PATRIOTS NEWS Your 2025 AFC East Champion New England Patriots

[Real fan 02]

The Bills loss taught them a big lesson: it ain’t over til it’s over.

I’d rest as many players as I can against Miami. They really need Tonga, Spillane and Williams.

Williams is going to need a ramp up game.. I say play him the first Quarter and sit him the rest of the game..

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

I love watching Bills fans melting down online claiming the Pats haven't beaten anyone and they will lose in the first round of the playoffs as if the Pats and Bills don't have almost the same exact schedule minus a handful of games. The Bills are 2-3 against teams with winning records right now.

Don’t worry Rob, Bills fans know a lot about losing in the playoffs.

 

[reflexblue]

Eh, he’s not such a bad guy. I’ve come around.

Hes busy

 

[TomPatriot]

Williams is going to need a ramp up game.. I say play him the first Quarter and sit him the rest of the game..

That makes sense. Probably Campbell too.

 

[Steve102]

The Bills loss taught them a big lesson: it ain’t over til it’s over.

I’d rest as many players as I can against Miami. They really need Tonga, Spillane and Williams.

It comes down to who do you want to play? If the Chargers lose, they come here. If the Broncos lose, the Pats are the #1 with the win. If they lose and Denver loses, they drop to a three and play the Chargers, assuming a Jags win vs Titans. If they lose, Denver and the Bills win, they play the Bills in a 3 vs 6 game. So... if you want the #1, win. If you want to play the Chargers, win.

All this assumes a Jags win at home vs Titans. If they somehow drop that, then everything is a mess. I played with a convoluted scenario where Colts, Phins, Chargers, Jags and Jete win and that really fouls up everything, dropping the Pats to a 3 vs Texans.

TLDR: Don't rest.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Nice win. Talking care of business versus a tanking team. We have seen enough of these games that have gone poorly. This team is beat up but has exceeded all expectations for the season.
Playoff game experience for Drake is very important. Hosting this game gives them a great opportunity for a win.

 

[Real fan 02]

That makes sense. Probably Campbell too.

Campbell I've mentioned even though he's been spotted At Cs games and on the sidelines his progress may be a bit more tedious?.. Vrabel did say he IRd him to protect him from himself...

 

[Real fan 02]

It comes down to who do you want to play? If the Chargers lose, they come here. If the Broncos lose, the Pats are the #1 with the win. If they lose and Denver loses, they drop to a three and play the Chargers, assuming a Jags win vs Titans. If they lose, Denver and the Bills win, they play the Bills in a 3 vs 6 game. So... if you want the #1, win. If you want to play the Chargers, win.

All this assumes a Jags win at home vs Titans. If they somehow drop that, then everything is a mess. I played with a convoluted scenario where Colts, Phins, Chargers, Jags and Jete win and that really fouls up everything, dropping the Pats to a 3 vs Texans.

TLDR: Don't rest.

@PATSYLICIOUS summed it up similarly to yourself. The more likely thing to me is chargers lose and bills winning?

 

[sb1]

People are shook at the thought of facing the Bills in the playoffs because of 47-17, but there are a few things that are different now. First the game would be in Foxboro not Buffalo and that matters a lot.

And the 2021 Patriots really were paper tigers. They played very poorly down the stretch, including a thumping at home to Buffalo in comparison to a close loss this season. Yes the schedule this season was easy, but it’s clear just by watching that Patriots won a lot of games this year specifically because Drake Maye is NOT Mac Jones. Try defending Maye like he’s Mac and get your doors blown off. I know Jones loses a few games like the first Buffalo and Baltimore games that we won with Maye. Zero chance we’d be 8-0 on the road. And I think the coaching is much better now too. The Bills are also a different team. They run a lot. They cannot attack the Pats with those slants and deep shots like they did in the 47-17 game. They don’t have the personnel this time.

I would still prefer to avoid the Bills simply because they are a good division opponent who knows us well, and I’m sure they feel the same about us. They have lots of playoff experience. Pats must be healthy regardless or the playoff run whatever opponent it might be will be short.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

@sb1 Yeah, the 2021 Patriots weren’t that good and they were led by Mac Jones and a declining Bill Belichick. I think Buffalo/Houston are the only two teams in the AFC that could knock us off. Not saying they would but I could see the possibility. Denver imo are the 2024 Lions. Good regular season but won’t get to the Super Bowl.

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

Wait till they win the SB, those AFCE Champ hats will be dirt cheap

From your lips to God's ears!

 

[Real fan 02]

People are shook at the thought of facing the Bills in the playoffs because of 47-17, but there are a few things that are different now. First the game would be in Foxboro not Buffalo and that matters a lot.

And the 2021 Patriots really were paper tigers. They played very poorly down the stretch, including a thumping at home to Buffalo in comparison to a close loss this season. Yes the schedule was easy, but it’s clear just by watching that Patriots won a lot of games this year specifically because Drake Maye is NOT Mac Jones. Try defending Maye like he’s Mac and get your doors blown off. I know Jones loses a few games like the first Buffalo and Baltimore games that we won with Maye. Zero chance we’d be 8-0 on the road. And I think the coaching is much better now too. The Bills are also a different team. They run a lot. They cannot attack the Pats with those slants and deep shots like they did in the 47-17 game. They don’t have the personnel this time.

