This game at Baltimore is basically the season.

[Kontradiction]

This game isn't basically the season. But this game could DEFINE the season, and the playoffs going forward, if the Pats can make this a statement game.

 

[patsfan-1982]

even if they lost this week its not the end they can still be 11-5 with the #2 seed. cincy still has to play the ravens and indy has KC, after Denver who is very beatable the AFC is weak. even with all the injuries to this team its not over till its over

 

[102 Pat]

I get the feeling the gameday thread will be epic tomorrow...

 

[QB12]

I get the feeling the gameday thread will be epic tomorrow...

With posts like 'I knew they were going to smack-down the grackles'

 

[SunsOutGunsOut]

I get the feeling the gameday thread will be epic tomorrow...

However .. I don't think I will have the discipline to avoid it .. lol

 

[Huckleberry1]

I get the feeling the gameday thread will be epic tomorrow...

I don't know, it would be hard to top the game threads for their losses to New Orleans, Denver, and Cleveland.................................

 

[PP2]

I don't know, it would be hard to top the game threads for their losses to New Orleans, Denver, and Cleveland.................................

Denver? Were you one of those "fans" that turned off the TV at halftime?

 

[crew1954]

Slow day, so here's BSMWs take:

Ravens Present Huge Challenge To Patriots Hopes ? Boston Sports Media Watch

 

[BelizePats]

Being called a homer by fat, 50-something football nerds who can't get a boner anymore is significantly more preferable to living my life looking forward to things that I enjoy ending badly.

This is one of the most brilliantly crafted comments I have ever read on this board.
THANK YOU!!!

 

[JoeSixPat]

Slow day, so here's BSMWs take:

Ravens Present Huge Challenge To Patriots Hopes ? Boston Sports Media Watch

Good read there that also affirms what we've always known about Felger and where he stands on the "us" and "them" when it comes to the Patriots.

I did get a bit of a laugh yesterday from the Felger and Mazz show when Felger was launching into his YOU bit. “Joe Flacco plays great against YOU, the Ravens defense knows how to stop YOU, etc etc.”

 

[crew1954]

I don't really like this scenario. I'd like for us to win against Baltimore and hope for them to lose to the Bengals. This is not just to eliminate Baltimore but it also sets up the scenario that we'll play the Bengals (if they beat Miami in the first round) in the 2nd round. More importantly, it steers Kansas City (assuming they beat the Colts) towards Denver so that we face one less dangerous team.

In this dream does KC play their Super Bowl in Denver, and not wanting to lose 3x to the CO. Archie Jrs, spank them and then come to NE on an emotional low for the AFCCG?

 

[Archeryaddict12]

This game is basically the season.

I don't really like this scenario. I'd like for us to win against Baltimore and hope for them to lose to the Bengals. This is not just to eliminate Baltimore but it also sets up the scenario that we'll play the Bengals (if they beat Miami in the first round) in the 2nd round. More importantly, it steers Kansas City (assuming they beat the Colts) towards Denver so that we face one less dangerous team.

I don't think we should try and hope for scenarios. Just wait and see who we get. We all wanted the ravens last year and look what happened. The only thing we have to do in the playoffs is put up enough points to win each game.

 

[supafly]

Last year, the Ravens limped into the playoffs losing four of their last five games. Their only win was against a Giants who didn't go to the playoff. No one giving them a shot when the playoffs started last year.

In 2007, the Giants lost two of their last three games and were predicted to be one and done in the playoffs.

In 2010, the Packers were 3-3 in their final six games of the season.

Anyone saying that the entire season rests on tomorrow isn't paying attention.

I just think that our defensive situation is much different, as these teams were more than capable of turning it on when the time was right. I'm not as sure that our current defense can do the same, but I obviously hope you're correct in your prediction.

My concern is that our defense has given up 27 point per game on average since late September, and both our rush and pass defense. I know that these teams that you keep mentioning weren't "great" defenses, but they were good enough to get pressure on the QB, stop the run, and play capable enough pass defense.

I thought we did some nice things vs MIA last week on defense, so hopefully they can continue that trend and head upwards at the right time.

The key to a playoff run for this injured squad is the #2 seed.
Plain and simply - they need the week off.
If they are forced to play on wildcard weekend I don't see them making the AFC championship game.

It's this reason alone why I think that tomorrow's game has a lot more bearing on our playoff chances that many seem to be giving credit to. It has the potential to change the odds dramatically. I know it's negative and unacceptable to think they wouldn't have a good chance, and I don't mean to be a bad fan or anything, but I just don't feel too confident about going on the road and winning more than one game vs good competition without that first round bye.

I do agree with you that we come out tomorrow and have a season defining game on the road. I think we get past Baltimore somehow and put all this talk behind us (hopefully).

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

It's this reason alone why I think that tomorrow's game has a lot more bearing on our playoff chances that many seem to be giving credit to. It has the potential to change the odds dramatically. I know it's negative and unacceptable to think they wouldn't have a good chance, and I don't mean to be a bad fan or anything, but I just don't feel too confident about going on the road and winning more than one game vs good competition without that first round bye.

