Bills Propel Pats to a Likely #3 or #4 AFC Seed

[groundgame]

Ironically, in a mirror image of New England's position last Sunday against Buffalo, it took a late interception by the same Bills to advance the Patriot's playoff picture. Already with the tie-breaker edge on the tied-for-2nd-in-division Bills, the Buffalo win virtually assures New England no worst than a #4 seed in the upcoming NFL playoffs.

 

[Sciz]

Were people actually worried about this?

 

[Disco Volante]

If the Patriots win this week, they will have a 3 game lead on everyone in the division (possibly 4 on the Jets) after 11 weeks.

The only other time in the Belichick era the Patriots have had more than a 2 game lead on the second place AFC East team after 11 weeks was 2007.

An initially tight race (all teams tied at 3-3 four weeks ago) has quickly turned into one of the easier ones.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Pretty sure that if we win the next 3 games and Buffalo loses at least 1 of the next 3, the division will be clinched.

Very likely unless Indy is for real.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Were people actually worried about this?

They shouldn't be

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Nothing is ever certain but this would be a Red Sox type collapse to not win the division.....considering the mathematical clinch can happen 2 weeks from Sunday. The Patriots will need to win their next 3 and have Buffalo lose one of their next two.

And to look further in advance: Baltimore has 2 against Pitt, NYG, Denver, San Diego and Cincy left on their schedule. Baltimore definitely has a tough road ahead. For Denver, they have a light schedule...any chance at the #2 is aided a lot by the earlier season win over them. Yet the Patriots D is worrisome to the point that even our favorable schedule makes the chance of grabbing a first round bye very murky.

 

[slash83]

**** the bye, lets go straight through to the Super Bowl and win that sob.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Nothing is ever certain but this would be a Red Sox type collapse to not win the division.....considering the mathematical clinch can happen 2 weeks from Sunday. The Patriots will need to win their next 3 and have Buffalo lose one of their next two.

Mentioning the NE Patriots in any context with that execrable MLB franchise should be a banable offense

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Let's just beat Indy on Sunday.

 

[Kontradiction]

If the Patriots win this week, they will have a 3 game lead on everyone in the division (possibly 4 on the Jets) after 11 weeks.

The only other time in the Belichick era the Patriots have had more than a 2 game lead on the second place AFC East team after 11 weeks was 2007.

An initially tight race (all teams tied at 3-3 four weeks ago) has quickly turned into one of the easier ones.

It helps tremendously when the division is absolute garbage.

 

[BlueThunder]

Pats have 2 tough games left (Houston & San Fran) and one that could be(Indy). After watching half of last nite's game, Miami doesn't look to be any threat and the Jets are a joke.

One game at a time starting with Indy.

Just Win !! :rocker:

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Houston isn't losing more than 2 games,maybe 3 if they sit starters in week 17 but they are a virtual lock for HFA

Despite all those who think the Ravens are finished are fooling themselves,it's the Ravens in very solid position at the #2 seed and only 2 losses to the Steelers (very unlikely) could derail that

I don't think the Broncos are all that and it simply means for them that to get the #3 seed over New England they have to have a better record than them,I would guess that both teams finish at 11-5 and that means NE is heading to the #3 seed

My guess at the AFC playoffs this early are....

WC Round....

#6 Pittsburgh at #3 New England
#5 Cincinnati at #4 Denver

Yes,I see 3 teams from the North making the playoffs in a very weak conference

 

[Steve102]

Let's just beat Indy on Sunday.

Channeling Belichick?

We're just trying to get ready for Indianapolis this week. All that other stuff...that's for you guys to write about.

 

[Finnishfan]

It helps tremendously when the division is absolute garbage.

The division has been absolute garbage for years. The reason it hasn't seemed that way was that hot air balloon from New Jersey that bursted only recently.

 

[Kontradiction]

The division has been absolute garbage for years. The reason it hasn't seemed that way was that hot air balloon from New Jersey that bursted only recently.

