The Houston game

[upstater1]

The teams in the AFC Wild Card race: the Ravens and Jets have their destiny in their hands, they're followed by Denver, Houston and, finally, Pittsburgh.

Bengals could throw game to Jets and play them in the 1st round of the playoffs.

I don't think the Ravens have their destiny in their hands. They hold a head-to-head tiebreaker with Denver and Pitt, BUT...

...if Houston ties with them, then that head-to-head tiebreaker is irrelevant. Den would get in before Balt.

 

[Triggerfish]

Yup, that's another scenerio that could help us...a Baltimore loss. But I SERIOUSLY doubt that will happen with Baltimore essentially playing for their life too against Oakland.

 

[102 Pat]

I think this could be like the Patriots/Dolphins game a few years ago on New Years Day (the dropkick game), where the "urban legend" of Belichick telling Cassel to overthrow Bam Childress in the end zone during the 2pt conversion that would of forced overtime. By that point in the game, losing would get the Jaguars instead of somebody else...maybe the Steelers?

 

[ramon]

Belichek will not try to manipulate the results by losing...that is not his way

It is dumb to try and manipulate results to keep an individual team out of the playoffs. This team has not played consistently enough over the season to merit taking a game off.

Patriots need the momentum BIG TIME heading into the playoffs. That shot of confidence is their best chance to ride deep into the dance.

If the Patriots have momentum and confidence the rest will take care of itself.

 

[upstater1]

Belichek will not try to manipulate the results by losing...that is not his way

It is dumb to try and manipulate results to keep an individual team out of the playoffs. This team has not played consistently enough over the season to merit taking a game off.

Patriots need the momentum BIG TIME heading into the playoffs. That shot of confidence is their best chance to ride deep into the dance.

If the Patriots have momentum and confidence the rest will take care of itself.

Patriots though have injuries. Neal, vollmer, Light, Moss, welker, wilfork, Warren, Mayo, Jarvis Green, Pryor. All these guys could use the day off. And Banta-Cain too.

That's the thing. If you're going to pull guys like Moss so that they can heal up a bit, do you want to risk leaving Brady out there? Without his best receiver? Without his best OL?

Like I said, a lot of these guys are playing injured and could be that much better with a week to heal up.

 

[Ryan]

With how crazy the playoff picture is this year, and with the game being at 1 on sunday, we aren't going to know who's in and who's out, so losing on purpose to avoid certain people is pretty much out the window. I'd like to see the starters play for a little while and for us to try and win the game. 11 wins and the 3 seed would be nice. If we have a decent lead in the 3rd quarter, then the big names should come out.

 

[upstater1]

With how crazy the playoff picture is this year, and with the game being at 1 on sunday, we aren't going to know who's in and who's out, so losing on purpose to avoid certain people is pretty much out the window. I'd like to see the starters play for a little while and for us to try and win the game. 11 wins and the 3 seed would be nice. If we have a decent lead in the 3rd quarter, then the big names should come out.

Actually, a Texans win knocks the Steelers out.

 

[wistahpatsfan]

The teams in the AFC Wild Card race: the Ravens and Jets have their destiny in their hands, they're followed by Denver, Houston and, finally, Pittsburgh.

Bengals could throw game to Jets and play them in the 1st round of the playoffs.

The Jets offense is aweful, despite their "win" yesterday. They could lose even if the Bengals try to throw the game. A team of Cincy scrubs has a chance of beating the Jets 10-7.

 

[PatriotsInGA]

Patriots though have injuries. Neal, vollmer, Light, Moss, welker, wilfork, Warren, Mayo, Jarvis Green, Pryor. All these guys could use the day off. And Banta-Cain too.

That's the thing. If you're going to pull guys like Moss so that they can heal up a bit, do you want to risk leaving Brady out there? Without his best receiver? Without his best OL?

Like I said, a lot of these guys are playing injured and could be that much better with a week to heal up.

Big Vince has had two/ two and a half games to get healthy. He's the last guy that needs a day off right now.

 

[TedyB54]

I think this could be like the Patriots/Dolphins game a few years ago on New Years Day (the dropkick game), where the "urban legend" of Belichick telling Cassel to overthrow Bam Childress in the end zone during the 2pt conversion that would of forced overtime. By that point in the game, losing would get the Jaguars instead of somebody else...maybe the Steelers?

Almost right


That year, the 6 playoff teams were already set going into the last game. Pitt was the 6 seed, Jags were the 5th. If the Pats won against Miami, they would have finished 3rd and hosted Pitt in the WC. By losing, they fell to 4th and got the Jags in the WC. Bengals got the 3rd seed and had to play the Steelers, the end result being Palmer's knee getting blown out.

