Let's not celebrate too hard just yet. The Patriots control their own destiny, and that's definitely a good thing. But they also have two tough contests on the horizon with a division opponent in Miami and a Baltimore team that we're so familiar with, they might as well be a division opponent. They're also doing it with an offense sans-Gronk that wasn't exactly setting the world on fire before he came back. By contrast, Denver has two cake games coming up (unless Houston can somehow pull off the upset). If the Pats get past the Dolphins and Ravens, I will be celebrating. Until then, I'm apprehensive.
I do agree, however, that there seems to be an aura about this team. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's there. Lady Luck has screwed us on the injury front this season, but she's been there when the games have mattered the most. The punt that touched the player vs. Denver, the onside kick vs. Cleveland, the penalty against Miami. The defense, while they're not exactly playing steadily all four quarters, has also come up with a handful of stops when it's mattered the most. They held off Manning in OT and kept the Browns out of field goal range last week. The result is that the team is winning close games that they weren't pulling out in 2010-2012. It's going to be tough come playoff time, but they have the GOAT under center and one of the greatest coaches of all time on the sidelines.
In looking at the playoffs, I think Cincy is going to be "that team". They're going to be the ones that come out of the Wild Card round (if everything stays the same) and are a pain in the ass for every team they play until they're eliminated. Dalton isn't ideally what you would want at quarterback, but he's got weapons and a defense that is capable of giving him opportunity after opportunity to put points on the board in spite of whatever mistake he makes the drive before. They're who I don't want to play because, across the board, they're probably the toughest match-up we can draw in the AFC. In all, though, I'm as happy as anyone with where the team is at, everything considered. But it's not time for the team to rest on their laurels just yet. Beat Miami in Miami and Baltimore in Baltimore, and they can put on the cruise control.