I agree. The division was hot garbage in 2007 too. The Jets threatened a little bit and the Dolphins came alive one year in 2008. 2009 and 2010 saw the Jets rise. 2011 saw the Jets fall, and 2012 sees the division back at the garbage level. Hence my OP.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Pats have 2 tough games left (Houston & San Fran) and one that could be(Indy). After watching half of last nite's game, Miami doesn't look to be any threat and the Jets are a joke.

One game at a time starting with Indy.

Just Win !! :rocker:

I agree with your second and third sentences; not so much with the sentiments behind your first paragraph.

I don't think many folks here expected (now 4--5) Arizona to be "tough" and they sure didn't think that we would need a late fourth quarter play by our D or an opponent's mistake to beat the Jets and Bills at home (including coming off a bye).

Any team can be a "threat" and no team is a "joke," especially when jobs and pride are on the line in late November and December.

 

[QB12]

Houston isn't losing more than 2 games,maybe 3 if they sit starters in week 17 but they are a virtual lock for HFA

Despite all those who think the Ravens are finished are fooling themselves,it's the Ravens in very solid position at the #2 seed and only 2 losses to the Steelers (very unlikely) could derail that

I don't think the Broncos are all that and it simply means for them that to get the #3 seed over New England they have to have a better record than them,I would guess that both teams finish at 11-5 and that means NE is heading to the #3 seed

My guess at the AFC playoffs this early are....

WC Round....

#6 Pittsburgh at #3 New England
#5 Cincinnati at #4 Denver

Yes,I see 3 teams from the North making the playoffs in a very weak conference

Sorry but reading your many doom and gloom posts here, you give even Debbie Downer a downer

 

[Finnishfan]

Houston isn't losing more than 2 games,maybe 3 if they sit starters in week 17 but they are a virtual lock for HFA

Despite all those who think the Ravens are finished are fooling themselves,it's the Ravens in very solid position at the #2 seed and only 2 losses to the Steelers (very unlikely) could derail that

I don't think the Broncos are all that and it simply means for them that to get the #3 seed over New England they have to have a better record than them,I would guess that both teams finish at 11-5 and that means NE is heading to the #3 seed

My guess at the AFC playoffs this early are....

WC Round....

#6 Pittsburgh at #3 New England
#5 Cincinnati at #4 Denver

Yes,I see 3 teams from the North making the playoffs in a very weak conference

Well the Ravens have been horrible on away games this year. They were routed by the Texans and they lost a last second game against the Eagles.

I mean who loses a last second game to Eagles in 2012?

Their two road wins come from two of the worst teams in the NFL, Browns and Chiefs. And they won the Chiefs despite they scored a whopping 9 points and the Chiefs rushed for 214 yards against them.

Seriously, who rushes for 214 yards and scores only 6 points?

Ravens are not pretenders as stated in the headline of that article that I couldn't read becouse it requires a purchase of some magazine they dont deliver to Europe. But they are not gonna finish this season with less than 4 losses, mark my words.

I see them finish 11-5 easily.

I mean home game against Steelers isn't the toughest they have left, whether Ben is there or not. Broncos are right now one of the best and most well-rounded teams and Giants usually finish strong.

Steelers without Roethlisberger can win them at home this week, even without Ben, becouse it's the ground game where Ravens hemorrhage the most yards. Not to mention they play away against Bengals in week 17, who are no pushover and would love to hurt the Ravens even if they have no chance of postseason. I don't even see losses to 'Skins and/or Bolts as highly impropable, considering the Ravens away form in 2012.

 

[PatriotSeven]

Not ready to give up on the #1 or #2. We have to beat the Texans and hope they lose 1 more. Houston can still lose a game somewhere. They play Indianapolis twice late in the year which should give Luck enough time to get some more experience. They also have Detroit and Minnesota and you can't count them out either.

We just need to make sure we take care of our end.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Sorry but reading your many doom and gloom posts here, you give even Debbie Downer a downer

Getting a #3 seed is a downer?

13 other AFC teams wish they had that spot