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Kind've the literal definition of moving the goalposts isn't it?It is a 17 game season. Did you mean 20-0?
21-0 if 2 teams finished 17-0 only one gets the byeIt is a 17 game season. Did you mean 20-0?
Because of the dramatically different schedule that each team plays there shouldn't be any byes for the playoffs.21-0 if 2 teams finished 17-0 only one gets the bye
Simulation.Is that their schedule? I thought the weekly schedule wasn’t coming out until Wednesday.
all depends on CamHOME
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15) W
New York Jets (2-14) W
Miami Dolphins (10-6) W
Tennessee Titans (11-5) L
Cleveland Browns (11-5) W
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) L
New Orleans Saints (12-4) W
Buffalo Bills (13-3) L
AWAY
New York Jets (2-14) W
Atlanta Falcons (4-12) W
Houston Texans (4-12) W
Carolina Panthers (5-11) L
Los Angeles Chargers (7-9) W
Miami Dolphins (10-6) L
Indianapolis Colts (11-5) L
Buffalo Bills (13-3) L
If they don't get porked at home then they could have a shot at returning to the postseason with that relatively soft away schedule. If they beat all of the scrubs/rebuilding teams then they're already 6-0. I mean 4 of those organizations are in shambles... Jacksonville (dreadful off/def roster), NYJ (ditto), Atlanta (probably facing a complete teardown and rebuild), and Houston (defense is brutal and their franchise QB is shooting his way out of town). I don't know, does Carolina have a clue? They were a mess without McCaffrey. The Saints are facing a lot of FA casualties and likely are entering a reset. I see LAC on there who they just smoked 45-0.
Obviously a lot is TBD, but with all of the cap space and improved draft position, the Patriots with an upgrade at quarterback should be able to flip their record to 9-7 at least. They're not winning the East, but if they can squeak out one more win somewhere, 10-6 could get them into the postseason.
Give divisions to, say:The Patriots are likely to be one of about 8 teams competing for 3 playoff spots.
Right now I see 8-8 at best and that’s with a QB upgrade IMO. Too many roster holes and one off-season won’t fix them all.
2022 ought to be a different story. That’s when I expect a rebuilt team ready to compete in this decade.
We're not the only team that got better, and Cam Newton is still here.You really see this team as just one win better than last year's squad? I mean I'm all about keeping my expectations in check and not indulge in unrealistic optimism, but this seems like unrealistic pessimism.
Yeah, you can basically pencil in the division winners, even if you go with an "or" (and even if you think the Patriots will win the division and force the Bills into wild card status). Right now, I would be putting the Colts over the Titans, and the Ravens over the Browns, for example.Give divisions to, say:
Buffalo
KC
Tennessee
Cleveland
So the Pats fight with Miami, Baltimore, Indy, Cleveland...who do you have for your other 3? Pittsburgh? LAC? Maybe Denver?
Could be another wild Wild Card scramble this year.
I'm as befuddled as you on this thinking. I see one of the most talented teams BB's had in a decade.You really see this team as just one win better than last year's squad? I mean I'm all about keeping my expectations in check and not indulge in unrealistic optimism, but this seems like unrealistic pessimism.
You might want to pull back just a bit. You're going full honk.The usual anti-Patriots jihad reveled in last season like they always do when the Pats have a rare losing year. The Bradyites, Belichick trashers and Boston/New England haters will revert right back to denigration mode if the Patriots win this year as I expect. And local media will react with the usual shock and surprise as though the team just went through a quarter century of futility which in fact we never even had a third of in team history.
I think they have a good chance at a wildcard, at least (and I'm not sold that Buffalo is unbeatable in the AFCE - but it's a TOUGH division now, with three playoff-caliber teams). In the playoffs, who knows?Not intimidated by anyone in the East or the entire AFC for that matter. An excellent regular season is not only possible but I expect it.
As always, the important time is the postseason. Will the 2021 Patriots experience - and endure - the kind of adversity during the season which must be overcome in the playoffs, and especially if they make it to February and a most likely deservedly favored NFC champion.