Most secure division lead at this point?

[Fencer]

There only are three teams with full 2-game leads in their respective divisions, and the Pats have slightly the best record of the 3. (Indy is at 6-2, and Cincy at 5-3; there are none in the NFC.)

Also, the Pats have played more divisional games than Indy and Cincy, arguably leaving less opportunity for quick catch-up.

None of these distinctions matter all that much. But it's another reminder that, to date, the season has been a success.

 

[varjao]

I think we're going to clinch the division but not as easy as the recent years.

I'm worried with the bye week and HFA, we really need both this season.

F... ING Romo and Redskins.

 

[Gumby]

There only are three teams with full 2-game leads in their respective divisions, and the Pats have slightly the best record of the 3. (Indy is at 6-2, and Cincy at 5-3; there are none in the NFC.)

Also, the Pats have played more divisional games than Indy and Cincy, arguably leaving less opportunity for quick catch-up.

None of these distinctions matter all that much. But it's another reminder that, to date, the season has been a success.

NFCE
-Dall 5-4
-Phi 4-5

NFCN
-Det 5-3
-GB 5-3
-Chi 5-3

NFCS
-NO 6-2
-Car 5-3

NFCW
-Sea 8-1
-SF 6-2

AFCE
-NE 7-2
-NYJ 5-4

AFCN
-Cin 6-3
-Cle 4-5

AFCS
-Ind 6-2
-Ten 4-4

AFCW
-KC 9-0
-Den 7-1

IMHO - is not the Patriots. I split into 2 groups of:

relatively more secure (most to least): Sea, Indy, NE, Cin

relatively Less secure (worst to best): NFCN(tie), Dall, KC, NO,

Sea is +2.5 up w/ best home field in league. tough competition, w/ SF, but still looks fairly safe w/ AZ and StL as the other 2 div mbrs.
Indy +2 being chased by Ten (please what competition), while we also +2 being chased by NYJ who have a very strong D and went 1-1 with us. Cincy again is +2, but their div is full of stiff competition who can show up on any given day.

NFCN a 3-way tie is obviously least secure div. Dallas and phily are just 1 game apart and every matchup in that div is a grudge match can go either way.
KC obviously with Peyton on your tail is uneasy but still in the driver seat if they can hold serve at home at least. NO just lost to the jesters (I ought to put them in Dallas spot - but can t see NE losing to Car to help Car's cause - so I'm counting Car as -2 already).

 

[Brady6]

Re: Re: Most secure division lead at this point?

There only are three teams with full 2-game leads in their respective divisions, and the Pats have slightly the best record of the 3. (Indy is at 6-2, and Cincy at 5-3; there are none in the NFC.)

Also, the Pats have played more divisional games than Indy and Cincy, arguably leaving less opportunity for quick catch-up.

None of these distinctions matter all that much. But it's another reminder that, to date, the season has been a success.

I would say us right now. I look at in terms of coaching and Belichick is head and shoulders above the rest of the coaches in the AFC East. Cincinnati has to contend with Harbaugh and Tomlin who even with bad teams can be competitive. The Colts have an easier go of it but the Texans and Titans could at least cause some problems in the second half, plus they're a young team so who knows how they'll handle adversity down the stretch.

 

[Fencer]

I was going strictly by the numbers in the standings, not injuries, strength of schedule or whatever. Hence the question mark in the post title.

Please also see a couple of comments below.

IMHO - is not the Patriots. I split into 2 groups of:

relatively more secure (most to least): Sea, Indy, NE, Cin

relatively Less secure (worst to best): NFCN(tie), Dall, KC, NO,

Sea is +2.5 1.5, actually, which is less than the Patriots up w/ best home field in league. tough competition, w/ SF, but still looks fairly safe w/ AZ and StL as the other 2 div mbrs.
Indy +2 being chased by Ten (please what competition), while we also +2 being chased by NYJ who have a very strong D and went 1-1 with us. "Went", past tense. We don't have to play them again in the regular season. Cincy again is +2, but their div is full of stiff competition who can show up on any given day.

