Steelers are 3 seed right now

[RobertWeathers]

The problem is if we root for the steelers to be out, we are essentially rooting for baltimore to get in. I would rather face pitt than baltimore.

Even though the NEP are the superior team, I want no part of Baltimore.

Pittsburgh....bring it.

 

[70Dart]

The problem is if we root for the steelers to be out, we are essentially rooting for baltimore to get in. I would rather face pitt than baltimore.

I hate the Ravens a lot more than I hate the Steelers. Part of me wants to beat the hell out of the Ravens, that last game was lopsided, the score just never showed it. This time I would love for the game to be an absolute blow out and humiliation of the Ravens. Was that too much? I would tone it back a bit, but I really hate the Ravens almost as much as I hate the Clots (not a misprint) and Donkeys.

 

[BobDigital]

There are only 3 teams that are truly balanced and pretty good on both sides of the ball. To figure this I used the metric of posting above average offensive points (relative to the defense you play) and below average defense points surrendered (relative to the offense you play).

Cold, Hard Football Facts.com: The Truth Hurts

This is one of the best correlations to victory and it is clear as we saw from Denver that though they do well for total score differential it can be exposed vs balanced teams (Atlanta I believe falls into a similar trap the other way).

Rounding figures.

Pats 4PPG+ Offense 4PPG+ Defense (best and very balanced team. Worth nothing their O may be a bit low due to missing Brady 4 games)
Dallas 4PPG+ Offense 3PPG+ Defense (2nd best team this year and though young they are balanced well)
Steelers 3PPG+ Offense 3PPG+ Defense (3rd best team and worth noting their offensive score might be a bit low due to Ben being injured for 3 games clearly)

Worth noting.

Oakland 4PPG+ Offense 0PPG Defense (not balanced and offense looking hurt. This will cost them)

Eagles 1PPG+ Offense 1PPG+ Defense (Obviously still living off early season victories but worth noting they had the hardest schedule in the NFL IMO... Either way goes to show just being okay on both sides is not enough. You need to be clearly good on both sides and they are just average or a hair above and maybe that allows other teams to take advantage of you cause you have no true strength to your team. It is an interesting case study.
----------------------

So going by how much we have learned that Balance matters (Healthy Steelers, Pats and Cowboys win at a very impressive clip compared to good point differential but unbalanced Denver/Atlanta/Seahawks).

Pats (with Brady) 9-1 Cowboys 12-2 Steelers (With healthy Ben) 9-2 with 1 of their true losses vs a close game with Cowboys - total 30-5 - 857%

Denver 8-6 Atlanta 9-5 Seahawks 9-4-1 - 631%

This tells us clearly Steelers are a far more dangerous team due to their balance and easily when healthy the 3rd best team in the NFL and it is not close. The question of course is where a healthy Raiders team fits on this as they are not negative on one side of the scale like Denver/Atlanta is but dead even on D. IDK but clearly it is enough to make them superior to Denver/Atlanta/Seahawks.

I do make a slight exception for the Seahawks in this though as unlike Atlanta/Denver at times Wilson can play very well and balance can be achieved. So half the time they are a true elite and the other half an unbalanced but good team. Also they fact they have the chance to be elite on both sides when Denver/Atlanta/Oakland really does not puts them in a dangerous category.

Long story short. If the Steelers miss the playoffs it SHOULD make the path to the SB very likely. So likely I would take the Pats over the AFC field pretty easily.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Whatever seed they are, if/when they come to Foxboro they will be planted in the ground.

 

[rochrist]

The problem is if we root for the steelers to be out, we are essentially rooting for baltimore to get in. I would rather face pitt than baltimore.

I'd rather not rather. That way lies karma, biting you in the ass. I'd rather just let the chips fall where they may.

 

[fightingirish595]

Baltimore is a way different team than they were 4 or 5 years ago, and even a lot different than they were 2 years ago. Still Hard for me to say I'd rather face the ravens, given the history against both teams. Baltimores offensive line isn't very good, they struggle to run the ball and their passing game isn't very good. I would be suprised if they came in here and moved the ball and scored a lot of points like they have in the previous 2 playoff games and to an extent the 2011 playoff game. The way our defense is playing no one in the afc worries me, I'm having a hard time picturing an afc team beating us (although it certainly could happen). the 3 biggest threats to the pats lie in the NFC

 

[The Gr8est]

The way our defense is playing no one in the afc worries me, I'm having a hard time picturing an afc team beating us (although it certainly could happen). the 3 biggest threats to the pats lie in the NFC, and the NFL* league office.

Fixed your post for you.

 

[fightingirish595]

Fixed your post for you.

Ahhh yes, I forgot that part

 

[FCB02062]

Not worried about Pittsburgh. At home, Pats play clean, no turnovers, play the same type of D they played Vs Bal and Den.... Pats win by 10...

 

[PatsFan2]

PittsBurgh have won going the Three game route before but even that can be risky because of the short turn around in case of injury. Two Games by far is always the better route and safer route.

 

[1960Pats]

I think we want them to be the three seed.. or out completely. Providing we get the one seed the three seed cannot play us in the Divisional Round (which I think is the most likely round the Pats could get upset at home, I don't think it will happen, but I would rather not draw the Steelers for our first Playoff game.)

