Congratulations on finally securing the division title and a play-off berth but the pertinent question is what do you guys or more importantly Bill B. wish for:
Personally, I believe you guys will stay the course on the way to San Diego.
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Belichick will weigh options for Week 17
By Jim Trotter
San Diego Union Tribune
December 25, 2006
New England is among the league's hotter clubs, with five wins in its last six games, including yesterday's 24-21 defeat of host Jacksonville, which had been a giant-killer at home.
With one game remaining in the regular season, coach Bill Belichick has an interesting decision to make entering Sunday's finale at Tennessee: With no chance of a first-round bye in the postseason, should he play for a victory now or play to position his club for an advantageous playoff matchup later?
Currently, New England and Indianapolis are tied at 11-4, but the Colts own the postseason tiebreaker based on their 27-20 defeat of the Patriots on Nov. 5. So, if the clubs finish with identical records, Indy would open the AFC playoffs as the third seed, New England as the fourth seed.
The Chargers almost assuredly will be the top seed, because anything less would require a loss to woeful Arizona on Sunday, and that's not likely to happen. Like everyone else, Belichick is likely studying all the scenarios, trying to figure out which matchup would be better for his Patriots in the second round: playing at San Diego or at Baltimore.
We could learn his answer Sunday. If Belichick sits many of his regulars and loses at Tennessee, it could be interpreted as him wanting the fourth seed and a shot at San Diego. If he plays most of his regulars, wins and claims the third seed – a real possibility considering Indianapolis has lost three of four and closes against Miami – it could be an indication that he feels the Ravens are the more beatable opponent for his Patriots.
New England is 3-0 all-time against Baltimore with each win by an average of 15 points. Conversely, the Patriots have lost their last two games against the Chargers, including a 41-17 whipping last year in Foxboro.