Potential opponents in the playoffs

[MoneyFX]

There is a lot of football to be played left this season, but this is just future thoughts on the rest of the season. What team do you think has the best chance to beat NE in the playoffs (matches up well)? Not saying that it's going to happen. For me, I would think Baltimore just b/c of how tough this team always plays the Patriots and it would be hard also to go on the road in front of that crowd, even though they almost lost that game.

Post your thoughts.

 

[supafly]

No matter how you look at it, they are going to have to beat the top tier teams to get to the SB, let alone have a chance at winning it.

I think our chances really rest on the opportunity to get that 1st round bye, especially since the #3 could force us to play the following schedule:

1.WC round at home vs. #6 Pittsburgh

2.Divisional round AT #2 Baltimore

3.Conference round AT #1 Houston (or home to Denver if they should upset them)

That combination of games and teams does not appear to be the most favorable scenario to me. Getting that first round bye with the potential to play at least one team in BAL/HOU would be huge to our success. It would also allow us to avoid having to play a team like Pittsburgh in the 'extra' game of the wildcard round and allow the team 2 weeks to prepare for the home game with plenty of rest.

To me it's huge, much bigger than some are giving credit to. In the playoffs luck is often an important ace in the hole, as we've seen before.

 

[patfanken]

4th and FREAKIN' 29 The way the Ravens and Texans are squeaking and squirming out astounding victories, its become clear that the Pats are going to have to win this superbowl the old-fashioned way......by winning 4 games. The Pats are likely to end up with a 12-4 or 13-3 record and not get a bye. The Ravens and Texans have been handed so many wins this season it just seems destined.

 

[Shockt327]

Well, Baltimore does have a challenging schedule for the remainder of the regular season. So, I hope the Pats can grab the #2 seed.

PIT @ BAL
BAL @ WAS
DEN @ BAL
NYG @ BAL
BAL @ CIN

 

[mosi]

Don't know about the playoffs but the 49'ers are for real. They are fast to the ball and they hit hard. Real hard. That game should give us a real good idea of what the 2012 Pats are made of. Can't wait for that game.

 

[MossWelkowski]

I think we have to get ready for the 3 seed folks. I don't think the patriots will beat both HOU and SF... That means either HOU needs to lose at least twice or BAL needs to lose 3 times.

Sucks because I think BAL could be beat by either IND CIN or PIT

 

[MossWelkowski]

Don't know about the playoffs but the 49'ers are for real. They are fast to the ball and they hit hard. Real hard. That game should give us a real good idea of what the 2012 Pats are made of. Can't wait for that game.

NFC will be TTTTOOOOOUUUUGGHHHH to get through... Good luck to them

SAINTS
GB
GIANTS
CHI

 

[IcyPatriot]

Most of the regular season drama will be the wild cards ...

Of the 8 divisions ... 6 of them have a leader in 1st by at least 3 games.

One division NFC East it's 2 games.

NFC North it's a 1 game lead for the Bears.

I did not bother to check tie breakers ... just looking at the records.

Another 2 weeks and most of the division winners could already be known ...

That is amazing ... parity in the league? yes for being mediocre there is parity.

 

[Rob0729]

IDK, nothing is sealed yet. Every team in contention for each division in the AFC still have some potential losses by good to very good teams.

The Texans still have the Colts twice, the Pats, and the Vikes. Both the Colts and Vikes are still in contention for Wild Cards and could be tough outs for a team currently struggling to beat bad teams. If the Texans continue to play like they have the last month, I can see two or three more losses before the end of the season.

The Ravens' final schedule is very tough. They have the Broncos, Steelers (won't be all that tough if Roethlisberger isn't back), Redskins, Giants, and Bengals. All those teams are either definitely playoff bound or in contention.

The Broncos still have the Ravens and Bucs who are both still in playoff contention.

The Pats still have Miami twice, Houston, and the 49ers. All are in playoff contention and Houston and the 49ers have two of the best records in the NFL.

The Pats basically have to win out or only lose one more game to even dream of a bye, but all the top teams in the AFC have potential losses on their horizon. I wouldn't be surprised if the Pats and Broncos have the first round bye when everything is said and done.

 

[MP-Logick]

We can't afford to lose more than one game to get a bye, probably, and with Denver's soft schedule we may need to win out. The 2 seed sounds really good this year - playing Peyton again is much less scary at home, and Baltimore is literally a different team on the road compared with in Baltimore.

I could see a repeat of 2006 though - Brady and Manning getting the 3 and 4 seeds and both winning on the road in the divisional round. Should be an exciting AFC playoffs.

 

[supafly]

I agree with those who predict at least one/two losses for both HOU and BAL.

This thing is nowhere near set in stone, we're just getting warmed up for the stretch run.

First thing's first, and that's beating Miami on Sunday.

The word here in Pittsburgh is that Roethlisberger has gone through the hardest and most dangerous part of his rehab and is no longer in any danger for surrounding arteries and tissue damage. He will be throwing this week and if he can tolerate the pain, they will be starting him vs BAL on Sunday. They also had both Polamalu and A.Brown back practicing last week, so all 3 may be able to go. If that is the case I expect them to win vs BAL with their backs to the wall.

