Who to root for week 15

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Patriots (10-3) at Broncos (8-5) 4:15PM ET,

If we win we clinch the 3 seed.

Jets (8-5) at Eagles (5-8) 4:15PM ET,

If Eagles win we clinch the 4 seed, even with a loss at mile high.

Steelers (10-3) at 49ers (10-3) MNF 8:30PM ET,
Ravens (10-3) at Chargers (6-7) 8:20PM ET,
Panthers (4-9) at Texans (10-3) 1:00PM ET,

Root against the other 10-3 teams in our conf. Particularly Raven's and Steelers both of whom have the tiebreaker over us if all teams win out. With the Texans the tiebreaker of SOV is not certain but we are leading.

Saints (10-3) at Vikings (2-11) 1:00PM ET,

We have the Saints first round pick.....

Jaguars (4-9) at Falcons (8-5) Thur 8:20PM ET,

.....thus we want the Falcons to win the division denying it from the Saints.


Lions (8-5) at Raiders (7-6) 4:05PM ET,

We have the Raiders second round pick. Obviously we want the Broncos to lose this week. If the Raiders do as well, Denver will stay in first place in the division.

Cowboys (7-6) at Buccaneers (4-9) Sat 8:20PM ET,
Titans (7-6) at Colts (0-13) 1:00PM ET,
Browns (4-9) at Cardinals (6-7) 4:15PM ET,
Redskins (4-9) at Giants (7-6) 1:00PM ET,

Cowboys, Colts, Cardinals, Redskins wins will help us with SoV tiebreaker over Texans.

Packers (13-0) at Chiefs (5-8) 1:00PM ET,

Want NEP to remain the only 16-0 regular season team.

Bengals (7-6) at Rams (2-11) 1:00PM ET,

If Colts beat the Titans, and Rams beat the Bengals, and Lions beat the Raiders we clinch a playoff spot even if we lose and the Jets win this week.

Dolphins (4-9) at Bills (5-8) 1:00PM ET,
Seahawks (6-7) at Bears (7-6) 1:00PM ET,

No impact on NEP.

 

[patsox23]

Always appreciate your thread -- helpful, informative, entertaining. Thanks!

 

[Dufflebagz]

I disagree with rooting against the Titans and Bengals. They are the only teams who could potentially keep the Jets out of the playoffs.

 

[randomk1]

I disagree with rooting against the Titans and Bengals. They are the only teams who could potentially keep the Jets out of the playoffs.

This. I hope Philly shows up and kicks their arses.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I disagree with rooting against the Titans and Bengals. They are the only teams who could potentially keep the Jets out of the playoffs.

Do the Jets worry you as being a particularly difficult team to match up against or do you just hate the jets?

I try not to include personal dislike of the 31 other teams, just solely what is in the best interest of the NEP as a teamand I have yet to see a reason why the Jets making the playoffs is worse for NE than the Titans or Bengals making the playoffs.

With the Titans I strongly feel that NEP being the #2 seed (and a bye) vs being the #3 seed is a particularly compelling reason certainly much stronger than any dislike of the Jets. My rooting against the Bengals is not that much of a compelling reason.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I believe EITHER a Patriots win or Green Beans loss wins the division for us.

That is correct and is reflected above.

A NEP win will clinch us the #3 seed regardless of the Jets game.

A loss by us and the Jets will clinch us the #4 seed.

 

[BlitzFritz]

Always enjoy this weekly thread, a great addition and balance to the back-and-forth hysteria.

Thanks!

-- FRITZ

 

[Dufflebagz]

Do the Jets worry you as being a particularly difficult team to match up against or do you just hate the jets?

I try not to include personal dislike of the 31 other teams, just solely what is in the best interest of the NEP as a teamand I have yet to see a reason why the Jets making the playoffs is worse for NE than the Titans or Bengals making the playoffs.

With the Titans I strongly feel that NEP being the #2 seed (and a bye) vs being the #3 seed is a particularly compelling reason certainly much stronger than any dislike of the Jets. My rooting against the Bengals is not that much of a compelling reason.

