Are the Pats better off being the 2 seed?

[mvrabel50]

Assuming the Pats get a 1st round bye, are they better off going in as the 2 seed? I know they won't be playing at Gillette if they face the Steelers in the AFC Championship game but I think they'll have an easier matchup in their first playoff game. They'll probably end up playing Houston instead of Baltimore. Then we just hope that Baltimore beats the Steelers and the AFC Championship goes through Gillette.

I can't deal with another one and done in the playoffs.

 

[Ring 6]

Assuming the Pats get a 1st round bye, are they better off going in as the 2 seed? I know they won't be playing at Gillette if they face the Steelers in the AFC Championship game but I think they'll have an easier matchup in their first playoff game. They'll probably end up playing Houston instead of Baltimore. Then we just hope that Baltimore beats the Steelers and the AFC Championship goes through Gillette.

I can't deal with another one and done in the playoffs.

How can you be better as a 2 seed?
Besides the matchup in the first game depends on BOTH widl card round games.
It seems you are afraid of Bmore for some reason?
As a 2 we would play them if the 6 beats the 3, which is a wounded team. and as a 1 we play them if the 3 beats the 6.
I don't see an advantage, although I don't fear the Ravens either.

 

[QB12]

Ask San Diego, Seattle, and Jacksonville if they fear the Ravens.

 

[Rob0729]

You want to play the Ravens in Gillette. I read today that they haven't lost at home this year, but are 3-4 on the road. The Pats definitely want to play the Ravens in Gillette.

I would still rather see the Steelers at home. Their field is going to be crap in January and they do have a roudy home crowd. I still think that the Pats' struggles with the Steelers a month and a half ago had a lot to do with Brady's elbow and the Pats not being prepared for a radical change in gameplan against a team that rarely, if ever run opponent specific gameplans. That said, playing in Gillette will be an advantage.

The one reason against getting the #1 overall seed is that the #6 seed is going to be such a mediocre team (unless the surging Chargers get it) that you are likely to have to play the Ravens AND Steelers to get to the Super Bowl. If the winner of the AFC North gets the #2 seed, then the Texans should beat whichever mediocre team wins the 6th seed and the #5 seed (whether it is the Ravens or Steelers) should be able to beat the AFC West winner. That would set up back to back AFC North opponents which are the two toughest opponents in the AFC playoff bracket.

 

[mvrabel50]

How can you be better as a 2 seed?
Besides the matchup in the first game depends on BOTH widl card round games.
It seems you are afraid of Bmore for some reason?
As a 2 we would play them if the 6 beats the 3, which is a wounded team. and as a 1 we play them if the 3 beats the 6.
I don't see an advantage, although I don't fear the Ravens either.

Regardless of who Baltimore plays, i think they'll win their first game. I'm not really afraid of them, but I think we have a much better chance of beating Houston who I think will win their first round game against the 6.

 

[Rob0729]

Ask San Diego, Seattle, and Jacksonville if they fear the Ravens.

I think the Pats can easily beat the Ravens if they can turn it into a shootout like the Chargers did last night. Flacco is like Tebow and cannot perform from a big deficit.

I want the Ravens in Gillette though. As I pointed out in my last post, the Ravens have a losing record on the road and are undefeated at home.

 

[BKBroiler]

The Ravens have been awful on the road. Not to mention how badly their offense has played at times. If Pats were to get the bye, the only team I 'd like to see them avoid in the Divisional round is the Texans since their running game and defense will be a tough match up for anyone come playoff time. Even still, I wouldn't be all that worried since they have Yates starting at QB and he showed Sunday that he can be rattled.

 

[PatsFan2]

This Teams just needs a week off and that's all that matters.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I'll take the 1 seed every time. No travel, good for the family life, comfortable environment, know every inch of your field. Not to mention the home crowd which isn't feeling so entitled nowadays. Who are starting to get hungry again knowing a home playoff game isn't an automatic win anymore. They might just get extremely fanatical again this year.

 

[mvrabel50]

The Ravens have been awful on the road. Not to mention how badly their offense has played at times. If Pats were to get the bye, the only team I 'd like to see them avoid in the Divisional round is the Texans since their running game and defense will be a tough match up for anyone come playoff time. Even still, I wouldn't be all that worried since they have Yates starting at QB and he showed Sunday that he can be rattled.

Ravens have a very similar defense than Houston, but wouldn't you much rather play Houston with a rookie QB with no playoff experience? Sure they have a great running game, but that plays into the only strength of our defense. I guess I just can't see our defense stepping up and beating a decent qb.

 

[MP-Logick]

The one reason against getting the #1 overall seed is that the #6 seed is going to be such a mediocre team (unless the surging Chargers get it) that you are likely to have to play the Ravens AND Steelers to get to the Super Bowl. If the winner of the AFC North gets the #2 seed, then the Texans should beat whichever mediocre team wins the 6th seed and the #5 seed (whether it is the Ravens or Steelers) should be able to beat the AFC West winner. That would set up back to back AFC North opponents which are the two toughest opponents in the AFC playoff bracket.

