How can my team make the N.F.L. playoffs? It’s a simple question, but answering it can be devilishly complicated.
At the moment, there are 109 games remaining in the season, which, without counting ties, translates into over 649 nonillion possible ways the season could end. (That’s 649 followed by 30 zeros.) Yes, it’s good if your team wins all its remaining games. But then what?
Which outcomes help your team get its best shot at winning the division, getting a first-round bye or having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs? For a normal fan, it’s surprisingly difficult to cheer like a smart person.