Do the Pats make the playoffs?

[E Belichick Unum]

We are at the half way point of the season, the Pats are 5 and 3 and in the middle of the hardest part of their schedule. So I ask, Do the Pats make the playoffs?

 

[Big-T]

Yes, and as 2nd seed. Can see someone like the Chargers/Raiders or the Texans having to come to Foxboro in January.

 

[supafly]

We are at the half way point of the season, the Pats are 5 and 3 and in the middle of the hardest part of their schedule. So I ask, Do the Pats make the playoffs?

I'm not sure that I'd agree that they are 'in the middle of the hardest part of their schedule,' but your question is valid.

I think after this wk's game the schedule is drastically easier, especially after games AT Buffalo (1st place team), AT Oakland (1st place team + a trip to the West coast), NYJ (1st place team), Dallas (Rob Ryan), AT Pittsburgh (defending AFC Champs), NYG (1st place team), and AT the NYJ (1st place team + one of the toughest games of the yr annually, in their house).

Besides AT Philly in a couple of weeks, I don't see too many incredible worrisome games coming up.

I think they make the playoffs, YES. I am afraid that it will not be a division crown though..and that means rooting for Cincy and Buffalo to start losing, and quickly.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Easily. Do I see the Pats going far in the playoffs? No, unless there is major improvement in pass coverage and our special teams from top to bottom.

 

[supafly]

Yes, and as 2nd seed. Can see someone like the Chargers/Raiders or the Texans having to come to Foxboro in January.

A number #2 ????

Damn, that's confidence right there.

 

[BradyFTW!]

hI think we make the playoffs, simply because I still think the Pats are the best team in the division, and their upcoming schedule is pretty favorable. It's whether or not they can do anything once they get there that worries me.

 

[Big-T]

A number #2 ????

Damn, that's confidence right there.

Got to be confident

Much rather have a positive outlook on the team going forwards rather than the IT'S ALL GOING WRONG!!!! hysteria that has been around the last couple of weeks, I have faith that this team will turn it around, Brady isn't going to keep throwing INT's & missing on Ochocinco.

 

[Rob0729]

I'm not sure that I'd agree that they are 'in the middle of the hardest part of their schedule,' but your question is valid.

I think after this wk's game the schedule is drastically easier, especially after games AT Buffalo (1st place team), AT Oakland (1st place team + a trip to the West coast), NYJ (1st place team), Dallas (Rob Ryan), AT Pittsburgh (defending AFC Champs), NYG (1st place team), and AT the NYJ (1st place team + one of the toughest games of the yr annually, in their house).

Besides AT Philly in a couple of weeks, I don't see too many incredible worrisome games coming up.

I think they make the playoffs, YES. I am afraid that it will not be a division crown though..and that means rooting for Cincy and Buffalo to start losing, and quickly.

I agree. This is the end of the hardest part of the Pats' schedule. The Pats have two more teams on their schedule that currently have winning records - the Jets today and the Bills at the end of the season. Everyone else is .500 or better.

As for at Philly, I don't know why people think it is such a tough game. Vick can beat you on the ground, but he has been a mediocre passer this year and their defense has been a huge disapointment. The Eagles have had one quality win this year and it was against the inconsistent Cowboys. I guess I wouldn't be surprised if the Pats lost especially since it is in Philly, but the Eagles could be 3-7 by the time they play the Pats.

 

[YearbookCurfew]

If we beat the Jets this sunday then yes we will. If not I think we won't make the playoffs.

 

[fnordcircle]

If we beat the Jets this sunday then yes we will. If not I think we won't make the playoffs.

We'll be 5-4 if we lose on Sunday.

Who out of the :

Colts
Chiefs
Broncos
Bills
Dolphins
Washington
Philly

Do you think we'll lose to?

All of those teams are teams who are on the skids at the moment except maybe the Chiefs and Bills (who are faltering).

I think we make the playoffs and have a 12-4 record. The real test will be getting a goddamn playoff win for the first time since Bush was in office.

 

[Deus Irae]

Top AFC teams

Patriots
Bills
Jets
Bengals
Steelers
Ravens
Texans
Raiders/Chiefs (?)

That's 8-9 teams fighting for 6 spots. The Texans seem like a lock, barring injury. Either the Raiders or Chiefs should win the West, and the loser likely won't make the playoffs (Raiders face Vikings/Bears/Dolphins/Packers/Lions/Chiefs/Chargers, Chiefs face Broncos/Patriots/Steelers/Bears/Jets/Packers/Raiders/Broncos).

