Seed 2 is likely, and it is not really a bad spot this year.

[BradyFTW!]

The likelihood of seed 2 depends on what you feel is the likelihood of the Pats winning out, and the likelihood of the Texans dropping another game (of their 3 remaining, by far the most likely loss is traveling to Philly in week 16. If either the Pats win out or the Texans drop a game, the Pats will have the 2 seed, and I agree that it's more likely than not at least one of those two events will happen.

I also agree the #2 seed presents the better matchups in the divisional round, but guaranteed home field trumps that consideration by a pretty wide margin IMO. I don't like this team's chances going into Arrowhead, although if Hill's ankle injury becomes a lingering concern I'll feel better about it.

That said, my biggest concern right now is that I have no idea what to expect from this team traveling to Pittsburgh. Luckily they look as out of sorts as we do, so even if we play as poorly as we have in almost every road game so far that still might be good enough for the Steelers to find a way to lose.

 

[FCB02062]

A bye is dependent on Pats winning out or going 2-1 and having Houston lose 1/3...why is everyone so sure Houston will lose?

 

[BradyFTW!]

A bye is dependent on Pats winning out or going 2-1 and having Houston lose 1/3...why is everyone so sure Houston will lose?

I don't think anyone is or should be sure that Houston will lose, but I think their week 16 game in Philly will be basically a coinflip. I also think the Pats have about a 50% chance of winning out. If you assume both games are essentially 50/50 propositions, then that would mean there's about a 75% chance of one or both of those conditions being met.

This ignores the likelihood of either team dropping one of their remaining games against bad teams (Jets, Jags, Bills) but it does validate the thread title re: the likelihood of the 2 seed. If the Pats lose and the Texans predictably win next week, obviously the equation shifts a lot.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Yeah, everyone keeps bringing the elimination thing up as if it matters. It doesn't.

“The desperate team usually wins” - Bill Parcells

It's true, though, on the whole. Teams with nothing to play for can sometimes get up to be the spoiler, especially vs. a rival, but you'll be ahead if you always put a little sauce on the team that needs to win over the team that doesn't.

 

[mcmurtry86]

Likely? I don’t think anything can be considered likely after the way this team has played at times this year

 

[Joey007]

Also, the Texans play the Jets this Saturday.

So if Houston somehow lost, it’s possible that we could go into Sunday’s game knowing that we’d still be holding onto the 2nd seed no matter what happens in the Steelers game.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Do I have a good feeling about this team at this moment?

No.
Am I willing to wait and see what happens?

Yes.

Ok lol I'm sure we all feel the same way. For me it's high hopes and low expectations

 

[ohiopatsfan]

The Pats' D is a puzzle from week to week, like the little girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead; "when she was good, she was very good, but when she was bad she was horrid". If they play like they did against Miami next weekend, dreams of a #2 seed will be all but eliminated. If they play like they did against a very good Minnesota team, then all is well.

 

[libra957]

#2 is was likely even if we did beat the phins. Losing to the jags, lions and titans is the real killer.

 

[tasmlab]

Seed #2 is never a bad spot. Full stop.

Regards,
Chris

I think this is the only NFL fan base who see getting the second seed as a type of failure.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

I think this is the only NFL fan base who see getting the second seed as a type of failure.

Not to indict the whole fanbase, but indeed there is a significant subset that does set expectations ridiculously high. That comes across as incredibly spoiled.

I'm curious how many fans who think not making an AFCCG is failure got to experience 1989-1992.

Regards,
Chris

 

[varjao]

On a positive note I watched Ravens @ KC yesterday and KC's defense is worse than our defense, I thought that was not possible.

Ravens without a passing game, running every play and they could not stop even knowing what was coming. I'm not super worried about having to play KC on the road as I was earlier.

 

[borg]

The Pats' D is a puzzle from week to week, like the little girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead; "when she was good, she was very good, but when she was bad she was horrid". If they play like they did against Miami next weekend, dreams of a #2 seed will be all but eliminated. If they play like they did against a very good Minnesota team, then all is well.

Right side of Pats DL was abused by Detroit
Left side of Pats DL was abused by Miami
Two very physical interior teams, Jags and Titans, controlled LOS on both sides of the ball.

 

[PittPatriot]

Eagles on the road will be no gimme for them.

Eagles will have nothing to play for.
Do those @$$h0les have any pride? Maybe they can play for that.

