Which playoff team do you MOST want to see as NE's playoff opponent?

I didn't vote because I don't want to jinx us. Every time I start feeling really confident about an opponent, we either lose or come very close to doing so. So, I am going to sit here and be scared of everyone (but not being able to identify who we could lose to at home) and just get fired up for whomever comes our way.

In order:

1. Anyone they've played twice.

2. Anyone they've played once, except the team they had to intercept to stop a final drive.

3. The one team they haven't played.

4. The team referred to in #2.

FYI... Jax ain't making it.

As far as bragging rights, any team on that list will do.

As far as best chance to win, I'd say it's a toss up between KC and the Jets. KC has not beaten any playoff teams and *may* be overrated. The Jets are melting down at their usual time.

I'd like to see Cassel come back here.

Also, I'm tired of seeing the Pats play the same teams over and over again.

Ravens and Steelers.

Ravens in the divisional round because this team remembers being completely embarrassed last year, I'm sure of it, so it's the sort of game you can bet they won't come out of the bye flat when playing.

The Steelers because beating the Steelers in the playoffs is how we like to get to the Super Bowl, most years.

Right now I think the Jets look the weakest. Although I wouldn't mind facing the Chiefs either.

Poring over the Patriots’ potential playoff opponents

The Patriots [team stats] are in the proverbial catbird seat for the playoffs. They are the AFC East champs. They have a first-round bye. They also don’t have to leave Foxboro on the road to the Super Bowl.

As of today, the five other teams that would likely be joining them in the AFC playoffs are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets [team stats].

Here’s how we would rank the postseason opponents, easiest to hardest, in terms of being the toughest for the Pats to get by.....

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This article pretty much has summed up what we've been talking about... Who we may see in the playoffs and also ranks them from easiest to hardest. I have to agree with the order they put them in also.. Of course, they have Ravens as our toughest threat in playoffs....thoughts? opinions?

Full article here... Poring over the Patriots’ potential playoff opponents - BostonHerald.com

Re: Poring over the Patriots’ potential playoff opponents

Would rather see the Jets than any other team in here..best match up for us IMO

Re: Poring over the Patriots’ potential playoff opponents

I actually agree with that order. Beating the Jets however, would have that extra special warm fuzzy feeling.

The Ravens would also be facing a far different team than they met last year. I love our chances.

Re: Poring over the Patriots’ potential playoff opponents

While I expect to see the Pats in the SB, there's not one single playoff team that would shock me if they beat the Pats. Out of those teams though, the one I *least* want to see are the Ravens. They match up pretty well against our team.

Re: Poring over the Patriots’ potential playoff opponents

Seems reasonable. I would definately agree with Ravens being the toughest and Jets being most optimal opponent.

Depending on the weather in Foxboro, I wonder if some would almost rather see Peyton and the banged up Colts playing in snow rather than a team like the Chiefs or Steelers who have good running backs. Even if it's bad weather and Charles isn't as dangerous, Jones is a capable back and it seems bad weather "might" (big might) hinder the pass rush and thus help a team like the Steelers with their porous line.

I understand that Peyton has won in bad weather as the article states, and he is the main reason the Colts are #2 and that is understandable. It's also understandable that the Steelers are #4 because of how the Pats have played them. Either way seems to be a pretty good ranking, not too much to really argue with.

Re: Poring over the Patriots’ potential playoff opponents

I want the J E T S Jets to be here for the AFC Championship Game.

The Cheerleaders will have to take one for the team and cheer barefoot in the snow.

The Ravens scare me the most. I wouldn't sleep on the Chiefs either, the thought of RAC and Weis knowing the Patriots makes me feel uneasy about facing them. The Colts outdoors in January I'll take that matchup along with Suckchez and the Jets. The Steelers don't worry me much either.

aluminum seats said:

Surprised by anyone who doesn't want to play the Ravens. Pats would annihilate Baltimore in a rematch.

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On what do you base this statement?

I chose the Jets for 5 reasons:

1. It's highly unlikely that a Mark Sanchez-led team comes into Foxboro in January and beats a Tom Brady-led team.
2. It will be fun reading excuses that Jets fans come up with on The Gang Green site.
3. There's never a bad time to beat a team from NY.
4. It will be great to put Fat Rex's predictions to bed. He will have no choice but to call the Patriots "His Daddy."
5. Seriously, though - the Pats have outplayed this team 6 out of 8 quarters this season, there's no reason to believe that they won't finish the deal.

Re: Poring over the Patriots’ potential playoff opponents

Colts. They have probably the best offense besides the Patriots in the AFC and their offense and Manning against the Patriots defense worries me.

Ravens rematch is more fitting of a title game. So if it were about smacking idiots around, you'd want Jets in divisional round and Ravens in the title game. But I still like the Steelers in the divisional round if Polamalu is healthy enough to perform at his usual level. Chiefs are the wrench in the machinery here - if they play well and win in the wild card round they Pats could very well be playing the second and third best teams in the conference in reverse order (Ravens first, then Steelers). Not quite the route you hope for as a #1 seed but they've beaten them already this year, they can do it again.

Interestingly, you could see a very similar scenario in the NFC. Saints and Packers as wild card teams is brutal. I don't see the Falcons beating those two teams without some dramatic improvement over how they played Monday night.

The whole "#1 seeds not making it to the Superbowl" thing really has as much to do with the least of the division winners in a conference. Somebody in the NFC West being given the four seed means that Falcons are going to see a team in the divisional round that would have been a solid conference title opponent. Seeding on the basis of record would prevent this kind of stuff, which will maybe be given serious consideration if the Seahawks manage to tumble their way into the playoffs.

they already humiliated the jets in front of the country. though it would be nice to pound on them again i would like to watch us KO the colts then the ravens. i would love for us to be able to beat the jets, colts, steelers, and ravens all over again so any combo would be good. i just want the ravens cuz of last year, and the colts because we have not ended their season in a while.

My real answer is Carolina, but they aren't a choice, so I'll have to go with the Jags, whom BB owns, and who have an injured QB and RB. That said, it'd be nice to wallop the Jets again.

I want the easiest path to the superbowl, then I want them to play the rams.