Cincinnati/Denver winner likely heading to Foxboro

[richpats]

The winner of this game will go to 9-6 and will have the inside track on the #5 spot based on conference record (winner would have only 4 AFC losses).

Cincy hosts the Steelers Week 17 while Denver hosts the 49ers, so odds are the winner will take care of business at home.

Gut feeling is that Denver has a great day running the ball and pulls out a close one. Cincy has a short week and a long road trip ahead. Denver hasn't won at Invesco since October 15th, the drought ends Sunday.

Actually, a Cincy/NE or Denver/NE matchup could be clinched by X-mas night if:

KC loses to Oakland Sat night*
*Only necessary if Denver wins, KC holds division tiebreaker (div record)

NE beats Jax

Indy beats Houston^
Baltimore beats Pittsburgh^
^This will eliminate NE from contention for the #2 or 3 spot (NE loses conference record tiebreaker)

Jets lose to Miami Monday night+
+Jets could slip into the 5 spot by winning out and the Cincy/Denver winner losing in Week 17

 

[SVN]

nothing is predictable the way this season has gone..iam just hoping pats win their games and win the div and care less who they play...

 

[PatsDeb]

nothing is predictable the way this season has gone..iam just hoping pats win their games and win the div and care less who they play...

Agreed. I'm feeling like BB in that I don't care who we play. Just focus on this week and hopefully get a win, then we'll see where we are.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Agreed. I'm feeling like BB in that I don't care who we play. Just focus on this week and hopefully get a win, then we'll see where we are.

I don't want to have to play Denver in Denver. Anything else, well ... we've got to take what comes. It isn't like we've rolled over our rivals this season.

 

[PatsDeb]

I don't want to have to play Denver in Denver. Anything else, well ... we've got to take what comes. It isn't like we've rolled over our rivals this season.

Unless the unthinkable happens and we don't win the division, we won't have to play Denver in Denver as the only way they can get in is as a wildcard, I think. Hasn't San Diego clinched that division? Well, this is why I don't want to think about it any more. We are an imperfect team who alternates between looking great and looking pretty bad. Hopefully the notion of the playoffs and thei team's experience therein makes the team turn it up a notch and we can go into the playoffs riding on a high note. GO PATS!

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

Look, I think what you see from NE this Sunday is what it's gonna be from here on out. Bill will certainly have them focused on Jacksonville, like they should be, they are coming off a pretty good win, against the texans fine, but it was a pretty good win in my eyes. The season and the division is down to this weekend for NE. If you lay an egg here, then you really start losing control of your own destiny.

Bill will have them ready and what you will see this Sunday is the team that's gonna be for the rest of the year. Tom said his peace, some players are getting a bit of confidence, we may even have some starters back, so we may get a bit better. You gotta roll heading into the playoffs. My philosophy in evaluating these records and their opponents is simple, you have to win the next game.

NE has to win the next game. They need a good execution in all phases in Jacksonville....

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't want to have to play Denver in Denver. Anything else, well ... we've got to take what comes. It isn't like we've rolled over our rivals this season.

I have my preferences but, yes, we will have 3 tough games to get to the SB. And then an easier one

 

[QB12]

Look, I think what you see from NE this Sunday is what it's gonna be from here on out. Bill will certainly have them focused on Jacksonville, like they should be, they are coming off a pretty good win, against the texans fine, but it was a pretty good win in my eyes. The season and the division is down to this weekend for NE. If you lay an egg here, then you really start losing control of your own destiny.

Bill will have them ready and what you will see this Sunday is the team that's gonna be for the rest of the year. Tom said his peace, some players are getting a bit of confidence, we may even have some starters back, so we may get a bit better. You gotta roll heading into the playoffs. My philosophy in evaluating these records and their opponents is simple, you have to win the next game.

NE has to win the next game. They need a good execution in all phases in Jacksonville....

Well said.

