Did Don Banks get ahold of the kool-aid?

[JSn]

Skimming SI this morning whilst awaiting another painstaking render, I happened on Don Banks "Snap Judgments" column.

Here's the interesting bit:

After 10 weeks of the NFL's 2008 regular season, we hold these truths to be self-evident:

We all know by now the New England Patriots are going back to the playoffs. Let's just book it. As much as the Week 1 loss of Tom Brady hurt the defending AFC champions, it's not going to wind up snapping their streak of five consecutive trips to the postseason.

New England is 6-3 and remains tied for first place in the AFC East after exposing the Bills as playoff pretenders on Sunday, 20-10. Next up is a showdown with the Jets, the co-leader in the East, on Thursday night at Gillette, and then a trip 10 days later to Miami. The Pats will do no worse than a split, and emerge from Week 12 at 7-4 or better.

And don't forget, they've still got games against Seattle and Oakland, who won't even be able to stay on the field with them. New England is a winning machine because losing streaks are not allowed under Bill Belichick's reign. Since 2003, the Patriots are 16-1 after a loss.

You can almost hear Jim Mora in your mind as you read it can't you?

 

[letekro]

Skimming SI this morning whilst awaiting another painstaking render, I happened on Don Banks "Snap Judgments" column.

Here's the interesting bit:



You can almost hear Jim Mora in your mind as you read it can't you?

He can "book it" but the Jets and Dolphins have similarly easy schedules and could end up with the tiebreakers. It will be a dogfight with these guys for the division and/or Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Indy for the WC.

 

[lostjumper]

Apparently I'm drinking the kool-aid as well. I think the Pats win all 4 of those games mentioned, which means 10 wins at the minimum, and a trip to the playoffs.

I like that the jets have to come to Gillette for this short week game, and then the past of 10 days to prepare for miami. Oakland and Seattle are pushovers.

 

[JR4]

He can "book it" but the Jets and Dolphins have similarly easy schedules and could end up with the tiebreakers. It will be a dogfight with these guys for the division and/or Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Indy for the WC.

I believe, as I wrote in another thread, IMO,
PATs MUST win each of it's remaining division games to have a good
probability of getting into theplayoffs.
I know they can do it otherwise but to control their destiny they
need to win their division games otherwise they will probably be hoping one
of our division foes have a loss or two.

 

[bakes781]

As I recall most everyone here was still predicting playoffs despite the loss of #12. I know I was on record as saying they'd go 10-6 so in my eyes they haven't exceded expectations. They've simply lived up to them thus far. January is where we separate the men from the boys.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Banks is a local - though that's never stopped him from being critical before.

Perhaps his assessment is that 10 wins gets us into the playoffs. While going 4-2 over the last 6 games is certainly doable, and might be enough, I think we'd need to go 5-1 to be assured of the playoffs.

 

[tombonneau]

Boy you guys are easy to please ... I'm aiming for 13-3 or 12-4.

Really, if they get through NYJ, Mia & Pitt 3-0, I would expect the team to ride the momentum and finish 13-3. The only "tough" game will be the Cards who they Pats get at home (and the Cards never play well on the east cost vs. good teams).

Having 3 of the last 4 away doesn't help, esp. another back-to-back West Coast trips, so a slip-up in Seattle is not out of the question, but that would still put them at 12-4.

(Again, assuming they go 3-0 the next three games.)

 

[Patjew]

And don't forget, they've still got games against Seattle and Oakland, who won't even be able to stay on the field with them. New England is a winning machine because losing streaks are not allowed under Bill Belichick's reign. Since 2003, the Patriots are 16-1 after a loss.

That "-1" was to the Jets in 2006, right? That ugly game in the mud.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

As I recall most everyone here was still predicting playoffs despite the loss of #12. I know I was on record as saying they'd go 10-6 so in my eyes they haven't exceded expectations. They've simply lived up to them thus far. January is where we separate the men from the boys.

