What's More Complicated

What's More Complicated

Iowa caucus math or NFL playoff scenarios?

As a result of the NFL utilizing its flexible scheduling plan to move Sunday games to prime time, the Packers will play the Bears at 7:15 p.m. on NBC. The league recognizes that this match-up might have playoff ramifications and, more important, could represent quarterback Brett Favre's last game.

The Packers - one of five 7-8 teams vying for the final playoff spot...

Hold it right there. "Five 7-8 teams vying for the final playoff spot"?!? Shouldn't they just give the number three seed a bye week instead? Or let some 10-6 AFC team have the slot?

The Packers - one of five 7-8 teams vying for the final playoff spot, along with the Giants, the St. Louis Rams, the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers - basically have three ways to reach the postseason:

If the Packers beat the Bears, the Redskins beat the Giants and the Vikings beat the Rams;

If the Packers beat the Bears, the Redskins beat or tie the Giants and either the Falcons beat Philadelphia or the Panthers beat New Orleans;

and if the Giants beat the Redskins, the Packers beat the Bears and the 'strength of victory' tiebreaker ends up in the Packers' favor over New York.

The NFL said Tuesday the Packers will clinch that tiebreaker if all eight - yes, eight - of the following games go Green Bay's way:

Detroit beats Dallas, Minnesota beats St. Louis, Miami beats Indianapolis, Arizona beats San Diego, San Francisco beats Denver, New Orleans beats Carolina, Seattle beats Tampa Bay and Cleveland beats Houston.

Because the game has been moved to prime time, there is no way the Packers won't know if they control their own destiny. All of the other games will be completed and either the Packers will have been eliminated or they will be playing the Bears for the right to go to the playoffs.

This should make it easier to understand:

Each player gets six cards, except for the player on the dealer's right, who gets seven.

The second card is turned up, except on Tuesdays.

Two jacks are a "half-fizzbin". If you have a half-fizzbin:

a third jack is a "shralk" and results in disqualification;

one wants a king and a deuce, except at night, when one wants a queen and a four;
if a king had been dealt, the player would get another card, except when it's dark, in which case he'd have to give it back.