We're On To The Titans

[Chris P]

Folks, is it true that if the Bills had won their wild card game against the Jaguars, that they would have been matched up against the Pats in the next round? Not that I am overly concerned about the Titans, but a match up against the Bills would have been much more preferable for two reasons: One, the Pats simply OWN Buffalo, and enjoy beating up on them, and two, the repeated allegations by Bills fans about bad calls in the Christmas Eve slaughter administered by the Pats makes my blood boil. It would have been great to see Tom Brady and company teach a hard lesson to Buffalo for a third time this season. At any rate, GO PATS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TB12TheGoat]

This was the best outcome. Let the Jaguars defense beat up the Steelers

 

[nowayback]

What a silly topic !

 

[FCB02062]

Agreed. I have been saying this on other threads, with people stalking me and attacking. Is it always like this in here?

Yes, say anything negative and several posters attack

 

[pherein]

this is going to be a massacre sorry Titans fans

 

[Kontradiction]

This was the best outcome. Let the Jaguars defense beat up the Steelers

That game will take a lot out of the Steelers even if they win. That will be a very hard-hitting affair. The Jags were also head-hunting Turdrod Taylor without getting called for it so there might be a couple of Steelers in the protocol even if they walk out with the W.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

It's very, very simple.

The #1 seed plays the lowest remaining seed. The #2 seed plays the 2nd lowest remaining seed.

If #6 beats #3 then #6 plays #1 and the #4/#5 winner plays #2. Which is what is happening this year in the NFC.
If #3 beats #6 then #3 plays #2 and the #4/#5 winner plays #1. Which is what is happening this year in the AFC.

 

[Ring 6]

That game will take a lot out of the Steelers even if they win. That will be a very hard-hitting affair. The Jags were also head-hunting Turdrod Taylor without getting called for it so there might be a couple of Steelers in the protocol even if they walk out with the W.

Turdrod lol

 

[Chris Stevenson]

Yes, say anything negative and several posters attack

Strange, especially considering it is not even that negative. It is a qb/offensive league so of course brady has to play well if the club is going to win.

 

[luuked]

I actually wouldn’t be surprised if LeBeau changed things up and played more man concepts ala the Steelers contest in 2011. I think the Patriots would still win walking away, but the result might be a closer game in the first half than we expect.

I said it in another thread but I think changing things up and then play against the Patriots with schemes that players have practiced for a few days over those they have been using since July would be a disaster just waiting to happen. I mean if you are good coach you have settled on most of your calls based on the strength that your players have.

I expect the Titans to come out with a couple of new wrinkles but then revert to what they practiced the most. We will start a bit slow but have a good handle on what the Titans try to do by the second quarter and the adjustments at that point will give us control of the game. By the middle of the third quarter we will be ahead multiple touchdowns and the game will be over.

 

[mitsudriver]

Logan Ryan can play man in theory. He just can't play press man.

I was surprised watching the Titans/Chiefs about how the Titans didn't play press man at all. I mean most plays they were in man they didn't lay a hand on the receivers off the line or even pretend to. Edelman would have terrorized them. Guess we'll have to settle for Gronk free releasing all game.

 

[Off The Grid]

I must mute the TV during the game, in order for the Pats to win... this is just undeniable fact.

Yep. For similar reasons, I refuse to watch BaseBall unless the RedSox are at bat.

I tend to give people the Runs, is what I mean to say.

Hey, we've all gotta do our part.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Been a weird year. I think they were about crank it up on offense with Hogan in Miami, but then the D had its injury issues going on. They really haven't been "set" and healthy all year, until now, apparently.

I think the offense and defense is better than what its shown lately, especially the offense.

Once Hightower went down, it really create a gap, but Van Noy has emerged into a very good linebacker.

Then, he went down. That's just too much at that point. And, Branch was coming on, then he goes down.

I think BB has been super conservative with them, which hopefully bodes well.

All valid points Chris. But the injury items you speak of are reality. If we had High and Jules etc etc is not the reality. Unfortunately we have seen injuries derail Patriots chances at SBs as well as other teams.
And what we are with what we have has not, strictly IMHO, been a Patriot level satisfactory consistent over the last handful of games, both sides of the ball. Make no mistake, the Patriots have been getting it done and I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. If the Patriots have to dig and scratch and pull 3 victories out of their ass? That's A-OK. But I think some (not all) are dismissing the competition like this is last year's Patriots level team. I'll have to see the Patriots start performing better to believe that.

