth and ultimate means to break a tie:

“Coin toss.”

You heard me correctly - they toss a coin.

If I’m making this up, may I live the rest of my life in the Meadowlands.

Is this scenario registering with you people? In a given season, let’s say, Buffalo and New England both go 9-7 and tie for the final AFC playoff berth, and after all other tie-breaking procedures are exhausted, the fate of who advances to the playoffs rests on a half-dollar twirling through a Park Avenue office and Marv Levy shouting out, “Tails!”

Q. Do you believe America’s sporting public would accept this lying down?

A. I think we’re talking “civil unrest” here, particularly when Patriots fans don’t see that piece of silver come up heads.

Repeat: They toss a coin.

And don’t tell me it couldn’t happen. It’s in black-and-white, in the NFL manual. And, hey, if Newt Gingrich can claim that Bob Dylan is his hero, then anything can happen.

(Special Teams Alert: Whatever happened to the notion that you don’t field or fair-catch a punt inside the 10-yard line? Let ‘em go! Thank you.)

(TV Tidbit: I’ve got three words for CBS Sports President Sean McManus, who wants the NFL back for his network: Arizona at Tennessee.)

As always, the following picks against the point spread are for recreational purposes only:

Redskins at Giants (-3-1/2): In mercy move of sorts, NFL has ordered teams to simply resume 7-7 game of three weeks ago in second overtime period. Pick: Redskins.

Steelers at Patriots (-1-1/2): Curiously enough, 9-5 Patriots still appear headed for 8-8 record. Pick: Steelers.

Lions at Vikings (-2-1/2): So Bobby Ross has the Lions at 7-7, scrapping for the playoffs. So what exactly was so bad about Wayne Fontes, who took Detroit to the postseason four times in the past six years? Pick: Vikings.

Buccaneers (-2) at Jets: My Bucs are playoff-hungry and playoff-ready but not quite-yet playoff-bound. This is the week! Pick: Buccaneers.

Eagles at Falcons (-3): Over the last four games Falcons are the best team (4-0) in the NFC. Is The Man a believer? Pick: Eagles.

Chiefs (-9) at Chargers: I don’t mind Andre Rison playing Spiderman on the field, but pretending he’s Peter Parker off the field is a bit much. Pick: Chiefs.

Dolphins (-4-1/2) at Colts: Yo, Jimmy Johnson, you want to toughen your Dolphins for a playoff run, I’ve got two words for your training table: Rump roast. Pick: Colts.

Seahawks at Raiders (-3): Al Davis releases documents placing Marcus Allen and Al Michaels at the Lindbergh home the night of the kidnapping. Pick: Raiders.

Packers (-7) at Panthers: Panthers QB Kerry Collins now has a three-step drop, a five-step drop and a drop-before-they-hit you drop. Pick: Packers.

Cowboys (-2) at Bengals: Last week Cow boys introduced their special teams; this week Cowboys will introduce their scout team. Pick: Bengals.

Jaguars (-5) at Bills: If Todd Collins ran an import-export business, I suspect there wouldn’t be any imports or exports. Pick: Jaguars.

Bears at Rams (-4): Lately, Rams K Jeff Wilkins has been approaching his field-goal attempts like it’s jury duty. Pick: Rams.

Oilers (-2-1/2) at Ravens: Overheard in Oilers’ defensive huddle during 41-14 loss to Bengals: “You nincompoop!” Pick: Ravens.

Cardinals at Saints (-2-1/2): Cardinals RB LeShon Johnson needs 919 yards rushing in final two games for first 1,000-yard season. Pick: Saints.

Broncos at 49ers (-3): Third-quarter audible called by 49ers’ Steve Young last Sunday: “Thirty-six red! Thirty-six red! Baby needs new shoes, thirty-six red!” Pick: Broncos.

Last week: 6-8.*

Season record: 101-101-6.

*-The last time I had a winning week, UPI was still hiring.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Norman Chad Syndicated Columnist