After that BAL still has a tough 3-4 games left and is quite capable of losing at least one/two more.

HOU is in our hands on Dec.10th, and they also have IND 2x after that, so there is a LOT of football left.

I will go out on a limb and say that 12-4 should get us a bye, despite what most think. Lots of football left, just have to start with Miami. Things have a tendency to fall into place.

 

[Haterproof]

4th and FREAKIN' 29 The way the Ravens and Texans are squeaking and squirming out astounding victories, its become clear that the Pats are going to have to win this superbowl the old-fashioned way......by winning 4 games. The Pats are likely to end up with a 12-4 or 13-3 record and not get a bye. The Ravens and Texans have been handed so many wins this season it just seems destined.

I feel where you're coming from. But that luck will run out @ some point. I'm going to put it like this. If NE wins out they should get one of top 2 seeds period. The Texans & Ravens (especially Ravens) have some very tough games coming up. It's going to be a great fight to the finish in the AFC!

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

This could be 01' all over again. We lose to the 49s, who will show us everything they have. Then when we meet in the SB (as underdogs), BB will have a plan to stop them.

Oh, and i'm not worried about the Texans. Pats win that one.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Let's just focus on winning an away game against a Dolphins team that is fired up after winning a tough game at home over Seattle yesterday and probably thinks it can make a Wildcard run.

The only seed in which I'm investing any thought energy at all is getting three over the Broncos at four; since we have the tie breaker, I feel OK about that.

For me, we're too long a shot for a Bye to spend much time worrying about that; a Pats SB win this year will take four post-season games, two of which will probably be in a hostile environment. I am confident that this team can get that job done.

 

[mosi]

NFC will be TTTTOOOOOUUUUGGHHHH to get through... Good luck to them

SAINTS
GB
GIANTS
CHI

The Saints have no defense and no run game. The Packers have no defense and no run game. The Bears are more like the cubs. The two teams in the NFC that will come to the top will be the Giants and the 49ers. The two most complete teams that have the defense to win games and the balanced offense you need.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Well, Baltimore does have a challenging schedule for the remainder of the regular season. So, I hope the Pats can grab the #2 seed.

PIT @ BAL
BAL @ WAS
DEN @ BAL
NYG @ BAL
BAL @ CIN

It's so annoying when you put yourself in position early to need help late. Which was right there last night courtest of the mighty superfrauds...until they couldn't stop a 4th and 29... Here's hoping RGIII doesn't hit his rookie wall and Eli dosn't fall off another cliff down the stretch. That said, I have mixed emotions about this team and byes. Sometimes you overthink and lose the rhythm born of being on a run.

 

[mayoclinic]

The Saints have no defense and no run game. The Packers have no defense and no run game. The Bears are more like the cubs. The two teams in the NFC that will come to the top will be the Giants and the 49ers. The two most complete teams that have the defense to win games and the balanced offense you need.

I don't know why we're talking about the Saints and playoffs at all right now.

But I agree, 49ers/Giants are the most balanced NFC teams. GB has already lost to both. The Bears have lost convincingly to SF, Green Bay and Houston.

Pats and Texans look like the most balanced AFC teams right now. Those are my best guess for a "Final 4", depending on how the brackets fall.

 

[resdubwhite]

absolutely sucks Bal won last night.

 

[mosi]

I don't know why we're talking about the Saints and playoffs at all right now.

But I agree, 49ers/Giants are the most balanced NFC teams. GB has already lost to both. The Bears have lost convincingly to SF, Green Bay and Houston.

Pats and Texans look like the most balanced AFC teams right now. Those are my best guess for a "Final 4", depending on how the brackets fall.

Yup, I would tend to agree with that.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

4th and FREAKIN' 29 The way the Ravens and Texans are squeaking and squirming out astounding victories, its become clear that the Pats are going to have to win this superbowl the old-fashioned way......by winning 4 games. The Pats are likely to end up with a 12-4 or 13-3 record and not get a bye. The Ravens and Texans have been handed so many wins this season it just seems destined.

That's what scares me, the Ravens just seem destined for big things this year. The way they eek out some of these wins is ridiculous, and especially when you factor in the officiating and how just about every close call goes their way. The mystique of playing in Baltimore is somewhat intimidating I have to admit, they have always played us tough there even when they're team wasn't good (2007). And again, the officials worry me alot.

I am obviously frustrated too at the chances of a bye looking more slim with each passing week and each game HOU/BAL pulls out of their ***. But if we are playing the level we need to, it hopefully won't matter at that point. I remember the gauntlet the 2004 team had to go through, one of the toughest ever, and they rolled right through those teams like they were 9-7 wild cards. Then you have the 2007 team, one of the historically great teams, draw a very favorable road that THEY should've rolled through, yet they couldn't get it done. I believe if it's meant to happen it will regardless of the road, bye would sure help though!