Pats now control their destiny

[Fencer]

I guess the same was true last week and the week before, but anyhow:

If the Pats win out, they will win the Super Bowl.

Specifically, if they win out in the regular season, they will at least get the wild card nod above whichever of Baltimore or Pitt doesn't win their division. Indy, as I write this, could get the fifth seed, but the Pats would be assured of making the playoffs.

Of course, that should be no surprise -- very few, if any, teams have ever missed the playoffs finishing 12-4 or better. Indeed, I think it's exactly none, with next to none missing out at 11-5.

 

[cstjohn17]

I guess the same was true last week and the week before, but anyhow:

If the Pats win out, they will win the Super Bowl.

Specifically, if they win out in the regular season, they will at least get the wild card nod above whichever of Baltimore or Pitt doesn't win their division. Indy, as I write this, could get the fifth seed, but the Pats would be assured of making the playoffs.

Of course, that should be no surprise -- very few, if any, teams have ever missed the playoffs finishing 12-4 or better. Indeed, I think it's exactly none, with next to none missing out at 11-5.

Is that really true? Baltimore has a better conference record and Indy has a head to head tie breaker, by my math the Pats are third in the wildcard race.

 

[ausbacker]

The best we can do is win each of the remaining games and not worry about the results of other games.

The Patriots control their destiny.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Is that really true? Baltimore has a better conference record and Indy has a head to head tie breaker, by my math the Pats are third in the wildcard race.

Yeah, technically we don't unless the Chargers come back on the Colts right now. Which is an uneasing thought, but Baltimore has 3 very tough games left.

 

[SVN]

Is that really true? Baltimore has a better conference record and Indy has a head to head tie breaker, by my math the Pats are third in the wildcard race.

i also thought so...

 

[LoganMankinsPancakeBlocks]

Is that really true? Baltimore has a better conference record and Indy has a head to head tie breaker, by my math the Pats are third in the wildcard race.

Yes, it's true. If the Patriots win out, it means they have given the Steelers their 4th loss. Plus the Ravens and Steelers meet in week 15 and one of them will have to lose, giving the 2nd place team in the AFC North 5 losses while the Patriots would be 12-4.

Or even if they tie in week 15, they'd still be 11-4-1 and the Patriots would finish ahead of them. The Patriots control their own destiny despite not currently holding a playoff birth.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Yes, it's true. If the Patriots win out, it means they have given the Steelers their 4th loss. Plus the Ravens and Steelers meet in week 15 and one of them will have to lose, giving the 2nd place team in the Central 5 losses while the Patriots would be 12-4.

Damn, you're right. Didn't even consider the Steelers.

 

[Fencer]

Yes, it's true. If the Patriots win out, it means they have given the Steelers their 4th loss. Plus the Ravens and Steelers meet in week 15 and one of them will have to lose, giving the 2nd place team in the AFC North 5 losses while the Patriots would be 12-4.

My reasoning exactly.

(I didn't go on to think about the tie option as you did. )

 

[LoganMankinsPancakeBlocks]

I'm confused - how do the Patriots pull ahead of Baltimore and Indy if they too continue to win?

They don't...they pull ahead of the Steelers.

 

[JoeSixPat]

They don't...they pull ahead of the Steelers.

Gotcha ... with the Ravens winning their division.

 

[mesoslo]

Remember when the colts won the superbowl, and during that playoff run their run defense was really good.

I see that in the patriots this year. If their run defense continues to be strong, and matt cassel plays like he is the best kept secret in the NFL, I really like the idea of the patriots going deep into the playoffs.

The patriots are ahead of the Jets in the AFC for rushing at 7th, if the ravens dont make it in the playoffs, the patriots might go into the playoffs as the best rushing team in the AFC, especially with a mobile QB like Cassel. So mobile QB with the top rushing offense in the AFC combined with a strong run defense and Cassel putting up +350 yard games the patriots could be the dark horse and upset the titans and the jets.

 

[QuinielaBox]

Remember when the colts won the superbowl, and during that playoff run their run defense was really good.

I see that in the patriots this year. If their run defense continues to be strong, and matt cassel plays like he is the best kept secret in the NFL, I really like the idea of the patriots going deep into the playoffs.

The patriots are ahead of the Jets in the AFC for rushing at 7th, if the ravens dont make it in the playoffs, the patriots might go into the playoffs as the best rushing team in the AFC, especially with a mobile QB like Cassel. So mobile QB with the top rushing offense in the AFC combined with a strong run defense and Cassel putting up +350 yard games the patriots could be the dark horse and upset the titans and the jets.

The Patriots beating the Titans and the Jets would be no upset. Beating the Giants in SB XLIII? That is another story. I think the Patriots get in if they win their remaining AFC opponents and beat either Seattle (should happen) or home against Arizona (BIG GAME). Jets don't have many possible losses on their plate except against Buffalo or Miami.

I'll take my chances on the Patriots this year to make it to Tampa unless they end up in Baltimore who has been killing everyone except the Giants.

 

[Wax Frog]

Jets don't have many possible losses on their plate except against Buffalo or Miami.

One good lick on Grandpa could change that. I haven't given up.