Bengals resting starters

[TheRainMaker]

This is why I'm convinced that, at minimum, Belichick really didn't care if they won that game, and might well have lost it on purpose. ("You want out of that slot so bad, maybe I'll just let you have it.")

I heard way back then they were trying to avoid the Broncos, even though they got whooped earlier in the year against the Colts who they would’ve faced.

 

[BelichicksHoodie]

I seem to be in the minority here thinking I’d rather play the Bengals than the Bills. But yeah, I like our chances better against the Bengals.

I don’t think the minority at all. The Bengals have almost zero playoff experience from coaches to players. Chargers blew them out. Barely beat Denver. Lost to the 49ers because they had no clue how to defend a tight end. All in the last month.

People are blinded by a KC defensive meltdown against Chase. Belichick will not let him go for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns. It’s just not happening in any universe. And if he isn’t going off, they lose. They can’t run the football either so there is no Plan B.

 

[zipster9]

So, do we root for the Browns to win?

Patriots @ cincy ?

or

Patriots @ bufallo?

 

[BlueThunder]

I'd rather play in Beefalo and settle the AFC East battle once and for all....

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I trust BB to keep Chase in check and I'm not afraid of Cinci's defense.

 

[Ring 6]

This is why I'm convinced that, at minimum, Belichick really didn't care if they won that game, and might well have lost it on purpose. ("You want out of that slot so bad, maybe I'll just let you have it.")

There was no real difference in being the 3 or the 4.
The team had had the bye 3 of the last 4 years and won the SB. Giving started that game off made sense under the circumstances. The only advantage to the 3 over the 4 is having the conference championship at home in a 3 vs 4 matchup. I would venture that a 3/4 conf championship game matchup has happened rarely if ever.
And there is absolutely no way he lost on purpose because a) integrity and b) there was no upside to doing it and c) if he was losing on purpose they wouldn’t have come a k and been a conversion away from tying the game.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

There was no real difference in being the 3 or the 4.
The team had had the bye 3 of the last 4 years and won the SB. Giving started that game off made sense under the circumstances. The only advantage to the 3 over the 4 is having the conference championship at home in a 3 vs 4 matchup. I would venture that a 3/4 conf championship game matchup has happened rarely if ever.
And there is absolutely no way he lost on purpose because a) integrity and b) there was no upside to doing it and c) if he was losing on purpose they wouldn’t have come a k and been a conversion away from tying the game.

Don’t disagree. Just noting that a 3 vs. 4 conference championship game happened the very next year, NE at Indy. Pats took out #1 seed Chargers and Colts took out #2 seed Ravens. I believe that was the only time it happened under that playoff format.

 

[Ring 6]

Don’t disagree. Just noting that a 3 vs. 4 conference championship game happened the very next year, NE at Indy. Pats took out #1 seed Chargers and Colts took out #2 seed Ravens. I believe that was the only time it happened under that playoff format.

Yeah so the risk was minimal and winning 3 if 4 SBs with the bye week would make anyone believe the week of rest has a lot of value, even if BB leans heavily the other way since.

 

[Kontradiction]

That is terrible for the Pats. We don't match up at all with their offense.

Well, nobody really matches up with Chase. But their offensive line is still a weakness. Burrow getting the ball out quickly, ala Brady, has more or less masked it. I think we match up about as well with them as anyone in the AFC. I don’t see a loss there. I think getting physical with their WRs at the line via press will force Burrow to hold the ball long enough to take some hits/sacks.

 

[Patnation21]

I seem to be in the minority here thinking I’d rather play the Bengals than the Bills. But yeah, I like our chances better against the Bengals.

I agree. Allen is a stud and the Bills are healthy now. We can't rely on bad weather to beat them. Bengals haven't been in the playoffs in years and its Burrow's first time. Playoff football is a different animal.

 

[Patnation21]

Sure but I would have much rathered the Bills with Allen most likely throwing us a couple of picks. Burrow is just like Brady.

Allen has 15 picks and Burrow 14. Burrow can be pretty wild. He likes to throw alot of deep passes hoping his receivers will get the ball, would rather take chances with the Bengals. Allen is a stud and Bills are now healthy. Any game is gonna be tough either way.

 

[chasa]

good
let them be rusty.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I am warming up to the idea of facing the Bengals, despite the skills of Chase, Burrow, and their team speed on D. We knew what was coming in the Bills rematch and could not deal with it. The Bengals are way more unpredictable, including both unpredictably good and unpredictably bad.

 

[Ring 6]

I don’t think the minority at all. The Bengals have almost zero playoff experience from coaches to players. Chargers blew them out. Barely beat Denver. Lost to the 49ers because they had no clue how to defend a tight end. All in the last month.

People are blinded by a KC defensive meltdown against Chase. Belichick will not let him go for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns. It’s just not happening in any universe. And if he isn’t going off, they lose. They can’t run the football either so there is no Plan B.

If the bengals are scary because of their pass offense, then his bad is the pass defense that only allows 15 fewer pass yards per game than their offense gets?

 

[amfootball]

None of this matters if we don't beat Miami.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Well, nobody really matches up with Chase. But their offensive line is still a weakness. Burrow getting the ball out quickly, ala Brady, has more or less masked it. I think we match up about as well with them as anyone in the AFC. I don’t see a loss there. I think getting physical with their WRs at the line via press will force Burrow to hold the ball long enough to take some hits/sacks.

Left side is actually pretty good but the right side is trash. They have to get that figured out before Joe Brady's knee gets blown out.

Chase is a monster. Unbelievable, him and Jefferson already look like top 5 WR's. That said Cinci's WR's corp + Nixon might be the most talented weaponz collectively save for TB and a healthy Dallas. Almost 3 1K WR's and Mixon is an animal.

Curious and a little worried about a guy like Higgins without a legit #2. Just his size and skill set, could see it being a problem for us.

 

[italian pat patriot]

KC in Arrowhead sounds brutal

BUF is a tough matchup.

Yes and yes

 

[DropKickFlutie]

If Chase doesn't play then ROY could be up for grabs.

.

 

[Ring 6]

The Bills are a worse matchup for us because they are a better team with more strengths and fewer weaknesses. They have a good offense and a good defense and are +8 in turnover differential. (Cincy is -2).
Cincinnati is more one dimensional and mediocre on defense.
Teams that are good on both sides of the ball as well as good running and passing and stopping the run and pass are tougher matchups than teams with weaknesses we can exploit.

 

[amfootball]

The Bills are a worse matchup for us because they are a better team with more strengths and fewer weaknesses. They have a good offense and a good defense and are +8 in turnover differential. (Cincy is -2).
Cincinnati is more one dimensional and mediocre on defense.
Teams that are good on both sides of the ball as well as good running and passing and stopping the run and pass are tougher matchups than teams with weaknesses we can exploit.

I don't know. I think the Cincy offense will obliterate us. I would much rather face Allen/Bills.