Who do you want to face in the playoffs?

[RxJock1120]

Anyone but the Jets. They gave us the most trouble all year, much more than the Broncos in my opinion (especially considering we had no one to catch the ball midway through the second quarter). Plus the Jets are the exact kind of team that always tends to give us problems in the playoffs...strong D-line, power running game, and big play WRs. If we gotta play them in Gillette for the AFC crown, I'll take it. But definitely not the first playoff game after the bye. This is why I am really not a fan of us getting the #1 seed.

 

[PatsGirl2011]

Who cares? We are the Patri0ts, the defending SB champions! We never made the SB by avoiding certain teams or trying to eliminate teams to keep from facing them. Our glorious moments have been against the league best team. Bring on the Jets, Pittsburgh, or Denver! To be the best again, we will have to beat the best!

 

[sambam94]

assuming pats get the #1 seed, looks like the Jets or KC will be our opponent.

 

[mosi]

assuming pats get the #1 seed, looks like the Jets or KC will be our opponent.

If they are are full strength, the Pats should be OK. If they field the team they did on Sunday, gulp...

 

[Lansdowne]

There will be no easy path, but potentially the path of least resistence would be the Texans in the divisional round, the Bengals in the AFCCG, and the Redskins in the Super Bowl. However I think it's more likely that the Pats see the Jets, Broncos, and Cardinals.

 

[PatsDeb]

I want whomever is the easiest out and is as banged up as we are. I am worried about us in the post season. We have way too many guys still out. If we are healthy we can beat anybody. If not, who knows what will happen.

 

[Lansdowne]

If they are are full strength, the Pats should be OK. If they field the team they did on Sunday, gulp...

Keshawn Martin saw 11 targets this past Sunday. That's never a good thing.

If Edelman, Gronk, LaFell, and Amendola are all healthy, along with White, that's five more reliable targets right there, and the offense should look more fluid than it has in recent games.

 

[primetime]

Keshawn Martin saw 11 targets this past Sunday. That's never a good thing.

If Edelman, Gronk, LaFell, and Amendola are all healthy, along with White, that's five more reliable targets right there, and the offense should look more fluid than it has in recent games.

Yeah, the playoff offense will hopefully be back in something like its early season form, especially if Vollmer escaped with a mild sprain, and Martin is fine as a capable 4th receiver. White's not Lewis, but I'm coming around on him, and wouldn't be at all unhappy to see third down sets with two running backs next year.

You're looking at likely getting Edelman, Amendola, Vollmer, Kline, and Chandler back at something approximating full strength. That's a tremendous shot in the arm for an offense that really needs it. To say nothing of the defense, which will see a full-strength Hightower and Collins and the return of McCourty and Chung, as well as Freeney.

Frankly, I'd least like to see the Jets. The Texans would be some kind of minor miracle, and I think the Patriots would match up well with the Bengals because they can take away AJ Green.

 

[slam]

Who do I want to play in the playoffs?

The NFC champion.

 

[The_Riddler]

My AFC Prediction

1. Pats
2. Denver
3. Cincy
4. Houston
5. KC
6. Jets

Cincy beats NY in a nail biter
KC blows out Houston

Pats beat KC
Denver beats Cincy again

Pats beat Broncos

 

[Ivan]

We may be underestimating the Chiefs . . .

Assuming the Steelers don't make it and Manning is done for the year, doesn't that make Alex Smith the QB with most playoff experience among our potential AFC opponents?

I agree, the Chefs are a well coached and well rounded team and won't be an easy out. The Patriots feast on teams that are mistake prone and the Chefs aren't that kind of team. I still think they would beat them but underestimating then Is foolish.

 

[Brady2Moss]

There will be no easy path, but potentially the path of least resistence would be the Texans in the divisional round, the Bengals in the AFCCG, and the Redskins in the Super Bowl. However I think it's more likely that the Pats see the Jets, Broncos, and Cardinals.

