Kirwan says Bengals want #3 seed more than the Patriots do

[MaizeNBlue]

I may be in the minority but even today I still believe BB tanked the last regualr season game in 2005 vs. Miami with Cassel at QB so that they could play Jax IIRC

Back then, I believe the game result would not change anything, in terms of seeding, and Jags also secured the seed. So to speak, really nothing to play for.
This time, it is different. Pats do have something to play for, and that is #3 vs #4. I, personally, believe that is a huge motivation to play best football.

But, we will see...

 

[jmt57]

So Houston wins and Jets lose what is the most likely WC scenario? (Assuming Balto makes it easier and wins.) Denver? Houston? Pitt?

If Houston wins and the Jets lose, then there's a 50% chance the Pats play the Ravens, 25% chance the Pats play the Broncos, and 25% chance the Pats play the Texans. However if you then add in Baltimore winning, then it can only be the Pats vs the Ravens.

Also, a Bengals win/Jets loss does not eliminate Pittsburgh, but it does make it more difficult for the Steelers. They could still get in by beating Miami, Houston losing to the Pats, and Baltimore losing to Oakland.

For Pittsburgh, a Pats loss to Houston is actually even worse for them than a Bengals loss to the Jets is. If the Texans win, the Steelers only hope is to beat Miami, Denver loses to KC, Baltimore loses to Oakland, and then the Jets lose to the Bengals.

 

[reflexblue]

Id like to play indy again i think the team would too. I think with a healthy d-line we could beat the dolts. i have since the game in November. I'd bet money the team thinks so to, and wants a shot at revenge.

 

[dhamz]

I'm not sure the Bengals are playing well enough that they need to be worrying about their 2nd playoff game. I think any of the teams competing for the WC spots are no worse than 50/50 bets going into Cincy that first weekend.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

The Chargers are hot, but the Colts have been begging to lose all season. In fact, the Colts were the most unimpressive undefeated team I've ever seen until they tanked it last Sunday. It's going to be funny how a team with so much momentum (Colts), will lose it so quickly because their organization loves to pull players prematurely. Haven't they learned anything in the past? Although the Pats have played some scrubs, they're slowly getting better and gaining momentum for the most important part of the season - the playoffs. If the Pats could just play defense for 60 minutes, they can easily beat the Colts because the Pats have the potential to score on anybody.

 

[reflexblue]

the chargers are hot, but the colts have been begging to lose all season. In fact, the colts were the most unimpressive undefeated team i've ever seen until they tanked it last sunday. It's going to be funny how a team with so much momentum (colts), will lose it so quickly because their organization loves to pull players prematurely. Haven't they learned anything in the past? Although the pats have played some scrubs, they're slowly getting better and gaining momentum for the most important part of the season - the playoffs. If the pats could just play defense for 60 minutes, they can easily beat the colts because the pats have the potential to score on anybody.

bingo...........

 

[Feep50]

Reason enough to hope the waterboy plays QB.

JSn, your team logos are classic! I enjoy them each week immensely! You should create a thread displaying them all in full glory! Honestly!

 

[pao]

I would love the Cincy to S.D. for the win scenario.*


*Naturally assuming that the Patriots win in Indianapolis.

As a Charger fan I would MUCH rather see Cincy come to SD for the Divisional playoff game. Good grief, who wouldn't. The Patriots are 10x better than the Bengals.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Pat was just talking about this on Sirius Radio and I think he may have a point here.

He said the Bengals are fully confident that if they win thier first game as the#3 seed they can surely go to San Diego and win since they came very close to doing just that a few weeks ago.

He said the Patriots feel the exact same way about the #4 seed as being confident that they can go to Indy and win since they came beyond close to doing that a month ago as well.

Pat expects the Pats to lay off just about all thier starters this upcoming game and pretty much tank the Houston game because they really want the #4 and Cincy will do just the opposite and play all thier starters all game and try as hard as they can to gather up the #3 if NE does lose.

Makes sense...

I'm not sure how it will play out on Sunday, but I have held all along out here that the number Four seed is better for us. I'd like our guys to go into Indy (assuming they win in Foxboro which they have done every Playoff game there this decade) and get the Dolts after a three week rest when the fan pressure on them not to lose since they blew the perfect season will be through the roof. In my dreams, we get up by a couple of scores and the Indianiots start booing them. (Hey, I can dream, can't I?)

 

[West Philly Patriot]

:agree: with this guy above me those logos aren't the bomb they are the company who got the contract to clean up the aftermath.......Boss!

 

[pao]

Cincy at SD in the playoffs brings me back to the 80s when the Chargers played at Cincy in one of the coldest days in NFL history with Wind Chills around 30 below..I have chills even thinking about that game in which the Bengals won on the way to the SB vs. SF.

Wind chill for that game was -59.

"The Chargers awoke on game day to discover 35 mile-per-hour gales. It was a gust you did not want to feel through your hair; the wind chill was minus-59 degrees."

CHAMPIONSHIPS: AMERICAN CONFERENCE - CHAMPIONSHIPS: AMERICAN CONFERENCE; Frozen in Memory: The Defeat in the Ice Bowl - NYTimes.com

Winslow has said he got frostbite on his big toe. He still feels it when it gets cold.

