This game at Baltimore is basically the season.

[supafly]

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

I would never in a million years suggest to bury any Patriots team, Ray Clay.

I'm just explaining my stance regarding this specific thread, and the OP's thoughts. I personally think that tomorrow's game is more important than many other posters seem to feel due to the HFA advantage implications, but I'd never once think about "burying" them.

 

[Whitt25]

That's what this game feels like for me, but not because of seedings and what could potentially happen if we lose.

This is the same team that sent us home last season and beat us in the regular season. I'm hyped as hell. Come on, y'all! We gotta kick they ass!

 

[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, since you noted this, here's some stats at the end showing the recent trend for teams without rest winning SBs.

NFL Playoffs: "Hot" Myth or the Bye Week Advantage in Conference Championships? | Bleacher Report

My point is simple. Unless anybody's wearing a helmet this Sunday and next nothing you say has any effect on what happens. statistically, less than a handful of games, with a ball that isn't round and bounces funny and the possibility of in game injuries and fluky plays are unpredictable.

If you have a great quarterback, coach and some veterans you have a leg up, but teams without those have won. Football is a lot less predictable than basketball or baseball, IMO, because the possibility of large scores on turnovers and few games compared to 7 game series.

All we can do is win the next game and if not, win the next game. We're as good as the ravens, so a good game plan gives us a great shot IMO.

 

[supafly]

Supafly, since you noted this, here's some stats at the end showing the recent trend for teams without rest winning SBs.

NFL Playoffs: "Hot" Myth or the Bye Week Advantage in Conference Championships? | Bleacher Report

My point is simple. Unless anybody's wearing a helmet this Sunday and next nothing you say has any effect on what happens. statistically, less than a handful of games, with a ball that isn't round and bounces funny and the possibility of in game injuries and fluky plays are unpredictable.

If you have a great quarterback, coach and some veterans you have a leg up, but teams without those have won. Football is a lot less predictable than basketball or baseball, IMO, because the possibility of large scores on turnovers and few games compared to 7 game series.

All we can do is win the next game and if not, win the next game. We're as good as the ravens, so a good game plan gives us a great shot IMO.

I certainly understand your point, RC. I'm definitely not trying to claim that you don't have a point, just that I'm not seeing much comparison to the past teams due to our issues on both sides of the ball.

As you say though, anything's always possible and at this point it's just about winning a handful of games in a row. For the record I am more homer than I am chicken little, but the recent play over the last 6-7 games along with once again losing Gronkowski has me quite apprehensive. On top of that, I'm kind of a numbers guy, so I think the odds drop a lot without getting that bye.

As you state though, it's always quite possible, and we simply need to take it one game at a time + hope for the best.

 

[supafly]

I'm hyped as hell. Come on, y'all! We gotta kick they ass!

POWWWWWWW

Brandon, is that you? How'd you get enough time to break from twitter?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Supafly, since you noted this, here's some stats at the end showing the recent trend for teams without rest winning SBs.

NFL Playoffs: "Hot" Myth or the Bye Week Advantage in Conference Championships? | Bleacher Report

Pats have never made the SB without a bye. A bye is very important to this team..especially this year

 

[supafly]

Pats have never made the SB without a bye. A bye is very important to this team..especially this year

I wouldn't personally be as concerned about the past predicting future results as much as I'd be worried about this year's specific team--as you said. Lots of injury concerns and a bit of a lack of cohesion/consistency. That said, they do seem to take advantage of having that bye week under Bill Belichick.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I wouldn't personally be as concerned about the past predicting future results as much as I'd be worried about this year's specific team--as you said. Lots of injury concerns and a bit of a lack of cohesion/consistency. That said, they do seem to take advantage of having that bye week under Bill Belichick.

I think the extra week of rest for guys like KT and Dobson who are coming down the home stretch hurt would be much needed.

 

[Jackson 2]

Pats have never made the SB without a bye. A bye is very important to this team..especially this year

Wrong. They made it in 1986 by beating the Jets, the Dolphins and the Raiders all on the road to get to the SB.

 

[Joker]

"It's no good..everything is bad...it's all bad...it looks bad...bad things will happen..."

 

[Jackson 2]

"It's no good..everything is bad...it's all bad...it looks bad...bad things will happen..."

Nothing in Patriots' history ever actually occurred prior to 2001. Whatever anyone experienced or observed from 1960 - 2001 actually took place on a Hollywood movie set.

 

[RayClay]

I would never in a million years suggest to bury any Patriots team, Ray Clay.

I'm just explaining my stance regarding this specific thread, and the OP's thoughts. I personally think that tomorrow's game is more important than many other posters seem to feel due to the HFA advantage implications, but I'd never once think about "burying" them.

Tomorrow's game isn't more important than last week's game. Had they won last weeks game tomorrow's game would still be the most important, as it is today, because it is the only game we can win tomorrow.

 

[supafly]

Tomorrow's game isn't more important than last week's game. Had they won last weeks game tomorrow's game would still be the most important, as it is today, because it is the only game we can win tomorrow.

I'm not sure why an AFC conference game in week #16 when we haven't even locked up the division yet wouldn't be the most important game of the season, when there's only one game remaining to try and make the playoffs, but to each his own if that's what you want to believe.

Had we won last week's game, then I could understand why tomorrow's game wouldn't be as important, because we wouldn't be in the same situation and would have locked up the division already---but questioning things has gotten better people than myself shot before, so I'll leave it alone.

I see you must've picked up that new, killer Bill Belichick translator app

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I'm not sure why an AFC conference game in week #16 when we haven't even locked up the division yet wouldn't be the most important game of the season, when there's only one game remaining to try and make the playoffs, but to each his own if that's what you want to believe.

Had we won last week's game, then I could understand why tomorrow's game wouldn't be as important, because we wouldn't be in the same situation and would have locked up the division already---but questioning things has gotten better people than myself shot before, so I'll leave it alone.

I see you must've picked up that new, killer Bill Belichick translator app

tom brady summed up this game the best:

“We need it. There’s no bigger game than this one for us,” the Patriots quarterback said Wednesday. “We have to put everything we can into it. It’s a very important game. As the season goes on, each of these games gets more and more important. We know how important this one is to try to win the division

 

[supafly]

tom brady summed up this game the best:

Yeah, I think it'd be difficult to argue otherwise myself--but not everyone's going to agree with that, so I can see and respect both sides.

Let's just hope for a win and some much needed cohesion while they try to once again overcome a major challenge on the road, against a physical opponent around Christmastime. That's one thing we can all agree on for sure. We need to start playing playoff caliber football, and see improvements on both sides of the ball.