Simple AFC Tiebreaker Chart, 2009

Notes and assumptions: No possibility of tie games. Tiebreakers are as they would be at the end of the season, NOT as of right now. Tiebreakers that don't affect playoff berths or seeding are ignored. Divisional ties are broken first. To break a tie between NYJ, MIA, and BAL, first break the tie between NYJ and MIA. If three or more teams are tied, apply that tiebreaker, not the two-team tiebreaker. Strength-of-victory is the combined winning percentage of the teams a team has beaten. It has nothing to do with point totals. The AFC #6 seed will have at least an 8-8 record. Locked berths: IND #1, SD #2. Other clinched division: NE, CIN. Alive: NYJ, BAL, PIT, DEN, HOU, JAX, MIA. Eliminated: CLE, KC, OAK, BUF, TEN. The AFC wild card tiebreakers are insanely complicated. At least one wild card contender from each division will have 8 wins. The two-team interdivisional tiebreakers at 8-8 are thus irrelevant. If all the 8-7 teams win in Week 17, NYJ is the #5 seed and BAL is the #6 seed. NYJ wins each of its tiebreakers at 9-7. JAX wins each of its tiebreakers at 8-8. (removed - somehow I deleted the MIA-BAL-HOU tiebreaker). TEN loses each of its tiebreakers except for a two-team with HOU and so is eliminated. Important Week 17 games: NE @ HOU, PIT @ MIA, BAL @ OAK, JAX @ CLE, KC @ DEN, CIN @ NYJ (Sunday night). The complete tiebreaker rules are here. AFC Tiebreakers after Week 16: Tied Teams Record Extra conditions Winner Why? Divisional: MIA-NYJ 8-8 MIA head-to-head sweep BAL-PIT any BAL division record JAX-TEN 8-8 JAX division record JAX-HOU 8-8 JAX head-to-head sweep TEN-HOU 8-8 TEN division record JAX-TEN-HOU 8-8 JAX round robin Conference: NE-CIN any likely NE strength-of-victory NYJ-BAL 9-7 NYJ common opponents NYJ-PIT 9-7 NYJ conference record NYJ-HOU 9-7 NYJ head-to-head NYJ-DEN 9-7 NYJ common opponents BAL-HOU 9-7 BAL conference record BAL-DEN 9-7 BAL head-to-head PIT-HOU 9-7 HOU common opponents PIT-DEN 9-7 PIT head-to-head HOU-DEN 9-7 DEN conference record MIA-BAL-HOU 8-8 MIA HOU eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory MIA-BAL-JAX 8-8 JAX conference record MIA-BAL-DEN any DEN strength-of-victory MIA-PIT-DEN 8-8 DEN PIT eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory MIA-JAX-DEN any JAX conference record MIA-TEN-DEN 8-8 DEN TEN eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory MIA-HOU-DEN 8-8 DEN HOU eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory NYJ-BAL-JAX 8-8 JAX conference record NYJ-BAL-TEN 8-8 NYJ TEN eliminated on conference record; common opponents NYJ-BAL-HOU any NYJ HOU eliminated on conference record; common opponents NYJ-BAL-DEN any NYJ common opponents NYJ-BAL-DEN 8-8 likely DEN BAL eliminated on common opponents; strength-of-victory NYJ-PIT-HOU 9-7 NYJ conference record NYJ-PIT-DEN 9-7 NYJ PIT eliminated on conference record; common opponents NYJ-PIT-DEN 8-8 likely DEN PIT eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory NYJ-JAX-DEN 8-8 JAX conference record NYJ-TEN-DEN 8-8 likely DEN TEN eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory NYJ-HOU-DEN 9-7 NYJ HOU eliminated