Poll: How far will Pats make it in playoffs?

I thought of doing this a couple days ago, because the more I thought about it, the further I thought this team would go. I felt things were coming together, and this team was going to the Super Bowl. And, honestly, losing it, because I've been really impressed by the Saints. (I can't really fathom/stomach how well the Cowboys are playing, because I've hated Wade Phillips ever since he started Rob Johnson over Doug Flutie in the playoffs. But anyway.)

I can't lie. I'm usually a pretty upbeat fan—realistic, but optimistic during this run because the brilliance of Brady/Belichick. But I think losing Welker kills the Pats.

I went back and forth on the Baltimore game, because I think losing Welker's such a big blow. But I think the Pats win it. Unfortunately, I’m afraid it ends there.

The Patriots will lose to the Ravens. This will spare them a

56 to 3 beating by the Chargers.

Can't even guess. One and done is my fear, superbowl seems like a pipe dream, but who knows. maybe they'll rally round this latest setback and go all the way.

honestly i don't have a reply after Welker loss

i was optimistic but now not so much

anyway: let's see and Go Pats !

happy and satisfied that we reached the play-offs and seed n.3

i hope to see more short passes to Watson and Baker and screens to Faulk plus hard runs from our backs and hopefully big plays from defense-am i asking too much ?

ausbacker said:

The optimist in me says Superbowl champions with a magical run there. The realist in me says beat Baltimore lose to San Diego.

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Same here.

Edit- This is the first time since 1998 (when the Pats got in at 9-7 and got trounced by the Jags with Zolak covering for Bledsoe) that I've had my doubts about the Patriots heading into the playoffs. Call it homerism or whatever, but it always felt like the Patriots were winning the SB somehow. I can't seem to feign that this time around.

As my sig shows, the hope is still there. But the confidence isn't. Perhaps it will be refreshing, feeling like a true underdog (and believing it). You lose and you were expected to lose so the letdown isn't as harsh, but you win and it feels much more gratifying. This is easily the most counted out Brady/Belichick team we've seen in the playoffs. Should be interesting to see how far they can go.

I was getting a lot more optimistic prior to the Welker injury, but now I just don't know. . .

I think Baltimore is going to be a very tough out for us. im still up in the air, but im leaning one and done right now.

The Ravens can run the ball and get pressure on Brady. And even though Flacco hasnt played very well down the stretch, he can still zip it down field to Mason.

I was really hoping we didnt get them in the first round. It's gonna be a tough physical game win or lose.

These poll results brilliantly illustrate the makeup of Patsfans.com:

25% Pessimists
25% Optimists
50% Pragmatists

Yet another fourth quarter collapse for the New England Patriots. I don't have any faith in this year's Patriots defense whatsoever to hold a lead against a quality opponent. Put me down for a one and done against a physical Baltimore Ravens team.

ray mercer said:

The Colts will pound either SD or NE. They are out for blood.

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hillarious. the colts out for blood? lmao

You heard it hear first.

NE beats Baltimore, then Chargers. Bengals get revenge on Jets and then then the a rusty Colts. AFCCG in Foxoboro and NE defeates Cinci. NE then extracts revenge for SB 31 when Viking QB Brett Favre gets benched after throwing his 5th int. NE win SB 31-0.

TheGodInAGreyHoodie said:

You heard it hear first.

NE beats Baltimore, then Chargers. Bengals get revenge on Jets and then then the a rusty Colts. AFCCG in Foxoboro and NE defeates Cinci. NE then extracts revenge for SB 31 when Viking QB Brett Favre gets benched after throwing his 5th int. NE win SB 31-0.

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blind homer
noun

• to support a team so blindly as to defy conventional wisdom

jetsjets said:

blind homer
noun

• to support a team so blindly as to defy conventional wisdom

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LOL Talk about an oxymoron...a Jets fan mocking patsfans for blind support that defies conventional wisdom...

Mogamedogz said:

I think Baltimore is going to be a very tough out for us. im still up in the air, but im leaning one and done right now.

The Ravens can run the ball and get pressure on Brady. And even though Flacco hasnt played very well down the stretch, he can still zip it down field to Mason.

I was really hoping we didnt get them in the first round. It's gonna be a tough physical game win or lose.

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Totally agree, except I'm leaning towards barely beating Baltimore just because it's in Foxboro, plus if Vince and Warren both play we should be able to stop the run and make Flacco beat us. He has limited weapons in the passing game and I just have a feeling he will fold in the cold.

After that, SD might very well crush us. They must be licking their chops at the thought of revenge for '06 and Ellis 'dancing man' Hobbs's act.

We'll barely get by Baltimore in the Wild Card round then get smoked by San Diego in the Divisional. We just simply are not play very good football this season and we just lost a huge piece to our postseason puzzle. I'm still pulling for them as hard as I ever have, but I do not have a good feeling going into this. I feel the same way I did before the playoffs started in 2005.

If I were a betting man, I would have to take Baltimore and the 6 points.

This Patriots team could win it all, if they can put all the pieces together, in a short matter of time. With the loss of Welker, it will be extremely tough, but it still could happen.

It's the playoffs, and it's up for grabs!

BadMoFo said:

If we were being realistic, there'd be one more option.

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Umm, you miscounted. It includes every possibility from losing in the Wild Card game (one and done), to winning the Super Bowl.

I think they will win next week, hope they win the Divisional Round, but expect them to lose it.

TheGodInAGreyHoodie said:

You heard it hear first.

NE beats Baltimore, then Chargers. Bengals get revenge on Jets and then then the a rusty Colts. AFCCG in Foxoboro and NE defeates Cinci. NE then extracts revenge for SB 31 when Viking QB Brett Favre gets benched after throwing his 5th int. NE win SB 31-0.

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Now that is positive thinking...

Anything's possible, but IMO it'll take a lot of luck to even reach the AFCCG- realistically, I see us losing to the Chargers. Going to be tough to beat the top-tier teams without Welker, unless we somehow invent a pass rush out of thin air so we can keep games lower-scoring.