I think the Jets are absolutely capable of going into Houston and beating TJ Yates. Don't want to see it happen, but it could be done, if they can stop the run and force him to throw.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Go 49ers tonight, forget the past, the 1 seed is better than the 2.

Hosting the AFC Championship>On the road.

Like others said, it's not like you're guarenteed a better matchup as the 2, the 5 and 6 win guess what? Here come the Ravens!

The 3 and 4 win , Tim Tebow comes to foxboro.

 

[Rob0729]

I think the Jets are absolutely capable of going into Houston and beating TJ Yates. Don't want to see it happen, but it could be done, if they can stop the run and force him to throw.

The Jets haven't beaten a team with a winning record since week #1 and that took a patented Tony Romo end of the game meltdown with a 14 point lead late in the 4th quarter to accomplish. I think the #6 seed is an easy out for whoever gets them. The Jets can't beat good teams and haven't even played great against a lot of the bad teams they have played. I think the Jets are one and done if they get in which I would bet against. If the Giants don't beat them this weekend, the Dolphins probably will on New Years Day.

Personally, I hope that the Jets get the #6 seed and then win the first round if the Pats get the #1 seed. Nothing better than beating the Jets three times in one season. This year's Jets are nowhere near as good as the previous two year Jets.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I think Houston loses in the wild card week to the 6th seed.

Then #1 plays #6 and #2 plays #5/#4

I'd rather play at home throughout, no matter what. Any given Sunday we can lose to anyone, but I still feel better about a home game despite the results of the last two playoff games.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think Houston loses in the wild card week to the 6th seed.

Then #1 plays #6 and #2 plays #5/#4

I'd rather play at home throughout, no matter what. Any given Sunday we can lose to anyone, but I still feel better about a home game despite the results of the last two playoff games.

That all depends on who the 6th seed is. If the 6th seed is the Jets, then maybe.. But if it's Cincy, then all bets are off..

This is actually a pretty good race for the play-off seeding this year.

BTW, Does anyone know when the last time it was that the #1 seed made it to the SB and won?

 

[Rob0729]

That all depends on who the 6th seed is. If the 6th seed is the Jets, then maybe.. But if it's Cincy, then all bets are off..

This is actually a pretty good race for the play-off seeding this year.

BTW, Does anyone know when the last time it was that the #1 seed made it to the SB and won?

Probably the Pats in 2004.

EDIT: No The Saints in 2009.

 

[Fball]

The Jets haven't beaten a team with a winning record since week #1 and that took a patented Tony Romo end of the game meltdown with a 14 point lead late in the 4th quarter to accomplish. I think the #6 seed is an easy out for whoever gets them. The Jets can't beat good teams and haven't even played great against a lot of the bad teams they have played. I think the Jets are one and done if they get in which I would bet against. If the Giants don't beat them this weekend, the Dolphins probably will on New Years Day.

Personally, I hope that the Jets get the #6 seed and then win the first round if the Pats get the #1 seed. Nothing better than beating the Jets three times in one season. This year's Jets are nowhere near as good as the previous two year Jets.

They're about the same. They're probably better than the team that made the playoffs 2 years ago - that team really backed into the playoffs in a big way. And last year's team looked dead after 45-3.

The playoffs are about coaching more than talent - it's rare that a "bad" coach gets to a SB. People can say what they want about Ryan, but he's a very good coach. If they make the playoffs, all bets are off, especially this season (which is very unpredictable, w/ no clear fave).

 

[goheels22002]

Personally, I hope that the Jets get the #6 seed and then win the first round if the Pats get the #1 seed. Nothing better than beating the Jets three times in one season. This year's Jets are nowhere near as good as the previous two year Jets.

You are a brave man to say this in public, my friend. I had one of these "bring on the Jets" posts all cranked up and then cheesed out when it came time to hit the "Submit Reply" button. It gives me the creeps to think about a re-match in the playoffs with Rex and those guys. I'm rooting for the Cincinnati Bengals.

 

[Rob0729]

They're about the same. They're probably better than the team that made the playoffs 2 years ago - that team really backed into the playoffs in a big way. And last year's team looked dead after 45-3.

The playoffs are about coaching more than talent - it's rare that a "bad" coach gets to a SB. People can say what they want about Ryan, but he's a very good coach. If they make the playoffs, all bets are off, especially this season (which is very unpredictable, w/ no clear fave).

Other than being significantly worse on defense and running the ball, they are about the same. The Jets were the #1 defense and #1 rushing offense in 2009. They still had a top 5 defense last year and a top rushing game last year. Now their defense is pretty much middle of the pack and their running game has been below average.

If you think this Jets team is remotely as good as last year or even the year before, you aren't watching the games. Their defense is slow as crap with no pass rush. That why the Pats, Eagles, Raiders, and Bills (although they beat the Bills).

 

[patsinthesnow]

After messing with the playoff machine, if the Jets lose out to the Gmen and Fins, and Cinci loses to Baltimore, Sandiego gets in as the #6 (almost impossible for them to win the division)

Now, I wouldn't want that happening, so do we root for the Jets last week of the season to back in. (barf)