on conference record; common opponents NYJ-HOU-DEN 8-8 likely DEN HOU eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory BAL-JAX-DEN 8-8 JAX conference record BAL-TEN-DEN 8-8 BAL TEN eliminated on conference record; head-to-head BAL-HOU-DEN any BAL HOU eliminated on conference record; head-to-head PIT-JAX-DEN 8-8 JAX conference record PIT-TEN-DEN 8-8 DEN conference record PIT-HOU-DEN any DEN conference record MIA-BAL-JAX-DEN 8-8 JAX conference record MIA-BAL-TEN-DEN 8-8 DEN TEN eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory MIA-BAL-HOU-DEN 8-8 DEN HOU eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory MIA-PIT-JAX-DEN 8-8 JAX conference record MIA-PIT-TEN-DEN 8-8 DEN PIT & TEN eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory MIA-PIT-HOU-DEN 8-8 DEN PIT & HOU eliminated on conference record; common opponents NYJ-BAL-JAX-DEN 8-8 JAX conference record NYJ-BAL-TEN-DEN 8-8 likely DEN TEN eliminated on conference record; BAL eliminated on common opponents; strength-of-victory NYJ-BAL-HOU-DEN 9-7 NYJ HOU eliminated on conference record; common opponents NYJ-BAL-HOU-DEN 8-8 likely DEN HOU eliminated on conference record; BAL eliminated on common opponents; strength-of-victory NYJ-PIT-JAX-DEN 8-8 JAX conference record NYJ-PIT-TEN-DEN 8-8 likely DEN PIT & TEN eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory NYJ-PIT-HOU-DEN 9-7 NYJ PIT & HOU eliminated on conference record; common opponents NYJ-PIT-HOU-DEN 8-8 likely DEN PIT & HOU eliminated on conference record; strength-of-victory Strength of victory: Tied Teams Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 NE-CIN NE CIN wins over: ATL, BAL, BUF, BUF, CAR, (HOU), JAX, MIA, NYJ, TB, TEN BAL, BAL, CHI, CLE, CLE, DET, GB, KC, (NYJ), PIT, PIT current SOV wins: 65 61 guaranteed Week 17 wins: ATL or TB CHI or DET guaranteed Week 17 losses: none none needed Week 17 wins: BUF v. IND (counts 2x) CAR v. NO JAX @ CLE MIA v. PIT TEN @ SEA BAL @ OAK GB @ ARI CLE v. JAX (counts 2x) KC @ DEN PIT @ MIA (counts 2x) MIA-DEN at 8-8 MIA DEN wins over: BUF, CAR, JAX, NE, NYJ, NYJ, PIT, TB CIN, CLE, DAL, KC, NE, NYG, OAK, SD current SOV wins: 56 62 guaranteed Week 17 wins: none KC guaranteed Week 17 losses: JAX, PIT none needed Week 17 wins: BUF v. IND CAR v. NO NYJ v. CIN (counts 2x) TB v. ATL CIN @ NYJ CLE v. JAX DAL v. PHI NYG @ MIN OAK v. BAL SD v. WAS NYJ-DEN at 8-8 NYJ DEN wins over: BUF, CAR, HOU, IND, NE, OAK, TB, TEN CIN, CLE, DAL, KC, NE, NYG, OAK, SD current SOV wins: 59 62 guaranteed Week 17 wins: BUF or IND HOU or NE KC CIN guaranteed Week 17 losses: none none needed Week 17 wins: CAR v. NO TB v. ATL TEN @ SEA CLE v. JAX DAL v. PHI NE @ HOU NYG @ MIN SD v. WAS MIA-BAL-DEN at 8-8 MIA BAL DEN wins over: BUF, CAR, JAX, NE, NYJ, NYJ, PIT, TB CHI, CLE, CLE, DEN, DET, KC, PIT, SD CIN, CLE, DAL, KC, NE, NYG, OAK, SD current SOV wins: 56 47 62 guaranteed Week 17 wins: none CHI or DET KC KC guaranteed Week 17 losses: JAX PIT DEN PIT OAK needed Week 17 wins: BUF v. IND CAR v. NO NE @ HOU NYJ v. CIN (counts 2x) TB v. ATL CLE v. JAX (counts 2x) SD v. WAS CIN @ NYJ CLE v. JAX DAL v. PHI NE @ HOU NYG @ MIN SD v. WAS