Pre-season, speculating Cassel at QB, I figured 'em for 8-8 at best. So at 6-3 they have yet to exceed my expectations.

 

[wdkantro2]

I would say it's a guaranteed 8 wins (count Oakland and Seattle has W's). That leaves home vs. Jets, @ Dolphins, home vs. Steelers, home vs. Arizona and @ Buffalo. To get to the 10 wins that everyone thinks will be enough for the playoffs, they need to win two of those games. Personally, I think it is very possible they win out. The Steelers have showed they have struggle in winning a close game, and Parker and Roethlisberger are both hurt. Plus, historically, the Pats have owned the Steelers (only one loss since 01, the streak-breaker on Halloween a few years back). Arizona has an extremely explosive offense, but it will be a cold weather game on our turf, and I'm not sure they have the O-line and power game to beat the Pats in those conditions. After what the Pats did to Buffalo on Sunday, it would be a major surprise if they don't do the same week 17. That leaves the two division games, Jets and Dolphins. They already beat the Jets before the team started to click. They did lose to the Dolphins in their worst game in years...but how often does a Belichick team lose twice in the same season to a team? I believe the answer is never (except 2006 Colts, losing in reg. season and AFCCG).
My prediction would be two lose two of the remaining games, at MOST. It would be some combination of Pittsburgh/Jets or Pittsburgh/Cardinals. But winning out is very realistic, IMO.
They truly lucked out with Oakland being the second west coast game in a row, because I feel like no matter how poorly they play, they can't possibly lose to Oakland.
13-3, how ridiculous would that be?! Pretty crazy...but I think anything less than 11-5 is a disappointment at this point.

 

[JSn]

My only concern is that at this rate by week 14, Pioli will be posting here to see if any of us know how to play football...

I've got a few nominations for tackling dummy.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I've got a few nominations for tackling dummy.

Been there, pick someone else this time.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

I've got a few nominations for tackling dummy.

I'll send you my 'ignore list', they should do just fine for that job

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

He can "book it" but the Jets and Dolphins have similarly easy schedules and could end up with the tiebreakers. It will be a dogfight with these guys for the division and/or Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Indy for the WC.

Completely agree. Im gonna stay with my 10-6 prediction, but the 2002 season is still fresh in my mind. Both of those teams could hang around just long enough to be annoying.

 

[JoePats]

Personally I think the winner tomorrow will win the division. If the Pats win, that's essentially a game and a half up, and that, though not impossible, will be very tough to catch.

If the Jets win, they'll be one game up in the standings, and will be one game up in the tiebreaker "division record." They're last two division games are Buffalo and Miami, both at home (Miami in week 17). They should be able to close that out in the division, and thus would be a game up and likely have the tiebreaker.

 

[billdog3484]

is our mo one game at a time

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Personally I think the winner tomorrow will win the division. If the Pats win, that's essentially a game and a half up, and that, though not impossible, will be very tough to catch.

If the Jets win, they'll be one game up in the standings, and will be one game up in the tiebreaker "division record." They're last two division games are Buffalo and Miami, both at home (BUF in week 17). They should be able to close that out in the division, and thus would be a game up and likely have the tiebreaker.

Fixed your post for you.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Personally I think the winner tomorrow will win the division. If the Pats win, that's essentially a game and a half up, and that, though not impossible, will be very tough to catch.

If the Jets win, they'll be one game up in the standings, and will be one game up in the tiebreaker "division record." They're last two division games are Buffalo and Miami, both at home (Miami in week 17). They should be able to close that out in the division, and thus would be a game up and likely have the tiebreaker.

Ugh. Reminds me of that excerable 2002 season finish when with NE, MIA and NY tied, the Rats won the AFCE via tiebreakers.

 

[Patjew]

Ugh. Reminds me of that excerable 2002 season finish when with NE, MIA and NY tied, the Rats won the AFCE via tiebreakers.

That's right, and the Jets won it b/c Favre and the Packers laid down for them in the final game of the season. It was sickening.