This game is critical

[WinstonSmith]

Pro-football-reference.com has a decent write up on the NFL playoff possibilities which underscore the importance of this game. While the Pats have the hardest remaining schedule of the major contenders in the AFC the Steelers have the easiest. Although its just one game it well could be the most pivotal of the year.

Playoff possibilities in the AFC Pro-football-reference.com blog Blog Archive

"With all of these teams already having two or three losses and a bunch of tough games left, I don't think we'll see another situation where an 11-win team misses out. In fact, it's plausible that the Titans could be 10-5 entering the final week against the Colts, and a win gets them a bye and a loss knocks them out of the playoffs. At this point, I think a 10-win team will miss out on the playoffs in the conference.

How do the strength of schedules look for these six? Here's the average SRS ratings, adjusted for game location, of each of these six teams' final eight opponents:

Team SOS
New England Patriots 2.6
Indianapolis Colts 1.1
Tennessee Titans 0.9
New York Jets 0.4
Baltimore Ravens -0.4
Pittsburgh Steelers -1.4

In addition to three games against other Big Six teams, the Pats also have to go to Detroit and Chicago (in December) and face the Packers. Outside of a game against the Bills, there are no gimmes left on New England's schedule. The Steelers? They get the Panthers at home (-16.3) bringing down their average; still, Pittsburgh should fatten their record when they travel to Buffalo and in a home game against Cincinnati."

 

[PATSNUTme]

You never want to think "this win is not critical" because you never know what will happen (injury, trade, FA loss, etc). You build for tomorrow, but always play for today because you never know when your next chance is going to come. It has been 6 years since we last won a superbowl. Who knows when the next chance is going to come along?

I agree with the last sentence. So, in that case every game is critical, not just this one

But only one team has gone 16-0, so 1 win or 1 loss at this time of the year is not critical, as in season changing, when the record to date is 6-2. I still would rather face Pitt in Pitt than the Colts at the Lube in the playoffs.

So to me, the Colts game is more critical than this one. And the Jets game is more critical than either.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I think it is critical that we play well. Not neccessarily win it. They must show they can compete and not be bullied around by an aggressive defense. The offensive line must play with a nastiness we havent seen since the 4th quarter of the Bmore game.

I'm not agreeing with the defense at all as of late. Not to suck up to the olden days but they had the ability to flush mobile QB's and force them into mistakes. This new bunch of defenders play so far off the ball that if Ben get's space he is going to put the ball in our soft underbelly all night long.

I'd be very suprised if we won Sunday. But I'd be pretty happy if we competed well and didn't blow the game by some stupid mistakes. We'll see what this team is made of and more. They've shown themselves strong when people were down on them vs Miami and Baltimore. Maybe they will show us again?

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm not agreeing with the defense at all as of late. Not to suck up to the olden days but they had the ability to flush mobile QB's and force them into mistakes. This new bunch of defenders play so far off the ball that if Ben get's space he is going to put the ball in our soft underbelly all night long.

Maybe I'm just not understanding you, but we don't want to "flush" Roethlisberger out of the pocket. That is, by far, where he is most dangerous. We want to do to him what we've done in the past, which is make him stay in the pocket and make him complete passes there.

I do agree that he'll probably find the holes in the zone all night long though. Not really sure why we play that much zone still. One would think that, with all of the athleticism we have on defense, we would be playing more man coverage than we have been.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Maybe I'm just not understanding you, but we don't want to "flush" Roethlisberger out of the pocket. That is, by far, where he is most dangerous. We want to do to him what we've done in the past, which is make him stay in the pocket and make him complete passes there.

I do agree that he'll probably find the holes in the zone all night long though. Not really sure why we play that much zone still. One would think that, with all of the athleticism we have on defense, we would be playing more man coverage than we have been.

lol a man coverage. I haven't seen that in awhile.

Btw, we used to play with a spy where we would force a qb like Kordel Stewart to the outside and then crush him as he tried to break free. We don't have players to do that sort of thing anymore. We could also collapse the pocket once upon a time.

 

[eagle eye]

I'll be happy if they win one of the next two games. I don't expect them to win on Sunday and it will be very difficult to beat a premium passer like Manning the following week.

One out of the next two is a very good result.

The team has lost 2 games, they can afford another 2 losses and they will still be no.1 in the conference imo. As long as those two losses are not to the Jets and Steelers.

 

[jmt57]

The Pats have already had a pivotal game: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england.../686117-vikings-game-pivotal-game-season.html

Now they have a critical game.

What will next week be? We can't use crucial; that's already been reserved for the Jets game.

I got it; make the Colts game crucial, and then call the Jets game a must-win game.

 

[Patriot Missile]

The Pats have already had a pivotal game: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england.../686117-vikings-game-pivotal-game-season.html

Now they have a critical game.

What will next week be? We can't use crucial; that's already been reserved for the Jets game.

I got it; make the Colts game crucial, and then call the Jets game a must-win game.

Don't forget about the life or death game.

 

[Kontradiction]

lol a man coverage. I haven't seen that in awhile.

Btw, we used to play with a spy where we would force a qb like Kordel Stewart to the outside and then crush him as he tried to break free. We don't have players to do that sort of thing anymore. We could also collapse the pocket once upon a time.

We broke it out at the tail end of the San Diego game and the result was the defense making somewhat of a stand and forcing San Diego into a long field goal. Their penalty only made it longer. Before that, Rivers was KILLING our zone.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

This is the most important game for us this week.

