Prioritize Games in Order of Importance

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I'm curious to see everyone's list of most-important to least-important games remaining. This is from a divisional/AFC seeding standpoint only, although I guess you could argue a game could be a "moral victory" that could make the Pats better.

We have seen a lot of injuries and a lot of armchair coaches are debating on whether Amendola, Gronkowski, and company should play next week. So, suppose that you could have your healthiest, best roster of the season for only one game. Strategically, based on what you know right now and what you predict will happen with our opponents over the course of the season, what game would it be? What would be your second choice, third choice, etc?

Also, it isn't based on the best opponent, it is based on the potential value of victory over that opponent.

Here's my list:

1. @ Miami
2. Miami
3. @ Cincinnati
4. Denver
5. @ Houston
6. @ NY Jets
7. Buffalo
8. @ Baltimore
9. Pittsburgh
10. Cleveland
11. Atlanta
12. New Orleans
13. Carolina

 

[woolster22]

@miami followed by Denver 1a/1b. Not much difference to me. Is the Miami home game late in the year? If so, denver jumps ahead marginally.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

@miami followed by Denver 1a/1b. Not much difference to me. Is the Miami home game late in the year? If so, denver jumps ahead marginally.

Yes- the Miami home game is late in the year in mid-December. It seems like every year we play them in Miami first followed by a late game in Foxborough.

I'm glad you are optimistic about the Denver matchup being more than just an awesome Brady-Manning duel. It would be awesome if the game has playoff seeding implications as well.

 

[Whitt25]

1. Dolphins (Because our records are tied.)
2. Ravens (AFC Championship revenge)
3. Broncos (Kick Peyton's ass.)
4. Texans (I wanna see their "homecoming" spirit.)
5. Falcons
6. Saints
7. Panthers (Had a nightmare about this game. That's the only reason why it's here.)
8. Steelers (I know this ******* who used to be a friend and is a fan of this team. I wanna beat them bad.)
9. Bengals

 

[fxkane]

I prioritize every game I think we have a good chance of losing. And of course all division games--yes, as with Miami, esp.

 

[jah]

-Teams that could take the AFCE from us: Dolphins
-Likely AFC divisional champions we want to beat for seeding: Broncos, Ravens, Bengals, Texans
-Divisional record padding just in case we tie with Miami: Dolphins, Jets, Bills
-Wild card competitors if we come in 2nd in AFCE: Ravens, Bengals, Texans
-AFC record padding for tiebreakers: all of the AFC games above plus Browns and Steelers
-NFC moral victories: Falcons, Saints
-NFC meaningless games: Panthers

There's some overlap given that we don't know who's going to win the other divisions. I think the AFC North and South are up in the air, but I give the Ravens and Colts the edge for now. Texans look pretty average overall and the Bengals will inevitably choke when the division is on the line.

 

[mgteich]

I list the division games first: Miami, jets and bills. Then I worry about other conference games, and finally nonconferrence games.

I'm curious to see everyone's list of most-important to least-important games remaining. This is from a divisional/AFC seeding standpoint only, although I guess you could argue a game could be a "moral victory" that could make the Pats better.

We have seen a lot of injuries and a lot of armchair coaches are debating on whether Amendola, Gronkowski, and company should play next week. So, suppose that you could have your healthiest, best roster of the season for only one game. Strategically, based on what you know right now and what you predict will happen with our opponents over the course of the season, what game would it be? What would be your second choice, third choice, etc?

Also, it isn't based on the best opponent, it is based on the potential value of victory over that opponent.

Here's my list:

1. @ Miami
2. Miami
3. @ Cincinnati
4. Denver
5. @ Houston
6. @ NY Jets
7. Buffalo
8. @ Baltimore
9. Pittsburgh
10. Cleveland
11. Atlanta
12. New Orleans
13. Carolina

 

[lurker1965]

By percent
games past 0%
next game 100%
games after next game 0%

 

[borg]

By percent
games past 0%
next game 100%
games after next game 0%

Having graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Belichick School of the It Is What It Is...Most important game...the next game.
No need for applause.....complete devotion is all I ask

 

[supafly]

Having graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Belichick School of the It Is What It Is...Most important game...the next game.
No need for applause.....complete devotion is all I ask

That's really the best and most obvious answer for anyone who has actually been following the team.

The second best answer would be the divisional and conference games, as the NFC games won't have as much bearing, although every single game can end up biting you in the butt come playoff seeding and HFA time.

 

[VinnyPatrollie]

By percent
games past 0%
next game 100%
games after next game 0%

THIS.


....the next game right in front of you is always the most important.


Oh, and embarrassing the Jets is always good for bonus points.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

MIA at home


Will set the tone to them that this is our division
Then the Broncos game. Can shut them up

 

[jmt57]

The first goal is to win the division, so the most important games would be the two versus the Dolphins, followed by the Jets and Bills. The ones against Miami are of more importance due to tiebreaker #1; the Jets and Bills due to tiebreaker #2; tiebreaker #3 actually makes the games against Denver and Houston the least important, since the Dolphins don't play them.


NFL Tiebreaking Procedures - Two Clubs Within a Division

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

NFL Tie-Breaking Procedures

 

[Kontradiction]

As of right now...

1. @ Miami
2. Denver
3. @ Cincy
4. Miami
5. @Houston
6. @ Baltimore
7. @ Jets
8. Pittsburgh
9. Buffalo
10. @ Atlanta
11. New Orleans
12. Cleveland
13. @ Carolina

This would be subject to change as the season progresses.