I would prefer to avoid the Bills simply because they are a good division opponent who knows us well, and I’m sure they feel the same about us. Pats must be healthy regardless or the playoff run whatever opponent it might be will be short.

Great post!

Adding a few things.

Also Mac Jones wasn't physically or mentally as resilient as Drake the kids a born competitor. We also have a much better all around coaching staff that is adaptive to the current NFL player.

We have a much better defense than the older declining defense from '21

This team takes on the mentally of Vrabel and the buy in at an all time high.

Lastly.. why do I feel like Gillette isn't the home field advantage it once was for opponents? Maybe the stenches of 4-13 seasons have gotten stuck in my Fandom losses at home

I seem to enjoy watching them on the road more so..then at home games for some reason..

I believe should they see LAC Vrabel will have that loss last year plastered all over the meeting rooms for added motivation

Should they see the bills that playoff beat down 2021...will be on replay coupled with the the recent loss.

 

[TomPatriot]

It comes down to who do you want to play? If the Chargers lose, they come here. If the Broncos lose, the Pats are the #1 with the win. If they lose and Denver loses, they drop to a three and play the Chargers, assuming a Jags win vs Titans. If they lose, Denver and the Bills win, they play the Bills in a 3 vs 6 game. So... if you want the #1, win. If you want to play the Chargers, win.

All this assumes a Jags win at home vs Titans. If they somehow drop that, then everything is a mess. I played with a convoluted scenario where Colts, Phins, Chargers, Jags and Jete win and that really fouls up everything, dropping the Pats to a 3 vs Texans.

TLDR: Don't rest.

Good analysis. I’d always want to be the No. 1 seed because you have to play one less game. But I assumed Chargers would lose because they have nothing to play for.

Pats risk injury playing their best and/or recovering players and at this time of year, playing with rest is better.

 

[Real fan 02]

@sb1 Yeah, the 2021 Patriots weren’t that good and they were led by Mac Jones and a declining Bill Belichick. I think Buffalo/Houston are the only two teams in the AFC that could knock us off. Not saying they would but I could see the possibility. Denver imo are the 2024 Lions. Good regular season but won’t get to the Super Bowl.

I've watched a few Denver games.. and I saw some analysts talking up Nix and his come back abilities.. that is nice and all but he's meh for long stretches of games. Nix is a solid ..QB but more in the mold of a game manager than a top 5 QB.. what happens when Denver gets down and he can't bring them back..?

Nix is heavily aided by his defense mightily.

Agreed that Houston because of thier front and Buffalo because of Allen are the biggest threats to us.

 

[Steve102]

Good analysis. I’d always want to be the No. 1 seed because you have to play one less game. But I assumed Chargers would lose because they have nothing to play for.

Pats risk injury playing their best and/or recovering players and at this time of year, playing with rest is better.

I dunno. We've seen it every week... any given Sunday. If they can't get the #1 seed, I'd rather play a one handed Justin Herbert as a two seed and hope Denver loses in the Divisional round, hosting the AFCCG vs whoever's left.

 

[ViperGTS]

Can't believe they won the division this year. I thought they had a good chance at the wildcard, but the division..holy cow.

Also, Maye is the MVP get out of there with the Stafford talk. Take Maye away this team wins 5 maybe 6 games even with Vrabel and Co.

 

[Real fan 02]

Nice win. Talking care of business versus a tanking team. We have seen enough of these games that have gone poorly. This team is beat up but has exceeded all expectations for the season.
Playoff game experience for Drake is very important. Hosting this game gives them a great opportunity for a win.

Wanted to get your expertise on Nix.. why for so long in games he looks meh.. and he brings his team back wich is a great thing for a QB.. but what happens when he's not able to like the recent loss to Jax?

 

[Real fan 02]

Can't believe they won the division this year. I thought they had a good chance at the wildcard, but the division..holy cow.

Also, Maye is the MVP get out of there with the Stafford talk. Take Maye away this team wins 5 maybe 6 games even with Vrabel and Co.

Stafford has had elite weapons his entire career going back to Megatron.

He has elite weapons around now to that point. Drake has done more with less and as you perfectly stated we don't have Drake we would be a 3 or 4 win team..

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Can't believe they won the division this year. I thought they had a good chance at the wildcard, but the division..holy cow.

Also, Maye is the MVP get out of there with the Stafford talk. Take Maye away this team wins 5 maybe 6 games even with Vrabel and Co.

I don't care about individual awards, never really have.
That said you most certainly could argue the case for both.
After tonight Stafford will probably regain the passing yards lead, and his 40-5 TD/INT ratio will open voters eyes.
Maye is is better in many other areas, and he certainly appears to be doing it with far less than Stafford.
I could see either winning it, but I would think voters will be swayed by Stafford's age, never winning the award, and probably never having an other shot at it after this year. You would hope those things wouldn't come int play, but they do.

 

[PatsFan2]

I dunno. We've seen it every week... any given Sunday. If they can't get the #1 seed, I'd rather play a one handed Justin Herbert as a two seed and hope Denver loses in the Divisional round, hosting the AFCCG vs whoever's left.