Team the Pats should worry the most about?

[BobDigital]

If you had to pick one team you don't want the Pats to face at any point in the post season this year who would it be and why?

Some teams imo worth mentioning.

Seahawks - All 3 of the contest since 2012 have been close and could have gone either way. Though i do believe the Pats under preformed to a degree in all 3 games something about this team just seems to bring that out in them. They seem able to convert long yardage plays frequently and push through to score late or at the end of half time more than not. Also Brady seems error prone vs this team with 5 picks in 3 games.

Cowboys - A young up and coming team in many respects but with some good vets. It could be argued this team if not for a bad half against GB could have been in the super bowl but their inexperienced saved GB. Though i expect more bumps in the road this year I think come playoff time they will be a better team than last year. Going down 21-3 was too much for this young team to over come. They are a tough team to deal with for the Pats cause i believe they are a team that can and will run on the Pats. It is one thing when BB forces a team which would rather pass to run with his defense... This team can run even if we don't want them to and that is a problem. Also the running QB who can throw gives BB issues and Dak is that. IDK if keeping him in the pocket with limited pass rush to not let him run will work with all those weapons too well. On defense they are young but fast and athletic. They will take away the run game mostly. Their pass defense is a big issue though and was their downfall last year but they should improve in that area.

Falcons - Who knows with this team. They could come back just about as good but more seasoned or come back broken and return to the middle of the pack. Nothing else to say really but if they come back they are for sure a threat.

Oakland - Carr was playing like a potential MVP candidate before his injuries. They can run and pass at a high level. Again D is an issue but they improved as the year went on. Before the Carr injuries i though Oakland/Pats would be the game in the AFFCG. I think it will be that this year and if Oakland improves on D and Mack can make Brady make 1 mistakes or cause a strip fumble then it gets dangerous. Also i think come playoff time Conley - CB will be good. They are the team that will give the Pats issues for the next few years

My guess is Dallas is the single most dangerous team and worst match up. Do you think it is one of the others i made a write up on or someone else? Denver (if their O improves even slightly), Giants and Ravens have a case too as might other teams. Just please don't say the Steelers. They will run the zone D again vs Brady and it will be the same old story all over again.

 

[Patstopia]

Too many one year wonders for my taste. The Seahawks are the only proven winner in the bunch.
I worry more about Houston finally getting a QB, than the boys doing anything.

 

[Ring 6]

Seattle is always dangerous but their OL is bad and I don't see Lacey as an answer.
I think Dallas drastically overachieved last year and see them headed for 8-8.
Atlanta seems to be an improving team but SB losers don't seem to bounce back and the way they lost makes it worse. I see them a step down in 17 and reloaded in 18.

Raiders could be a one hit wonder, but seem to be improving. The year after the first winning season in forever is tough to call.

Baltimore is the definition of mediocre.
Denver defense is going to slide before their offense gets it together.

Giants have done a lot of change the last 2 years but need to turn it into a winning team somehow.

I don't really see a strong enough team in the AFC to worrry me.

From the NFC it have to watch GB because if they get hot at the right time they are tough. It just never seems to be playoff time.
I think the giants are the best in the east. Seattle in the west and with Atlanta on their SB hangover the south is wide open.

 

[brdmaverick]

I'm not worried about the Falcons. I think they experience a cold wake up call similar to what happened to Carolina last year.

It's crazy but in any matchup I'd say the Pats are the favorite.

 

[chasa]

The New york commissioners office.

 

[FCB02062]

Norwood High

 

[neuronet]

Good idea for a poll. Wait no poll.

Falcons, Miami in Miami, Broncos in Denver. Houston if they sort out their QB woes.

Focused on AFC mainly. NFC I had to mention the Falcons I do think they are legit.

 

[Gwedd]

The thing about Dallas is what level of confidence they show up with. They have alot of returning players this year, and I have listenedto both Dak and Ezekial in interviews, watched their facial expressions, etc. What comes across is confidence, bordering on overconfidence.

