I'm looking at the #2 seed being almost as important as the #1 seed.

Carolina losing tonight is huge, and gives us both a 2 game lead on Carolina for the division and a 2 game lead over Detroit for the #2 seed (3 game lead over Chicago since we beat them).

A #2 seed gives you a week off to get healthy, a home game guaranteed for the Divisional round, and the possibility of another home game if the #1 is beaten (which has happened in the NFC 2 of the last 3 years).

Carolina did not lose. Now what?

we are in trouble because we lost to NE, simple.

we are in trouble because we lost to NE, simple.

Simple?

In trouble with who?
We are still 1 game ahead in record.

Carolina lost to the Seahwaks, Bills and Cardinals.. Beat NE and haven't played the Jets yet.

We beat the Bills, Cardinals... Lost to NE, Jets.

In common games we are up by two.

If we lose to Seattle its still up by 1.
Then we have the Cardinals game which is conference. +1 Saints.
If something else happens it goes to strength of Victory. Net points we presently have them by 2

Only strength of Schedule tips in their favor.

So that being said... Screw resting players or slowing down for garbage time... We need a bigger point differential.

Actually, by the time we play Seattle they will have already played Miami.

If Carolina beats Miami, New York in addition to already beating New England, St.Louis, and San Francisco that leaves them with 5 common wins.

If we beat St.Louis or Seattle in addition to already beating Miami, Buffalo, San Francisco, and Arizona that leaves us with 5 common wins. If we beat both St.Louis and Seattle then we have the tiebreaker won.

But.............a tied common wins tiebreaker means it goes to conference record, which means Carolina has to beat both Miami and NY to get out of common games tiebreaker only to lose to us in conference record tiebreaker.

You are right on the tiebreaker scenario though we have them beat up until strength of victory.

As of now in that tiebreaker
Carolina's wins
NE-7 wins(likely resulting in 11-12 wins)
SF-6 wins(likely resulting in 11-12 wins, not buying the cardinals beating them)
StL-4 wins(likely resulting in 6 wins, maybe 5 if bears to don't sleep on them and run the ball)
NYG-4 wins(likely resulting in 5-6 wins, do not think they beat Dallas, SD, Seattle, or Detroit)
Min-2 wins(likely 2-3 wins, bengals game week 16 is interesting)
That totals 23 wins atm and will result in 36-40 wins
But they have to beat Miami or the jets remaining(cannot beat both because then it doesnt come to this)
Lets say its jets since its at home
NY-5 wins(likely resulting in 8 wins)
That will be 44-48 total combined wins beat.

Our wins
Mia-5 wins(likely resulting in 8 wins if they beat Carolina)
Buf-4 wins(likely resulting in 8 wins with what they have coming up)
SF-6 wins(likely resulting in 11-12 wins)
Ari-6 wins(likely resulting in 7-8 wins, yep they could just win 1 more)
Dal-5 wins(likely resulting in 8-10 wins)
Chi-6 wins(likely resulting in 9-11 wins)
That is 32 wins that should end up 51-57 combined wins beat. Meaning it wouldnt matter which team we beat between Seattle and St.Louis as we will eclipse Carolina's total by 3 or more wins.

Stoooppppppop! Way too much on the guessing.

We have Carolina until strength of schedule. That is where they have the advantage according to the NFL list

where do you see that?

There are only 2 uncommon games between teams in the same division.

So it comes down to the Saints having played Dallas and Chicago vs Carolina having played the Giants and Minnesota. Dallas and Chicago are an 11-6 combined record, whereas the Giants and Vikings are 6-11. Going to be really tough for Carolina's uncommon opponents to catch up 5 games. That's why we should actually pull for Dallas to beat the Giants this weekend.

Actually, by the time we play Seattle they will have already played Miami.

If Carolina beats Miami, New York in addition to already beating New England, St.Louis, and San Francisco that leaves them with 5 common wins.

If we beat St.Louis or Seattle in addition to already beating Miami, Buffalo, San Francisco, and Arizona that leaves us with 5 common wins. If we beat both St.Louis and Seattle then we have the tiebreaker won.

But.............a tied common wins tiebreaker means it goes to conference record, which means Carolina has to beat both Miami and NY to get out of common games tiebreaker only to lose to us in conference record tiebreaker.

You are right on the tiebreaker scenario though we have them beat up until strength of victory.

As of now in that tiebreaker
Carolina's wins
NE-7 wins(likely resulting in 11-12 wins)
SF-6 wins(likely resulting in 11-12 wins, not buying the cardinals beating them)
StL-4 wins(likely resulting in 6 wins, maybe 5 if bears to don't sleep on them and run the ball)
NYG-4 wins(likely resulting in 5-6 wins, do not think they beat Dallas, SD, Seattle, or Detroit)
Min-2 wins(likely 2-3 wins, bengals game week 16 is interesting)
That totals 23 wins atm and will result in 36-40 wins
But they have to beat Miami or the jets remaining(cannot beat both because then it doesnt come to this)
Lets say its jets since its at home
NY-5 wins(likely resulting in 8 wins)
That will be 44-48 total combined wins beat.

Our wins
Mia-5 wins(likely resulting in 8 wins if they beat Carolina)
Buf-4 wins(likely resulting in 8 wins with what they have coming up)
SF-6 wins(likely resulting in 11-12 wins)
Ari-6 wins(likely resulting in 7-8 wins, yep they could just win 1 more)
Dal-5 wins(likely resulting in 8-10 wins)
Chi-6 wins(likely resulting in 9-11 wins)
That is 32 wins that should end up 51-57 combined wins beat. Meaning it wouldnt matter which team we beat between Seattle and St.Louis as we will eclipse Carolina's total by 3 or more wins.