It's a mix of my hate for the Jets and a possible playoff match-up. I would much rather face the Bengals or Titans in the playoffs. While I feel that we should beat Sexy Rexy and his minions, he has shown that he can slow down our offense. I never feel too confident going into a rivalry game either.

 

[everlong]

With the Texans the tiebreaker of SOV is not certain but we are leading.

If both teams win out the SOV is ours no matter what. There's so many divisional games the last three weeks of the season now that every game is a .500 wash making it really tough to make up ground. I went through on ESPN's playoff machine and gave every advantage to the Texans and we still come out on top.

Examples: Texans lost to NO but beat Atlanta so I picked Atlanta for that game. Patriots beat Dallas and lost to the Giants so Giants win. We beat the Raiders and they lost to them so the Raiders lose out. ETC.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

If both teams win out the SOV is ours no matter what. There's so many divisional games the last three weeks of the season now that every game is a .500 wash making it really tough to make up ground. I went through on ESPN's playoff machine and gave every advantage to the Texans and we still come out on top.

Examples: Texans lost to NO but beat Atlanta so I picked Atlanta for that game. Patriots beat Dallas and lost to the Giants so Giants win. We beat the Raiders and they lost to them so the Raiders lose out. ETC.

According to AFC Winning Magic Numbers neither us nor the Texans control our own destiny for the #2 seed.

 

[everlong]

Interesting, obviously one of them is wrong.

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

Do the Jets worry you as being a particularly difficult team to match up against or do you just hate the jets?

I try not to include personal dislike of the 31 other teams, just solely what is in the best interest of the NEP as a teamand I have yet to see a reason why the Jets making the playoffs is worse for NE than the Titans or Bengals making the playoffs.

With the Titans I strongly feel that NEP being the #2 seed (and a bye) vs being the #3 seed is a particularly compelling reason certainly much stronger than any dislike of the Jets. My rooting against the Bengals is not that much of a compelling reason.

All we have to do is win 1 of the next 3 games to win the division. Rooting for the Jets to miss the playoffs is better than rooting for a very slim chance that we lose out and need to win some random wild card tie breaker.

 

[strngplyr]

Chiefs victory helps our SOV, I could care less about what GB does in the regular season. 16-0 turned out to be meaningless for us. Hopefully it will turn out the same way for them.

The Jenning's injury also has the coaches talking about resting players if they win this week, despite the players wanting 16-0.

After the Jenning's injury, and seeing things like Welker blowing out his ACL/MCL in a meaningless week 17 game, I'd be somewhat surprised if they go for 16-0. They at least can use Jenning's as an excuse for not trying and not get called out like the Colt's did.

 

[goheels22002]

My one difference of opinion is with the Green Bay Packers vs Chiefs. Much as it would be sweeeeeeet if interim head coach Romeo Crennel took down the Packers, at this point I want a Patriots - Packers Super Bowl.

As all the Mayans on this message board know, the world comes to an end next December (12-12-12), so the final Super Bowl in the books should be an apocalyptic upset of the 18-0 Packers by the been-there, done-that New England Patriots.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

All we have to do is win 1 of the next 3 games to win the division. Rooting for the Jets to miss the playoffs is better than rooting for a very slim chance that we lose out and need to win some random wild card tie breaker.

Okay, won't disagree, if you are talking about the Bengals game. However with the Titans game it could be the difference between a bye and not a bye if we win all three.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Chiefs victory helps our SOV,

Opps. You are right I missed that.

 

[NEPats1]

Always appreciate your thread -- helpful, informative, entertaining. Thanks!

agreed! I always look forward to it

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

According to AFC Winning Magic Numbers neither us nor the Texans control our own destiny for the #2 seed.

Since there are only 2 teams realistically vying for that #2 spot -- NEP & HOU -- does
this website believe their destinies are in the hands of a higher being?

 

[celticboy04]

Greetings,
Putting my score prediction in this thread, because I will not have Internet access for the rest of the week.
Pats 20
Broncos 14.
Celticboy04

 

[BTTA]

I guess the bottom line is I'd rather have the #2 seed and the Jests in the playoffs, than the #3 seed and the Jests out of the playoffs, if those are the two options under debate.

And thanks for this weekly post, it is one of the best weekly repeats.