 

[Deus Irae]

As a Charger fan I would MUCH rather see Cincy come to SD for the Divisional playoff game. Good grief, who wouldn't. The Patriots are 10x better than the Bengals.

But it's about setting up for the Championship round.

Pats #3 seed = Home game, cross country game against physical opponent, and then a game in the SlidingHeatandVolumedome against Nancy and the officials without any break to rest from the most bruising contest of the 3.

Pats #4 seed = Home game, game in the SlidingHeatandVolumedome against Nancy and the officials, and only then a game across country against a physical team, which would be followed by a week to rest up prior to the Super Bowl.

Plus Cincinnati actually has some things they can exploit against San Diego and could conceivably give the Chargers a run for their money. If things really went well, that could make the AFCCG just a skip over to Ohio to play a team that the Patriots match up well against.

 

[ray mercer]

From the posting on this site I get the impression that Patriot fans are afraid of the Chargers this year. There are a lot of posters begging to get the 4 seed. I guess this is understandable after the beating that SD layed out out last year in San Diego. Personally I see the Patriots as having little chance against SD if they meet in the divisonal game.

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

I may be in the minority but even today I still believe BB tanked the last regualr season game in 2005 vs. Miami with Cassel at QB so that they could play Jax IIRC

Well then you and I both are in the minority because I believe it too.

I've never heard anyone say they didn't, but I'm not that observant.

 

[reflexblue]

From the posting on this site I get the impression that Patriot fans are afraid of the Chargers this year. There are a lot of posters begging to get the 4 seed. I guess this is understandable after the beating that SD layed out out last year in San Diego. Personally I see the Patriots as having little chance against SD if they meet in the divisonal game.

The pats have your number, i don't think anyone is really worried about the chargers. Its more about righting a wrong.

 

[ray mercer]

The pats have your number, i don't think anyone is really worried about the chargers. Its more about righting a wrong.

The Chargers beat the piss out of you last year. Rivers is playing better than Brady, we have better running game and a better secondary and I believe a superior passing game. This not to mention you're coming to SD where the crowd will be pumped. You barely beat us in 2007 with a busted up team. I give you guys a 30% chance at best. There's a reason why you're begging for the 4 seed.

 

[pao]

But it's about setting up for the Championship round.

Pats #3 seed = Home game, cross country game against physical opponent, and then a game in the SlidingHeatandVolumedome against Nancy and the officials without any break to rest from the most bruising contest of the 3.

Pats #4 seed = Home game, game in the SlidingHeatandVolumedome against Nancy and the officials, and only then a game across country against a physical team, which would be followed by a week to rest up prior to the Super Bowl.

Plus Cincinnati actually has some things they can exploit against San Diego and could conceivably give the Chargers a run for their money. If things really went well, that could make the AFCCG just a skip over to Ohio to play a team that the Patriots match up well against.

I see the Patriots side of it...and I'd love to see it....I think. Be careful what you wish for and all that. But on paper, as a fan, I'd rather the Chargers play Cinci in the divisional round rather than the Pats. The game in SD earlier this year was not as close as the score. The Chargers were up by 11 with the ball late in the 3rd qtr or early in the fourth when the Bengals got a fluke interception (ball went through Gates' hands) that allowed them to get back in the game. Don't think a rematch will be much different but, of course, one never knows.

 

[pao]

From the posting on this site I get the impression that Patriot fans are afraid of the Chargers this year. There are a lot of posters begging to get the 4 seed. I guess this is understandable after the beating that SD layed out out last year in San Diego. Personally I see the Patriots as having little chance against SD if they meet in the divisonal game.

Dude, really? Come on now. That game had a still rusty, hadn't played a game since high school, Cassel at QB. Are you seriously going to try to use that game as predictive of how the Patriots will play in the playoffs??

 

[tombonneau]

The Chargers beat the piss out of you last year. Rivers is playing better than Brady, we have better running game and a better secondary and I believe a superior passing game. This not to mention you're coming to SD where the crowd will be pumped. You barely beat us in 2007 with a busted up team. I give you guys a 30% chance at best. There's a reason why you're begging for the 4 seed.

Chargers have a running game that doesn't involve LT 1-yard TD runs?

 

[JMarr]

The Chargers beat the piss out of you last year. Rivers is playing better than Brady, we have better running game and a better secondary and I believe a superior passing game. This not to mention you're coming to SD where the crowd will be pumped. You barely beat us in 2007 with a busted up team. I give you guys a 30% chance at best. There's a reason why you're begging for the 4 seed.

Hahahahaha.....you're too cute, little Ray. SD crowd "pumped?" LMFAO!!!!! You mean the same San Diego that has to black out playoff games because so many of their "pumped" fans fill the stadium?

And you did notice who was playing quarterback for the Pats last year didn't you? Even though it was Matty "I haven't played a down of football since high school" Cassell, no excuses, you did beat us fair and square. See that's the problem--you win one game against us and your players and fans start saying things like "we have your number." You have some success and you start saying "this is the year!" Only problem is, it always ends the same way for you.