Playoffs will tend to help teams like Bama after losing like they did last week. They are still in the top group of teams. They would make the playoffs still. The Memphis loss would not have killed us in 96 either.
Think it helps job security by not ended your season after one loss. You have a chance to work your way back up. And your team may have the pressure of going unbeaten taken off of their backs so they can perform their best.