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When the Raiders upset the Buccaneers on Sunday, they moved the No. 2 overall pick of the draft from one side of the State of Missouri.
Both Kansas City and St. Louis finished the season with 2-14 records. Unlike with the playoffs, for the purposes of the draft, all those complex tie-breaking formulas are tossed out. For the 20 non-playoff teams, the primary tiebreaker is strength of schedule (even if the teams had a head-to-head meeting in the regular season).
In this case, St. Louis barely beat Kansas City, finishing with a 136-119-1 record in strength of schedule. That was one game easier than Kansas City, which closed at 137-118-1. As AFC West opponents, Kansas City and Oakland played twice in the regular season (so all of Oakland’s work appears twice in Kansas City’s strength of schedule). With that in mind, if the Raiders had lost at Tampa Bay, like nearly everyone expected them to do, Kansas City would have had a 135-120-2 strength of schedule and would be selecting 2nd in the draft.
There will be no coin flips in regards to the draft order this year. All of the other ties can be broken using strength of schedule. Seattle played an easier schedule than Cleveland, so will pick 4th. Oakland will pick before Jacksonville. Denver will pick before Washington and New Orleans. And the Jets pick first in the four-way tie at 9-7, ahead of Chicago, Tampa Bay and Dallas.
SELECTION ORDER FOR 2009 NFL DRAFT
(non-playoff teams)
1. Detroit (0-16)
2. St. Louis (2-14)
3. Kansas City (2-14)
4. Seattle (4-12)
5. Cleveland (4-12)
6. Cincinnati (4-11-1)
7. Oakland (5-11)
8. Jacksonville (5-11)
9. Green Bay (6-10)
10. San Francisco (7-9)
11. Buffalo (7-9)
12. Denver (8-8)
13. Washington (8-8)
14. New Orleans (8-8)
15. Houston (8-8)
16. NY Jets (9-7)
17. Chicago (9-7)
18. Tampa Bay (9-7)
19. Dallas (9-7)
20. New England (11-5)
—Ian Allan
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Posted by MARTIN DONNELLY | Jan. 02 at 12:27 AM
I wouldn't mention it except for the fact that you write professionally, but "in regards" is not English. Regarding means about, concerning. Regards means good wishes. In regards seems to be some corruption from idiot New Yorkers.