How do you see the AFC playing out?

[Brady_to_Moss]

I think Steelers are the biggest threat to an AFC title repeat. Defense is meh but, Ben is a big time playoff QB with tons of weapons to throw to.

O has weapons...they can pull a flacco and just throw it..but the D is awful

 

[PP2]

I see DEN with 1 more loss..which would give us another L we can afford if need be (although i want to win out to be safe)...(same with cincy..another loss or two)

I say Pats and CIncy with bye. Den...AFC south can we just ban from the NFL? Pitt a WC and possibly the Jets

Since Denver and the Bengals have to play each other, the bye is ours to lose.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Since Denver and the Bengals have to play each other, the bye is ours to lose.

I am talking HFA throughout. I know we will 95% end up with a bye

 

[sb1]

For top seeding the Pats can afford a loss this weekend to Philly, but it gets dicey if they lose to an AFC team.

 

[Froob]

O has weapons...they can pull a flacco and just throw it..but the D is awful

Anything can happen in one game. Crazy that their O is this good minus Le'Veon Bell.

 

[chasa]

i see the patriots swooning a little bit, probably losing a couple of games, and then the playoffs start, and the patriots first game(hopefully they get a bye) they field minitron, gronk and amendola, and on D collins and hightower are full strength and we blow out a team by 60 points, and then the next week the other team forfeits due to mercy rule, before we play the giants in teh superbowl.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I think the Patriots end up dropping one more, either @Hou or @NYJ because of the depleted roster. I think Denver gets by Cincy but loses in Pittsburgh.

Just ran the playoff machine and here's what I ended up with:

AFC:

1. NE (14-2)
2. Den (13-3)
3. Cin (13-3)
4. Hou (9-7)
5. KC (11-5)
6. Buf (10-6)

NFC:

1. Ari (14-2)
2. Car (14-2)
3. Min (11-5)
4. NYG (9-7)
5. Atl (10-6)
6. GB (9-7)

 

[1960Pats]

I think the Patriots end up dropping one more, either @Hou or @NYJ because of the depleted roster. I think Denver gets by Cincy but loses in Pittsburgh.

Just ran the playoff machine and here's what I ended up with:

AFC:

1. NE (14-2)
2. Den (13-3)
3. Cin (13-3)
4. Hou (9-7)
5. KC (11-5)
6. Buf (10-6)

NFC:

1. Ari (14-2)
2. Car (14-2)
3. Min (11-5)
4. NYG (9-7)
5. Atl (10-6)
6. GB (9-7)

That would be the ultimate karma finish in the NotForLong. No Indy, Baltimore or Jests in the AFC and no Seattle in the NFC. I hope you're right.

 

[Mark.]

Really don't want to see BUF or NYG in the playoffs. Although, Rex did have his one good game plan for the year so we should be all set.

 

[supafly]

O has weapons...they can pull a flacco and just throw it..but the D is awful

I actually think that the Pittsburgh defense has been a pleasant surprise, all things considered. As a matter of fact, even after the SEA game they barely fell out of the top 10 in scoring defense, as they currently sit at #11 giving up 20.9 PPG.

Unfortunately for them, they've had 2/3 past games as their worst defensive efforts of the season, so let's hope that trend continues. At the end of the day, I just don't see 2 other teams who are going to get in above them. I mean, who are we pinning our hopes on here? KC, HOU, NYJ, etc?

 

[supafly]

That would be the ultimate karma finish in the NotForLong. No Indy, Baltimore or Jests in the AFC and no Seattle in the NFC. I hope you're right.

Extremely difficult for me to imagine Pittsburgh beating Denver, yet still not getting in. They still have CLE and BAL remaining as well.

Buffalo? Jeez, I'd be surprised there. I think the Steelers get in at 10-6. Hope not.

 

[1960Pats]

Extremely difficult for me to imagine Pittsburgh beating Denver, yet still not getting in. They still have CLE and BAL remaining as well.

Buffalo? Jeez, I'd be surprised there. I think the Steelers get in at 10-6. Hope not.

Yeah, I didn't agree with some of it but I liked it.

He had both Buffalo and KC winning out, and although I agree that they both have fairly easy schedules I don't think it will happen.

As for the Steelers, their next 3 games (Indy, @Cincy and Denver) will decide everything. I don't think there's any way they lose either of their last two on the road at Baltimore and Cleveland.

The Jets are also in good position to finish at 10-6, with only the Pats game being a tough one.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

For top seeding the Pats can afford a loss this weekend to Philly, but it gets dicey if they lose to an AFC team.

From a tie break standpoint I completely see your point. However, from a practical standpoint I think this Philly game is critical. Assuming there is a positive trend toward guys getting healthy/getting on the field in a couple of weeks, right now the Philly game will see the weakest team the Patriots field all year ((f DA isn't back it is absurd how depleted we are for receiving targets. We could also be without or dynamic LB duo)).

The last 3 are Tenn, Miami and NYJ. If we are going into those games with a nearly fully staffed D, a nearly fully healthy OL, and some key receivers are back, we should all like our chances to sweep those 3. This means beating Philly allows us to play with house money against the Texans (I'm also assuming the Patriots will continue to be near their weakest against Houston). That presumed loss to the Texans still leaves us in control of our own Bye destiny and playing those last 3 with a much healthier team. But a loss to Philly makes Houston almost a must. Without that win it means a team at or near full strength for the last 3 (and winning those 3) now requires help from Cincy/Den. Bottom line, I'd rather have some margin of error going into Houston. A loss to Philly removes that margin...