But you make a valid point that what ingredients the Patriots do have appear ready to come together. IF that happens and if they start playing with better consistency on both sides of the ball then our chances are good. BB just needs to make those IFs a reality (otherwise send his sorry carcass over the the Giants ).

 

[Huckleberry1]

Strange, especially considering it is not even that negative. It is a qb/offensive league so of course brady has to play well if the club is going to win.

What FCB meant to say is that if you think Belichick is a dope who has been killing the team for years, and you could do a better job than him, and if you think Brady should have been gone 3 years ago because he was too old at 37, and that Jimmy Garrapolo is already better and shouldn’t have to wait to be enshrined in Canton. And if you think Bob Kraft is the true mastermind behind the franchise, and he treats Belichick like a little ***** so Belichick is quitting as soon as he deliberately loses to the Titans. Then people tend to mock you and think you are a sorry sorry person.

Just thought I would clarify that.

Don’t want you to get the wrong idea about this place.

 

[mosslost]

Folks, is it true that if the Bills had won their wild card game against the Jaguars, that they would have been matched up against the Pats in the next round? Not that I am overly concerned about the Titans, but a match up against the Bills would have been much more preferable for two reasons: One, the Pats simply OWN Buffalo, and enjoy beating up on them, and two, the repeated allegations by Bills fans about bad calls in the Christmas Eve slaughter administered by the Pats makes my blood boil. It would have been great to see Tom Brady and company teach a hard lesson to Buffalo for a third time this season. At any rate, GO PATS!!!!!!!!!!!!

this was best scenario for the division round. Even better than last year

 

[PatsFanInVa]

They went into KC and beat KC with a pretty damn good comeback. I'm not trying to make these guys out to be the 85 Bears but conversely the Patriots really haven't put together a good 4 quarters of football in a while.
I certainly expect the Patriots to win but unquestionable certainty just isn't warranted. The Patriots need to play better throughout the game than they have been else they are vulnerable to loss. And that vulnerability will grow with each week/the growing difficulty of each successive opponent.

They (Pats) are never invulnerable.

They are more vulnerable to the extent that deep in their hearts, they think that they're invulnerable.

Therefore, all the most frightening things that folks here or more importantly, in Foxboro, are telling players, should be taken as gospel and then some. And then moreso, for the next game. Rinse, repeat.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not one to say "the better team didn't win." The Titans showed heart and 60-minuteness in their win against the Chiefs - and you can add in there, they're coming off that huge confidence builder. Assuming we're the team in the position to finish, we better finish against these guys.

Finally, will we have to play better than we have been? Yes. It's the playoffs. At this point, unless they go the other way and utterly crap the bed, you get everybody's best.

And it's still not gameday. d%#*!@t.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

this was best scenario for the division round. Even better than last year

Sounds good, but what's the math on beating a single opponent three times in a season? I don't know, just asking; there are those who call familiarity an equalizer.

 

[TomPatriot]

Folks, is it true that if the Bills had won their wild card game against the Jaguars, that they would have been matched up against the Pats in the next round? Not that I am overly concerned about the Titans, but a match up against the Bills would have been much more preferable for two reasons: One, the Pats simply OWN Buffalo, and enjoy beating up on them, and two, the repeated allegations by Bills fans about bad calls in the Christmas Eve slaughter administered by the Pats makes my blood boil. It would have been great to see Tom Brady and company teach a hard lesson to Buffalo for a third time this season. At any rate, GO PATS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hard to beat a divisional rival 3 times in a season.

 

[SVN]

No, I go by what I see. And what I've seen is 6 tds and 5 picks over Brady's last 5 games. His play the last 5 games much more mirrors his game vs Houston last year than his game vs Pittsburgh. If he plays like he did vs Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship there is VERY little chance the Patriots lose. But, if Brady delivers an opening playoff game stinker - as he did in 2016 - the Patriots chances of winning go WAY down.
I don't see how this is so controversial. Consider his last month's subpar performance and what if Hogan and Burkhead are missing again? That severely complicates things, and once again makes the team easier to defend.
And no, Tennessee's defense isn't as good as Houston's last year - but neither are the NYJ, Buf, Mia, or Pittsburgh - and Brady didn't exactly look great vs any of them the last month...

Its not controversial but this is nothing new. Brady plays well- we win. Shocking. And yeah you go by what you see , I agree . After each play. Just check the game day threads.

 

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