Simple NFC Tiebreaker Chart, 2009

Notes and assumptions: No possibility of tie games. Tiebreakers are as they would be at the end of the season, NOT as of right now. (Example: PHI and DAL can only be tied if DAL beats PHI.) Tiebreakers that don't affect playoff berths or seeding are ignored. Divisional ties are broken first. If three or more teams are tied, apply that tiebreaker, not the two-team tiebreaker. Strength-of-victory is the combined winning percentage of the teams a team has beaten. It has nothing to do with point totals. The NFC #6 seed will have at least a 10-6 record. Locked berths: NO #1. Clinched divisions: MIN, ARI. Clinched berths: PHI, GB, DAL. Eliminated: TB, STL, DET, WAS, CHI, SEA, CAR, ATL, SF, NYG. Important Week 17 games: PHI @ DAL, NYG @ MIN, GB @ ARI, NO @ CAR. The complete tiebreaker rules are here. NFC Tiebreakers after Week 16: Tied Teams Record Extra condition Winner Why? Divisional: PHI-DAL 11-5 DAL head-to-head sweep MIN-GB 11-5 MIN head-to-head sweep Conference: PHI-MIN any PHI conference record PHI-GB 11-5 GB common opponents DAL-MIN 11-5 DAL conference record DAL-GB 10-6 GB head-to-head DAL-ARI 11-5 ARI common opponents MIN-ARI 11-5 ARI head-to-head PHI-MIN-ARI 11-5 PHI common opponents DAL-MIN-ARI 11-5 ARI MIN eliminated on conference record; common opponents

Defensive Touchdowns by Offensive Players, NFL, 1991-2009

Following up yesterday's post ... Defensive Touchdowns by Offensive Players, NFL, 1990-2011: Player Game Date Distance Original Turnover 2nd Turnover Jeff Query GB 14, TB 26 10/14/1990 0 Don Majkowski interception Harry Hamilton fumble Mike Sherrard SF 14, ARI 24 11/1/1992 39 Brent Jones fumble Eric Hill fumble Danan Hughes KC 10, JAX 24 11/9/1997 7 Rich Gannon interception Chris Hudson fumble Keenan McCardell TB 35, IND 38 10/6/2003 57 Brad Johnson interception Mike Doss fumble Robert Meachem NO 33, WAS 30 12/6/2009 44 Drew Brees interception Kareem Moore fumble

Reader Mail!

What is a ruling on the Robert Meachem touchdown against Washington? Should that be credited as a defensive touchdown or as a touchdown for the offensive player? Technically, it's an opposition fumble recovery and a fumble return touchdown for Meachem and the Saints defense. (Check with your fantasy provider - as I write this, CBS Sportsline has it scored correctly, but Yahoo does not.) Mike Sherrard of the 49ers had a similar touchdown against the Cardinals in 1992, going 39 yards after ripping the ball from Cardinals LB Eric Hill after Hill had recovered a fumble from 49ers TE Brent Jones. Sherrard: "I basically was just trying to tackle him. The first thing you know, the ball was in my hands, and I just sort of jerked at it. He didn't see me; I sneaked up on him a little bit."

