Pats AFC chances look optimistic

[patsinthesnow]

With the news of Reggie Wayne being done for the season, I think the #2 seed is very obtainable.

Pats: 5-2
Jets: 4-3
Dolphins: 3-3
Bills: 3-4

AFC North

Bengals: 5-2
Ravens: 3-4
Browns: 3-4
Steelers: 2-4

AFC South

Colts: 5-2
Titans: 3-4
Texans: 2-5
Jaguars: 0-7

AFC West:

Chiefs:7-0
Broncos: 6-1
Chargers: 4-3
Raiders: 2-4

I think 11-5 or 12-4 could win the 2nd seed and a bye this year. Although the Bengals own the tiebreaker and look good at 5-2, Dalton will have his WTF days, I can't see them better than 11-5.

What do you all think?

 

[manxman2601]

No chance. Our OC is useless and Brady is in decline

Assuming there are no more injuries, I can only assume our path will be upwards. We'll get Kelly and Talib back (hopefully soon), and I continue to believe that our offense will eventually get it. I'm still hopeful.

 

[SVN]

Right now personally , I dont trust this team on offense and defensive injuries arent going to help. They can lose to anyone the way they have played the 2nd halfs last 3 weeks.6 pts in the 2nd half last 2 weeks until the buzzer and 3 pts vs the bengals. For that brady miracle last week we couldve really been in trouble. Unless they can figure out what they want to do and how they want to do with the players they have and oline steps up, 11-5,12-4 all look difficult . Key words are RIGHT NOW. Lets hope they scrape a couple of wins next 2 weeks and find some solutions in the bye. Regarding other teams - both denver and kc being 7 and 6 wins hurts us if we dont win the division because we will be in a bigger dog fight for the WC since once of them will most likely get the other spot.

 

[goheels22002]

I have them winning the division with a #4 seed at 11-5, which means they have to go 6-3 the rest of the way. The Miami game at home is the first "must-win" game of the season.

Having Gronk back was a huge addition yesterday, and getting Talib and Tommy Kelly on the field shores up the defense significantly. Vereen will be back Week 10 which adds a different dimension to the backfield and short passing game.

 

[Rob0729]

The Pats' schedule the rest of the way is relatively soft. Other than the Broncos, no team on their schedule has a winning record. The Dolphins are the only team other than the Broncos who don't have a losing record right now and they seem to be declining fast after a good start.

The number 2 seed is definitely possible.

All that matters today in the NFL is getting into the dance. Over the last ten years, six of the last ten of the Super Bowl winners played Wild Card Weekend (Both Giants wins, Green Bay, Baltimore, Indy, and the first Steelers' win). The best team rarely wins the Super Bowl anymore.

 

[SVN]

The Pats' schedule the rest of the way is relatively soft. Other than the Broncos, no team on their schedule has a winning record. The Dolphins are the only team other than the Broncos who don't have a losing record right now and they seem to be declining fast after a good start.

The number 2 seed is definitely possible.

All that matters today in the NFL is getting into the dance. Over the last ten years, six of the last ten of the Super Bowl winners played Wild Card Weekend (Both Giants wins, Green Bay, Baltimore, Indy, and the first Steelers' win). The best team rarely wins the Super Bowl anymore.

We also said the schedule was soft before yesterday's game. Means nothing right now with our offensive struggles and injuries.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

They will win division.....I think. No they will


to finish 12-4 with only 2 more losses...will be very tough...10-6 11-5 more like it

 

[brdmaverick]

We also said the schedule was soft before yesterday's game. Means nothing right now with our offensive struggles and injuries.

I couldn't have said it better myself. This is a year in which every game will be uncertain. There are no guarantess or gimme's this year.

I'm sure the Colts are looking at us saying, "yes, we lost Wayne but with the Pats losing Wilfork and Mayo we can still be the #2 seed (or better)"

After all, they have some impressive wins against the Broncos, Niners, and Seahawks. The Colts are a true threat.

 

[SVN]

bruschi summed it up

Chat: Chat with Tedy Bruschi - SportsNation - ESPN Boston

Tedy (2:32 PM)

I'll just wrap it up with this thought: This is the way it's going to have to be for the Patriots. They will have to play great situational football, make plays in the fourth quarter, and they're going to have to play clean (minimizing the turnovers and the penalties). The day of the blowout victory is over.

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

I expect the Pats to hold on to the division, I expect the Bengals to have a rough stretch, and I expect the Colts to have struggles w/out Wayne. I figure that makes a number two seed the most likely spot for the Pats; if I had to put percentages on it I'd say 30% #2, 25% #3, 20% #4, 0% #5, and 10% #6.

 

[Rob0729]

We also said the schedule was soft before yesterday's game. Means nothing right now with our offensive struggles and injuries.

I have said before this game is that the Jets were the last team on the schedule that has the d-line to give the Pats' o-line fits and get to Brady. So what happened in the second half isn't all that surprising. I said if the d-line can give Brady time, the Pats would pick apart their secondary (which happened a lot in the first half) and if they didn't it could be a long game for the offense (which it was in the second half). I got that prediction right.

Anything can happen, but I expect the Pats to have no less than 10 wins (which would have them going 5-4 the rest of the way). But expect them to have about 11-12 wins, possibly more.

I expect both Talib and Kelly to be back soon (if not this week). Vereen comes back in three games (the first game after the bye) and starts practicing on Wednesday. Gronk will be far closer to 100% by then. I would expect barring more injuries, this team will be the healthiest it has been all season come three games by now if not sooner.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Jones-Kelly-C. Jones-Ninkovich may be weak vs. the run, but that will sure be one hell of a pass rushing group. I'm excited to see Kelly-C. Jones

 

[Ring 6]

With the news of Reggie Wayne being done for the season, I think the #2 seed is very obtainable.

