Especially if it's one of those teams that are currently on the bubble like the TitansIf the Pats do finish 3rd man should they demolish whoever is the 6 seed
If they play Tennessee in Foxboro in the playoffs, the Pats win by two touchdowns.Especially if it's one of those teams that are currently on the bubble like the Titans
Yeah, the Colts are hot. I'm not too keen on playing the Chargers either. And keep in mind - whoever is the 5th / 6th seed probably is a team that is going to play well over the next month-plus and is going to look more dangerous at the end of December than they do now.I would not want to play the Colts rd 1. They might have the best OL in football and are starting to figure it out on D. That would likely be a team with the ball last wins kind of game.
Baltimore always plays us tough in the playoffs. We’re not quite at the “who would you not want to face” phase of the season but they are #1 for me if we don’t get the 2 seed. Give me Tennessee in a revenge game or Cincy in a heartbeat. We would smoke them. Indy would be tougher than in years past but we’d still beat them semi-comfortably. Chargers would be a legit scary matchup if we fell to the 4 seed.I always worry come playoff time. It's football, and the ball bounces weirdly. Anything can happen. Obviously the Patriots at home would be the favorites over almost anyone. But still...we've seen them lose in the playoffs in Foxboro. And this is not an elite Patriots team.
That said, I cannot imagine anyone else would relish the thought of coming into Foxboro to face Brady. I know they may love the idea of knocking Goliath out of the playoffs, but honestly, how can any team really feel comfortable coming to Foxboro and facing Brady?
I think at worst, New England will be a very tough out, especially at home.
It's like a Christmas tradition. Every season these threads fill with 6 AFC teams that we want to avoid. You know, including us, that's more than the number of teams that make the playoffs.So the teams to avoid are the Chiefs/Steelers/Colts/Chargers/MaybeTitans?
Bring on the Texans!
Then the Pats some how get to 2 seed and a bye, then they play a 4 seed who's actually worse than the 5th seed.The 5th seed then knocks off KC and they host a game where a 3rd string Pats RB has 3,000 yards and 5 TD's.It's like a Christmas tradition. Every season these threads fill with 6 AFC teams that we want to avoid. You know, including us, that's more than the number of teams that make the playoffs.
and then the Rams or Saints kill us in the SB!Then the Pats some how get to 2 seed and a bye, then they play a 4 seed who's actually worse than the 5th seed.The 5th seed then knocks off KC and they host a game where a 3rd string Pats RB has 3,000 yards and 5 TD's.
Nope. Redskins are the team to fear. NFC East team with their backup QB.and then the Rams or Saints kill us in the SB!
And you know how hard it is to beat a team 3 times, so add the 'Fins, Jets, and Bills to that listIt's like a Christmas tradition. Every season these threads fill with 6 AFC teams that we want to avoid. You know, including us, that's more than the number of teams that make the playoffs.
Yes, the Pats would never beat a high-scoring Rams team in the Super Bowl.and then the Rams or Saints kill us in the SB!
to that point, if we win it all this year it's going to feel a bit like 2001, I bet.Yes, the Pats would never beat a high-scoring Rams team in the Super Bowl.
Ever.
It would definitely be weird seeing the Patriots as underdogs in the Super Bowl with Brady at the helm.to that point, if we win it all this year it's going to feel a bit like 2001, I bet.
With at least 17 years of title in front of us!to that point, if we win it all this year it's going to feel a bit like 2001, I bet.
There will never be a Pats season like 2001. Kind of like 2004 for the Sox.to that point, if we win it all this year it's going to feel a bit like 2001, I bet.
That GD Titans game is gonna bite us in the ass.1. KC 9-2(Bye)
2. Pittsburgh 7-2-1(at Denver)
3. New England 7-3(at Jets)
4. Houston 7-3(vs. Tennessee)
5. LA Chargers 7-3(vs. AZ)
6. Baltimore 5-5(vs. Oakland)
7. Cincinnati 5-5(vs. Cleveland)
8. Miami 5-5(at Indy)
9. Indianapolis 5-5(vs. Miami)
10. Tennessee 5-5(at Houston)
11. Denver 4-6(vs. Pittsburgh)
Pats 1 game back in the loss column for the 1 seed. KC still has to play the Chargers and the Seahawks.