If we have to play them the AFCCG would be better. Coming off a Division Round win at home with a trip to SB on line I don't see them losing that game. Also the Steelers would have to win 2 games one on the road to get there.

As the one seed the only team we can't play first is the 3 seed. SO if the Steelers get in that is how I want it to go, and the Ravens will be out most likely if that happens.

I can see that happening, but I'd prefer to see the Ravens beat Pitt and Cincy and end up the 3rd seed with Pitt knocked out by Tennessee (if they beat Jac & Hou) or Miami (if they beat Buf & Pats, we rest up and give them a win the last week).

The big games this week:
AFC
Bal at Pitt
Mia at Buf
Ind at Oak
Den at KC
NFC
Det at Dal
Min at GB

 

[1960Pats]

I would say Pitt but you can never trust tomlin in a big spot.

I forgot about Mikey Two-Point Triplin. He's got to be worth at least three points for the opponent in each game.

 

[rookBoston]

AFC opponents in rank order of those I'd be least eager to play against...

(1) Denver... that secondary takes away our best weapon in TB12, and now they're angry
(2) Pittsburgh... solid, veteran team, poised
(3) KC
(4) Oakland... underrated D, but youngster may fold under pressure
(5) Baltimore... their secondary will struggle to match up with Pats, as we've already seen

Playing at Foxboro, I think any opposing team will need to reach +2 Turnovers to beat the Pats. But, crazier things have happened. That's why they play the games.

 

[mosslost]

Another thread about what teams make us pee down our legs?

idiot

 

[BobDigital]

I can see that happening, but I'd prefer to see the Ravens beat Pitt and Cincy and end up the 3rd seed with Pitt knocked out by Tennessee (if they beat Jac & Hou) or Miami (if they beat Buf & Pats, we rest up and give them a win the last week).

The big games this week:
AFC
Bal at Pitt
Mia at Buf
Ind at Oak
Den at KC
NFC
Det at Dal
Min at GB

Best week of football so far this year IMO. Good mix of solid games with high implications.

 

[mosslost]

How does the playoff schedule work?

3 plays 6 and 4 plays 5? Then 1 plays the winner of the 4th and 5th seed and 2 plays the winner 3rd and 4th?

1 plays the lowest seeded survivor in the Divisional, which could in some cases be the best team of them all. 1 seed can't play 2, or 3 in the Divisional. It is sometimes possible for the 2 seed to get an easier game. (Example, a 5th or 6th Seed Steelers/Chiefs team goes to NE.. a 4th seed Houston team goes to Oakland, something like that.)

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

AFC opponents in rank order of those I'd be least eager to play against...

(1) Denver... that secondary takes away our best weapon in TB12, and now they're angry
(2) Pittsburgh... solid, veteran team, poised
(3) KC
(4) Oakland... underrated D, but youngster may fold under pressure
(5) Baltimore... their secondary will struggle to match up with Pats, as we've already seen

Playing at Foxboro, I think any opposing team will need to reach +2 Turnovers to beat the Pats. But, crazier things have happened. That's why they play the games.

It's hard being afraid of the Steelers, when Brady has had their number for so long. Plus, they've played very inconsistently all season, and their record on the road isn't all that impressive.

Funny that you didn't have anything to say about the Chiefs. They're probably the most balanced team in the AFC besides us. They have a good special teams unit, and their defense is very solid and great at producing turnovers (I think they currently lead the League in turnover differential) and their offense (while not dynamic as Pittsburgh) is underrated.

I know Alex Smith doesn't get a lot of respect in these corners, but the Pats have been beaten by lesser QBs in big games like Mark Sanchez. While his passing is limited, he's very efficient and can make plays with his feet.

The biggest thing holding the Chiefs back...is Andy Reid. His play-calling is very conservative, his clock-management is poor, and he doesn't have a strong record playing us.

 

[brdmaverick]

Look, I like the Pats chances against all teams in the AFC but the reality is that bad things happen. The difference between winning and losing can be based on a dropped pass, a bad call, or a blown coverage. It's not completely unreasonable for fans to discuss the potential matchups that would give the team the largest margin of error for victory.

I would agree with others on here in saying that while the Pats have a great chance at beating the Steelers that matchup could have the lowest margin for error than the other possible matchups.

 

[brdmaverick]

If we have to play them the AFCCG would be better. Coming off a Division Round win at home with a trip to SB on line I don't see them losing that game. Also the Steelers would have to win 2 games one on the road to get there.
.

I thought the same thing in 2012. Playing at home against the Ravens after a dominating victory of the Texans (who had been 'the team to beat' for most of that season).....I thought there was no way we were losing that game. Sometimes (you know what) happens. That's the beauty and agony of the playoffs.

 

[mosslost]

I thought the same thing in 2012. Playing at home against the Ravens after a dominating victory of the Texans (who had been 'the team to beat' for most of that season).....I thought there was no way we were losing that game. Sometimes (you know what) happens. That's the beauty and agony of the playoffs.

especially how they had knocked off the Broncos for us