If the Playoffs Were Today ... (With WHYDFML 7 Game Index)

 One of my favorite bits when I was younger was to look at the standings in a sport and proclaim: 'What If the Playoffs were Today?".  

Here in Chicago. much has been made lately of the fact that the Bears are now tied for the best record in the National Football Conference.  Of course that may all change this weekend when the Bears take on the hated Packers.  Every Tuesday from now until the playoffs actually begin,  I hope to show you what the first round of the NFL playoffs would look like if the playoffs would actually begin on that day.

I will also include a stat called the What Have You Done For Me Lately (WHYDFML) 7 Game Index.

The index assigns 1 point for a win and -1 point for a loss over a 7 game period.  It then weights those wins and losses from 7 to 1 most recent to least recent.  The New England Patriots have won all 7 of their last games.  

W W W W W W W

7   6   5   4   3  2   1  

When you add this up they have 1 7 Game WHYDFML of 28

The Bears have won their last 5 games since losing to the Baltimore Ravens and had won the game previous to that so their WHYDFML looks like this:

W W W W W L W

7   6   5   4   3 -2 1

Which makes their index +24

There are many different WHYDFML indices that I use but the 7 game one is very front loaded.  If the Packers prevail against the Bears this weekend, their index will plummet from +24 to +12.  The Packers will not only jump a 1/2 game ahead of the Bears in the standings, but their WHYDFML will increase from +14 to + 18.  

Confused?  It will grow on you.  Or it won't. But until we're sure, here is the NFL Playoff Schedule if the Playoffs Began today...

AFC

1st Round Bye New England Patriots (#1 Seed) AFC East Division Champion (11-2) +28 

Buffalo Bills (#7 Seed) #3 AFC Wild Card (8-4) +6 @ Denver Broncos (#2 Seed) AFC West Division Champion (10-2) +28

Indianapolis Colts (#6 Seed) #2 AFC Wild Card (8-4) -6 @ Jacksonville Jaguars (#3 Seed) AFC South Division Champion (8-4) +14

Los Angeles Chargers (#5 Seed) #1 AFC Wild Card (8-4) +12 @ Baltimore Ravens (#4 Seed) AFC North Division Champion (6-6) +12

NFC

1st Round Bye Chicago Bears (#1 Seed) NFC North Division Champion (9-3) +24

San Francisco 49ers (#7 Seed) #3 NFC Wild Card (9-4) +16  @ Los Angeles Rams (#2 Seed) AFC West Division Champion (9-3) +14

Green Bay Packers (#6 Seed) #2 NFC Wild Card (8-3-1) +14 @ Philadelphia Eagles (#3 Seed)  NFC East Division Champion (8-4) Even

Seattlle Seahawks (#5 Seed) #1 NFC Wild Card) (9-3) +18 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (#4 Seed) NFC South Division Champion (7-5) -6

Instant Analysis:  The AFC home teams (division champs) all have a higher or equal WHYDFML # than their opponents. The NFC home teams all have a lower WHYDFML than their opponents.

I'll be back next Tuesday with another exciting installment of ...

If the Playoffs were today  ...