Believe it or not I want the Colts and Chargers to get bye..

[Sean Pa Patriot]

I know first we have to get into the playoffs, once we do,there is still a chance for the third seed, with the hope Baltimore falls against Pitt and Buffalo. I think the best case seneiro is

We win out
Baltimore loses out
Colts are 1
Chargers are 2

Seeding
1 Indy
2 San Diego
3 Pats
4 Baltimore
5 Denver
6 not sure but who ever it is we should win except I would be scared of the Jets.

Second round
Baltimore vs Indy
Pats at San Diego

AFC Title game
Pats vs Colts..

But Cincy losing puts the last AFC spot very unclear , and not sure who is going to be the sixth seed. I just feel we could do better in Indy or San Diego.. Baltimore would be to tough espically in Baltimore..

 

[IcyPatriot]

Call me a fool but the Chargers do not scare me...when we are faced with having to shut down a RB we have risen to the task. Yes, some runners have had good days against us but those teams either have good passing attacks or are balanced. We can hold LT below 100 yards in a bend and don't break defense and Rivers to no higher than a 50 passer level game.

Phillip Rivers doesn't have enough game to scare anyone on the Patriots.

Denver and the Colts are our toughest foes in the AFC IMO and Denver has had their best days against us...we are over them. If we lose to the Colts I tip my hat to them ... Manning is playing his best ever IMO and Addai is a darn good runner...anyone else should not beat us...losing to any other team means we left some game in the locker room.

Anything less than an AFC title game with the Colts will be considered a failure IMO.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Call me a fool but the Chargers do not scare me...when we are faced with having to shut down a RB we have risen to the task. Yes, some runners have had good days against us but those teams either have good passing attacks or are balanced. We can hold LT below 100 yards in a bend and don't break defense and Rivers to no higher than a 50 passer level game.

Phillip Rivers doesn't have enough game to scare anyone on the Patriots.

Denver and the Colts are our toughest foes in the AFC IMO and Denver has had their best days against us...we are over them. If we lose to the Colts I tip my hat to them ... Manning is playing his best ever IMO and Addai is a darn good runner...anyone else should not beat us...losing to any other team means we left some game in the locker room.

Anything less than an AFC title game with the Colts will be considered a failure IMO.

You are far from being a fool my friend.. I too am not scared of Marty Schotenhiemer in the playoffs.. I will take them than another date with Denver any day of the week..

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

I also agree anything less than a AFC Title game is a unsuccessful season..

 

[RyanTheColtsFan]

I dont want NE @ RCA under any circumstances. If everything stays the way they are... NE and SD would battle it out in the AFC Divisional game. Probably be the best game of the playoffs.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

Sounds good except for one thing: Denver's not getting in. Watch it unfold.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Sounds good except for one thing: Denver's not getting in. Watch it unfold.

I think if they beat Cincy they are all but in..

 

[IcyPatriot]

I think if they beat Cincy they are all but in..

the way Cincy looked tonight ... one has to figure Denver will creep in that playoff door.

 

[PatsFan24]

denver does have our number, but with a rookie qb do you think they are really gonna come into NE and beat us in the playoffs?

 

[SoonerPatriot]

denver does have our number, but with a rookie qb do you think they are really gonna come into NE and beat us in the playoffs?

We've always struggled vs. the Broncos cut blocking schemes. With two healthy Bells, they will be able to run the ball. As to Cutler, he looks better every week. Javon Walker creates match-up problems down the field. Rod Smith has always been very good against us as well.

On offense, Brady will struggle with Bailey and if Darrent Williams is healthy, it gives them another solid CB on the other side. He did throw for 320 in the Sept. game with no picks but also threw 55 times, not necessarily a good thing. Maroney and Dillon combined for 34 yards rushing. I'm not sure what the overall health of the Broncos is right now on defense. That could be a factor. If they are healthy, it's hard to see us having much success running the ball.

Even with Cutler, this would be an extremely difficult game to win even at home. Keep in mind, we had to jump through hoops to win the 2003 game at Denver when the Broncos were down to Danny Kannell at QB. Pretty much irrelevant as far as this game, but it highlights our struggles with them. Our best hope would be to make some plays in the kicking game, force a turnover or two and give the O a short field and hold on for dear life.

 

[Haterproof]

Sounds good except for one thing: Denver's not getting in. Watch it unfold.

I'm with you on this one.Denver will not get in.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Well that would take a loss to Cincy.. And I dont see Cincy beating Denver in Denver..Not after last night..

