Mathematically in the race doesn't mean you are in the race.

             I hear NFL announcers when I watch a game say that this team is mathematically still in it. It drives me crazy when I hear announcers say that because the team is not in it. 2 years ago I was watching the Bills-Redskins game which I like to forget, but I do remember the announcers saying that the Bills were mathematically in it when they were 6-7 and had a bunch of teams to pass. When you have at least 4 teams to past you are not in it you are out of it. I watch part of Redskins-Chargers game last week and I heard the announcers say that the Redskins were mathematically in it at 5-7, but in reality they weren't because they were eliminated when they lost to the Cowboys on Thursday Night Football. 

               There are some games this week when we will hear that this team is mathematically in it. These games are Cardinals-Redskins, Dolphins-Bills and Cowboys-Raiders. Cardinals, Dolphins and Cowboys aren't in it because they got to pass at least 5 teams to get to the playoff spot. The Raiders actually are still in it because they are only 1 game back of the Chargers and Chiefs, but their hopes are slim. So, I'm gonna break down the playoff bubble teams in terms who is actually it in and out of it. 

                 Teams that are in it 

                 1.  Titans [8-5] 

                 2.  Falcons [8-5] 

                 3.  Seahawks [8-5] 

                 4.  Bills [7-6] 

                 5.  Lions [7-6] 

                 6.  Ravens [7-6] 

                 7.  Chargers [7-6] 

                 8.  Chiefs [7-6] 

                 The Titans, Falcons and Bills are in it because they are currently in playoff spots right now. The Seahawks are in it because they only have to get past 1 team in the Falcons. The Chargers and Chiefs are in it because they both got easy game after they play each other. The Chargers play at the Jets next week and the Chiefs play at home vs the Dolphins. The Ravens are in it because they get 2 home games against bad teams like the Colts and Bengals. The Lions are in it because they get the Bears at home and the Bengals on the road before they end the season against the Packers. 

                 Teams that are in it, but have a slim chance

                 Packers [7-6] 

                 Raiders [6-7] 

                 The Packers have a slim chance because they get Aaron Rodgers back and they have an head-to-head tie-breaker against the Seahawks. They also get the Lions to end the season which is another team ahead of them. If they win their next 2 games they got a shot. The Raiders have a slim chance because they are only 1 game back in their division. They get the Chargers at the end of the season. If they win their next 2 games they got a shot. 

                 Teams that actually aren't in it. 

                 Cowboys [7-6] 

                 Dolphins [6-7] 

                 Cardinals [6-7] 

                 Jets [5-8] 

                 Bengals [5-8]   

                 The Cowboys aren't in it because they got to pass 4 teams to make the playoffs in the Falcons, Seahawks, Lions and Packers. The Cowboys do get the Seahawks next week, but they already lost an head-to-head match-up against the Packers. The Dolphins aren't in it with the same reason the Cowboys aren't and that's they have to pass 4 teams too to make the playoffs in the Bills, Chargers, Chiefs and Ravens. The Dolphins did win the head-to-head match-up against the Chargers, but lost the head-to-head match-up against the Ravens. The Cardinals, Jets and Bengals aren't in it because they are 2 games back with 3 games left to go in the season which is all you need to know.  

                 In review, the mathematically terms that NFL announcers used needs to go away because we know who's in the playoff hunt and who isn't. It's an insult to smart fans for announcers to say that a certain team is mathematically alive when we know they're not. No other major sports leagues like the NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS and Major European Soccer leagues use this term and neither should the NFL.