Pursuit of the Bye (1st Seed)

[Mack Herron]

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

100% correct. I've felt that this patiots team has so many similarities to the 01 team.. 01 had what 20 plus FA additions?

Not just '01, but '96, '85 & '76 too

 

[Real fan 02]

Not just '01, but '96, '85 & '76 too

Agreed.. but most notably 01 becuase of what the significance behind it meant.. the start of a dynasty..

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Agreed.. but most notably 01 because of what the significance behind it meant.. the start of a dynasty..

The others had that potential. If Parcells stays, if Eason...suffers some freak career-ending injury before XX, if not for Dreith...

Once you get to a Super Bowl, your focus is getting back there.

 

[Real fan 02]

Maybe time to protect the franchise put Dobbs in?

 

[KCSVEN]

If you have played against more playoff bound teams, the likelihood is that your SOV is going to be less than a team that has played less playoff bound teams. That’s just simple logic.

You’re missing the point I’m not arguing strength of schedule is more important than strength of victory or vice versa,
You just talked about a minor difference in strength of schedule was somehow important and ignored the fact that strength of victory was in the Patriot favor. I don’t understand your logic to pick one over the other.
The statistical evidence says neither one actually matters but the point differential does. I mean that’s just a proven fact in history that the data shows. it’s not like I’m trying to make an argument. I’m just stating a fact.

Strength of victory and strength to schedule are irrelevant to whether their team goes far on the playoffs and irrelevant to how they do the next season
point differential has been proven to have relevance. That’s what I’m saying well, that’s what the facts say I’m just pointing out what the data Shows not making any argument. It’s just data, facts, historical evidence.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Maybe time to protect the franchise put Dobbs in?

 

[Haterproof]

So it's setting up that both New England and Denver will be forced to play to win next Sunday!

 

[4thQComeback]

So it's setting up that both New England and Denver will be forced to play to win next Sunday!

It sure looks that way. The only question is will Dolphins lay down for a better draft position and/or will the Chargers rest starters for the playoffs?

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Would love the LAC to play for keeps and try to make a "statement" vs. Denver. A sort of "no quarter asked, no quarter given" approach. But the LAC never seem cutthroat like that, or the AFCW in general. Maybe that's just old prejudices on my part.

 

[mgcolby]

100% correct. I've felt that this patiots team has so many similarities to the 01 team.. 01 had what 20 plus FA additions?

Someone else made this comment on 98.5 last week and the host can't remember whom it was made a good point. The core of that team has already played in a SB and had real playoff experience. That is a legitimate point and a true differentiator, IMO.

But this team doesn't seem to be affected by much, an undefeated road record speaks volumes to that. My money right now is on the Pats. I think they have to **** themselves to be beaten by anyone in the AFC.

 

[mgcolby]

You are literally saying SOV > SOS.
At the end of the day, literally no one other than fantasy football enthusiasts care about point differential. A win is a win in the NFL.
Point differential often says very little about the game day performance. Denver had 40mins of possession against the Chiefs on Christmas Day and won by 7. Total domination in terms of time of possession.

Except SOV is a higher tie breaker over SOS.

 

[upstater1]

I see all teams standing down on Sunday.

We'll rest up some key guys that need to heal.

The Chargers have no incentive at this point.

A win means they return to play AT Denver next week rather than playing AT New England. If I were them, I'd rest up, heal, and treat this week as preparation for New England in 2 weeks.

The Patriots know this and they might not go all out against the Phins.

We better prepare to take on the Chargers because that's what it looks like.

Guess what?

If the Patriots and Broncos lose, and the Jaguars won, we still play... the Chargers.

 

[mgcolby]

It sure looks that way. The only question is will Dolphins lay down for a better draft position and/or will the Chargers rest starters for the playoffs?

I think the metro sexual is coaching for his job so I doubt they don't play to win. And I can't imagine the Chargers playing for seeding over health unless they are trying to get the 5th seed and go to Pit or Baltimore. I would think they would favor getting healthy for either Jacksonville or New England.

Either way I find it highly unlikely Denver isn't the one and NE the 2. Unless Vrable also values health over seeding. I would think having the second best chance to host the AFCCG would be seen as valuable.

 

[Uptown]

 

[OldEngland]

Looking at week 18 as my first thoughts was nearly all teams had little to play for. But the AFCS and seeds 1-3 are in play. Texans will play which in turn forces the Jags, Pats and Broncos to as well. I suspect Bills will rest, probably chargers as well.

13-3 Broncos. Division winners. 1-3 seed in play. Need to win to lock up 1 seed. A loss opens up to 13-3 pats, and even 12-4 Jags (lost hth). Have to win.

13-3 Pats. Division winners. 1-3 seed in play. Pats lose tiebreakers against Denver (common opp) and Jags (conf record). Will play as can't see them wanting to drop to 3 seed.

12-4 Jags. Divison still in play. 1,2,3 and 5,6,7 still in play. Has tiebreakers over Chargers, Broncos and Pats. Needs to beat Titans otherwise Texans can get better division record and win division. Will play to win.

4th seed. Steelers vs Ravens. Playoff game. Will play to win.

11-4 Texans. Division and seeds 3 and 5,6,7 in play. Tiebreakers against chargers and bills (hrh). Likely 5th seed, but division and home field playoff game is possible. Play to win.

11-4 Bills. Division gone. Lose tiebreaker to texans (hth). 5-7 in play. Little chance over playoff homefield advantage. Not much to play for. Most likely 6th or 7th seed.

11-4 Chargers. Division gone. 5-7 still in play. Tiebreaker over bills (comm opp), but lost to texans (hth). Most likely 6th/7th seed. Will they play?

Be interesting how they set up the kickoff times.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Someone else made this comment on 98.5 last week and the host can't remember whom it was made a good point. The core of that team has already played in a SB and had real playoff experience. That is a legitimate point and a true differentiator, IMO.

But this team doesn't seem to be affected by much, an undefeated road record speaks volumes to that. My money right now is on the Pats. I think they have to **** themselves to be beaten by anyone in the AFC.

The '88 Patriots had too many similarities with the '01 team. Playoff and Super Bowl experience, veteran, solid defense and an excellent running game, experienced coaches, a young, promising quarterback in his first long stint as a starter in his second season here. They'd already beaten the Bengals and Bears, and were in position to beat anyone.

Of course, that head coach benched the quarterback, ruining it all.

 

[maust]

I see people saying the Chargers have nothing to play for but they can potentially improve to the 5th seed. If I'm the Chargers I would sure rather play whatever team stumbles into being the winner of the AFC North. Wouldn't you rather face ****sburgh or Baltimore than have to go to Jacksonville?

 

[bormio]

I see people saying the Chargers have nothing to play for but they can potentially improve to the 5th seed. If I'm the Chargers I would sure rather play whatever team stumbles into being the winner of the AFC North. Wouldn't you rather face ****sburgh or Baltimore than have to go to Jacksonville?

Or NE if they lose to Denver

 

[mgcolby]

He was too short....

I see people saying the Chargers have nothing to play for but they can potentially improve to the 5th seed. If I'm the Chargers I would sure rather play whatever team stumbles into being the winner of the AFC North. Wouldn't you rather face ****sburgh or Baltimore than have to go to Jacksonville?

Agree, but they are hurting and if I am them and assuming the week makes a difference for some guys being able to heal up. I'm thinking we can beat any of these teams and have to at some point if we are to get to the SB, so let's just get healthy and roll out to wherever come wild card weekend.