They are young players, and the question is whether their youth contributes to overconfidence. f it does, then they are ripe for the picking.

 

[neuronet]

I'm not worried about the Falcons. I think they experience a cold wake up call similar to what happened to Carolina last year.

It's crazy but in any matchup I'd say the Pats are the favorite.

I agree but think the Falcons are legit. That said, you might be right this year in particular we might see a slump. That loss is in their heads.

 

[sb1]

Pitt and Denver.

Not sold on the Raider defense yet.

 

[rookBoston]

Pittsburgh, a well run organization. They'll find a way to compete.

Falcons, because they'll be angry and they'll start preparing for that game... a few months ago

Bills, because the sad excuse for coaching has been removed and just by definition they have to improve

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Giants - their D is among best in the league and their O will be greatly improved. I think we are a lot better than them though.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Giants - their D is among best in the league and their O will be greatly improved. I think we are a lot better than them though.

Being better than them has never mattered in the past.

 

[sb1]

I'm not "worried" about any NFC team until the Super Bowl. One loss in one of the 4 Inter conference games this year by itself won't likely stop this team from getting to the SB or play in most early tiebreakers. One loss to the wrong AFC team might.

 

[Calhoun44]

The only team the Patriots should be worried about is The 2017 New England Patriots. they should be focusing on themselves and trying to get better as a team each day.

Also, the fans of the team shouldn't be worried about anything other than injuries. This team is freakin' stacked!

 

[Raymond]

Seattle is a good choice but they are not on the schedule.

I'd say Denver, Pitts and at Miami...in that order.

Atlanta needs to prove it again to make the list playing AT New England.

 

[BTTA]

Seattle is a good choice but they are not on the schedule.

OP: If you had to pick one team you don't want the Pats to face at any point in the post season this year who would it be and why?

We'll see if Oakland continues to improve. If so, they are the biggest threat in the AFC.
In the SB, Seattle and Atlanta seem about equal, only because Atlanta had a recent traumatic experience. We'll find out something about them in the regular season game. I don't trust that the Dallas rookie QB will continue to shine, now that there is a year of film on him.

 

[pazrul72]

Normally I would say injuries and the bad luck of a bouncing ball. The scary thing with this team is I think they could handle up to say 5 major injuries and still be a favorite for most games. Say Brady gronk eldeman hightower and butler are out for a game in the middle of Oct. I think Grop Allen Cooks Harris and Rowe could fill in enough with the rest of the team and coaching stepping up to still win. That is mind boggling depth. Now at full strength? No team in the league has enough quality depth to stop all these weapons and the Secondary is going to make gaining yards difficult at best. So final answer? I am afraid of the ****ty luck from a bouncing ball and an off day from an unfocused pats team

 

[tasmlab]

Week 1 against KC. I heard they are signing Bernard Pollard to a one week contract for the game. Given how some of the recent regular city Chiefs games have gone, I'd be fine if the Pats started Jacoby.

 

[BobDigital]

Yes i know certain teams are not on the schedule and I focused a fair amount on NFC teams but that is where the best teams are besides the Pats.

Unless something happens that shouldn't the Pats will walk into the #1 seed as long as they beat Oakland.

The Pats go 12-4 at worse as arrogant as that sounds and if they beat the right teams 12-4 should give them the first seed. If they stumble vs Oakland or Pitt then maybe they need to go 13-3 or 14-2. I think they actually will do better than 14-2 so even if they get upset by a top AFC team it likely won't matter for seeding purposes.

Frankly I don't see a scenario (assuming Brady doesn't fall off all the sudden) when the first seed is not the Patriots. I don't really care about individual match ups as much in the regular season as I think they get the first seed anyway. What matters is the 3 playoff games.

Lets be real. 1 will be to a far inferior team most likely (cause the AFC is a tad bit weak). So really it comes down to beating one good AFC team and one good NFC team. I think we have as much right to talk about an NFC team being the biggest threat as much as an AFC team seeing as those are likely the only 2 games that matter and they will be equally important to win (cause losing either comes down to the same result).