The Chiefs are the only team to embarrass the Pats in the past three years, and they were a formidable playoff opponent last year, even if the Pats were clearly the better team. Good that there's no chance of playing them in KC.
It's unknown how these Raiders would match up with the Pats, but there's a general sense (borne out by their record in close games) that the Raiders aren't quite as good as their record. Obviously, they're a good team -- any given Sunday, they've got a fighting chance to beat the Patriots. And they're the only team the Pats could potentially face on the road, which would clearly be the worst-case matchup. But if the game will be in Foxborough either way, I'd rather see the Pats play the Raiders than the Chiefs.
Not sure why any of you are scared of the Steelers. They likely won't make the playoffs if they don't beat Baltimore on Christmas, and if they do they're hardly a lock to beat Miami or Denver, even at Heinz. They'll be a distinct underdog in the Divisional Round, if they get that far. I guess we'd be a less desirable opponent than the Dolphins or Broncos, so there's that.
It's unknown how these Raiders would match up with the Pats, but there's a general sense (borne out by their record in close games) that the Raiders aren't quite as good as their record. Obviously, they're a good team -- any given Sunday, they've got a fighting chance to beat the Patriots. And they're the only team the Pats could potentially face on the road, which would clearly be the worst-case matchup. But if the game will be in Foxborough either way, I'd rather see the Pats play the Raiders than the Chiefs.
Not sure why any of you are scared of the Steelers. They likely won't make the playoffs if they don't beat Baltimore on Christmas, and if they do they're hardly a lock to beat Miami or Denver, even at Heinz. They'll be a distinct underdog in the Divisional Round, if they get that far. I guess we'd be a less desirable opponent than the Dolphins or Broncos, so there's that.