Despite Their Record, Oakland Now The Next Roadblock For Patriots

[PatsFans.com Article]

Despite Their Record, Oakland Now The Next Roadblock For Patriots

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While the Patriots spent this week visiting Denver in a win over the Broncos, their next opponent has had an extra week to get ready for Bill Belichick's football team.

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[maineman209]

Even if the Steelers fall to the Titans Thursday night, the Pats still need to win out in order to be assured of the the #1 seed and HFA.

KC had a two-game lead on the Raiders at this point and, arguably, an easier upcoming schedule, so winning the AFC West title seems unlikely for Oakland at this point . However, the Raiders appear to still have a decent shot at the final WC spot (the Bills have a much tougher remaining schedule than either the Raiders or the Ravens), so a win over the Pats would give them a huge boost toward that.

Interesting side note:

Beginning Thursday, the Steelers embark on a stretch of four consecutive games in primetime ... v. TEN, v. GBY, @CIN, v. BAL ... before facing the Pats in Pittsburgh in week-15.

 

[Pats1989]

The punter ( yes I said it) will be huge. He's ( Raiders punter) probably the best in the business. Allen needs to counter accordingly.

Furthermore, Cooper & Crabtree are both top five WR's and the best the Patriots would've played thus far.

 

[Dagg]

Raider's have talent, its too bad the also have Del Rio...

 

[BlueThunder]

Pats will be in better shape if Brown is healthy for the Run D.....Stopping Lynch and Faders running game should be a priority ..... making Carr uncomfortable will be #2......hoping Butler coverage of WR is better than vs Sanders in Denver....Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades......

 

[JMC00]

Furthermore, Cooper & Crabtree are both top five WR's and the best the Patriots would've played thus far.

What? Neither of them is a top 5 WR. Neither of them even lead the team in receiving yards. Half of Cooper yards and a third of his catches came in 1 game. In fact in half of their games this year he's failed to break 30 yards.


And the Pats have played better WRs, in fact they even played a better receiving duo in Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson.

 

[PatsFan2]

The punter ( yes I said it) will be huge. He's ( Raiders punter) probably the best in the business. Allen needs to counter accordingly.

Furthermore, Cooper & Crabtree are both top five WR's and the best the Patriots would've played thus far.

I like Cooper but TE Jared Cook have been their best and most consistent skilled position player by far. Amari Cooper got half his yardage in one game that 210yds against KC. Michael Cabtree is above average at best. Cooper can be really good like he has already shown but it seems like the Raiders have underachieved some this year. The Raiders better hope 7/11 Chris Hogan ain't good to go because it would be a rout. The Patriots are playing lights out on Offense both Blocking and pass protecting something that Raiders D just don't want to see.

 

[BTTA]

Hopefully, the normal "coming off a bye" fourth quarter advantage that Oakland would have had will be negated by the fact that the Pats will have been at altitude for 8 or 9 days.

And the punter will never have punted at 7200 feet before. It'll make him think a little bit and that might help take the edge off of that advantage.

 

[maineman209]

The punter ( yes I said it) will be huge. He's ( Raiders punter) probably the best in the business. Allen needs to counter accordingly.

You bring up an interesting point. Gotta wonder how punters and kickers will be affected at 7,300 feet, considering how evident the effects are at 5,200 feet.

Control of distance and direction would seem to be key.

 

[PatsFan2]

The punter ( yes I said it) will be huge. He's ( Raiders punter) probably the best in the business. Allen needs to counter accordingly.

Furthermore, Cooper & Crabtree are both top five WR's and the best the Patriots would've played thus far.

On paper and in reality the Patriots Offense is much more Dangerous than the Raiders. Also Brandon Cooks haven't had a Super Game yet one of those 180 to 200yds games he's capable. Remember we have Two Super RB's out of the Backfield in James White and Rex Burkhead who the D have to account for blitz at your own risk. Also with Gronk and Marty good luck NFL Defenses, Brady have skilled position players that excels both inside and outside the numbers.

 

[Dagg]

<In the voice of Jim Mora>. Punters?! Don't talk about punters! Are you kidding me? Punters?! I'm just hoping we can win a game, another game!

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Two weeks of training at altitude will definitely help the Patriots' conditioning when they come back to sea level.

What actually works best is training at sea level and sleeping at altitude - that's what a lot of professional cyclists do by using a low-oxygen tent at night (it's normal pressure but extra nitrogen).

Hypoxic training methods for improving endurance exercise performance - ScienceDirect

 

[Ring 6]

Even if the Steelers fall to the Titans Thursday night, the Pats still need to win out in order to be assured of the the #1 seed and HFA.

No. If the Steelers lose to tenn and the patriots beat the Steelers the patriots could lose 2 other games and still guarantee at least a tie with tiebreaker advantage vs Pitt.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

No. If the Steelers lose to tenn and the patriots beat the Steelers the patriots could lose 2 other games and still guarantee at least a tie with tiebreaker advantage vs Pitt.

And of course if the pats lose two more games (besides the steelers) they lose out to the chiefs, assuming the chiefs win out.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Titans can beat the squealers but i ain't holding out hope.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Every remaining opponent is a potential road block . Keep the pedal to the metal...

 

[Ring 6]

The punter ( yes I said it) will be huge. He's ( Raiders punter) probably the best in the business. Allen needs to counter accordingly.

Furthermore, Cooper & Crabtree are both top five WR's and the best the Patriots would've played thus far.

Top 5 WRs? Are you out of your mind?

 

[Pats1989]

Top 5 WRs? Are you out of your mind?

Top 30 WR's than lol. Cook, Crabtree, Cooper, Carr, Mack on D etc. Rob Parker thinks the Raiders win going away.

 

[Ring 6]

Top 30 WR's than lol. Cook, Crabtree, Cooper, Carr, Mack on D etc. Rob Parker thinks the Raiders win going away.

Maybe top 30 definitely nowhere near top 5
Rob Parker would pick the browns over the patriots.
Surely you aren’t taking him seriously.

Losing record. Losses to buffalo, chargers, redskins,ravens broncos (not a good team among them)
16 in scoring 23 in points allowed
22 in offense 26 in defense
Last in takeaways. 13 sacks all year.

Not sure what you and rob Parker think is good

 

[XLIX]

Even if the Steelers fall to the Titans Thursday night, the Pats still need to win out in order to be assured of the the #1 seed and HFA.

You're correct in that mathematically speaking, the Patriots have to win out to guarantee HFA. You're also correct saying that that holds true even with a single Pittsburgh loss anywhere between here and the NE-Pit game.

However, realistically speaking, both KC and Pittsburgh have some losses coming their way. I don't think the Patriots have to win out to get the #1 seed.