 

[mosslost]

The likelihood of seed 2 depends on what you feel is the likelihood of the Pats winning out, and the likelihood of the Texans dropping another game (of their 3 remaining, by far the most likely loss is traveling to Philly in week 16. If either the Pats win out or the Texans drop a game, the Pats will have the 2 seed, and I agree that it's more likely than not at least one of those two events will happen.

I also agree the #2 seed presents the better matchups in the divisional round, but guaranteed home field trumps that consideration by a pretty wide margin IMO. I don't like this team's chances going into Arrowhead, although if Hill's ankle injury becomes a lingering concern I'll feel better about it.

That said, my biggest concern right now is that I have no idea what to expect from this team traveling to Pittsburgh. Luckily they look as out of sorts as we do, so even if we play as poorly as we have in almost every road game so far that still might be good enough for the Steelers to find a way to lose.[/QUOTE


I think both Pats and Steelers look quite shaky. BUT I have more confidence in the Pats Offense scoring without awful picks on top, than I do Ben doing that. Ben has kind of Ben classic Ben this year (which is a strange thing to say, because basically I am saying that "Classic Ben" is kind of a mess)

But he makes big plays for 7, then makes horrible, terrible even shocking turnovers that lose games.

That said they are home, our D is horrendous, and overall we are shaky. It is a tough call who will when next week.

 

[mosslost]

The likelihood of seed 2 depends on what you feel is the likelihood of the Pats winning out, and the likelihood of the Texans dropping another game (of their 3 remaining, by far the most likely loss is traveling to Philly in week 16. If either the Pats win out or the Texans drop a game, the Pats will have the 2 seed, and I agree that it's more likely than not at least one of those two events will happen.

I also agree the #2 seed presents the better matchups in the divisional round, but guaranteed home field trumps that consideration by a pretty wide margin IMO. I don't like this team's chances going into Arrowhead, although if Hill's ankle injury becomes a lingering concern I'll feel better about it.

That said, my biggest concern right now is that I have no idea what to expect from this team traveling to Pittsburgh. Luckily they look as out of sorts as we do, so even if we play as poorly as we have in almost every road game so far that still might be good enough for the Steelers to find a way to lose.

I think both Pats and Steelers look quite shaky. BUT I have more confidence in the Pats Offense scoring without awful picks on top, than I do Ben doing that. Ben has kind of Ben classic Ben this year (which is a strange thing to say, because basically I am saying that "Classic Ben" is kind of a mess)

But he makes big plays for 7, then makes horrible, terrible even shocking turnovers that lose games.

That said they are home, our D is horrendous, and overall we are shaky. It is a tough call who will win next week.

 

[mosslost]

Not to indict the whole fanbase, but indeed there is a significant subset that does set expectations ridiculously high. That comes across as incredibly spoiled.

I'm curious how many fans who think not making an AFCCG is failure got to experience 1989-1992.

Regards,
Chris

expectations get adjusted. Pats have 9 byes in a row I think. And play in the AFC East. (Even though we just coughed one of those up)

Huge disappointment if this team does not get seed 2. 2009 and 2005 are both viewed upon in dour terms. (not so much 2006, but similar)

with the exception of 1985 we have never been to a Super Bowl without seed 2

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I think this is the only NFL fan base who see getting the second seed as a type of failure.

Have you seen us play on the road this year? Getting anything less than the 1 seed basically IS a failure, maybe not in 2014-2017 but in 2018 if we have to go on the road...yikes

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Not to indict the whole fanbase, but indeed there is a significant subset that does set expectations ridiculously high. That comes across as incredibly spoiled.

I'm curious how many fans who think not making an AFCCG is failure got to experience 1989-1992.

Right after the game there was some posts on here saying that this team sucks, the season is over, and that (get this) this team is not as good as last year's crappy team with a defense that could not stop anybody.

you know, the 2017 AFC champions

That's when I knew that it was time to log out

 

[Hyped]

Yup, pencil K.C. in for the #1 seed...or even the Chargers...with the other being the #5.

Patriots/Texans are playing for #2/#3, IMO.

Remaining schedules:

Pats: @PIT, BUF, and NYJ

Texans: @NYJ, @PHI, and JAX

===========

Basically, @ Pittsburgh is a MUST WIN no matter what, IMO.

==========

Also, note that many things can still happen...for instance 5 weeks ago:

- Carolina was 6-2.
- Washington was 6-3 and in first place.
- Cincinnati was 5-3.
- Dallas was 3-5 and lost to the Titans on MNF.
- Seattle was 4-3 with games vs. Chargers/Rams on the sked.
- Green Bay was 3-4-1 and primed to make a run.

A lot of football left to be played.....