Pats: 5-2
Jets: 4-3
Dolphins: 3-3
Bills: 3-4

AFC North

Bengals: 5-2
Ravens: 3-4
Browns: 3-4
Steelers: 2-4

AFC South

Colts: 5-2
Titans: 3-4
Texans: 2-5
Jaguars: 0-7

AFC West:

Chiefs:7-0
Broncos: 6-1
Chargers: 4-3
Raiders: 2-4

I think 11-5 or 12-4 could win the 2nd seed and a bye this year. Although the Bengals own the tiebreaker and look good at 5-2, Dalton will have his WTF days, I can't see them better than 11-5.

What do you all think?

I think we have the easiest crossovers which is helpful. NFCS is not only weak but we already beat 3 of the 4. AFCN is weak, and we have played the best of the bunch.
On the other hand, it does not help tiebreakers to be 4-0 non conference.

The best thing for the Patriots in analyzing this is the weak remaining schedule.

Denver

Miamix2
Pitt
Bmore
Houston
Cleve
Buff
Carolina


One good team and the rest are anywhere from mediocre to bad.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The focus is the division and they should still win it. Anything that gets them in the play-offs is fine with me as it is going to take the whole season for them to get this team into shape for any play-off run. Other teams are no doubt going to have to deal with major losses of key players so we will see where everyone stands when january rolls around.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think we have the easiest crossovers which is helpful. NFCS is not only weak but we already beat 3 of the 4. AFCN is weak, and we have played the best of the bunch.
On the other hand, it does not help tiebreakers to be 4-0 non conference.

The best thing for the Patriots in analyzing this is the weak remaining schedule.

Denver

Miamix2
Pitt
Bmore
Houston
Cleve
Buff
Carolina


One good team and the rest are anywhere from mediocre to bad.

All of these teams are going to be tough games for this Patriot team, there are no lay-ups this season.

 

[supafly]

We also said the schedule was soft before yesterday's game. Means nothing right now with our offensive struggles and injuries.

Yeah, every season we go through this dog and pony show about our opponents vs their opponents vs those opponents, etc, etc. None of that matters in the least for a team that is trying to find themselves and is attempting to progress on both sides of the ball.

The fact is that any one of those teams can properly defend us, even if it looks "unlikely" to the so-called experts. No one lies down in this league, and there is a lot of tough competition even if their records don't reflect that at all times.

There are tough defensive matchups vs MIA (2x), CAR (on the road on MNF), BAL (late in the season on their turf), PIT (a chance to be 4-4 that day riding the momentum of a 4 game win streak), CLE, BUF, HOU--and obviously DEN is going to be a very tough out.

If the team is playing good ball they can beat any of them, but the reality is probably closer to losing at least a few games from week 7--17.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I have said before this game is that the Jets were the last team on the schedule that has the d-line to give the Pats' o-line fits and get to Brady. So what happened in the second half isn't all that surprising. I said if the d-line can give Brady time, the Pats would pick apart their secondary (which happened a lot in the first half) and if they didn't it could be a long game for the offense (which it was in the second half). I got that prediction right.

Anything can happen, but I expect the Pats to have no less than 10 wins (which would have them going 5-4 the rest of the way). But expect them to have about 11-12 wins, possibly more.

I expect both Talib and Kelly to be back soon (if not this week). Vereen comes back in three games (the first game after the bye) and starts practicing on Wednesday. Gronk will be far closer to 100% by then. I would expect barring more injuries, this team will be the healthiest it has been all season come three games by now if not sooner.

I'm pretty sure the panthers have a good DL.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Yeah, every season we go through this dog and pony show about our opponents vs their opponents vs those opponents, etc, etc. None of that matters in the least for a team that is trying to find themselves and is attempting to progress on both sides of the ball.

The fact is that any one of those teams can properly defend us, even if it looks "unlikely" to the so-called experts. No one lies down in this league, and there is a lot of tough competition even if their records don't reflect that at all times.

There are tough defensive matchups vs MIA (2x), CAR (on the road on MNF), BAL (late in the season on their turf), PIT (a chance to be 4-4 that day riding the momentum of a 4 game win streak), CLE, BUF, HOU--and obviously DEN is going to be a very tough out.

If the team is playing good ball they can beat any of them, but the reality is probably closer to losing at least a few games from week 7--17.

I will be very happy with 6-3 the rest of the way. I don't expect them to beat Denver with this offense so that would mean 6-2 against the rest of them.

 

[supafly]

The focus is the division and they should still win it. Anything that gets them in the play-offs is fine with me as it is going to take the whole season for them to get this team into shape for any play-off run. Other teams are no doubt going to have to deal with major losses of key players so we will see where everyone stands when january rolls around.

I agree. This team needs to try and build some momentum while they continue to find themselves. Unfortunately that hasn't occurred yet.

The good news is that they can try to get into the break and take it from there.

 

[supafly]

I will be very happy with 6-3 the rest of the way. I don't expect them to beat Denver with this offense so that would mean 6-2 against the rest of them.

Which would equate to an 11-5 overall record.

Probably not good enough for a first round bye at the #2 spot, but still a home game in round one and then go from there.

If they can get into the bye week at 7-2, I think it increases the chances at going 12-4 tremendously. Of course that's a big "if" at the moment, but 7-2 at the bye and then 2 more losses (DEN + take your pick) would make it 12-4. I think 12-4 would place them in a decent spot for the #2 spot.

It's amazing how much difference that 1 game may make though. Not too many teams have gotten it at 11-5, aside from the 2001 team of course.