Lions game too. It's baffling why this team at times looks completely unprepared on both sides of the ball on the road. Losing to the Lions and Titans while beating a very good Bears team on the road without Gronkowski.That GD Titans game is gonna bite us in the ass.
When you lose by multiple TDs it is hard to say that. They didn't come close to winning that game, or the Jacksonville game, or the Detroit game. It is what it is.That GD Titans game is gonna bite us in the ass.
Yes, but I don't take much out of the first few games of the year as I think BB views them as basically the preseason, since they don't play many regulars during the actual preseason, very much anyway. It doesn't shock me when they lose a game like the Lions one, but I kind of expect them to drop an easy one early. On the ledger yeah, it hurts, but coming off a six game winning streak and heading into a bye...come on boys.Lions game too. It's baffling why this team at times looks completely unprepared on both sindes of the ball on the road. Losing to the Lions and Titans while beating a very good Bears team on the road without Gronkowski.
It's hard to say losing to a team you shouldn't have might play a part in losing a bye and/or home field advantage? I'm not saying it was a tough loss, I'm saying it's game they shouldn't have lost for any reason; they played like shit in all three phases, coached like shit and looked like shit against a far inferior opponent and if they'd played even mediocre they'd likely be in the catbird seat right now.When you lose by multiple TDs it is hard to say that. They didn't come close to winning that game, or the Jacksonville game, or the Detroit game. It is what it is.
If you fold in @Jax, the three road games were lost by a cumulative score of 91-40.Lions game too. It's baffling why this team at times looks completely unprepared on both sides of the ball on the road. Losing to the Lions and Titans while beating a very good Bears team on the road without Gronkowski.
Semantics I guess. You say they shouldn't have lost for any reason, but they weren't even competitive. They shouldn't have won for any reason IMO.It's hard to say losing to a team you shouldn't have might play a part in losing a bye and/or home field advantage? I'm not saying it was a tough loss, I'm saying it's game they shouldn't have lost for any reason; they played like shit in all three phases, coached like shit and looked like shit against a far inferior opponent and if they'd played even mediocre they'd likely be in the catbird seat right now.
I'm not arguing that, they played like shit. On paper heading in they should have won, but yeah, they didn't show up. My point was I don't think it's hard to say that if we miss out on a bye or HFA, it's not hard to look back at that game and facepalm.Semantics I guess. You say they shouldn't have lost for any reason, but they weren't even competitive. They shouldn't have won for any reason IMO.
Maybe. If the Pats miss out on a bye it will be because they lose to the Steelers. If they beat the Steelers they will get a bye. I don't think the Tennessee game is going to affect that either way.I'm not arguing that, they played like shit. On paper heading in they should have won, but yeah, they didn't show up. My point was I don't think it's hard to say that if we miss out on a bye or HFA, it's not hard to look back at that game and facepalm.
Tom Brady is 19-3 at home in the playoffs, and you can doubtless name the losses. 2009 v BAL when the team wasn't very good, 2010 v NYJ when the team was fucking awesome and WTF just happened, and 2012 v BAL against a peer team that got QB pressure with 4 rushers. He's also 3-4 on the road in the playoffs, with all the losses but the 2006 AFCCG coming at Denver, and of course 5-3 in the super bowl. But as he'd say himself, those were all very different teams those years and it's hard if not impossible to gain any valuable lessons from it.I always worry come playoff time. It's football, and the ball bounces weirdly. Anything can happen. Obviously the Patriots at home would be the favorites over almost anyone. But still...we've seen them lose in the playoffs in Foxboro. And this is not an elite Patriots team.
That said, I cannot imagine anyone else would relish the thought of coming into Foxboro to face Brady. I know they may love the idea of knocking Goliath out of the playoffs, but honestly, how can any team really feel comfortable coming to Foxboro and facing Brady?
I think at worst, New England will be a very tough out, especially at home.
Well, point being, they could have lost to Steelers and still gotten a bye had they not pissed that game away. So of course the Tennessee game matters. They all do. And I don’t expect them to finish 6-0.Maybe. If the Pats miss out on a bye it will be because they lose to the Steelers. If they beat the Steelers they will get a bye. I don't think the Tennessee game is going to affect that either way.
