Pursuit of the Bye (1st Seed)

[PatsFanInVa]

For me, this is straightforward. I look at our bench this past week with Williams, Campbell, Wilson and Tonga out. Which of these should we want in for their normal number of reps so that they can risk injury in a meaningless game for both teams?

Welp, if it's first game back for Campbell, I'd say get him a couple of series, then sit him. The team will have proved they can do the "next man up" thing, and Campbell gets a chance to get reps in before another week of vacation, but doesn't go in cold in the divisional round.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

<snip>
All I really care about at this point is going undefeated in the 2035 playoffs. I think winning out would be really cool, closing the season with an 18 game winning streak. I’d be okay with if they lost one of the last four regular season games as long as it didn’t impact their post season prospects. So, no loss if it costs the #1 seed. And I’d really like to see Buffalo on the outside looking in, so no loss this week. Don’t let Buffalo do anything to build confidence going into the playoffs, or they could be dangerous. That’s why it was bad for them to pull out a win over the Bengals. If they follow that up with a win in Foxboro they’re building momentum and that’s bad for us. We need to come out of our bye week focused on this game as though it’s a playoff game, with no room for any error.

Whoa! While we normies at Patsfans fantasize that we are playing chess vs other teams' checkers, you God Luv Ya have the 1st half of Dynasty III planned out.
By your Command!

 

[n1997y]

I hate saying this but Im not sure either the broncos fans nor myself want either team to enter the playoffs with a 14/15 game win streak. I know the odds are the same, how did that 16-0 regular season work out? Saying that I also dont see the pats getting the #1, Denver needs to lose two and we need to win three. Not so sure about that.

Denver only needs to lose one if the Pats win out.

So many of you still don’t believe in this team.

smh.

 

[n1997y]

…
All I really care about at this point is going undefeated in the 2035 playoffs. I think winning out would be really cool, closing the season with an 18 game winning streak.

Whoa! While we normies at Patsfans fantasize that we are playing chess vs other teams' checkers, you God Luv Ya have the 1st half of Dynasty III planned out.
By your Command!

you’re right. I misposted. I meant a 218 game winning streak. That’s 18 this year then 20 each year through 2035 if my arithmetic is correct. Why not? It’s a good start.

I’m with you on the duration of dynasty III though!

(Danged typos! Good catch!)

 

[n1997y]

For me, this is straightforward. I look at our bench this past week with Williams, Campbell, Wilson and Tonga out. Which of these should we want in for their normal number of reps so that they can risk injury in a meaningless game for both teams?

Every one that is fully healed and thus bears no additional risk of injury than that of every healthy NFL player taking the field. If they’d take their normal reps in such a game play them. If they’d be among the key starters that would be rested in such a game sit them. If they’re fully healed and rehabbed their injury history shouldn’t affect the decision.

Welp, if it's first game back for Campbell, I'd say get him a couple of series, then sit him. The team will have proved they can do the "next man up" thing, and Campbell gets a chance to get reps in before another week of vacation, but doesn't go in cold in the divisional round.

With that said I’d manage them all conservatively, make absolutely certain they are fully healed and rehabbed before putting them back out there.

Campbell in particular I’d rather sit him until the playoffs than see him on the field in a meaningless regular season appearance just to get reps. His injury is a greater concern, he’s likely to be going without being fully healed and rehabbed, and he can get reps in practice before the playoff game. Williams might be in the same category but his injury is I think not going to take as long to fully heal.

Seems we may be seeing Tonga and Wilson against Buffalo tomorrow.

There is also roster headcount to manage. Bringing back Campbell and Williams requires making space on the roster. They might not be in a rush to cut guys needed at other positions, such as D’Ernest.

 

[Huckleberry1]

A lot of people fall for the gambler's fallacy when discussing winning streaks. It doesn't matter whether you have a winning streak of 2 or 15 games, the odds of losing a game are the same. You're not due a loss because you've been winning. Just like having 15 straight heads in a coin toss doesn't imply that tails is imminent, the streak doesn't have anything to do with the next throw of the coin.

If the argument is that a big winning streak necessitates more pressure, it's at the very least equalized by the confidence that such a streak inspires. Just compare the last two seasons by the Chiefs, when they were winning last season, they always made the right decisions in close games and won all of them. This year, the opposite is true, the more they've lost, the worst they've played and have been coached in must-win late game situations. The Pats started the year 1-2, losing to one of the worst teams in the league, beat the presumed AFC favorites, the Bills, and have played with the confidence of SB contenders ever since, and they've won every close game.

It's nothing but superstition. Losing a game to have dealt with the ''expected'' and inevitably incoming loss, doesn't, any shape or form, prevent losing the first game in the playoffs, just like going into the playoffs with a 15 win streak, doesn't increase the chances of a loss.

I'd rather the team win out, get the bye and be two home games away from the Super Bowl, rather than having to win three games against more difficult opponents, all without rest, for the same destination.

