QuinielaBox

Here we sit 10 and 5.........

Winning the game will probably get us the 3rd seed, because I firmly believe Kansas City will beat Cincy at Arrowhead......

That alters the Championship Trail quite a bit......

Home against Pittsburgh - Jan 8

At Denver Jan 15

At Indy (presumably) Jan 22

Super Bowl XL - Feb 4

If we rest and Nick Saban's crew beats us (I doubt very much we see Bruschi, Samuel, and other guys) and Nick Saban's team is motivated to get to 9 and 7 and continue building his fine program, we get the 4 seed.

Home against Jacksonville - Jan 8

At Indy - Jan 15

Pittsburgh, @Denver, or @Cincy - Jan 22

Super Bowl XL - Feb 5

I don't know, I think both trails are very challenging to the Patriots but depending on Bruschi's condition, winning SB XL is doable.

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Patriots winning just a game used to be cause for major celebration.

fleabassist1

id rather have the 4th seed personally...

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GO PATRIOTS!!!!

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Na_polian

That's too much. The Team's strategy should be simple:

1. Score more points than the 'phins on sunday.
2. Take stock of where they are as a team after that.

But maybe that's just me.

QuinielaBox

Is it in your nature to go out and root against the Patriots just so they can get a date with Jacksonville, instead of trying to tackle the Bus again?

Week 17 is the hardest week....... Especially, when you know you have to play the WC week and you know in your heart, you can beat anybody when you have to.

I say, they work on their running game and pass defense.

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Patriots winning just a game used to be cause for major celebration.

Ochmed Jones

There is no way BB lays down on Sunday. Offensively he's going to continue to work on the running game, clock control and execution on converting 3rd downs, while defensively playing semi vanilla schemes, unless we get a decent lead (like we did against the Jets) then he tones it down to total vanilla.

HoyaPats

Agreed. You can't worry about who they might be playing down the road in the playoffs, especially who they might be playing in the 2nd week of the playoffs. I'll take either Jacksonville or Pitt -- both are very beatable, especially at home.

With that said, I think the game plan will be very similar to this week: close to 50 rushing attempts, big time of possession advantage, and maybe some additional blitz packages to try out in advance of the playoffs. I'm also knocking on wood about the injury situation...

BruschiOnTap

Does Belichick care about having 3rd or 4th seed? I think he cares more about getting the team's engine banging on all cylinders, as evidenced by the last 3 or 4 games being total blow-outs (last night's score notwithstanding, they basically told the Jets to 'grab my pocket, beatch'). If the guys are confident and competent, they can easily handle Pittsburgh or J'ville and IMHO a road game at Indy is easier than at Denver where the air's thinner and the weather sucks, plus the addition of a frenzied crowd starved for a home play-off game.

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Mannings never prosper

oldrover

I think Pitt has a better chance of beating either Denver or Indy on the road than Cincy does, based on how they're playing. I'd bet on that, versus the chance that Cincy advances to the AFC Championship game.

patsox23

It's possible Belichick feels the Patriots have not played WELL ENOUGH for LONG ENOUGH to rest a bunch of guys. Also, we have so many injuries, it's not like we have tons of back-up options. My guess as to who will see limited action:

Brady, Dillon, Bruschi, Seymour, Geno?, Branch, Givens, Graham.

We'll see lots of Pass and Heath, Andre Davis, Fauria, Flutie, Mike Wright, Marquise Hill, maybe a little Cassell.

Fine with me.

mosi

If we are the 3rd or 4th seed, I don't think we will see Indy until the AFC championship game. If we are 4th, that sets up a Cinci-Pitt game that Pitt should win. That would send Pitt to Indy and the Pats to Denver. If Pitt can beat Indy (which I don't think they can) we will host them in the AFC championship game (after we beat Denver).

If we are 3rd, we will have to beat the Steelers and Denver to get to Indy. Cinci can beat the Jags but I don't think they have a shot against Indy.

Personally, I think the Jags are way overrated. I think they would loose to anybody in the playoffs, including teams from the NFC. Hence, for us, I think starting with them would be easier.