Now if they go 13-3 and miss out on the 1 seed to the 14-2 Chiefs, I might agree with you. But honestly I'm not sure I would want them heading into the playoffs on a 13 game win streak anyway.
Not if the Steelers win out. Of course, they may not either. Whatever. I won't be looking back at a game the Pats lost by 20+ and lamenting it. YMMV.Well, point being, they could have lost to Steelers and still gotten a bye had they not pissed that game away. So of course the Tennessee game matters. They all do. And I don’t expect them to finish 6-0.
Why is finishing on a long win streak bad, by the way?
It would have affected it had they won at Tenn, lost @Pitts then won out — assuming a Pitts loss at NO. The latter parts of this equation may not be more likely than not, but they are pretty realistic.Maybe. If the Pats miss out on a bye it will be because they lose to the Steelers. If they beat the Steelers they will get a bye. I don't think the Tennessee game is going to affect that either way.
Now if they go 13-3 and miss out on the 1 seed to the 14-2 Chiefs, I might agree with you. But honestly I'm not sure I would want them heading into the playoffs on a 13 game win streak anyway.
So ending the season with a couple of losses like 2015 is preferred?Not if the Steelers win out. Of course, they may not either. Whatever. I won't be looking back at a game the Pats lost by 20+ and lamenting it. YMMV.
Finishing on a long win streak hasn't gone particularly well, at least when I think about 2007, 2010, and 2011.
Agreed, butSo ending the season with a couple of losses like 2015 is preferred?
I was never fond of the "They needed to lose one in 2007" argument as to why they lost the SB.
... these are terrible examples. The 2007 Giants started 6-2 and went 4-4 down the stretch. The 2012 Ravens started 9-2 and lost four of their last five.Playing well going into the playoffs (See Giants 2007 and Ravens 2012) is more a predictor than the "Did you lose sometime in December" theory.
2015 is also a horrible example. They went 2-4 down the stretch. 4-2 would have been perfectly fine. IIRC 3-3 would have even gotten them the 1 seed.So ending the season with a couple of losses like 2015 is preferred?
I was never fond of the "They needed to lose one in 2007" argument as to why they lost the SB. Playing well going into the playoffs (See Giants 2007 and Ravens 2012) is more a predictor than the "Did you lose sometime in December" theory.
Wasn’t that the dolphins game? An easy win and they came out in the most vanilla offense ever?2015 is also a horrible example. They went 2-4 down the stretch. 4-2 would have been perfectly fine. IIRC 3-3 would have even gotten them the 1 seed.
They seem to have caught Steelers Disease.But they're just 1-2 against crap teams (win vs Buf, losses to Det and Jax).
Like me, you may have forgotten Houston.Surprised this hasn't been bumped yet thanks to DEN doing us a huge favor.
Pats in the drivers seat for the #2 seed now and well positioned for the top seed if KC falls to either SD or @ SEA.
Game @ PIT will be big but NE can afford to lose it assuming PIT doesn't beat NO in NO
12/23 could bring early Christmas presents for NE fans if both KC loses @ SEA and PIT loses @ NO. Both certainly well within the realm of possibility.
Houston ain’t winning 13 in a row.Like me, you may have forgotten Houston.
Their schedule is baby shit soft, but they also have the lowest point differential of any of the contenders.Houston ain’t winning 13 in a row.
I’ll lay odds on Houston not winning out.Like me, you may have forgotten Houston.
PITT v. Chargers next week is no gimme either.Surprised this hasn't been bumped yet thanks to DEN doing us a huge favor.
Pats in the drivers seat for the #2 seed now and well positioned for the top seed if KC falls to either SD or @ SEA.
Game @ PIT will be big but NE can afford to lose it assuming PIT doesn't beat NO in NO
12/23 could bring early Christmas presents for NE fans if both KC loses @ SEA and PIT loses @ NO. Both certainly well within the realm of possibility.
Melvin Gordon looks to have hurt his MCL though.PITT v. Chargers next week is no gimme either.