Patriots Pregame Thread Week 18: Dolphins at Patriots, 4:25 on Fox

[DoubleDeluxe]

Jets lost their last 4 by a combined 107 points. Worst December in nfl history.

And no Breece Hall who is really their only playmaker (not counting Wilson who's been hurt).
I think winning the last game at that stadium means something to the team.

 

[Ring 6]

It's a Rick and Morty reference:

Oh

 

[Ring 6]

IMO the very purpose of incentives is individual performance. Basing it upon team success kinda defeats the point.

I'm in favor of escalators for team success (such as a base value of $1M that escalates to $1.5M if the team achieves a certain ranking, etc), but hinging the entire thing on team output is silly and feels like bad business.

I disagree. Individual success that doesn’t help the team win is useless. IMO

 

[Gumby]

So if they finish as the 6th and go to Jax, you think Jax wins?
Very possible, Jax is playing well and Coen has changed that culture and unlocked that offense.
I would still be hard pressed to pick TLaw over Allen in a playoff game, but it's certainly possible.

Yeah JAX can beat them. (IMO ).

They need to win & chargers Hou both lose so they can go to Pitt. That is their only chance for a win. (Excuse, … I forget AFCN was even a thing in my last post )

 

[Ring 6]

So if they finish as the 6th and go to Jax, you think Jax wins?
Very possible, Jax is playing well and Coen has changed that culture and unlocked that offense.
I would still be hard pressed to pick TLaw over Allen in a playoff game, but it's certainly possible.

It would be stupid of the Bills to rather play the patriots than the jaguars.

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[n1997y]

You think Vrabs will take his foot off the gas in a close game and risk giving the 2 seed to Jax?
I don't.

You think it will be a close game?
I don’t.

I think what will make the difference is how we are doing. If Drake comes out and dissects the Phins the way he carved up the Jetes it’ll be an easy decision to sit him halfway through the third quarter again.

If Maye and the rest of first string do their job well they get rewarded by an early end to their workday. If they don’t and instead let Miami hang around they get punished by playing until they put the game away.

 

[shmessy]

If Buffalo taps out of their week 18 game again that will be something else.

…….and the Patriots had a national scandal for 1.5 years, lost Brady for 4 games, a first rounder and $1 million penalty because of………(checking notes)……….The Integrity of the Game.

 

[Ross12]

It would be stupid of the Bills to rather play the patriots than the jaguars.

I think Jacksonville and NE are both relatively close in overall team strength when healthy, but Jacksonville's coaching staff is less experienced and might be more prone to error or being caught with their pants down in the postseason. I think I'd probably rather have to travel to Jacksonville than Foxboro for a game in mid-January as well.

 

[n1997y]

Jags & Hou are going to win. So the Patriots need a win to secure the 2nd seed.

My guess:

1. Denver
2. NE
3. Jax
4. Bal
5. Hou
6. LAC
7. Buffalo

I think the Bills are going to do everything possible to get NE instead of Jacksonville. Of course, is it possible to lose to the Jets. Even with backups?

HOU may not win. Right now IND is leading them, refusing to go away.

 

[Gumby]

It would be stupid of the Bills to rather play the patriots than the jaguars.

Maybe they don’t want to take the team plane home, so they’d rather end season on the beach.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

You think it will be a close game?
I don’t.

I think what will make the difference is how we are doing. If Drake comes out and dissects the Phins the way he carved up the Jetes it’ll be an easy decision to sit him halfway through the third quarter again.

If Maye and the rest of first string do their job well they get rewarded by an early end to their workday. If they don’t and instead let Miami hang around they get punished by playing until they put the game away.

I don't think it will be a close game, I was quoting Neuronet.

 

[n1997y]

I hope we lay a fifty burger on them.

Sorry Bradley.

 

[Gumby]

HOU may not win. Right now IND is leading them, refusing to go away.

JAX up by 27 at 4Q start. HOU has nothing left to play for. Expect they pull starters and let Dolts put up a new banner….
“2025: End of season spoilers for a real team.”

 

[Ross12]

Pretty thin on the IOL eh? Behind the starters (Brown/Bradbury/Onwenu) there's just one active backup total (Jaimes). Wallace and Wilson both inactive.

 

[Foxypats]

JAX up by 27 at 4Q start. HOU has nothing left to play for. Expect they pull starters and let Dolts put up a new banner….
“2025: End of season spoilers for a real team.”

Doesn't Houston need to win to secure the 5th seed ? That might be what they want as they will play the winner of Pitt/Balt, they might think that is easier for them.

 

[n1997y]

JAX up by 27 at 4Q start. HOU has nothing left to play for. Expect they pull starters and let Dolts put up a new banner….
“2025: End of season spoilers for a real team.”

HOU pulled Stroud, Mills is in.

HOU FG put them up 2 with under 5:00 left in the 3rd and IND on the move.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Doesn't Houston need to win to secure the 5th seed ? That might be what they want as they will play the winner of Pitt/Balt, they might think that is easier for them.

Yup, Buff can jump to 5 if they win and Houston loses.
So Houston would be the 6 and go to Jax.
We would play LA.

 

[Foxypats]

Yup, Buff can jump to 5 if they win and Houston loses.
So Houston would be the 6 and go to Jax.
We would play LA.

well then go Indy ...lol. Rather we get LA than Bills in the first round

 

[n1997y]

I’d love for Trey to get to 1,000 yards rushing tomorrow. It’d be an amazing feat considering how his season started. Would put him over 1,200 total yards..

Would that put him in the running for OROY? Thought I’d seen a suggestion a couple of weeks ago that he might be getting some consideration for it. I’ve not been paying attention to it though.

I’d love to see him get 100+ yards out of a couple of TD runs today, with enough other carries to put him over 1000.