Possible Scenario: Every AFC East Team Finishes 10-6

[JoeSixPat]

Interesting that there's actually the possibility that every AFC East team could fininsh 10-6 as each AFC East team is playing each other 3 more times, and each AFC east team needing no more than 2 Division wins, given each's realistic scenario of winning most of their non-division games.

The Pats could do it even without even beating another Division team (not that I expect or want that to happen, especially given tie breakers) having a stretch of 4 non-division games, three of which look very winnable

The Jets could finish 10-6 as well conceivably without another division win but more likely would do it by beating one or two division opponents with a tougher non-division schedule.

I could definately see the Dolphins finishing 10-6, getting their 5 games but having a pretty easy schedule with Oakland, San Fran, St. Louis, and KC potentially providing 4 of the 5 wins

And Buffalo, also at 5-4 needing 5 games still looks to have a decent shot at winning the next 3 at Cleveland, KC and San Fran - but would need 2 more division wins assuming they can't win at Mile High.

Just a quirky possibility given the anything can happen world of the NFL but I wonder if that's ever happened before? I'm not even going to fathom all the ins and outs of the schedule and tie breakers at this point... just interesting that at past the halfway mark, and given the teams each is playing, I could see it happening.


Patriots 6-3

Thu, Nov 13th, 2008 NY_Jets 08:15 PM Gillette Stadium
Sun, Nov 23rd, 2008 at Miami 01:00 PM Dolphin Stadium
Sun, Nov 30th, 2008 Pittsburgh 04:15 PM Gillette Stadium
Sun, Dec 7th, 2008 at Seattle 08:15 PM Qwest Field
Sun, Dec 14th, 2008 at Oakland 04:15 PM McAfee Coliseum
Sun, Dec 21st, 2008 Arizona 01:00 PM Gillette Stadium
Sun, Dec 28th, 2008 at Buffalo 01:00 PM Ralph Wilson Stadium

Jets 6-3

Thu, Nov 13th, 2008 at New_England 08:15 PM Gillette Stadium
Sun, Nov 23rd, 2008 at Tennessee 01:00 PM LP Field
Sun, Nov 30th, 2008 Denver 01:00 PM Meadowlands
Sun, Dec 7th, 2008 at San_Francisco 04:05 PM Candlestick Park
Sun, Dec 14th, 2008 Buffalo 01:00 PM Meadowlands
Sun, Dec 21st, 2008 at Seattle 04:05 PM Qwest Field
Sun, Dec 28th, 2008 Miami 01:00 PM Meadowlands

Miami 5-4

Sun, Nov 16th, 2008 Oakland 01:00 PM Dolphin Stadium
Sun, Nov 23rd, 2008 New_England 01:00 PM Dolphin Stadium
Sun, Nov 30th, 2008 at St._Louis 01:00 PM Edward Jones Dome
Sun, Dec 7th, 2008 at Buffalo 04:05 PM Rogers Centre - Toronto, Ontar
Sun, Dec 14th, 2008 San_Francisco 01:00 PM Dolphin Stadium
Sun, Dec 21st, 2008 at Kansas_City 01:00 PM Arrowhead Stadium
Sun, Dec 28th, 2008 at NY_Jets 01:00 PM Meadowlands

Buffalo 5-4

Mon, Nov 17th, 2008 Cleveland 08:30 PM Ralph Wilson Stadium
Sun, Nov 23rd, 2008 at Kansas_City 01:00 PM Arrowhead Stadium
Sun, Nov 30th, 2008 San_Francisco 01:00 PM Ralph Wilson Stadium
Sun, Dec 7th, 2008 Miami 04:05 PM Rogers Centre - Toronto, Ontar
Sun, Dec 14th, 2008 at NY_Jets 01:00 PM Meadowlands
Sun, Dec 21st, 2008 at Denver 04:05 PM Invesco Field at Mile High
Sun, Dec 28th, 2008 New_England 01:00 PM Ralph Wilson Stadium

 

[Gunnails]

That scenario could be fun, and a nail biter.

Jets Vs Fish, and Pats Vs Bills in week 17 could be very important games.

 

[xmarkd400x]

Pats and Jets are 6-3. Each would need to go 4-3 down the stretch.

