Playoffs???!!!

[jmt57]

So Pats qualifying would be stunning, and involve not only three straight wins but a slew of other favorable outcomes.

Can we be eliminated next week, even if we win?

If the Patriots keep winning then the earliest they could be eliminated is Week 16.

The only elimination scenario this week would be for the AFC East. If Buffalo beats Pittsburgh then the Pats officially cannot win the AFCE.

The Pats are also eliminated from the #5 seed with:
- Browns win, plus Bills win; or
- Browns win, plus Dolphins win.

IF the Pats win all three remaining games, then three of the following four must happen to make the playoffs.
- Raiders lose twice
- Ravens lose twice
- Dolphins lose three (including to Pats)
- Colts lose three

 

[Patjew]

It’s over but luckily this season doesn’t really count.

 

[1960Pats]

Maybe, just maybe some on here have realized how good they have had it over the years? Nah, that would be too easy...

Fans like myself, who sat in Fenway Park and Schaefer stadium for games, and have seen the really tough seasons, probably appreciate what we've had more than some of the younger fans.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Fans like myself, who sat in Fenway Park and Schaefer stadium for games, and have seen the really tough seasons, probably appreciate what we've had more than some of the younger fans.

No doubt...valid for fans that followed team before 2001

 

[1960Pats]

People who thought the season was over at 9-5 in 2018 are now people who thought this season was over vs. Denver at 2-3.

If they are they aren't as vocal about it. Maybe the grief they took in 2018 has held them back.

 

[SVN]

If the Patriots keep winning then the earliest they could be eliminated is Week 16.

The only elimination scenario this week would be for the AFC East. If Buffalo beats Pittsburgh then the Pats officially cannot win the AFCE.

The Pats are also eliminated from the #5 seed with:
- Browns win, plus Bills win; or
- Browns win, plus Dolphins win.

IF the Pats win all three remaining games, then three of the following four must happen to make the playoffs.
- Raiders lose twice
- Ravens lose twice
- Dolphins lose three (including to Pats)
- Colts lose three

How the New England Patriots Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 18 (Published 2023)

The Patriots have been eliminated from playoff contention.

www.nytimes.com

 

[FCB02062]

Just look back to that Denver game when coach Bill didn't try and used the corona excuse...no excuse to lose that game and pull a no show the way they did that day

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Just look back to that Denver game when coach Bill didn't try and used the corona excuse...no excuse to lose that game and pull a no show the way they did that day

Denver and Houston are the games that kept us out. One was a no show on offense, one was a no show on d. 8-5 without those brutal efforts

 

[notex]

Hardest part will be pats winning out haha - just not gonna beat Miami AND Bills IMO. Consistency has been hard to find this year

 

[PatsFanInVa]

seriously. Scenarios are dumb. They start with "do your job" but your looking at an under-500 team and saying "just go 4-0 for 4 weeks, hell we used to win 23 straight over 2 seasons...."

New concept: we're not very good anymore.

 

[Joker]

well...at least you have that "they'll cancel the season!" guarantee you made last September to clutch close to your pearls when our Patriots finally end the season at the end of December.

 

[Ross12]

Well, KC beat Miami and Indy beat Vegas, so that’s 2 out of 3 so far this weekend. Browns v Ravens tomorrow.

At this stage, now Miami only needs to lose to NE plus lose one more game, and Vegas only needs to lose one more game, so that is still in the realm of possibility. Ravens need to lose two.

Since Miami and Vegas each other play in two weeks, if NE wins next week against Miami, it’s guaranteed that one of them will then take care of the other in two weeks.

 

[BradytoMosstoGronk]

We're just not winning out. Needing every star to align in hopes we go 1 and done this year isnt really my idea of a good time. Start looking ahead to next year and evaluate.

 

[Patsgofor4]

If the Patriots keep winning then the earliest they could be eliminated is Week 16.

The only elimination scenario this week would be for the AFC East. If Buffalo beats Pittsburgh then the Pats officially cannot win the AFCE.

The Pats are also eliminated from the #5 seed with:
- Browns win, plus Bills win; or
- Browns win, plus Dolphins win.

IF the Pats win all three remaining games, then three of the following four must happen to make the playoffs.
- Raiders lose twice
- Ravens lose twice
- Dolphins lose three (including to Pats)
- Colts lose three

Scenarios 1 and 3 could definitely happen. One fly in the ointment....the Bills could rest their starters week 17, if they have nothing to play for.

Ravens have a cupcake schedule after the Browns game. Even if they lose to the Browns scenario 2 is unlikely. If they beat the Browns, forget about it. The only thing that could cause them to lose 2 out of their last 3 would be a significant injury to Jackson.

Scenario 4 ain’t going to happen...the Jaguars will make sure of that in week 17.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Just like 2008, the fly in the ointment will be the ratbirds. They needed to lose a game in 2008 and they didn’t, even going into Dallas and winning.

 

[102 Pat]

Just like 2008, the fly in the ointment will be the ratbirds. They needed to lose a game in 2008 and they didn’t, even going into Dallas and winning.

Favre picked the worse day to have a Favre game...

 

[sb1]

Pats will win on Sunday and stay alive.

It ends against Buffalo the week after that. That’s a team that seems to be peaking late like we tended to do in the dynasty.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Well, KC beat Miami and Indy beat Vegas, so that’s 2 out of 3 so far this weekend. Browns v Ravens tomorrow.

At this stage, now Miami only needs to lose to NE plus lose one more game, and Vegas only needs to lose one more game, so that is still in the realm of possibility. Ravens need to lose two.

Since Miami and Vegas each other play in two weeks, if NE wins next week against Miami, it’s guaranteed that one of them will then take care of the other in two weeks.

The Miami & Vegas losses look very possible.
NE winning out looks unlikely, but hey, we can hope.
The Ravens losing to either Jacksonville, the Giants, or the Bengals seems very unlikely, though.

 

[Patsgofor4]

The Miami & Vegas losses look very possible.
NE winning out looks unlikely, but hey, we can hope.
The Ravens losing to either Jacksonville, the Giants, or the Bengals seems very unlikely, though.

Giants would seem to be the only possibility of those three, because they have some talent on offense and will still be in the hunt for an NFC East title....but the Ravens still have to lose tonight to the Browns. If they win, which I believe they will, it’s goodnight Irene.

Stranger things have happened and a significant injury to Jackson or Rivers (not rooting for this, just stating a fact) could change everything.

Nevertheless, when you lose winnable games and are 0-4 on game winning drives, you reap what you sew. Cam’s fumble against the Bills is still the most frustrating to me, because they actually played well that day and had a chance to beat a more talented team. I don’t care if it was a great play by the defender. Cam has to carry the ball like Connolly during his epic kickoff return, if that is what it takes to protect it. He simply cannot put the football on the ground in that situation, when they were already well within FG range and still had enough time for a few more plays, to try to win it in regulation.