Oldest Starting Quarterback Matchups

Assuming Kurt Warner makes the start Sunday, the Favre-Warner matchup would be the 8th oldest (in combined ages) starting quarterback matchup in modern NFL history. Oldest starting quarterback matchups, NFL, 1950-2009: Combined Age Game Date Winning QB Age Losing QB Age 82 years, 44 days GB 31, CAR 17 11/18/2007 Brett Favre 38-39 Vinny Testaverde 44-5 80 years, 84 days CAR 25, ARI 10 10/14/2007 Vinny Testaverde 43-335 Kurt Warner 36-114 80 years, 67 days DEN 21, SEA 16 10/11/1998 John Elway 38-105 Warren Moon 41-327 79 years, 283 days CAR 31, SF 14 12/2/2007 Vinny Testaverde 44-19 Trent Dilfer 35-264 79 years, 260 days NYJ 28, ATL 3 10/25/1998 Vinny Testaverde 34-346 Steve DeBerg 44-279 78 years, 352 days NYG 19, MIA 14 12/5/1993 Phil Simms 39-32 Steve DeBerg 39-320 78 years, 288 days DAL 13, TB 9 10/26/2008 Brad Johnson 40-43 Jeff Garcia 38-245 78 years, 224 days ARI 30, MIN 17 12/6/2009 Kurt Warner 38-167 Brett Favre 40-57 78 years, 111 days DEN 30, SEA 27 11/2/1997 John Elway 37-127 Warren Moon 40-349 77 years, 364 days DEN 35, SEA 14 9/7/1997 John Elway 37-71 Warren Moon 40-293 77 years, 352 days CHI 15, MIN 13 10/28/1996 Dave Krieg 38-8 Warren Moon 39-344 77 years, 104 days SEA 38, SF 9 12/21/1997 Warren Moon 41-33 Steve Young 36-71 All 1990s and 2000s games. Looking at prior decades ... Oldest starting quarterback matchups, NFL, 1980-1989: Combined Age Game Date Winning QB Age Losing QB Age 72 years, 188 days HOU 20, DEN 16 11/2/1980 Ken Stabler 34-312 Craig Morton 37-241 72 years, 179 days DEN 17, OAK 0 10/4/1981 Craig Morton 38-241 Jim Plunkett 33-303 72 years, 123 days DEN 9, OAK 7 9/6/1981 Craig Morton 38-213 Jim Plunkett 33-275 72 years, 19 days TB 20, MIN 10 10/18/1987 Jim Zorn 34-161 Tony Adams 37-223 71 years, 325 days STL 14, PHI 11 9/25/1983 Jim Hart 39-149 Ron Jaworski 32-186 The Zorn-Adams matchup came during the last week of replacement games, and was the last game of both quarterbacks' careers. Oldest starting quarterback matchups, NFL, 1970-1979: Combined Age Game Date Winning QB Age Losing QB Age 76 years, 173 days SF 20, KC 3 10/5/1975 Norm Snead 36-66 Len Dawson 40-107 75 years, 163 days MIN 21, DAL 10 10/26/1978 Fran Tarkenton 38-265 Roger Staubach 36-263 75 years, 147 days KC 42, DEN 34 11/18/1974 Len Dawson 39-151 Charley Johnson 35-361 75 years, 139 days WAS 24, NYG 3 10/20/1974 Sonny Jurgensen 40-58 Norm Snead 35-81 74 years, 143 days WAS 38, SD 0 9/16/1973 Billy Kilmer 34-11 Johnny Unitas 40-132 44-year-old George Blanda played the majority of the game, but did not start, against 38-year-old Johnny Unitas and 36-year-old Len Dawson towards the end of the 1971 season. Oldest starting quarterback matchups, AFL/NFL, 1960-1969: Combined Age Game Date Winning QB Age Losing QB Age 74 years, 284 days NYG 17, PIT 14 9/24/1961 Charlie Conerly 40-5 Bobby Layne 35-279 74 years, 56 days PIT 44, NYG 17 11/22/1964 Ed Brown 36-27 Y.A. Tittle 38-29 73 years, 317 days BOS 42, HOU 14 12/18/1965 Babe Parilli 35-225 George Blanda 38-92 73 years, 285 days PIT 27, NYG 24 9/20/1964 Ed Brown 35-319 Y.A. Tittle 37-331 73 years, 281 days HOU 31, OAK 0 9/10/1966 George Blanda 36-362 Cotton Davidson 34-284 Oldest starting quarterback matchups, NFL, 1950-1959: Combined Age Game Date Winning QB Age Losing QB Age 71 years, 246 days NYG 24, PHI 7 10/18/1959 Charlie Conerly 38-29 Norm Van Brocklin 33-217 71 years, 218 days PHI 49, NYG 21 10/4/1959 Norm Van Brocklin 33-203 Charlie Conerly 38-15 71 years, 25 days PHI 33, WAS 0 11/12/1950 Tommy Thompson 34-150 Sammy Baugh 36-240 70 years, 346 days NYG 21, PIT 16 10/25/1959 Charlie Conerly 38-36 Bobby Layne 32-310 69 years, 362 days PHI 27, NYG 24 10/5/1958 Norm Van Brocklin 34-346 Charlie Conerly 37-16 Oldest starting quarterback matchups, NFL Playoffs, 1950-2009: Combined Age Game Date Winning QB Age Losing QB Age 75 years, 301 days DEN 38, MIA 3 1/9/1999 John Elway 38-185 Dan Marino 37-116 74 years, 264 days KC 28, HOU 20 1/16/1994 Joe Montana 37-219 Warren Moon 37-59 74 years, 83 days OAK 38, NYJ 24 1/12/2002 Rich Gannon 36-23 Vinny Testaverde 38-60 74 years, 58 days MIN 35, WAS 20 12/18/1976 Fran Tarkenton 36-319 Billy Kilmer 37-104 73 years, 248 days DEN 23, NYJ 10 1/17/1999 John Elway 38-183 Vinny Testaverde 35-65 Potential Favre-Warner, Favre-McNabb, and Favre-Peyton Manning matchups would make this list.