 

[mgcolby]

I would like to see Denver bumped but it will be tough as it stands they have the best Conference record amongst all of the 8-6 and 7-7 teams. They are 7-4 Cincy is 6-4 and then there a few that are 5-5. If Denver beats Cincy they will be 8-4 in the conference and can finish no worse than 9-7. That would mean two teams would have to finish 10-6 to knock them off. The only two teams that would be able to do that would be Jax and the Jets. The only way Jax can finish 10-6 is if they beat us. In that scenario it will be tough for Denver to get knocked out.

If they lose to Cincy then all the possibilities get crazy.

But here are Denver's playoff scenarios for this week:

Denver can clinch playoff berth with:

1) DEN win + KC loss or tie + NYJ loss, OR
2) DEN win + KC loss or tie + JAX loss.

 

[Rob0729]

I know first we have to get into the playoffs, once we do,there is still a chance for the third seed, with the hope Baltimore falls against Pitt and Buffalo. I think the best case seneiro is

We win out
Baltimore loses out
Colts are 1
Chargers are 2

Seeding
1 Indy
2 San Diego
3 Pats
4 Baltimore
5 Denver
6 not sure but who ever it is we should win except I would be scared of the Jets.

Second round
Baltimore vs Indy
Pats at San Diego

AFC Title game
Pats vs Colts..

But Cincy losing puts the last AFC spot very unclear , and not sure who is going to be the sixth seed. I just feel we could do better in Indy or San Diego.. Baltimore would be to tough espically in Baltimore..

I would rather play the Colts in the divisional round and the Chargers in the AFC Championships. I think the Colts will get eliminated in the divisional round because they don't have a defense and the refs let teams play physical in the playoffs. I think Baltimore would crush the Colts.

I also would rather have someone else play the Chargers in the divisional round. You gotta hope Marty Schottenheimer lives up to his playoff rep and even if they sneak by Baltimore or someone else, they have their doubts in the AFC Championship.

I would still kill for a first round bye. With Maroney, Wilfork, Harrison, Watson, and possibly Faulk and Vrabel nursing injuries; I would rather have that week off and heal rather than getting the favorable match ups in the playoffs.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I am concerned about SD.
This season, unlike past seasons, the Schottenheimer factor has been somewhat negated as he's personally stepped back and let his able assistants run the team more. It shows. We can no longer book a Martyball L in the playoffs.

Our run D is weaker now with Jr on IR. LT is a force. Remember people, LT is excellent at throwing the option pass too.

On D, their fast, strong outside pass rush could give 'Matador' Light some wiffs and cause a QB turnover or two. Keeping a TE in to help Matt wave the rusher through only weakens our weak passing attack.

On field performance puts the 2006 Chargers as the better football team. What further injuries may wrought and specificly how the teams actually play on the field in January will be the final determinant.

 

[mgcolby]

I am concerned about SD.
This season, unlike past seasons, the Schottenheimer factor has been somewhat negated as he's personally stepped back and let his able assistants run the team more. It shows. We can no longer book a Martyball L in the playoffs.

Our run D is weaker now with Jr on IR. LT is a force. Remember people, LT is excellent at throwing the option pass too.

On D, their fast, strong outside pass rush could give 'Matador' Light some wiffs and cause a QB turnover or two. Keeping a TE in to help Matt wave the rusher through only weakens our weak passing attack.

On field performance puts the 2006 Chargers as the better football team. What further injuries may wrought and specificly how the teams actually play on the field in January will be the final determinant.

He has stepped back during the regular season, but I can only wonder what he will do in a tight game in January?

Honestly I don't think it will be Martyball sending them home. I think it will be Rivers throwing picks trying to force the ball to Gates.

Either way it is nearly a lock that if NE wins on WC weekend that we will be heading to SD for the Divisional round.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

My guess root for Cincy on Sunday, but lets make sure we root for the Pats first against Jax..

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

He has stepped back during the regular season, but I can only wonder what he will do in a tight game in January?

Honestly I don't think it will be Martyball sending them home. I think it will be Rivers throwing picks trying to force the ball to Gates.

Either way it is nearly a lock that if NE wins on WC weekend that we will be heading to SD for the Divisional round.

You do know that we have a perpetual unsolved problem covering good TEs like Gates.
Wishing for Martyball in January is just that, a wish.

 

[mgcolby]

You do know that we have a perpetual unsolved problem covering good TEs like Gates.
Wishing for Martyball in January is just that, a wish.

Didn't someone just throw out a stat (in another thread) that said we are 3rd best in the league at defending the TE?

I'm struggling to remember the last time a TE burned us. Utech had some miracle receptions in the Colts game but the majority were after the play broke down and Manning was scrambling.

I wasn't wishing for anything. Honestly people are overrating the Chargers.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I'm not convinced our effort against KC and Gonzales wasn't atypical.
Let's hope that the TE coverage problem HAS been addressed.

I will agree with those who cite the Pats offense as by far our major concern in the playoofs.