Agree we're going to be rusty in the divisional round especially reintegrating 2 safeties, a reshuffled O-line, and our top 2 wide receivers. Cupcake like Houston is the perfect tune up. Oh Indy why did you fail so hard this year... they would have been the PERFECT divisional round opponent.

And the Chiefs are a total paper tiger, barely beating the worst teams in the league by 7 points or less for 2 months doesn't make you good, it makes you a first round exit (unless they play Houston one of the crap teams they've already played)

 

[50-yard-line]

Our first playoff game is Sunday, imo. Get the home field.

Worst playoff opponent would be Denver IN Denver. They're a different team up in that air, and they find ways to win games they shouldn't win.

That would be the toughest game of the AFC playoffs for New England, with the Jets in Foxboro as the second toughest.

People here hate Denver (of course, and they're an easy team to hate and with a fanbase that's worse than the team), but they've got very talented playmakers, healthy, on both sides of the ball. No way I'm underestimating that team.

 

[1960Pats]

I want whomever is the easiest out and is as banged up as we are. I am worried about us in the post season. We have way too many guys still out. If we are healthy we can beat anybody. If not, who knows what will happen.

If we can get even partially healthy we'll have a chance. Normally I don't even think about injuries, but the amount of players we've lost has been incredible.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

This team needs homefield advantage. Need to finish well here.

 

[New England Pride]

Kc, Denver, Arizona is my guess.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Who?

Any team they can play in Foxboro.

Beyond that, the CW says they shouldn't want to play a team that's hot and on a roll, so I guess I don't want the Chiefs...nine wins in a row and a battle-hardened and hungry Andy Reid on the sidelines.

I think they've seen enough of the Jets to know how to beat them. Hell they nearly beat them on their own field with an arm and a leg tied behind their back on Sunday.

I also feel good about their chances against Denver. They were one fumble away from beating them at home during the season and I'm sure that BB and his team learned a lot from playing them...

This could be Famous Last Words, but I also like their chances against the Bengals in Foxboro.

I'll worry about the NFC when the time comes, but the Cardinals embarrassed Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday.

For some reason, I think the Cam Newton circus is over; the demise started when they took that selfie on the sideline with two minutes left to go in a game in which they were up by five touchdowns against the Falcons a few weeks ago; it continued when they were called out for their antics before the game in the Meadowlands last week (apparently they do crap like that all the time) and Atlanta got sweet revenge on Sunday.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

My AFC Prediction

1. Pats
2. Denver
3. Cincy
4. Houston
5. KC
6. Jets

Cincy beats NY in a nail biter
KC blows out Houston

Pats beat KC
Denver beats Cincy again

Pats beat Broncos

This. I am not convinced the jets can go into Cincy and beat them. And I'm not convinced the Broncos can beat the bengals a second time. The bengals will be healthier the second time around with eifert, etc. playing
.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Who?

Any team they can play in Foxboro.

Beyond that, the CW says they shouldn't want to play a team that's hot and on a roll, so I guess I don't want the Chiefs...nine wins in a row and a battle-hardened and hungry Andy Reid on the sidelines.

I think they've seen enough of the Jets to know how to beat them. Hell they nearly beat them on their own field with an arm and a leg tied behind their back on Sunday.

I also feel good about their chances against Denver. They were one fumble away from beating them at home during the season and I'm sure that BB and his team learned a lot from playing them...

This could be Famous Last Words, but I also like their chances against the Bengals in Foxboro.

I'll worry about the NFC when the time comes, but the Cardinals embarrassed Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday.

I like our chances against denver in foxboro if it gets to that point. Could they go to denver and win? Yes but i don't want that scenario. Denver's defense plays alot better at home. This team needs to handle its business on the road against miami. Just play well.

 

[Connecticut]

1. Pats
2. Broncos
3. Bengals
4. Texans
5. Chiefs
6. Jets

---
Bengals v Jets - Jets

Texans v Chiefs - Chiefs

Pats - Jets - Pats

Broncos - Chiefs - Chiefs

Pats-Chiefs - Pats