I want the #2 seed

The #1 seed will most likely play pitt. KC has easy last 3 games, they will be the #5, pitt wins out and they would be #6. I know most pats fans are saying that they want the#1 seed because it insures home field throughout. I wonder if these people have looked at the scenarios and thought it through. I realize the canned response will be "you never know what will happen"
..so just give me the #1 seed.

I would argue that Pitt will not to lose to either Den or Cinn in the first round of the play-offs..no way, no how. We saw what denver was yesterday and Cinn without Dalton is toast. Pitt knocking of either of those would mean the #2 seed would have home field throughout. The #2 seed would also play KC/Hou/Colts in their first game.....so much easier.

So, bottom line, would you rather be the @1 seed and face Pitt in first play off game, or be the #2 seed and face KC/Hou/Indy...THEN be home in the championship game as Pitt would knock of the #1 seed in either Cinn or Den. That's how this is going to play out...

You want to play the AFCCG at home. It seems like we go through this on this forum every year.

We do not know who the Wild Cards are and where they will be seeded. Both Wild Card teams are likely going to win in the AFC on Wild Card weekend.

Whoever wins the AFC South will be the worst team in the playoffs and the #4 seed. So whoever the 5th seed is will likely win and if the #6 seed wins (and if they are facing the Bengals without Andy Dalton, it is a good chance), this team will play the #2 seed.

Odds are good the Pats will face a Wild Card team in the division round. That means it is a good chance that it will be the Steelers.

You're over thinking.

Just win baby and get home field. If they can't beat Pittsburgh at home in a playoff game, they're not good enough.

Why be in a situation where you might have to play the AFCCG on the road???

Family said:

You're over thinking.

Just win baby and get home field. If they can't beat Pittsburgh at home in a playoff game, they're not good enough.

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Exactly. Patriots have to beat whoever is put before them.

If you think Pittsburgh is the next best team in the conference, the likelihood is that you'll have to play them anyways. Getting them fresh off the bye seems better in certain ways.

I don't think the pats have a choice.....they're going to wind up with the #1 seed by default

Denver will likely lose at pittsburgh
Cincy is toast without Dalton

I still don't think it matters as long as the pats get healthy with the guys they expect back.....bring edelman and hightower back and we're good

I also think it's possible the steelers finish ahead of the bengals

primetime said:

If you think Pittsburgh is the next best team in the conference, the likelihood is that you'll have to play them anyways. Getting them fresh off the bye seems better in certain ways.

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that's a good point

Huh? We want everyone to come to Gillette - that gives our banged up, but by no means out-of-it squad the best chance to win!

The Steelers are not beating teams up (Andy Dalton excluded). They are scoring points. The Jags just put more points on the Colts than the Steelers did the prior week, and they will not be in the playoffs. The Seahawks offense (not scary), put up 39 points. Unlike other teams that are a threat to beat you up if they don't beat you in the playoffs, and thereby send you damaged into the next round, this Steelers team is like the Manning Colts. And it is more vulnerable than those 'scary' teams.

As stated above, #2 means you can play the Conference Championship on the road. If you fear the Steelers, then why not fear the Chiefs in your choice of games, a team that has won 7 straight to emerge from the 1-5 basement? More or less the team that kicked the crap out of the Pats a year ago. Scary.

Ultimately, if the Steelers are terrifying you as an unstoppable juggernaut and are unlikely to lose, then the Pats will logically play them. Better to play them at home in the AFC Championship, where the Pats will at least see some friendly faces. I believe the Pats can beat any team with key pieces on the field, so I prefer the simplicity of the #1 seed.

MassPats38 said:

The Steelers are not beating teams up (Andy Dalton excluded). They are scoring points. The Jags just put more points on the Colts than the Steelers did the prior week, and they will not be in the playoffs. The Seahawks offense (not scary), put up 39 points. Unlike other teams that are a threat to beat you up if they don't beat you in the playoffs, and thereby send you damaged into the next round, this Steelers team is like the Manning Colts. And it is more vulnerable than those 'scary' teams.

As stated above, #2 means you can play the Conference Championship on the road.

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no, in my likely scenario, pitt knocks off the #1 seed in either cinn or den

Ultimately, if the Steelers are terrifying you as an unstoppable juggernaut and are unlikely to lose, then the Pats will logically play them. Better to play them at home in the AFC Championship,.