Dolphins and Bills are 5-4. Each would need to go 5-2 down the stretch.

In addition, their wins/losses would have to be almost planned out.

Possible? Yes. However, I doubt that result is even in the discussion at week 13 (3/4 way into the season).

 

[stinkypete]

Pats and Jets are 6-3. Each would need to go 4-3 down the stretch.

Dolphins and Bills are 5-4. Each would need to go 5-2 down the stretch.

In addition, their wins/losses would have to be almost planned out.

Possible? Yes. However, I doubt that result is even in the discussion at week 13 (3/4 way into the season).

I think it is not just possible but likely that 1-2 games separate first place from last place in this division. I see us going 11-5 and taking first. The Jets just might match that record, but we will take the head to head in that series. Miami, honestly, might steal 10 wins with their weak schedule. All 3 teams are playoff contenders, IMO.

I was not high on Buffalo from the beginning. I don't think they are there yet on offense and defense. I still see them winning 9 games even if they fade.

 

[xmarkd400x]

I think it is not just possible but likely that 1-2 games separate first place from last place in this division. I see us going 11-5 and taking first. The Jets just might match that record, but we will take the head to head in that series. Miami, honestly, might steal 10 wins with their weak schedule. All 3 teams are playoff contenders, IMO.

I was not high on Buffalo from the beginning. I don't think they are there yet on offense and defense. I still see them winning 9 games even if they fade.

I agree with everything you said. I don't think it stands directly in the face of my opinion. I just don't think three 10-6 teams will happen. An 8-8, 9-7, 10-6, and 11-5 is more likely imo.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I agree with everything you said. I don't think it stands directly in the face of my opinion. I just don't think three 10-6 teams will happen. An 8-8, 9-7, 10-6, and 11-5 is more likely imo.

Every team has exactly the same chance statistically to go 10-6 as they have to go 8-8, 9-7 etc.

Statistically having them ALL finish with the same record is a different matter - but the scheduled themselves make a 10-6 finish very realistic for each and every team - and since they aren't really dependent on their division rivals to "lose" to help them achieve a 10-6 record, there's any number of scenarios that could take place to see each finish 10-6.

I'll be surprised if it happens, but there's really no reason to think that any particular team doesn't have a good chance to finish with that record at this point.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I'll be surprised if it happens, but there's really no reason to think that any particular team doesn't have a good chance to finish with that record at this point.

Don't underestimate that the Jets have to make two cross country trips in 14 days sandwiched around a Bills and Dolphins game... I'm glad Kraft et al asked for the Pats' games to be back to back to cut down on travel....

 

[JoeSixPat]

Don't underestimate that the Jets have to make two cross country trips in 14 days sandwiched around a Bills and Dolphins game... I'm glad Kraft et al asked for the Pats' games to be back to back to cut down on travel....

Did they actually "ask" for that? I've not heard of the NFL taking requests in the past, let alone honoring them - that'd be a hornets nest with all teams making similar requests.

 

[alamo]

Did they actually "ask" for that? I've not heard of the NFL taking requests in the past, let alone honoring them - that'd be a hornets nest with all teams making similar requests.

It has indeed been reported that before the season many teams make requests as to scheduling preferences, and the NFL will try to accomodate them (though obviously not always possible). The networks also make scheduling requests (it's no accident that Pats-Colts has become the same week each year). The fact the Patriots' four West Coast games are two back-to-back pairs is definitely the result of the Patriots' request.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Did they actually "ask" for that? I've not heard of the NFL taking requests in the past, let alone honoring them - that'd be a hornets nest with all teams making similar requests.

Colts have asked that a road Monday night game not be followed by another road game.

 

[Cartwright]

I think all at 9-7 is much more likely. In which case, 1 playoff team, and no wildcards, which would be justice, seeing as this division has the weakest schedule the NFL has ever seen

 

[Fencer]

I'll be surprised if it happens, but there's really no reason to think that any particular team doesn't have a good chance to finish with that record at this point.

True. But while the probabilities of the 4 teams each finishing 10-6 aren't exactly independent of each other, they aren't all that highly correlated either. So the chance of all four events happening is quite low, since the probability of any one team going EXACTLY 10-6 is surely less than 1/3.