Battle for the #1 seed in the AFC

Todd Bradley said:

After the hose job I saw last night against the Pats' B-team, I firmly believe that this team, once all the missing pieces return, can defeat any team, in any building, on any given night.

I want the #1 seed, don't get me wrong, but if they don't get it, I wouldn't flinch in the least.

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I worried about getting hosed in denver or anywhere. I rather be at home. Those calls where atrocious

TommyBrady12 said:

not to mention collins and hightower.

think about it - it took numerous injuries, OT and the number 1 defense in the league to beat barely beat us. houston's D is good but not as good as Denver's.

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don't forget the Korente et al....

PatriotsPimp136 said:

I worried about getting hosed in denver or anywhere. I rather be at home. Those calls where atrocious

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I totally would too, but if you add Edelman, Amendola, Collins, full Hightower and full Gronk, this game is a blowout.

We scored with ease on our opening drive, and if not for some questionable/conservative play calls in the 1st quarter due to the lack of offensive personal, this could've been a massive blowout. Plus, this horrible officiating crew will not be working an AFCDG or AFCCG in the near future.

This team, at full strength, steamrolls Denver on the road. If that's the course come playoff time, so be it.

Todd Bradley said:

After the hose job I saw last night against the Pats' B-team, I firmly believe that this team, once all the missing pieces return, can defeat any team, in any building, on any given night.

I want the #1 seed, don't get me wrong, but if they don't get it, I wouldn't flinch in the least.

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What makes you think the NFL doesn't have another hose job in store if they need it? Or more than one for that matter.

rochrist said:

What makes you think the NFL doesn't have another hose job in store if they need it? Or more than one for that matter.

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They probably do, but the fact of the matter is, the game should never be in the position where the officiating crew can decide a game in the 4th Quarter.

If you take a team apart early, it's smooth sailing after that. Again, you get this team at full-strength and come 4th Quarter it's 21-0 as opposed to a one score game.

Denver isn't running at will with Collins and Hightower, and even Coleman back. Denver isn't forcing the Pats to punt ten times with Edelman and Amendola, and even Williams back.

My take.

Patriots (10-1)

vs Eagles - W

@ Texans *SNF* - W (close one)

vs Titans - W

@ Jets – L (close one)

@ Dolphins - W


Pats record: 14-2 (#1 seed) Agree with all of that.



Broncos (9-2)

@ Chargers - W

vs Raiders - W

@ Steelers - L

vs Bengals *MNF* - W

vs Chargers - W


Broncos record: 13.-3 #2 Seed - FWIW I think we may have a surprise loss for the donks..@ Chargers has been tough for them before, we shall see.


Bengals (9-2)

@ Browns - W

vs Steelers - L

@ 49ers *SNF* - W

@ Broncos *MNF* - L - Dolton chokes as per usual

vs Ravens - W

12-4 #3 Seed.

Barring health and refs there shouldn't be any Pats fan that is scared to play in Denver in the playoffs after last night.

If Gronk, Hightower and Collins are all out this week, even beating Philly could be a tall order.

Yup, I think 13-3 gets you a game wildcard weekend. People in this forum thought I (and others) wasnuts saying that it might take 14-2 or 15-1 to get a bye week. I honestly see Denver finishing 14-2 and Cin at 13-3. That leaves very little margin for error here. Without Hightower out for the foreseeable future I can see the Pats getting GASHED on the ground and killed on PA like they did last night once Den got the run going w H'Tower out.

Fanboys thought it was as simple as "next man up!" well, how'd it work with f#cking Harper fielding punts? The guy has no future in the league - sorry. I don't count what he did against scrubs in the preseason vs teams playing vanilla defense/coverages. Why do people on here consistently overrate the back up players on this team? There's simply no replacing the guys who've been injured. The offense has morphed from a swiss army knife multi faceted attack to a predictable semi-vertical passing attack. Run Blount into a wall then chuck it up downfield into triple coverage to Lafell or down the sideline to Chandler or Bolden.

I have not seen a Pats team unable to effectively run the football in a long f#cking time.