I do agree with you that we come out tomorrow and have a season defining game on the road. I think we get past Baltimore somehow and put all this talk behind us (hopefully).

We will need Cincy to lose 1 more time if pats expect to lose tomorrow and still get #2 seed

And no one here should be confident with this team going on the road come playoffs

 

[RayClay]

Remember those awful games ealy season when the offense looked horrible, but we still won? Going 5-1 instead of 1-5 gave us a chance to have a season much more than one game now.

Everything isn't life or death drama.

 

[supafly]

We will need Cincy to lose 1 more time if pats expect to lose tomorrow and still get #2 seed

And no one here should be confident with this team going on the road come playoffs

Yeah, Baltimore would have to win at Cincy in the jungle next Sunday, with us beating Buffalo. The only concern with that would be Indianapolis, who holds the tie-breaker over us. They'd obviously come into the picture too.

In other words, a lot of things would have to go our way next Sunday should we lose tomorrow to allow us to still get that #2 seed. I find it hard to believe that tomorrow's week #16 game isn't going to control a lot of what can happen in the playoffs, simply due to the home field advantage, not to mention playoff chances in general.

That said, I also agree with those who say that it's not the end all/be all either, as we always have a chance no matter what. It will just be significantly lower, and that's pretty much a fact.

 

[RayClay]

I'd also be curious to see how many teams without the bye end up winning. Obviously, I'd rather have it and home field, but it seems to me teams that stayed hot have won too and one week alone isn't going to heal serious injuries.

 

[supafly]

Remember those awful games ealy season when the offense looked horrible, but we still won? Going 5-1 instead of 1-5 gave us a chance to have a season much more than one game now.

Everything isn't life or death drama.

The concern is having to be forced to continue our season with no break whatsoever, while also having to go on the road where we've basically sucked. That is going to be extremely difficult under the conditions of the 2013 season, with our injuries, and both offensive/defensive issues.

Everything isn't life or death drama, but it isn't candy canes and unicorns either. There should be some obvious concern about what happens should we lose tomorrow, as it would lessen our odds a ton--which is probably the OP's general intent. I see no reason in thinking that tomorrow's game would have a lot of bearing on our post-season chances, and I think anyone outside of the fanbase would agree. It's a huge game.

Is it the season? No, technically not, so you'd be right; but it very well may the difference between being forced to go on the road vs tough opponents when we've been struggling vs the likes of the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and NY Jets, and would have a 3-5 road record. As we know, those 3/8 wins would have come against divisional bottom dwellers, so I can see the reason for concern.

 

[supafly]

I'd also be curious to see how many teams without the bye end up winning. Obviously, I'd rather have it and home field, but it seems to me teams that stayed hot have won too and one week alone isn't going to heal serious injuries.

Winning one home game to play in the AFCCG with 2 weeks to prepare is much different than any other scenario of course.

As you said, there have been teams who have been able to do it, but I'm not seeing any of the comparisons myself. I don't see much comparison to the Nascar package of the Giants, the physical defense of the Ravens, the playmaking opportunities of Charles Woodson/Clay Matthews/BJ Raji for the Packers (nor their offensive health and weapons).

Anything is possible, and I'm sure that is your point--so we're in agreement there. Until we can prove to play a game that doesn't come down to the last minute or overtime, or winning vs teams who suck without going down 10+ pts, I'm going to be apprehensive of our chances of suddenly hitting the "on" switch like any of the recent wildcard teams who people are comparing this 2013 to. Just an explanation of my stance, no intent to be overly negative, although it likely appears that way.

 

[RayClay]

The concern is having to be forced to continue our season with no break whatsoever, while also having to go on the road where we've basically sucked. That is going to be extremely difficult under the conditions of the 2013 season, with our injuries, and both offensive/defensive issues.

Everything isn't life or death drama, but it isn't candy canes and unicorns either. There should be some obvious concern about what happens should we lose tomorrow, as it would lessen our odds a ton--which is probably the OP's general intent. I see no reason in thinking that tomorrow's game would have a lot of bearing on our post-season chances, and I think anyone outside of the fanbase would agree. It's a huge game.

Is it the season? No, technically not, so you'd be right; but it very well may the difference between being forced to go on the road vs tough opponents when we've been struggling vs the likes of the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and NY Jets, and would have a 3-5 road record. As we know, those 3/8 wins would have come against divisional bottom dwellers, so I can see the reason for concern.

We only have to win a handful or less of games. One team will win them all and recent history tells us it's not necessarily the hot team or the rested team.

I may prefer everyone to miraculously come back to health, but th fact is we are built for deptha which is why we are more successful than other teams who have injuries then fold.

Another reason we are more consistently successful is we play one game at a time which is all you can do. It's simply mental masturbation to decide which set of circumstances will result in us failing when most every circumstance allows us to continue and being in a game means we can win it. How many times and teams are necessary to prove this?

Was Baltimore the absolute best team last year? The Giants? That craptastic Steelers team that won because the Seahawks played even worse?

The Patriots don't beat themselves, why should I bury them?