The road to the playoffs, the only way in is the AFC East

[Sean Pa Patriot]

The Ravens are playing very well.. Now they could lose the next 2 , but who knows.. I think the best way for this team to go to the playoffs is the winning the afc east.. The Dolphins need to lose 1 more game, maybee San Fran or we might have to root for the jets the way things are going... But it looks like the Dolphins believe it or not will be the main competition.. I dont think the Bills could beat the jets, but stranger things have happened.. The Bills seem to be done for the year.. The Jets will lose 1 more game.. I know we dont have the horses like we did in the past but I just want this season to be decided in the last week... Lets make it to new years and let the chips fall where they may, the team is showing lots of heart with all the inj...

 

[brdmaverick]

I actually think there is a very good chance that the Ravens lose to both the Cowboys and Steelers down the stretch. That would open the door for the Pats.

 

[Rob0729]

I don't know if the way the Ravens played last night speaks to how they will play down the stretch. The Redskins after a strong start has fallen apart losing 4 of their last 5.

 

[vandergraafgenerator]

I actually think there is a very good chance that the Ravens lose to both the Cowboys and Steelers down the stretch. That would open the door for the Pats.

Not the Cowboys I saw on TV yesterday.
Totally banged up, totally crap.
I thought Romo was supposed to be a superstar QB.

We'd just better make sure we win our 3 games (I don't see us beating the Cards anyway) and let what happens happen.
We need to worry more about finishing 3rd in the AFC East than the Ravens losing.

 

[italian pat patriot]

it looke the same for me

and i think that we will reach them only with an 11-5 (not easy, nor impossible either)

 

[ScottieC]

Not the Cowboys I saw on TV yesterday.
Totally banged up, totally crap.
I thought Romo was supposed to be a superstar QB.

We'd just better make sure we win our 3 games (I don't see us beating the Cards anyway) and let what happens happen.
We need to worry more about finishing 3rd in the AFC East than the Ravens losing.

It's really an amazing transformation that the Cowboys went thru this year - On paper they should be one of the best teams in the Division, but each week they look like a team that's lucky to win or just plain bad.

Looks like Wade's "Get your Ring finger ready" speech will go down as one of the stupidest comments of all time - At least that's how I see it.

Lets hope they beat Baltimore.

BTW - I hate the Cowboys, probably a little more than the Jets. America's team my ass.

 

[Rob0729]

Not the Cowboys I saw on TV yesterday.
Totally banged up, totally crap.
I thought Romo was supposed to be a superstar QB.

We'd just better make sure we win our 3 games (I don't see us beating the Cards anyway) and let what happens happen.
We need to worry more about finishing 3rd in the AFC East than the Ravens losing.

I wouldn't count out the Cowboys yet. The Steelers have made a lot of teams look that bad. Granted that game might have been a backbreaker.

As for Cards, have you seen them play on the East Coast this year? Their defense doesn't travel to the East Coast. Are they going to play any harder now that they have wrapped up the division title? I wouldn't be surprised that any key player less than 100% for the Cards doesn't make the trip to Foxboro.

 

[vandergraafgenerator]

I wouldn't count out the Cowboys yet. The Steelers have made a lot of teams look that bad. Granted that game might have been a backbreaker.

As for Cards, have you seen them play on the East Coast this year? Their defense doesn't travel to the East Coast. Are they going to play any harder now that they have wrapped up the division title? I wouldn't be surprised that any key player less than 100% for the Cards doesn't make the trip to Foxboro.

To be honest the Steelers didn't look that great either but it's a D full of hard men and that always counts for plenty. The Cowboys seemed to have so many injuries and get so many penalties it was just unbelievable,totally overated.
Romo looks half fit and pretty poor.

As for the Cards, we'll see, we're looking pretty banged up ourselves,

 

[mosi]

If we win out and finish 11-5 and either the Jets or Dolphins win out and finish 11-5, would we loose the division to some tie-breaker?

If so, does anybody know what has to happen to win the division?

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

The really BIG game for the Pats this week is the Jets-Buffalo game. IF the Bills could somehow win this game, it would give the Jets another division loss. If this happens, then we actually root for the Jets against Miami.

In a three way tie, Miami is going to win, basically because they beat San Diego who has beaten both the Pats and the Jets. As long as it comes down to common opponents the Jets are screwed with losses to San Fran, Oakland, Denver.

If at the end the Pats are tied with the Jets and they have an identical division record as the Pats (let's assume everyone is 4-2 in the division), the Pats will win the tie because of a better record than the Jets versus common opponenets.

So the Pats could go 2-1 and Buffalo beats the Jets, and then the Jets beat Miami, the Pats will win the division.

Of course, all of this could change next week..........

