PatsFaninAZ

So, with the magic number being 1, it's probably not premature to start thinking about playoff matchups. Which teams out there do you least want to face in the playoffs? Most of the discussion has been on Indy and Pittsburgh. I'm not sure what to think of Pittsburgh yet. I'll leave them off my list for now, since we'll have more info later. They may very well be number 1.

1) Denver. Yup. Number 1. Surprising pick and maybe it's fashionable because they won last night, but they match up well with us. They have the ability to keep use clock and keep the offense off the field and can defense Moss with single coverage. Have we played a real scrambling QB this year? Not really. Gives them a dimension we won't really have too much experience with. We should beat them most all the time, and it's hard to take seriously a team that lost 60-0 at home to Detroit, but if the Pats play poorly, they might be able to hang with us.

2) Indy. They should probably be number 1. But they are banged up. Still, even though they've played poorly in their last two games, the defense has been great both games, and the defense was excellent for 50 minutes against us. We would and should be favorite. They showed more in the first game, and we still beat them on the road despite some bad calls. Still, you have to put them in the category of teams withing that "any given Sunday" scare category.

3) Jags. Tough, well coached team. Not much else to say.

4) San Diego. They have loads of talent, but are far less than the sum of their parts. Still, they have 6 games left to click. They are going to eventually click -- like turning on a light switch and will be a much better team. Will it be this year? Not sure. If it happens, though, they will play with emotion against us.

5) Tennessee. Really hard to imagine scenarios where they win, but Young is a very talented player and has to be respected. You'd think we'd play them, if at all, after the bye week, and giving BB two weeks to prepare for them should expose them.

Bottom line -- I'm rooting for Denver to lose. I don't really want any part of them this year. If it came down to Denver playing Indy in the first round and us getting the winner, I think, at the end of the day, I'd be hard pressed to root for Denver, and you need to be careful what you wish for. But watching them last night, they were the team that gave me some pause.

BradyManny

In a way, I think any of those teams can scare you in the playoffs, all of them have talent. Our history with Denver is certainly poor...but I think any of the Steelers, Colts, Broncos, Chargers in one sense is scary in that on any given Sunday they can win, but at the same time, I feel we're the best team. If we execute, we win. If we don't, they might beat us. That's what makes the NFL playoffs such a nerve-wracking experience unlike any of the other sporting playoffs.

PatsSox363804

I was thinking about this earlier. Denver has basically owned us for the history of the franchise, so if we were to go 19-0 I'd love to crush them on the way to it.

bakes781

The only team that scares me is a healthy Colts team as they have the only offense good enough to match our's.

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Pats726

Denver always HAS been a menace..so I say CRUSH THEM!! What is interesting is that they will have the weakest of the teams that win wild card weekend...the Jags will be physical...but they will be beatable..Tenn..Cleve???
Don't really care..but crushing them Broncos would be nice...

Prefect

Titans followed by the Jags. Even winning, the Patriots always seem to get a bit beat up injury wise when playing those teams.

Crowpointer

Love to see us beat Denver along the way. They were the ones squawking that they ended the Dynasty when they beat us in the playoffs. Make em a part of history.

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Found on home sundays harassing the visiting radio announcers from my seats in sec 132

denverpatsfan

I want no part of Denver. They could come to Foxboro and pose a real problem. They have a good shot at winning 4/5 finishing 9-7 and winning the division. Look at their schedule vs San Diego's.

Two big targets at tight end. Explosive running game. Great secondary. Improved D-line play. That damn bootleg and a QB just starting to come into his own.

They would be playing with house money at that point and would pull all the stops out.

Let Indy take care of them like they do every season.

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Fan since 85'
Ticketholder since 01'

xmarkd400x

richpats

It's not surprising at all. Denver is going to win the AFC West. The West champ is certain to be the 4 seed. I'd give them a good chance to beat Jax/Tenn/Clev in a playoff game at Invesco.

Maybe I'm alone, but if this Pats team is going to be truly special, it has to vanquish the Broncos. Whether we're undefeated or not, we've been plagued by this franchise for 20 years and we rarely get the best of them (3-16 since '84, that's horrible).

Just think of a playoff game where Brady torches the Broncos- that would be incredible, a historic night for Pats fans