ivanvamp

Don't know (or care) about Houston. But New England should (and will) play all-out for the win. HFA throughout the playoffs is a huge deal. When I say "all-out" I don't necessarily mean they'll rush Light or Mankins back. They'll probably try to get through it with the line that finished up the game this past week. But I wouldn't expect Brady or Welker or Gronk or any of those guys to rest, unless the game is a huge blowout.

MoLewisrocks

Somehow I don't see Bill handing out hall passes after what he went through with this team last week. Football players play football, and the goal is to play it at a consistently high level. They win and they have a bye week to rest up without rusting and home field throughout. Baltimore has struggled on the road this season and Pittsburgh desperately needs a bye. The smart money move is to due whatever it takes to insure that Baltimore eventually has to travel and Pittsburgh gets no break or rest. If guys are genuinely injured Bill won't play them. But this team needs the work as much as Houston does and both teams need to build some confidence and consistency and momentum heading into the post season.

People forget that there are only a handful of players on this team who know what it takes to win it all. And there are none in Houston. What it takes is commitment.

BradfordPatsFan

Tennessee still has an outside shot at getting that number 6 seed but it all starts with them beating Houston on Sunday. They would still need more help from cincy and they NYJ but Houston could feel better about Tennessee than Cincinnati and let them win in an attempt to knock Cincy out and sneak a familiar, divisional opponent in for their first round game.

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Ochmed Jones

I think New England and Houston approach this week like any other week. Players that can play,will play.

Houston is absolutely amazing to do what they have done while missing so many key players.

Our goal for Buffalo should be to pound the rock, if our O line is healthy enough and avoid turning the ball over.

Ron Sellers

I can see tanking if it was for the purpose of setting up a preferred matchup in the following round. For example losing to Miami in the Doug Flutie drop kick game set up the Pats to play at Jacksonville rather than elsewhere (at Pittsburgh?) the next week in the wild card round that year. But that was different because there was not the unknown variables of (a) not knowing who the #6 seed will be, and more importantly (b) not knowing what the outcome of the first round games will be.

Tennessee needs a lot more to get into the playoffs than to just beat the Texans and also have the Bengals lose to the Ravens. In addition to that they also need for the Jets to win at Miami, plus have either Oakland lose to the Chargers or the Broncos lose to the Chiefs.

Not a single one of those games is a lock; therefore there's no way I would assume Tennessee will be in the playoffs even if they do beat the Texans. Therefore there is no way that the Pats should assume the Titans will be the number six seed, even if they know Houston will be resting as many starters as possible.

mgteich

bump

I agree that the players who play will play like the professionals they are. They will try to win.

The question is not whether players will play to win.

The question is how cautious Belichick will be in resting folks that could use the rest.

Will Branch or Welker be active?

Will Chung or Spikes be active?

Brady'sButtBoy

Baltimore is 8-0 at home and 3-4 on the road. And you're not sure the number one seed is worth fighting for?

Plus, as number one we'd get the number 6 seed if they were to upset Houston, and that is a very possible scenario no matter they be Oakland, Tenn, Cincy, or the Jets. That would be a heck of a good start to the playoffs for the Pats and the many youngsters they have.

As number two seed our first game will almost certainly be Pitt. I'd rather Pitt and Balt. beat each other up a third time this year before we see either of them, and that's exactly what will happen if Balt ends up number two and Pitt wins their first game - assuming Houston is upset.

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mosi

Darn right. I actually think the Ravens may lose in Cinci and Pitt will actually win the division. The Pats need to win and lock up the 1st seed.

NinjaZX6R

Yes he did.

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PatsDeb

I never like the idea of resting up and throwing a game. I think it gives a team bad karma going forward (see Colts in Peyton's heyday). We should strive to win to make a strong push for the playoffs and to get the number 1 seed.