This team needs Edelman, Amendola, Gronkowski back at 100% to make another run at a SB. Without them every game will be a one possession game and with the obvious league edict to F the Pats on penalties it will be very hard to overcome this crap. It doesn't help that as of now every team on the schedule is still alive for the playoffs (thanks Roger for your parity garbage football laden f#cking integrity. Integrity: when 4-7 teams are still alive in the playoff race in December and 5-6 teams lead divisions. Integrity). So NYJ, PHI, HOU, and perhaps even f#cking MIA will have something to play for going down the stretch.

I look at Sunday as a must f#cking win vs Phi. I also look at it thusly: worry about winning the division first. Look at the NYJ schedule - it's very easy. I could see them winning their next 3 (@NYG, TEN, & @DAL) and taking a 9-5 record into the Pats game. So say the Pats go 1-2 in their next 3, the division is still f#cking in play for the game at NYJ. Pats CANNOT lose this game Sunday. This is 1 they are supposed to win. But as bad as Chip Kelly has been, I'm sure he'll have some gimic up his sleeve that no one has seen before. Guy's coaching for his job. What better way to prop yourself up then to go into Foxboro and win.

FCB02062 said:

Y
Fanboys thought it was as simple as "next man up!" well, how'd it work with f#cking Harper fielding punts? The guy has no future in the league - sorry. I don't count what he did against scrubs in the preseason vs teams playing vanilla defense/coverages. Why do people on here consistently overrate the back up players on this team?

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I don't know. Why do people consistently run players out of town based on their first game in the league?

I will be worried if we don't get back collins this week.

With five games to go, it still makes my head hurt too much to try to figure out playoff scenarios.

My gut tells me that 13--3 won't get homefield and the facts tell me that 15--1 will.

14--2, which is the record I'd bet they have when the dust settles, is what gives me headaches, so I won't even think about it.

I think the Broncos lose one or two more, I think the Bengals will be tough for them.

FCB02062 said:

I look at Sunday as a must f#cking win vs Phi. I also look at it thusly: worry about winning the division first. Look at the NYJ schedule - it's very easy. I could see them winning their next 3 (@NYG, TEN, & @DAL) and taking a 9-5 record into the Pats game. So say the Pats go 1-2 in their next 3, the division is still f#cking in play for the game at NYJ. Pats CANNOT lose this game Sunday. This is 1 they are supposed to win. But as bad as Chip Kelly has been, I'm sure he'll have some gimic up his sleeve that no one has seen before. Guy's coaching for his job. What better way to prop yourself up then to go into Foxboro and win.

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Barring some sort of insane meltdown, you have nothing to worry about division wise. One more win vs an AFC team and I think you have the division locked up. At least according to the calculator.

ESPN.com's 2015 NFL Playoff Machine - Simulate Matchups and Scenarios

So basically this Philly game is the least important of all your remaining games. Best the Jets could finish is 11-5. If Pats finish 11-5 but the only future win is vs Philly... Jets win division (lol looks strange even reading that). If Pats finish 11-5 and the future win comes vs any other team (all AFC), Pats win tiebreaker.

But in reality:
13. Philly, should be a NE win even w/o Gronk. But no guarantee.
14. Texans? Does Gronk play? If so, probably a win. If not, likely a loss.
15. Titans, NE win.
16. Jets... not saying a word. Plus I have no idea how Jets will look down the stretch. A win yesterday vs Miami means absolutely nothing.
17. Miami. Really? You could start your practice squad and win.

And what are the odds of the Jets winning out? Probably not far off from your odds of winning the lottery.

rochrist said:

What makes you think the NFL doesn't have another hose job in store if they need it? Or more than one for that matter.

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A healthy NE team takes the game out of the officials' hands by blowing Denver, or any other team, out.

Here is my prediction. I saw the look in Belichick's eye last night during his presser. Last night's hose-job at Mile High will put a chip on this entire teams' shoulders.

Patriots (10-1)

vs Eagles - W

@ Texans *SNF* - W

vs Titans - W

@ Jets – W

@ Dolphins - W

If the pats can get healthy, seeding won't matter

If Den gets HFA somehow i may lose it...god they should have lost so many games to start the season

Prediction: the #3 seed will have at least four losses.

I think we can manage if we get Amendola back and use Chandler and Cleveland at TE. Keyshawn Martin can pick up some extra and it looks like Bolden is a good pass catcher