Herbert not playing week 18

[DoubleDeluxe]

Sure they do. They either win and get a higher seed and face AFC North or possibly us. They chose health for their QB which is a reasonable decision to make

That's what I originally thought too, but looks like Houston is locked into #5 assuming they beat Indy next week. So Buff has the choice of us or Jax. They may prefer us, it's not far fetched at all.

 

[sb1]

I agree the Billdos aren't that stupid, Brandon Beane is a sharp guy. But McDermott??? Did you see the end of the Bills game last night?

Eh I still think it was the right call. Josh Allen on a gimpy leg in bad weather was asking for trouble. I don’t think the Bills minded not having to play OT. Why not try to win it. Allen missed the throw otherwise McDermott looks like a genius today.

 

[RobertWeathers]

That's what I originally thought too, but looks like Houston is locked into #5 assuming they beat Indy next week. So Buff has the choice of us or Jax. They may prefer us, it's not far fetched at all.

Lotta score watching next week.....

 

[Triumph]

They’d be signing their death warrant then. Pats aren’t losing at home to Buffalo twice. We’ll be ready. Just need to hope it’s officiated fairly.

I agree

The defensive game plan that Buffalo used a few weeks ago is on film. The Pats have dissected it like a frog and its doubtful that it will work twice.

I believe that we will see more passes to Rham and Hendo in the near future. Rham has only seen 35 targets and Hendo 42. Both are catching the ball at 83% or +.

 

[Dec54]

Lotta score watching next week.....

I think a fan base would rather play us, but I don't think any team would look forwards to playing the Patriots right now

 

[1960Pats]

If Bills throw their Jets game then we're playing them the first round.

It's nearly impossible to throw a Jets game.

I wonder if the Bills would want to come to NE again. I think they'd want the AFCN team, if that's possible.

 

[Uptown]

that means they are purposely setting up a trip to Foxboro

Nah, they don’t want that smoke. Especially in that frigid weather. They’re literally banged up..

 

[Art_Vandelay421]

Bills are absolutely not going to tank the Jets game on purpose so they can play a division rival on the road who just ended their reign atop the East and has absolutely nothing to lose this playoff season. That’s not happening. McDermott isn’t that stupid.

“McDermott isn’t that stupid.”

Can we put that to a vote?

 

[maust]

And let's not pretend that some teams may prefer a matchup against us over Jax.

I'm not pretending ****. I don't believe there's a D coordinator in the AFC that wouldn't rather face Trevor Lawrence than Drake Maye. If I'm the brain trust of any of the WC teams I'd prefer to face whoever comes out of the AFC North followed by going to FL to face the Jags, Between the available options I'd want no part of going to Gillette in January

 

[mgteich]

I think a fan base would rather play us, but I don't think any team would look forwards to playing the Patriots right now

I think that some teams would prefer to play us compared to say HOU.

 

[upstater1]

It is, but Jax is playing as well as anyone right now, on both sides of the ball.
We are all Pats fans here, but I'm 100% sure some teams would rather play us vs Jax.

I watched the latter half of the Colts game yesterday. Not sure about this. I split the screens once the Patriots scored 42.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I'm not pretending ****. I don't believe there's a D coordinator in the AFC that wouldn't rather face Trevor Lawrence than Drake Maye. If I'm the brain trust of any of the WC teams I'd prefer to face whoever comes out of the AFC North followed by going to FL to face the Jags, Between the available options I'd want no part of going to Gillette in January

I don't believe there's an O coordinator that would rather face Jax's #1 ranked run D vs ours. Especially a team like Buffalo that needs the run game.
Jax has won 7 in a row and averaged 33 points a game over that stretch.
We can discount them all we want, but teams prefering playing us over them is definitely on the table.

 

[1960Pats]

I'm not pretending ****. I don't believe there's a D coordinator in the AFC that wouldn't rather face Trevor Lawrence than Drake Maye. If I'm the brain trust of any of the WC teams I'd prefer to face whoever comes out of the AFC North followed by going to FL to face the Jags, Between the available options I'd want no part of going to Gillette in January

That's how I see it too.

It's just too bad that things worked out so well for the Broncos or we'd be looking at a good chance at the #1 seed, which is HUGE.

This season really reminds me of 2001. Lots of similarities.

 

[upstater1]

I think that some teams would prefer to play us compared to say HOU.

Hmmm, I was not impressed by Houston last few games. They have a certain level of ineptitude on offense. They were trying to throw the game away against the Chargers.

I think the top tier of the playoff teams is New England, Buffalo & Denver, all about equal.

Jacksonville, Houston and Baltimore are together on tier 2.

San Diego is by themselves in tier 3.

 

[DaBruinz]

If I'm Harbaugh, I'm playing mind games. I have the backup take 1 snap and then send Hebert in.. LOL But that's just me.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

It's nearly impossible to throw a Jets game.

I wonder if the Bills would want to come to NE again. I think they'd want the AFCN team, if that's possible.

The only ones who want us are the ones who think our defense since Williams and Spillane's injuries is what they're gonna get. They're gonna be in for a rude awakening when those two are back and holding RBs to under 50 yards a game again

 

[DaBruinz]

I think people are selling the Chargers short. Losing Slater in TC and then losing Alt in game 6. They've been sneaky tough all year.

 

[maust]

Eh I still think it was the right call. Josh Allen on a gimpy leg in bad weather was asking for trouble. I don’t think the Bills minded not having to play OT. Why not try to win it. Allen missed the throw otherwise McDermott looks like a genius today.

Philly was d-o-n-e. In real time I thought they should have gone to OT simply because the game had shifted Buffalo's game, if Philly was rockin' you absolutely go for two. To me in general going for two to win it indicates you have a play you really believe will provide a matchup you 100 % believe favors you greatly where OT may not. Why chance that when things had swung their way and Philly couldn't find their own ass with both hands. When the play happened I thought 'that's why I'm not an NFL coach' then Allen inexplicably missed. For me what it comes down to is putting your faith in that play where you essentially had Shakir as the only option. Now in retrospect,Shakir wasn't slowed down and wasn't forced to step out and so the play was there to be made, it just wasn't. That doesn't change the fact it was not a high % call. That to me, not the incompletion, is what made it stupid.

 

[Salsalife]

Denver wants the bye. Rams gave up.

 

[VrabelJr]

If Bills throw their Jets game then we're playing them the first round.

They will. They've shown a few times under McDermott that they will do funny gamesmanship things. Unfortunately for them asking for a meeting with us is a mistake.