 

[italian pat patriot]

The really BIG game for the Pats this week is the Jets-Buffalo game. IF the Bills could somehow win this game, it would give the Jets another division loss. If this happens, then we actually root for the Jets against Miami.

i totally agree with you: that will be a huge game for us too

 

[Pats726]

It's a bit of a mess....a 3 way tie I think is less likely at this point as either the Jets or Miami would have to loss a game BEFORE the last game....all 3 teams can not win out and tie at 11-5....Say the Pats win out...11-5 If the Jets win 3 as well, they have a better division record 5-1 vs the Pats 4-2...but say Miami wins out at 11-5. Head to head is the same and both are 4-2 in the division....Common opponents is the same are 11-3 (with loses to Steelers and Colts) the Fins would be 11-3 (losses to Hou and Balt) A three way tie will be harder since the Jets lost at SF. NOT good in many ways... I would NOT count the Ravens out of losing two, expecially with Pittsburgh playing tough and Dallas possibly needing a win to get a Wild Card. Dallas has teh G-Men and that is no easy game even with the Giants clinching. Even if they win, they are fighting Atl and Phila for a spot...they can't lose. So Wild Card is still avalable at 6... I think both will not be easy, especially with a banged up D even more so now.

 

[PatsSox363804]

I think seattle takes the Jets down in Seattle, just a feeling I have combined with their 0-3 West Coast record and if that happens we just need the Jets to beat Miami week 17 and we need to win out.

 

[Rob0729]

To be honest the Steelers didn't look that great either but it's a D full of hard men and that always counts for plenty. The Cowboys seemed to have so many injuries and get so many penalties it was just unbelievable,totally overated.
Romo looks half fit and pretty poor.

As for the Cards, we'll see, we're looking pretty banged up ourselves,

The Pats need to win the game. The Cards don't. The Pats won't rest players who are injured who could play. The Cards might especially since they are traveling across the country.

The Cowboys were also without Barber. That was a big loss for their offense especially against the Steelers' defense. They started Tashard Choice vs. the Steelers and until yesterday I didn't even know the guy existed.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Does anyone know what the "Strength of Victory" is? I have no idea? But it is the 5th tiebreaker.

 

[Rob0729]

If we win out and finish 11-5 and either the Jets or Dolphins win out and finish 11-5, would we loose the division to some tie-breaker?

If so, does anybody know what has to happen to win the division?

Based on my best guestimate.

The Pats lose the tiebreakers with either team at 11-5.

At 10-6, the Pats beat the Jets if they lose to either the Bills or Dolphins and the Dolphins if they lose to the Jets.

 

[Rob0729]

It's a bit of a mess....a 3 way tie I think is less likely at this point as either the Jets or Miami would have to loss a game BEFORE the last game....all 3 teams can not win out and tie at 11-5....Say the Pats win out...11-5 If the Jets win 3 as well, they have a better division record 5-1 vs the Pats 4-2...but say Miami wins out at 11-5. Head to head is the same and both are 4-2 in the division....Common opponents is where teh Pats have an advantage...they are 11-3 (with loses to Steelers and Colts) the Fins would be 10-4 (as they would have beaten KC and lost to Hou) A three way tie will be harder since teh Jets lost at SF. I would NOT count the Ravens out of losing two, expecially with Pittsburgh playing tough and Dallas possibly needing a win to get a Wild Card. Dallas has teh G-Men and that is no easy game even with the Giants clinching. Even if they win, they are fighting Atl and Phila for a spot...they can't lose. So Wild Card is still avalable at 6... I think both will not be easy, especially with a banged up D even more so now.

Actually, the Pats and Dolphins will have the same common opponent record in a 11-5 tiebreaker situation. Both teams lost to their two games based on last year record. The Pats lost to the Colts and Steelers and the Dolphins lost to the Texans and Ravens. The rest of the game are the same opponents. The Dolphins would win the conference record tiebreaker.

The Pats can't win the tiebreaker with either team at 11-5.

 

[Rob0729]

Does anyone know what the "Strength of Victory" is? I have no idea? But it is the 5th tiebreaker.

The sum total of points you beat your opponents by. This is why the cries about running up the score crap is BS. Running up the score can play a factor in the tiebreakers.

 

[102 Pat]

With the Cardinals clinching the NFC West yesterday (wow, did I really just type that?), adds some intrigue to there game against the Pats. Do they rest Warner and other players?

 

[Pats726]

Based on my best guestimate.

The Pats lose the tiebreakers with either team at 11-5.

At 10-6, the Pats beat the Jets if they lose to either the Bills or Dolphins and the Dolphins if they lose to the Jets.

If the Jets win out...it will be because the Jets have a better division record 5-1 vs the Pats 4-2.....if the Fins win out they would get it because head to head, division records and common games are all tied...Miami has a better Conference record...NOT looking good actually....if it is up to that last game..and all teans have won games..the Pats CAN NOT win the division...so they need the Fins or Jets to lose one...and the team that loses that game must win in the last game... SO if the Jets lose say to Seattle...they need to beat the Fins in the last game.. Frankly..it doesn't look good...BUT the Ravens COULD lose two...and THAT might be the way...