Originally Posted by PatsWickedPissah

I feel that way this season, too.
In some past seasons I've obsessed with seed and bye scenarios, which rarely turned out as I expected. Rather than torture myself, I'm in the mode of watching each week's game enjoying it for itself and savoring the priceless personal lifetime unique productive years of our HOF QB and HC.

Originally Posted by Salva135

That's the only way to think about it, and from this point forward. Parity is here, the Pats are a great team but also vulnerable, every game is a dogfight, as it should be. We've been too spoiled with back-to-back 13+ win seasons. Perhaps some players have been, too. This season is very tempering for Pats fans, and I think it's a good thing. There's no team in the league right now whose fans are assuming Super Bowl, and we aren't any different.

But we're also a great team with playmakers and winning experience. So I'm basically optimistic but not arrogant anymore.

Originally Posted by PatsFanSince74

Huh? And which, do tell, is the one game that we lose? One of the four remaining Division games, including @MIA, where we have had a tough time over the years, despite doing well there recently? Houston or the Forty Niners, a combined 13--3? Of course, we could never lose to the 5--3 Colts...I mean that would be like losing to the now 4--4 Cardinals or something like that...

[edited to correct an error]

Originally Posted by aluminum seats

Relax, buddy.

Just my opinion, based on the Pats stellar success rate in the second half of the season over the past ten years. You think it's a "gritty 10-6 like" season. That's fine. I would be very surprised with a 5-3 second half.

Originally Posted by PatsFanSince74

That's a leap! Read my post. I only implied that losing just one of the remaining games was improbable, not that any particular game was "unwinnable." I think I'll stand by that, even though it means that my Pre-Season Prediction of a 12--4 season would be toast.

I'm not smart enough to predict every game, but I look at the remaining schedule and say, "Hey, 6--2 would be damn good and I'd be resigned to but not ecstatic about 5--3, the Division and a number three seed. Just trying to stay in touch with what might reasonably be construed as realistic. I thought 12--4 was realistic back in August, despite the proliferation of 15--1 and 14--2 predictions; I was wrong, but not as far off as others.

And, BTW, just because I don't think they will win every game doesn't mean I'm not hoping they do. That's an important distinction that sometimes gets lost in homeric feeding frenzies out here.

Originally Posted by AndyJohnson

I think 6-2 is the worst case and would require losing back to back home games.

Originally Posted by PatsFanSince74

Thanks. I appreciate being corrected on facts, when I have them wrong as I did in this case.

And, BTW, I don't know whether I'm more impressed by the accuracy of your predictions to date or your guts to put them in your sig where everyone can see if you are right or wrong! You have my R-E-S-P-E-C-T dude! The 14--2 and 15--1 preseason prognosticators are all in hiding. BTW...I hope you bet that set in Vegas at the beginning of the season. You could be in for a very big payday.

Originally Posted by aluminum seats

Relax, buddy.

Just my opinion, based on the Pats stellar success rate in the second half of the season over the past ten years. You think it's a "gritty 10-6 like" season. That's fine. I would be very surprised with a 5-3 second half.