Division crown is at hand

[Tunescribe]

If the Pats beat Cleveland and Miami loses to Pittsburgh next Sunday, New England wins the division. If this comes to pass, BB might have some choices to make re. getting people healthy vs. keeping the pedal to the metal and pushing for a bye.

 

[PATS16N0]

We need that bye and at least the #2 seed.

I'm still not convinced Denver is going to sweep. They could get upset by the Chargers. Things can happen. Maybe some weather will turn Peyton into Mark Sanchez.

 

[Sicilian]

I'm all for pushing for the bye week. It's one less game you have to win and with our injuries the extra rest is invaluable.

As much as I would prefer hosting Denver rather than traveling there, I'm ok with conceding the #1 seed in the interest of rest. We need Talib, Dennard, Dobson, Thompkins, and whoever else gets dinged between now and then healthy more than we need home field advantage.

 

[doesntmatter1]

We could really use that bye for the sake of our defense. That extra week could really go a long way in fixing the run defense. Hell, Chris Jones seems to play every snap and may be physically done right now. He hasn't gotten a sack in a while and he was on fire early in the season.

 

[Tunescribe]

We need that bye and at least the #2 seed.

I'm still not convinced Denver is going to sweep. They could get upset by the Chargers. Things can happen. Maybe some weather will turn Peyton into Mark Sanchez.

I think Denver will sweep. The Pats' road should be helped by Miami and Baltimore losing at least once before we play them. I'm afraid that if both are in desperation mode for a wildcard playoff spot when New England comes to visit, the Pats could lose one or both. Actually, the Dolphins are in position to run the table if they get by Pittsburgh and us. And in a worst-case scenario, New England winning the division could come down to beating Buffalo in the last game of the season.

 

[Ivan]

The bye is nice but Denver is most likely going to win out and KC is locked in as the #5 seed. I wouldn't push players who are really hurting to play, as they did with Dennard against Denver, but I would still field the best team possible every week and wouldn't just rest guys to rest them. There will still be some shuffling for the seedings but other than the second wild card the field is set with Denver, NE, Cincy, Indy, and K.C. I have absolutely no idea who is going to get that final WC but one thing is certain, there is absolutely no reason at all to expand the play-offs, as it is a bad team is going to go this year.

 

[Ivan]

I think Denver will sweep. The Pats' road should be helped by Miami and Baltimore losing at least once before we play them. I'm afraid that if both are in desperation mode for a wildcard playoff spot when New England comes to visit, the Pats could lose one or both. Actually, the Dolphins are in position to run the table if they get by Pittsburgh and us. And in a worst-case scenario, New England winning the division could come down to beating Buffalo in the last game of the season.

I think Miami loses both games, Pitt and NE and is done for the season. I believe the Patriots are going to win out.

 

[IllegalContact]

It doesn't matter if you're in the back of the bus for the front of the bus as long as you're on the bus

 

[Tunescribe]

I think Miami loses both games, Pitt and NE and is done for the season. I believe the Patriots are going to win out.

I certainly hope you are right. It would be great if the Pats had the bye sewn up before the season ender vs. Buffalo. That would be the best-case scenario. Give Mallett the start, rest Talib, Dennard, etc.

 

[Ivan]

I certainly hope you are right. It would be great if the Pats had the bye sewn up before the season ender vs. Buffalo. That would be the best-case scenario. Give Mallett the start, rest Talib, Dennard, etc.

I think Miami loses to Pitt and NE beats Cleveland and the division is done. IF the seeds are set i am all for Mallett seeing some playing time, it would be interesting to see him play a full game. I would love to see guys like Amendola, Edelman, Chandler Jones, Ninkovich etc... get a well earned rest. The one disappointment for me in yesterday's game was that Boyce didn't get reps with Thompkins hurt. When he went out I was certain Boyce was going to see some time, that he didn't surprised me.

 

[SVN]

I think Miami loses both games, Pitt and NE and is done for the season. I believe the Patriots are going to win out.

Not sure about winning out. Baltimore game is going be very tough to win vs a desperate team on SNF.

 

[Tunescribe]

Not sure about winning out. Baltimore game is going be very tough to win vs a desperate team on SNF.

Suffice to say the Pats MUST run the table to ensure a bye; otherwise, it depends on what other teams do. I think Indy loses a fifth game. Cincy could run the table and end 12-4.

 

[Patjew]

It doesn't matter if you're in the back of the bus for the front of the bus as long as you're on the bus

That's racist.

 

[dannydyn]

I can certainly understand people's wish for the extra bye week, no doubt about it. The only thing I'm afraid of with regards to having the first round bye, is coming out of it, asleep at the wheel in the divisional round. For some reason, teams coming out of a bye week, tend to play soft and out of the loop. Now, I'm not claiming by any means that a bye week for us, means an automatic loss in the divisional round, but if you look at past Superbowls, wild card teams did pretty well, going through the playoffs motions without rest.

 

[Observer]

I'm all for pushing for the bye week. It's one less game you have to win and with our injuries the extra rest is invaluable.

As much as I would prefer hosting Denver rather than traveling there, I'm ok with conceding the #1 seed in the interest of rest. We need Talib, Dennard, Dobson, Thompkins, and whoever else gets dinged between now and then healthy more than we need home field advantage.

Yeah, but that extra rest can be had by simply resting your fatigued players once the division is clinched. I am in the opposite camp, take the bye week as a bonus but don't go all out and get more guys banged up and tired to secure that one week of rest, particularly since so often we have seen them come out a little slow after a bye week.

 

[dannydyn]

That's racist.

That was not (I'm Jewish)

How so? Jews don't ride the bus -- they all drive Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, etc.

THAT'S racist.

 

[IllegalContact]

That's racist.

That's herm Edwards

 

[Ivan]

Not sure about winning out. Baltimore game is going be very tough to win vs a desperate team on SNF.

I never look past Baltimore but the truth is that the Patriots usually beat them and I think that will be the case again this season.

 

[PatsDeb]

I really want the bye. Playing/having to win one less game is key to us getting to, and hopefully winning the Superbowl. If you're not playing that weekend, then you can't lose. This whole resting your players thing at the end of the season is a double-edged sword too. How many times have Peyton Mannining-led teams rested, only to come out flat and be one and done in the playoffs? They even gave up a shot at a perfect regular season to "rest" and then they didn't win it. Everyone's blaming Manning for sub-par playoff performances, and maybe it's as simple as that, but maybe the rust factor has contributed too.

Even if we secure the bye early I don't think we should entirely rest people. Giving guys like Talib a week off? Okay, I can live with that. Giving Mallett the start and the whole game? No way. That would mean Brady would have three weeks off between games. Too much time for the lead to set in, IMO. The hapless Bills should be used to tune up for a successful playoff run. You use the bye to rest.

 

[FourierSeries]

Forecast calls for 22 degrees, 30% chance of snow, and 7 mph winds on Sunday when Denver hosts Tennessee. Can the Titans capitalize?