NFCN a 3-way tie is obviously least secure div. Dallas and phily are just 1 game apart and every matchup in that div is a grudge match can go either way.
KC obviously with Peyton on your tail is uneasy but still in the driver seat if they can hold serve at home at least. NO just lost to the jesters (I ought to put them in Dallas spot - but can t see NE losing to Car to help Car's cause - so I'm counting Car as -2 already).

 

[PatsDeb]

I don't know. I never feel secure until we appear on those lists that say, "*clinched the division" next to our name. I wasn't feeling too secure after the Jets loss, but the last two weeks have erased some of that uneasiness...

 

[YearbookCurfew]

I won't be satisfied until the Jets are 5-11.

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

I won't be satisfied until the Jets are 5-11.

500 football is good for the longterm suck-cess of the Jets. Let them keep on treading.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

The jets have an easy schedule, we can't afford to fall asleep dreaming about clinching division, we have to actually do it in december. After the bye the chemistry should be better on offense, we have to win all our game even Denver.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

The jets have an easy schedule, we can't afford to fall asleep dreaming about clinching division, we have to actually do it in december. After the bye the chemistry should be better on offense, we have to win all our game even Denver.

So, in a year without Welker, Kelly, Wilfork, Mayo, 6 games without Gronk, the other TE in jail, etc, anything less than 14-2 is disappointing to you?

 

[Archeryaddict12]

So, in a year without Welker, Kelly, Wilfork, Mayo, 6 games without Gronk, the other TE in jail, etc, anything less than 14-2 is disappointing to you?

Well the first part was worrying about the jets. Why would we worry about them?

But lets think, at this point, we are doing better than we have with a healthy gronk, prisoner and welker. And guess what, with the bye, we will get healthier. Things do look pretty good IMO.

 

[ivanvamp]

As we've seen with Aaron Rodgers, one hit can change your season in a big way.

That said, I think it's pretty clear that New England is in the catbird seat, as far as the division goes. Up 2 games, and the Jets don't have the tiebreaker over them.

TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION

If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.

Two Clubs

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs). Jets and Pats split 1-1

2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division. Right now the Pats are 3-1 and the Jets are 2-1. Jets are going to find it hard to pass NE - at best this will be a tie most likely.

3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games. Here are the common games: Mia, Buf, NO, TB, Atl, Car, Cin, Pit, Bal, Cle. Right now the Pats are 6-1 in these games. The Jets are 4-2. So the most wins the Jets could have among these common opponents would be 8. The Pats simply need to go 2-1 against Buf, Car, and Mia to get to 8. The Jets have almost no room for error here.

4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference. Right now the Pats are 4-2 in the conference, while the Jets are 2-4. Again, they have to beat them by 3 games in this category to pass them.

Long story short, the Jets have a LOT of work to do to pass the Patriots in terms of tiebreakers. So it's not over yet, obviously, but with 7 games to go the Jets have very, very little margin for error.

 

[Froob]

I can tell you who probably has the least secure.
2011 Cowboys blow big division lead and lose to Giants final game of the season
2012 Cowboys blow big division lead and lose to Redskins final game of the season
2013 Cowboys get big division lead....end season vs Philly-result?

 

[SB39]

Also, the Pats have played more divisional games than Indy and Cincy, arguably leaving less opportunity for quick catch-up.

Not to mention that one of the division rivals has just been thrown into major disarray with the mother of all distractions.

Ritchie Incognito, we salute you and we thank you. (Not that I was terribly worried about Miami taking the division in the first place).

 

[Get it shawtaay]

Not to mention that one of the division rivals has just been thrown into major disarray with the mother of all distractions.

Ritchie Incognito, we salute you and we thank you. (Not that I was terribly worried about Miami taking the division in the first place).

The real threat has been the Jets since week 1. If anything, Incognito messing up that team is bad for the Pats, since the Dolphins are less likely to take games from New York now.