2040 Playoff preview (Week 15)

With 1 game remaining, we still have 1 division up for grabs, 3 playoff spots in the AXC and 1 in the NXC undecided.

****disclaimer****

These are my personal insights into playoff tiebreakers and obviously I may be mistaken especially for more complex tiebreakers because JDB has never given me accurate info on tiebreaker protocol. The below is based on what I've observed and deducted from past seasons. Also, sometimes I'm just an idiot and get it wrong.

****disclaimer****

KEY WEEK 16 GAMES

AXC
Houston @ Cincinnati (-9)
Pittsburgh @ Toronto (-6)
Texas (-4) @ New York
Michigan @ Dakota (-10)

NXC
Zecken @ Gem City (-13)
Montana @ Carolina (-9)

AXC

BYE
Dakota has clinched the bye

WEST
Oakland has clinched this division

EAST
Buffalo has clinched this division

NORTH
Toronto (9-6/3-2) and Cincinnati (9-6/2-3) sit tied atop the division with Houston (8-7/3-2) 1 games behind. Overall and divisional records are in parenthesis. Toronto plays Pittsburgh while Houston Plays Cincinnati in week 16.

If Toronto beats Pittsburgh, they win the division based on division record.

If Toronto loses to Pittburgh then the winner of the Houston/Cincinnati game wins the division.

If Toronto ties Pittsburgh then Cincinnati can win the division with a win over Houston but Houston would be elimated for division title contention.

If both games end in a tie, I know what are the odds then Toronto wins the division.

SOUTH
Dakota has clinched this division.

WILDCARD
Indiana (9-6/7-5) currently holds the 5th seed and has clinched a playoff spot.

Cincinnati (9-6/7-4) currently holds the 6th seed. Cincinnati controls their own destiny and if they beat Houston in week 16, they clinch a playoff spot. If they lose to Houston and Toronto beats Pittsburgh then they are elimated if Michican and Texas both win.
KEY WINS: TEX, TOR, WOL
KEY LOSES: TOR, PIT, HOU
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Houston 8-7

Michigan (8-7/7-4) currently holds the 7th seed. If they beat Dakota in week 16, they clinch a playoff spot. If they lose to Dakota, they need Cincinnati to beat Houston to clinch a playoff spot.
KEY WINS: TOR, TEX (2), PIT, HOU
KEY LOSES: CIN
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Dakota 14-1

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

Houston (8-7/5-6)
They need to beat Cincinnati in week 16 and if Toronto beats Pittsburgh then they need Texas to lose to New York or they are eliminated.
KEY WINS: PIT, TOR, CIN
KEY LOSES: TEX, PIT, WOL, TOR
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Cincinnati 9-6

Texas (8-7/7-4)
They need to beat New York and have Houston lose to Cincinnati plus Michigan lose to Dakota to clinch a playoff spot or Toronto lose to Pittsburgh.
KEY WINS: HOU, TOR, PIT
KEY LOSES: WOL (2), CIN
REMAINING SCHEDULE
New York 3-12





NXC

BYE
Philadelphia has clinched the bye

WEST
Vegas has clinched this division

EAST
Philadelphia has clinched the division.

NORTH
Gem City has clinched the division.

SOUTH
Atlanta has clinched this division

WILDCARD
Washington has locked up the 5th seed.

Arizona has locked up the 6th seed.

Carolina (8-7/6-5) currently holds the 7th seed. If they beat Montana in week 16 they clinch the final playoff spot. If they lose to Montana, they are elimated.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

Montana (7-8/6-5)
They need to beat Carolina in week 16 and have Zehlendorf lose to Gem City to clinch the 7th seed.

Zehlendorf (7-8/6-5)
They need to beat Gem City in week 16 and have Montana beat Carolina to clinch the 7th seed.