Obviously there are a lot of games to play and Den/Cincy could lose a couple more. For this discussion I assume they won't.

 

[supafly]

From a tie break standpoint I completely see your point. However, from a practical standpoint I think this Philly game is critical. Assuming there is a positive trend toward guys getting healthy/getting on the field in a couple of weeks, right now the Philly game will see the weakest team the Patriots field all year ((f DA isn't back it is absurd how depleted we are for receiving targets. We could also be without or dynamic LB duo)).

The last 3 are Tenn, Miami and NYJ. If we are going into those games with a nearly fully staffed D, a nearly fully healthy OL, and some key receivers are back, we should all like our chances to sweep those 3. This means beating Philly allows us to play with house money against the Texans (I'm also assuming the Patriots will continue to be near their weakest against Houston). That presumed loss to the Texans still leaves us in control of our own Bye destiny and playing those last 3 with a much healthier team. But a loss to Philly makes Houston almost a must. Without that win it means a team at or near full strength for the last 3 (and winning those 3) now requires help from Cincy/Den. Bottom line, I'd rather have some margin of error going into Houston. A loss to Philly removes that margin...

Obviously there are a lot of games to play and Den/Cincy could lose a couple more. For this discussion I assume they won't.

I agree with your thinking here, but I've been seeing a lot of suggestions lately about us losing to Houston next week, and I think that's awfully premature to assume, even with a depleted cast.

We're talking about a team with no running game and Brian Hoyer at QB, who are 4 point underdogs to Buffalo this Sunday. While I'm never one to overlook ANY game, I have a better feeling than many regarding our chances @HOU, even if it's against a team playing well right now.

As you mention, we could afford to lose it if we get past PHI, but I'd rather have a game in the bank for the last 2 divisional match ups on the road.

 

[Haterproof]

I agree with your thinking here, but I've been seeing a lot of suggestions lately about us losing to Houston next week, and I think that's awfully premature to assume, even with a depleted cast.

We're talking about a team with no running game and Brian Hoyer at QB, who are 4 point underdogs to Buffalo this Sunday. While I'm never one to overlook ANY game, I have a better feeling than many regarding our chances @HOU, even if it's against a team playing well right now.

As you mention, we could afford to lose it if we get past PHI, but I'd rather have a game in the bank for the last 2 divisional match ups on the road.

Exactly! Both Houston QB'S suck IMO! The defense has been playing great as of late! I still think New England will eek out a win down there!

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I agree with your thinking here, but I've been seeing a lot of suggestions lately about us losing to Houston next week, and I think that's awfully premature to assume, even with a depleted cast.

We're talking about a team with no running game and Brian Hoyer at QB, who are 4 point underdogs to Buffalo this Sunday. While I'm never one to overlook ANY game, I have a better feeling than many regarding our chances @HOU, even if it's against a team playing well right now.

As you mention, we could afford to lose it if we get past PHI, but I'd rather have a game in the bank for the last 2 divisional match ups on the road.

My bad for making it sound that way. I am definitely not assuming a loss to Houston or any team. I believe the Patriots can win all 5 and likely are to win all 5 despite the injuries. Consider: the Patriots were without their top 3 targets and effectively without a backfield for running or passing, and they went into a very tough venue on a short week to take on the "best D" in the league --- they should have won (refs and a bad PR catch). If they can do that with such a weakened team then all 5 opponents are beatable.

Assuming the worst and we hypothetically lose (which is a disclaimer I should have put in my last post), I see Houston as the team likeliest to give us trouble/cause a loss. But as long as we beat Philly as well as get guys back over the next two weeks, a Houston loss is well within the Bye margin of error. But if we lose to Philly (I don't believe we will), our toughest win (Houston) with a still depleted team becomes a must win. Hypothetically

 

[BobDigital]

I still think this Pats get the 1 seed. Even with Injuries this next game should be a win for us pretty safely.

Bengals have a hard schedule and they also still have to play the Broncos which is good for us either way.

I think the Pats win the next 3 games then depending on what the Broncos and Bengals do they sit players for half a game of either both games of the last one.

Bengals beat the Broncos cause they are pretty much 100% healthy which gives them seed 2 (i think)

1 Pats 2 Bengals 3 Broncos 4 Indy (that will be close.. could easily be Houston). 5 Steelers 6 KC

So I think only 1 team between Houston/Indy Makes it. Steelers/KC I think get the WCs...

Really though it could come down to some weird tie breaker.

So... KC @ Broncos - KC Win (upsets happen) Steelers @ Colts - win

KC @ Pats - Pats win Steelers @ Bengals - Bengals win (they have to win a playoff game sometimes)

Bengals @ Pats - Pats win.

 

[everlong]

KC's schedule is so soft they aren't losing again in the regular season which will make them the 5 seed. Whoever doesn't win the AFCS is the 6th seed. Whoever wins the CIN/DEN game is the 2 seed with the other the 3 seed and the Pats are the one seed.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

1. pats
2. cincy
3. denver
4. houston
5. pitt
6. kc

kc @Denver. denver wins. i don't trust andy reid in the playoffs.

pitt @ houston. houston wins playing at home.

Houston @NE. NE wins.

denver @ cincy. denver wins.

denver @ NE for the AFCCG.

 

[chasa]

guys, indy is going to make the playoffs, thinking otherwise is silly, the afc south is so bad, as long has hasselbeck is QB for the colts the colts will win games. he doesnt throw three ints a game like luck.