Playoff Scenarios

[40yrpatsfan]

Assume we beat Mia and lose to Buf. LV plays SF and KC, so they’ll lose at least one of those. Pitt is at Baltimore this weekend, which should be a loss (then they finish with Cle at home). I don’t see the Jets winning at Sea, but that’s more questionable than the other assumptions above.

Given all that, our playoff hopes would boil down to whether the Jets can win at Miami.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

That is, we can finish at 8-9 and still get in, based on assumptions that are fairly likely to happen.

 

[catent]

Assume we beat Mia and lose to Buf. LV plays SF and KC, so they’ll lose at least one of those. Pitt is at Baltimore this weekend, which should be a loss (then they finish with Cle at home). I don’t see the Jets winning at Sea, but that’s more questionable than the other assumptions above.

Given all that, our playoff hopes would boil down to whether the Jets can win at Miami.

And some favorable falling of the dice when it comes to Tennessee and Jacksonville.

 

[venecol]

Great projection, I feel cincy beats Buffalo. Buffalo's secondary isn't as good without Mycha hyde, tre white isn't right he doesn't look like the all pro he was before the ACL. Chase ,Higgins, Boyd are a formidable trio of deep threats.. I haven't even mentioned Mixon...

Yea who knows. Both teams are playing good. CIN with a 7 game win streak & BUF with 6 game. I still think BUF has the better O and D. CIN just lost their starting RT. It'll be close.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

And some favorable falling of the dice when it comes to Tennessee and Jacksonville.

True but still looks favorable. Jags will beat Hou this week and Tenn hosts the Cowboys, then in the last game it’s Tenn @ Jags. The only way we lose out there is if TN beats both Dallas and Jacksonville, which seems unlikely.
Also there’s the Steelers, they have to lose one. They’re at Baltimore this week then finish at home vs the Browns.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Anyone else have zero faith in Mac winning g these 2 games... I sure don't think it's in him.

He’s capable of winning this home game vs Mia, but neither he nor the team as a whole is competitive with the Bills at this point. 8-9 may still get us in though.

 

[Trolltolls]

Anyone else have zero faith in Mac winning g these 2 games... I sure don't think it's in him.

Dolphins we have a chance, Bills are just far too superior to expect a win right now.

 

[jdlboot14]

He’s capable of winning this home game vs Mia, but neither he nor the team as a whole is competitive with the Bills at this point. 8-9 may still get us in though.

Agree. What's crazy is if we beat Dolphins and lose to the Bills, there's a chance that we still make the playoffs and then go play BUF again in the wildcard just like last year.
But if the Bengals beat the Bills this week (and of course the Jets have to beat the Dolphins wk 18) then we'd go to CIN in the wildcard. I feel like we could beat the Bengals if we played them again.

 

[Real fan 02]

Yea who knows. Both teams are playing good. CIN with a 7 game win streak & BUF with 6 game. I still think BUF has the better O and D. CIN just lost their starting RT. It'll be close.

Ya that's true, Buffalo not sure better O, cincy defense is very, very underrated.. Chase is better than any corner Buffalo has, he usually takes all the coverage tee Higgins seems like he is always open!

 

[VectorPrime]

Agree. What's crazy is if we beat Dolphins and lose to the Bills, there's a chance that we still make the playoffs and then go play BUF again in the wildcard just like last year.
But if the Bengals beat the Bills this week (and of course the Jets have to beat the Dolphins wk 18) then we'd go to CIN in the wildcard. I feel like we could beat the Bengals if we played them again.

There isn’t the faintest goddamn chance in hell that the Patriots would go into Cincy and win.

 

[venecol]

Ya that's true, Buffalo not sure better O, cincy defense is very, very underrated.. Chase is better than any corner Buffalo has, he usually takes all the coverage tee Higgins seems like he is always open!

Common opponents in bold, losses in red.

BUF: 8-2
LAR, TEN, MIA, BAL, PIT, KC, GB, NYJ, MIN, CLE, DET, NEP, NYJ, MIA, CHI.

CIN: 7-3
PIT, DAL, NYJ, MIA, BAL, NO, ATL, CLE, CAR, PIT, TEN, KC, CLE, TB, NEP.

SOS: BUF-.502 / CIN-.498
SOV: BUF-.478 / CIN-.473
PD: BUF +157 / CIN +85

I can see why the spread is BUF (-1). Stay away from this one.

 

[Free_Pacman]

There isn’t the faintest goddamn chance in hell that the Patriots would go into Cincy and win.

Ah, yes, because if there’s one thing the Cincinnati Benagals franchise is known for, it’s winning playoff games.

Any team can beat any team in the NFL- we, as Patriots fans, should know that better than anyone. Not that it’s likely, but saying there’s “no chance in hell” is just plain silly.

 

[Triumph]

Assume we beat Mia and lose to Buf. LV plays SF and KC, so they’ll lose at least one of those. Pitt is at Baltimore this weekend, which should be a loss (then they finish with Cle at home). I don’t see the Jets winning at Sea, but that’s more questionable than the other assumptions above.

Given all that, our playoff hopes would boil down to whether the Jets can win at Miami.

That's the way that I see the Pats getting in too. With help.

Buffalo and KC will keep the foot on the gas until the end. I have KC losing the AFC Championship in Buffalo and the Bills winning it all.

 

[Triumph]

Agree. What's crazy is if we beat Dolphins and lose to the Bills, there's a chance that we still make the playoffs and then go play BUF again in the wildcard just like last year.
But if the Bengals beat the Bills this week (and of course the Jets have to beat the Dolphins wk 18) then we'd go to CIN in the wildcard. I feel like we could beat the Bengals if we played them again.

The Pats could have both starting Corners back. Damien Harris and Parker too.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

There isn’t the faintest goddamn chance in hell that the Patriots would go into Cincy and win.

Well, I'd say there's a very faint chance. If the bengals throw up all over themselves like they almost did in the second half of last game. They would certainly need to help us alot if we did win.

 

[Hyped]

It is still possible that Cincinnati could be the #2 seed and the Bills #3.

I would love to play the Bengals again in Cincinnati. They are having problems running the ball. K.C.? They don’t look like world beaters lately. The only team in the AFC that I fear is the Bills…but Allen is still mistake prone in the red zone…

If we get in the dance, I wouldn’t be surprised to see us win a playoff game or two….if we don’t have to play the Bills in the first two rounds.

 

[venecol]

I think it was an eye opener for the Bengals to see how that 2nd half went. They looked like they were in shock. I doubt they let it happen again. Next time they'll put the pedal to the metal and not let up until they have a 30+ point lead.

 

[crawhammer]

That's interesting because it's quite possible. But making the playoffs at 8-9 and then getting blown out in the wild card is just as bad as missing the playoffs altogether.

 

[venecol]

Last nine games:
KC: 8-1 (L to CIN)
CIN: 8-1 (L to CLE)
BUF: 7-2 (L TO MIN/NYJ)

All 3 of these teams are running hot. If not for the BUF vs CIN game, they'd all win out. BUF has the most to lose (#1 seed), so I see them pulling all the stops to beat CIN who just lost their starting RT.

 

[ashley]

That's interesting because it's quite possible. But making the playoffs at 8-9 and then getting blown out in the wild card is just as bad as missing the playoffs altogether.

I don't agree. I think every team goes into the season with the hopes of making the playoffs and winning the SB. For me, I'd rather lose in the playoffs than not get in. I keep saying "you have to be in it to win it". You never know, maybe a turnover here or there, a key injury etc can change a game.