If that's the case then explain why there have been so many short winning streaks and so few of 15 games or more. Everyone, myself included, wants them to win out and have the bye, but we can still be concerned with how difficult it is to do that and still win a Lombardi. The best team in football history lost to a mediocre Giants team to end their unbeaten run.

 

[mgteich]

. If they’d be among the key starters that would be rested in such a game sit them. .

Some posters don't believe that key starters should be rested in week 18.

I agree with you.

 

[Real fan 02]

Every one that is fully healed and thus bears no additional risk of injury than that of every healthy NFL player taking the field. If they’d take their normal reps in such a game play them. If they’d be among the key starters that would be rested in such a game sit them. If they’re fully healed and rehabbed their injury history shouldn’t affect the decision.

With that said I’d manage them all conservatively, make absolutely certain they are fully healed and rehabbed before putting them back out there.

Campbell in particular I’d rather sit him until the playoffs than see him on the field in a meaningless regular season appearance just to get reps. His injury is a greater concern, he’s likely to be going without being fully healed and rehabbed, and he can get reps in practice before the playoff game. Williams might be in the same category but his injury is I think not going to take as long to fully heal.

Seems we may be seeing Tonga and Wilson against Buffalo tomorrow.

There is also roster headcount to manage. Bringing back Campbell and Williams requires making space on the roster. They might not be in a rush to cut guys needed at other positions, such as D’Ernest.

As we know Johnson is elevated due to the injury to Jennings.. so once milt comes off IR he likely goes back to the PS designation or someone like Swinson goes back?

As you perfectly mentioned RB depth is a NEED. I doubt we see Campbell the rest of the regular session.. JMO..

 

[captain stone]

Denver only needs to lose one if the Pats win out.

So many of you still don’t believe in this team.

smh.

And for good reason.

 

[Real fan 02]

And for good reason.

Saw some Drake critique ok.. well he's the Soon to be ALL PRO QB.. outside of gonzo who's the all pro on defense?... yesterday was a bunch of hell no's...

 

[NFL Mystique]

Saw some Drake critique ok.. well he's the Soon to be ALL PRO QB.. outside of gonzo who's the all pro on defense?... yesterday was a bunch of hell no's...

Not that he doesn't deserve it.

But....Stafford has it wrapped up

 

[Real fan 02]

Not that he doesn't deserve it.

But....Stafford has it wrapped up

Agreed especially after yesterday... rams are likely headed to the superbowl in my opinion..

 

[SVN]

1st seed now gone. The priority is to clinch a playoff spot which suddenly from winning one game yesterday has gone to winning the last two games . If we manage to somehow hang on the 2nd seed, then the silver lining might be we will likely see one of denver or Buff in the playoffs and not both. But we need to get in first.

 

[MrTibbs]

The Pats aren't catching the Broncos. All roads are leading to a collision course with the Texans as the #2 seed. Josh and Drake better figure out how to beat cover 1 defenses in which he seems to struggle with. The Texans play exactly that. Cover man press with one high safety. Overall we don't have much to complain about after suffering through 3* wins last season. A legit pass rusher, play making safety, true #1 wide receiver, coverage linebacker and more depth at oline will help a lot. The Bills aren't ruling the AFC East anymore. Their 5 year run was cute but yeah, it's a bloodbath from here on out.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

We have to go 3-0 while the Broncos lose 2. They have the Jags at home, @KC, and the Chargers at home. It's not out of the question but not likely, probably 70-30 they win at least 2. And we have to win in Baltimore, which seems more in doubt after yesterday.

 

[PatsFan2]

We have to go 3-0 while the Broncos lose 2. They have the Jags at home, @KC, and the Chargers at home. It's not out of the question but not likely, probably 70-30 they win at least 2. And we have to win in Baltimore, which seems more in doubt after yesterday.

Vrabel have shown he can beat Lamar: the Ravens are not a very good Football Team this year.

 

[SVN]

We have to go 3-0 while the Broncos lose 2. They have the Jags at home, @KC, and the Chargers at home. It's not out of the question but not likely, probably 70-30 they win at least 2. And we have to win in Baltimore, which seems more in doubt after yesterday.

If our defense plays like its been trending recently, we will be in a dogfight in all games of our own.

 

[rochrist]

Is the Bye critical? Just name the Superbowl we won without one? (I've asked the question before, and no one said anything, so I guess we've never won one before. The Bye is the biggest unfair advantage in football. It doesn't guarantee you a date at the dance, but it makes it a HELL of a lot easier to get there.

With 4 games left we are in good position to get one. We need a little bit of help (maybe this week), but I don't see the Bronc's winning out. They have 3 tough games (we have 2). I never thought we'd be in this position, but since we are, I hope we don't waste it.

Wasn't the first one sans bye?

 

[rochrist]

Vrabel have shown he can beat Lamar: the Ravens are not a very good Football Team this year.

Judging by yesterday, the Ravens are rounding into playoff form.

 

[PatsFan2]

Judging by yesterday, the Ravens are rounding into playoff form.

Not buying it.