 

[upstater1]

Big Vince has had two/ two and a half games to get healthy. He's the last guy that needs a day off right now.

Why is he the last guy? I don't get it. He's injured.

 

[JSn]

Momentum > Rest = Giants SB WIN

Momentum < Rest = Patriots SB LOSS

It's hard to say what is the best course of action. But I kind of feel this team is getting better as a group each week. It would be a shame to let them skip the last class before finals start, even if it's just review.

 

[Mack Herron]

Momentum > Rest = Giants SB WIN

Momentum < Rest = Patriots SB LOSS

It's hard to say what is the best course of action. But I kind of feel this team is getting better as a group each week. It would be a shame to let them skip the last class before finals start, even if it's just review.

It is not one or the other. Guys who are in the infirmary should stay home and get well. Healthy guys show up for class to show they know the material. Once that is demonstrated, they can take the rest of the day off.

 

[everlong]

Out of Cincy, Houston, Miami, NYJ, Baltimore, Denver and Pitt the Steelers are the only team out of that bunch who can go into Indy and beat Indy. That would be important to us since I believe we can beat SD or Indy but having to beat them on the road back to back weeks is a tall task to say the least. Hosting the Steelers looks much better to me.

 

[micronin127]

I think that Cincy is going to throw the game to the Jets, meaning there is no way for us to 'choose our opponent'.

Most likely: Baltimore is the #5 seed and NY Jets are perhaps the worst #6 seed in history getting the red carpet treatment from the Colts and the Bengals.

We get the Jets... again. I like our chances in a bad weather game Brady versus Sanchez.

San Diego will be tough, but playing to lose jsut to try to avoid them might yield a much harder road in the end:

Baltimore, @Indy, @San Diego

 

[upstater1]

Out of Cincy, Houston, Miami, NYJ, Baltimore, Denver and Pitt the Steelers are the only team out of that bunch who can go into Indy and beat Indy. That would be important to us since I believe we can beat SD or Indy but having to beat them on the road back to back weeks is a tall task to say the least. Hosting the Steelers looks much better to me.

I'm not sure what you're saying here.

For the Steelers to play Indy, they would beat the Patriots first.

so the Patriots would be out of the playoffs.

 

[emoney_33]

Momentum > Rest = Giants SB WIN

Momentum < Rest = Patriots SB LOSS

It's hard to say what is the best course of action. But I kind of feel this team is getting better as a group each week. It would be a shame to let them skip the last class before finals start, even if it's just review.

But we had a bye in all 3 superbowl winning seasons.

 

[upstater1]

I think that Cincy is going to throw the game to the Jets, meaning there is no way for us to 'choose our opponent'.

Most likely: Baltimore is the #5 seed and NY Jets are perhaps the worst #6 seed in history getting the red carpet treatment from the Colts and the Bengals.

We get the Jets... again. I like our chances in a bad weather game Brady versus Sanchez.

San Diego will be tough, but playing to lose jsut to try to avoid them might yield a much harder road in the end:

Baltimore, @Indy, @San Diego

We're not playing the Jets. It's impossible. The Jets get the #5 seed with a win, and we can't be the #4 seed if Cincy loses.

We get Baltimore if Baltimore beats Oakland no matter what happens in any other game including our own.

I think Cincy will play the Jets tough and WIN. Why? Because Cincy can imagine the Patriots beating Indy in the first game, and then hosting the Patriots for the AFCCG.

 

[Brady_12]

Momentum > Rest = Giants SB WIN

Momentum < Rest = Patriots SB LOSS

It's hard to say what is the best course of action. But I kind of feel this team is getting better as a group each week. It would be a shame to let them skip the last class before finals start, even if it's just review.

Agreed. Let them play. I see real improvement over the last few weeks and I think it would be a waste to sit them when there is still room to get better. Especially on Offense.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

hey guys, if the jets win they are in. if the ravens win, they too are in. the ravens play the raiders, which they should win even though it's in Oakland. The jets are playing Cincy who may rest their starters. Cincy will know whether they have a shot at the 3rd seed since the game is on Sunday Night...by then they'll know whether the pats won or not. In addition, Denver plays KC so they may have a better shot than the steelers. Thus with the ravens, jets and broncos with better shots at getting into the playoffs I just don't see a realistic chance for the steelers to make it.

It would be in our best interest to win on Sunday and not give any chance to the steelers of making it. If we win, Cincy rests their players and squeezes the steelers out.