That leaves

Patriots
Bills
Jets
Steelers
Ravens
Bengals

as 6 teams fighting for 4 spots. I'm not buying the Bills, and I think they'll start to fade, following up last week's beating at the hands of the Jets with another loss this week, to the Cowboys. The Bengals have only one victory against a team with a winning record, and they've got the Steelers twice, Ravens twice and the Texans still to go on their schedule. That leaves 4 teams (Patriots/Jets/Ravens/Steelers) for 4 slots, which puts the Patriots in the playoffs.

The only way I see the Patriots missing the playoffs is if the Bengals are the real deal and it comes down to Patriots/Steelers for the wild card pick, and I don't expect that to be the case.

So........ Patriots will make the playoffs.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

A number #2 ????

Damn, that's confidence right there.

I am still confident they will be the number one seed.

 

[Deus Irae]

I am still confident they will be the number one seed.

Ravens schedule:

@ Seahawks
Bengals
49ers
@ Browns
Colts
@ Chargers
Browns
@ Bengals


They should get the #1 seed, IMO.

 

[brdmaverick]

Yes, the Pats are 5-3 at the midway point, and if they repeat that performance they'll be 10-6. After the Jets game it gets much easier for the Pats, so I see them going 11-5 while making the playoffs.

 

[IllegalContact]

yup.....after sunday, the schedule is real easy.....supposedly

 

[E1Downey]

Yes I do. It wont be easy(obviously) and fans shouldn't be banking on it.
We've already been disappointed a few times in betting on the "sure thing" like beating buffalo for a 16th straight time, or beating The Steelers in Pitt. Or even banking on the fact that Brady just doesn't lose back to back games....

The AFC is a mess right now. Everyone says "any given Sunday" all the time, but we are truly seeing it this year. A wild card spot may be too risky, and I think they need to win the division. Not totally necessary at this point in time, as they have the easier schedule of the three leaders in the AFCE(I think), and technically control their own destiny. Winning out the rest of the games and they have it again!

Anyway I really think this team is much better than they've shown us the past three games. Let's not forget the defense stepped up big time this past week, they just couldn't hold on for the full 60 minutes unfortunately.

So again, yes i think they make it in, how far they can go is a whole different question though....

 

[E1Downey]

Ravens schedule:

@ Seahawks
Bengals
49ers
@ Browns
Colts
@ Chargers
Browns
@ Bengals


They should get the #1 seed, IMO.

I agree, if I had to pick a team to be the number one seed it would not be the patriots, but the Ravens, despite their inconsistent play on Offense.

 

[ivanvamp]

Pats lose 2 of the next 3 (to NYJ and Phi), but win their last 5 to finish at 11-5. That'll be enough to make the playoffs, and from there, anything can happen....good or bad.

 

[NEPatriot]

I think it will be similar to recent years, one and done.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

We'll be 5-4 if we lose on Sunday.

Who out of the :

Colts
Chiefs
Broncos
Bills
Dolphins
Washington
Philly

Do you think we'll lose to?

All of those teams are teams who are on the skids at the moment except maybe the Chiefs and Bills (who are faltering).

I think we make the playoffs and have a 12-4 record. The real test will be getting a goddamn playoff win for the first time since Bush was in office.

Let's take a look at the schedule.

Jets - The Pats actually match up pretty well against the Jets. Sanchez isn't that good and the Pats stop the run pretty well.

KC - Flip a coin, sometimes they can look pretty good, other times they look inept. Cassel can throw the ball and they have people who can catch the ball. This is going to be a tough game for the Pats.

Eagles - That is a very good team with a dog at QB. If they put the game in Vick's hands I feel pretty good about the game, but let's wait a week or so to make that determination.

Colts - They suck, but they can throw, and the Pats can't stop the pass. They have a chance to win their only game against the Pats.

Redskins - That is a really disfunctional team. Shanahan is a really bad coach.

Broncos - Tebow, and a cloud of dust. That should be a win.

Dolphins - Out of it by Thanksgiving, AGAIN.

Bills - Probably will be a hard game for the Pats, but the Pats have revenge as a motive.

If you look at what teams do well against what the Pats don't do well, you see a few tough games. I believe that it all comes down to the Bills game being a win and in game for the Pats. I think they win and go on the road.

I try to be realistic, and what I see in Foxboro isn't very good.