I agree that if we want to be the #1 seed, this game would go a long way towards that goal. But it's only one game. If we win this but lose the next few, then this game loses most of it's importance.

As Brady and BB mentioned, 6 or 7 wins don't get you anything in this league.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Don't forget about the life or death game.

And we haven't had the "Gut Check" game yet...or the "Backs against the Wall" game...

 

[Steamer86]

It is do or die time, put up or shut up. This one will be a grudge match for all the marbles. To victor will go the spoils and the loser will be on life support as these two AFC powerhouses meet on the gridiron Sunday night. Can't wait to hear Faith Hill and then Chris Collinsworth......ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[PatsFanSince74]

It is do or die time, put up or shut up. This one will be a grudge match for all the marbles. To victor will go the spoils and the loser will be on life support as these two AFC powerhouses meet on the gridiron Sunday night. Can't wait to hear Faith Hill and then Chris Collinsworth......ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh

And the Oscar for "Most Cliche's in a Single Paragraph," (including references to Chris Collinsworth and Faith Hill who ARE cliches) goes to....

Well done!

 

[Ring 6]

The Pats have already had a pivotal game: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england.../686117-vikings-game-pivotal-game-season.html

Now they have a critical game.

What will next week be? We can't use crucial; that's already been reserved for the Jets game.

I got it; make the Colts game crucial, and then call the Jets game a must-win game.

We are tied for the best record and homefield advantage.
If we win we have a game lead plus the tiebreaker over Ptt and Bmore.
If we lose we will be a game behind and down the tiebreaker to Pitt.
I think if we lose this game the chances of home field advantage are very slim.
How is that not a critical game? I guess only if you dont care about winning the #1 seed.

 

[Ring 6]

I wouldn't say its a critical game. We can lose this game and still make the playoffs. It would be nice to have the tie breaker but the real critical game will be the Jets where a loss could mean giving up on winning the division and solely battling for a wildcard. Getting a game back on them and giving them a loss in the division would give us a decent chance of winning the East.

I dont think making the playoffs is the only goal.
Losing here almost eliminates any shot at a #1 seed (at best we would have to win out and Pitt lose 2 more) and also reduce the chances of a bye, since there is only 1 left to get.
I think a game that decides playoff seeding is critical.
We dont know for sure, but if this were week 16 or 17 and we were tied with Pitt 1 game ahead of others for the #1 seed, we surely would consider it a criticial win. I'm just looking forward and saying while a win may not assure us of anything, a loss almost elimantes us from hfa and one of the byes.

 

[Ring 6]

If they lose this game, they will be one game behind the Steelers with the Steelers holding the wild card. If they lose this game they will lose the tiebreaker to the Jets even if they beat the Jets (Jets have a better conference record, losing to Green Bay while we lost to Steelers), so I'd call this game critical.

If the Pats want a buy, they must beat the Steelers and the Jets in upcoming games, or hope one of the two tanks it badly. The Jets have a better chance of tanking than the Steelers, so my guess is the Pats better win Sunday if they are to get a bye.

Is conference record or record in common games a higher tiebreaker?

 

[patsfan-1982]

every game is critical with the jets haveing a easier Schedule. the pats could win 12 games and still be a #5 seed going into oakland or KC

 

[PatsFanSince74]

We are tied for the best record and homefield advantage.
If we win we have a game lead plus the tiebreaker over Ptt and Bmore.
If we lose we will be a game behind and down the tiebreaker to Pitt.
I think if we lose this game the chances of home field advantage are very slim.
How is that not a critical game? I guess only if you dont care about winning the #1 seed.

I'm not sure that's the issue ("...only if you don't care about winning the #1seed.").

I think the issue for a lot of us is that we think it's premature to be worrying about the #1 when there are so many other uncertainties about the team.

I'm in more of a "one week at a time" mode at this point.

I had them at 10--6 before the season began and while I'd love to jump over to the 13--3 or 12--4 side of the fence, I still think there's too much going on with a banged up QB and missing players on the Offense (including our reliable K) along with the inexperience of the Defense to be fantasizing just yet about bye weeks and the top seed. If they go 3--1 over the next three weeks, I'll admit I was overly cautious and should have listened to my more optimistic brethren.

 

[Ring 6]

every game is critical with the jets haveing a easier Schedule. the pats could win 12 games and still be a #5 seed going into oakland or KC

We play the same schedule as the Jets except for SD/Den who we have each beaten, and Indy/Houston
You have to be kidding me if you think that Jet team that was shut out by GB at home surrounding a game they had lost to Denver if not for a penalty on a Hail Mary pass, and a squeak by Detroit because Suh couldnt make a PAT and Peterson took a late hit penalty 10 yards out of bounds.
I guess anything can happen, but only fluky plays kept them from losing all of their last 3 games and you expect them to go 7-1 the rest of the way?

 

[Ring 6]

I think it is critical that we play well. Not neccessarily win it. They must show they can compete and not be bullied around by an aggressive defense. The offensive line must play with a nastiness we havent seen since the 4th quarter of the Bmore game.

I'm not agreeing with the defense at all as of late. Not to suck up to the olden days but they had the ability to flush mobile QB's and force them into mistakes. This new bunch of defenders play so far off the ball that if Ben get's space he is going to put the ball in our soft underbelly all night long.

I'd be very suprised if we won Sunday. But I'd be pretty happy if we competed well and didn't blow the game by some stupid mistakes. We'll see what this team is made of and more. They've shown themselves strong when people were down on them vs Miami and Baltimore. Maybe they will show us again?

Mark me down as not interested in moral victories.