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it would be pats first game, not championship game

If the Pats are going to make (and win) the superbowl, they are going to have to beat some really good teams to do so. Be it Seattle, Carolina or Pitt. Personally, I would rather have the #1 seed and insure we have homefield throughout, especially after we have seen how bad to officiating has been.

sambam94 said:

no, in my likely scenario, pitt knocks off the #1 seed in either cinn or den



it would be pats first game, not championship game

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Fyi, I have Zo's annoying voice recorded and ready to pipe in. Also, I have a thick book of "unwritten " rules ready to be sent to Rothlisburger. So, yeah, no worries.

This kind of stuff way over thinks the matter. Just win each game and worry about the next one when it gets to you. If you can't beat a team you didn't deserve the Lombardi anyways.

This sounds like the fear of the Ravens last January.

I also remember how happy Pats fans were that the Jets beat the Colts in 2010 and we all looked forward to that matchup. How did that work out?

If the Super Bowl champs can't beat a lower seeded team at home in January then they were never good enough to repeat.

sambam94 said:

The #1 seed will most likely play pitt. KC has easy last 3 games, they will be the #5, pitt wins out and they would be #6. I know most pats fans are saying that they want the#1 seed because it insures home field throughout. I wonder if these people have looked at the scenarios and thought it through. I realize the canned response will be "you never know what will happen"
..so just give me the #1 seed.

I would argue that Pitt will not to lose to either Den or Cinn in the first round of the play-offs..no way, no how. We saw what denver was yesterday and Cinn without Dalton is toast. Pitt knocking of either of those would mean the #2 seed would have home field throughout. The #2 seed would also play KC/Hou/Colts in their first game.....so much easier.

So, bottom line, would you rather be the @1 seed and face Pitt in first play off game, or be the #2 seed and face KC/Hou/Indy...THEN be home in the championship game as Pitt would knock of the #1 seed in either Cinn or Den. That's how this is going to play out...

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I have thought this a few times, but more when it seemed harder that we would get the one, (like last week) I think there is some merit to it. Avoid Pit until the AFCCG. Pitt could roll through the wild card then either Denver/Cinci..

I actually hope Pitt cruises to the Division title. If they win out, Cinci loses out, Denver loses 5 (very possible) I think Pitt could be the 2 seed still. (similar to how we became the 2 seed in 2001. Remember we were 8-5 in second place in our Division and Oakland was 10-3... Oakland lost out I think and we won out and not only took the AFCE way from the Dolphins... but stole the 2 seed at 11-5 because the third Division winner (only 3 divisions back then) blew it and lost out to get 3 seed. This is remotely possible for Pitt or even KC)

There's a very plausible chance that Pittsburgh could win out, win their division, and be the #2 seed.

Isn't there?

If this exercise is essentially "who would you rather play against at home...the Jets or Pittsburg"......give me Pitt every time....and here's why:
Verses the Jets, NE abandons the run....they don't even try. So it is all on Brady's arm and his quick strike pass catchers which are depleted. And even if Edelman returns, I don't expect the guy to be uncoverable like a healthy JE. And the Jets have Revis. I expect the Jets will be pressuring Brady all day and if his wounded pass catchers can't get open.....this offense is going no where. Plus.....3 games verses the same team in one year......we know how that story played out years ago vs the JESTs
Verses Pitt.......another stout run D that NE will have difficulty running against....but I fear the Jets run D more. For this game we know Big Ben will be chucking the ball deep and for Pitt to win, he needs time to throw. If you watch any Pitt game, Big Ben is a below average quick strike passer....he likes to wind it up. For NE to slow him down, they need to get on him quick....force him to make mistakes and he will. My biggest fear in this game would be pass interference calls verse NE. That Pitt WR tandem is awesome and can make DBs look foolish. But Big Ben will make mistakes. And Tomlin, we all know he is no match for BB........and NE ALWAYS beats Pitt.
Give me the lesser defense.....and that is Pitt.

But then again... .... Fitzpatrick playing an away playoff game........ How about Indy? Always a good work out/run thru for the SB

I don't want to make the playoffs, we need the highest pick as possible in the second round.