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukah to all,


QB12

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Lets take care of Jax first...

 

[Michael]

I don't want to have to play Denver in Denver. Anything else, well ... we've got to take what comes. It isn't like we've rolled over our rivals this season.

I don't want to have to play the officiating crew in Denver.

 

[richpats]

I don't want to have to play the officiating crew in Denver.

Better than in Indy - a Pats/Colts playoff game this year will likely contend for the "Worst Officiated Game Ever"

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Better than in Indy - a Pats/Colts playoff game this year will likely contend for the "Worst Officiated Game Ever"

No kidding! Pittsburgh worked their tails off last year to get past that fiasco, I'm not sure this Pats team has the same level of seasoning to battle through "league assists".

 

[Lansdowne]

I'd root for Cincinnati just because I hate Denver. Aside from that, don't have any rooting interest as far as who would face the Pats. Don't want to root for the team that I would think is an easier matchup only to lose to them in the first round.

 

[richpats]

No kidding! Pittsburgh worked their tails off last year to get past that fiasco, I'm not sure this Pats team has the same level of seasoning to battle through "league assists".

My faith in the refs during Pats/Colts games died when Troy was called for "taunting". Then later on Vrabel was called for hands-to-the-face after grazing the guy's belt.

Seems like every key stop we had was nullified by penalty.

 

[Lansdowne]

My faith in the refs during Pats/Colts games died when Troy was called for "taunting". Then later on Vrabel was called for hands-to-the-face after grazing the guy's belt.

Seems like every key stop we had was nullified by penalty.

Don't forget Marvin Harrison spiking the ball at Ellis Hobbs but not getting penalized for it.

 

[richpats]

Don't forget Marvin Harrison spiking the ball at Ellis Hobbs but not getting penalized for it.

No, no - it was the GROUND he was spiking at...it's Hobbs' problem if he was in the way

Reggie Wayne did the same thing last year IIRC.

 

[Lansdowne]

No, no - it was the GROUND he was spiking at...it's Hobbs' problem if he was in the way

Reggie Wayne did the same thing last year IIRC.

Marvin is a classy guy. Everyone loves Marvin. If he spiked the ball at Hobbs, he did it with class.

Now if T.O. did the exact same thing, there would be a 15-yard penalty, a fine, and a bunch of media coverage over the incident.

Couldn't help but think of this when Jeff Garcia got penalized for doing the same thing in the Eagles/Giants game.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

Look for the Jets to find a way into the playoffs. I would bet that Denver will be there too.

We will have to play Denver in Foxboro but for some reason, I'm okay with that this time.

The NFL will also like to see Indy get the #1 or #2 seed so that they have a home playoff game to get to the AFC championship game. Manning is the most heavily invested and commercialized player by the NFL and the media. They are banking on him being in a championship game. His chances of winning in the playoffs on the road go down considerably. The NFL knows this.

Jets are in the largest media market in the country. The largest media market in the country wants to watch football with a team of interest playing. Jets would be good bet to be there. Giants are folding.

Opening round AFC playoffs goes like this:

Denver at NE........Pats win.

Jets at Baltimore.........Ravens win but Jets could pull out victory.

Pats go to San Diego and Jets/Ravens winner goes to Indy.

 

[Lansdowne]

Please, PLEASE give us the Jets. That home loss was BS and the Pats will kill them next time around. Send the Manginius home packing.

 

[Kdo5]

Oh god, I dont know who to choose. We crushed the Bengals last time but they are on a roll and have recovered a great deal since that loss. As for the Broncos they havent done much recently. We seem cursed against them but I would be happy to see them come in and get beat at last by the Patriots. We have to get over it sometime.

OUR house, during the playoffs. Our team is much improved, Brady is much improved in his comfort level with his recievers. However defense is a worry sometimes, but we have done a good job creating turnovers. Plus, at least we wont have to be worrying that our players are crushed by the fact that Deion Branch left.