"Patriots will walk into the playoffs."

[goheels22002]

I know, I know, "bleacher report" is the McNuggets of sports reporting, but Alex Dunlap, NFL beat writer for the Austin Chronicle (they don't have a pro team there) has the Patriots as having the top % chance of making the playoffs at 71%.

He also sees only three or four possible losses on the schedule (I see five, possibly six).

What is with bleacher report using lower case for their name - who runs it, e.e. cummings?

See for yourself:

Assessing Every NFL Team's Odds of Making the 2012 Playoffs | Bleacher Report

 

[Kontradiction]

I know, I know, "bleacher report" is the McNuggets of sports reporting, but Alex Dunlap, NFL beat writer for the Austin Chronicle (they don't have a pro team there) has the Patriots as having the top % chance of making the playoffs at 71%.

He also sees only three or four possible losses on the schedule (I see five, possibly six).

What is with bleacher report using lower case for their name - who runs it, e.e. cummings?

See for yourself:

Assessing Every NFL Team's Odds of Making the 2012 Playoffs | Bleacher Report

Considering that this team just fielded the second worst pass defense of all time with an offense that had no deep threat and made it to the Super Bowl through a harder schedule against harder divisions, where do you see six losses coming from with this unit?

 

[signbabybrady]

Considering that this team just fielded the second worst pass defense of all time with an offense that had no deep threat and made it to the Super Bowl through a harder schedule against harder divisions, where do you see six losses coming from with this unit?

I see 8 games that could wind up a loss thats not to say we will lose 8 and I think that is likely what the OPer meant too.

Ravens
Broncos
Texans
49ers
2 games vs Bills
2 games vs Jets



I see it as safe to assume we wont lose all 4 division games noted above and I assume it safe to assume we will not lose all 4 of the others so that is IMO 0-6 losses. But regardless of how many losses we wind up with I would bet they come from that group of games.

 

[BlueThunder]

Losses.....( Actually any of the 16 games could be a potential loss.)

Ravens

@Bills (1)

49'ers

Texans

JMHO

 

[TruthSeeker]

Unless we get Mankins, Vollmer and Waters back before game 10, there could be a decent amount of losses. That is our Pat's achilles heel right now.

 

[Rob0729]

Unless we get Mankins, Vollmer and Waters back before game 10, there could be a decent amount of losses. That is our Pat's achilles heel right now.

Odds are still good that all will be back by the first game.

 

[Kontradiction]

I see 8 games that could wind up a loss thats not to say we will lose 8 and I think that is likely what the OPer meant too.

Ravens
Broncos
Texans
49ers
2 games vs Bills
2 games vs Jets



I see it as safe to assume we wont lose all 4 division games noted above and I assume it safe to assume we will not lose all 4 of the others so that is IMO 0-6 losses. But regardless of how many losses we wind up with I would bet they come from that group of games.

Agreed with Ravens, Texans, and 49ers. Possibly one with the Jets too, but neither of those games were particularly close last year. With the Broncos, Manning was in clear cut decline in 2010, and that was prior to injury. I also don't see any clear cut improvements on defense that would prevent Brady from cutting through them like a hot knife through butter, like he did last season. The Bills have REALLY improved on defense and have the type of defense that generally slows us down, but I don't see them putting up enough points on offense to keep up. The only three games I see on there as possible losses are Ravens, Texans, 49ers. And, with one of those teams, it's going to depend strongly on who is playing quarterback that week.

 

[Frezo]

They should use the airlines instead.

 

[Mainefan]

I know, I know, "bleacher report" is the McNuggets of sports reporting, [/url]

Noted for a particularly apt description.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Unless we get Mankins, Vollmer and Waters back before game 10, there could be a decent amount of losses. That is our Pat's achilles heel right now.

Not only that,but a porous OL could easily put Brady on the IR list.

IMO That is the scariest thing going into 2012....Injuries to key players could turn a 12-4 or better season into a 6-10 one.

Without injuries to key players for any length of time,this team is certainly capable of more than 12 wins...but you know there will be some moments of scary times when an important player goes down and does not pop back up quickly.

 

[signbabybrady]

Agreed with Ravens, Texans, and 49ers. Possibly one with the Jets too, but neither of those games were particularly close last year. With the Broncos, Manning was in clear cut decline in 2010, and that was prior to injury. I also don't see any clear cut improvements on defense that would prevent Brady from cutting through them like a hot knife through butter, like he did last season. The Bills have REALLY improved on defense and have the type of defense that generally slows us down, but I don't see them putting up enough points on offense to keep up. The only three games I see on there as possible losses are Ravens, Texans, 49ers. And, with one of those teams, it's going to depend strongly on who is playing quarterback that week.

Dont get me wrong I think this team will be 13-3 or better I was just listing the games that I see as being more then just any given sunday possibility of a loss.

 

[Steve102]

Agreed with Ravens, Texans, and 49ers. Possibly one with the Jets too, but neither of those games were particularly close last year. With the Broncos, Manning was in clear cut decline in 2010, and that was prior to injury. I also don't see any clear cut improvements on defense that would prevent Brady from cutting through them like a hot knife through butter, like he did last season. The Bills have REALLY improved on defense and have the type of defense that generally slows us down, but I don't see them putting up enough points on offense to keep up. The only three games I see on there as possible losses are Ravens, Texans, 49ers. And, with one of those teams, it's going to depend strongly on who is playing quarterback that week.

I agree.

For me, this season has an almost NHL season feel to it. 13-3, 12-4, 10-6, whatever...lets talk about the "tournament". It's all about getting to the playoffs, then seeing how they do Jan-Feb.

Now before I get mounted, I know it's only 16 games, and I know anything can happen (key injuries). Barring the unexpected, a post-season berth should be in the cards.

 

[Jangles]

What insight this author must have

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Duh. We will walk into the playoffs. Maybe as the #1 seed again.

 

[BananaRepublican]

Actually any of the 16 games could be a potential loss.

Last year's record be damned. Top threats like the Niners or Ravens be damned. The team will be ready for them. Watch what happens if the Lambs (vastly improved) show up to prove themselves while the Pats approach the game the way the coach tries to prevent.

Mental lapses don't have to result in big gaping holes of arrogance, which we know the Pats will not ever project. Lapses can be sneaky bastards that have no right to exist. They can happen when you are off guard, not expecting them.

To me the loss would come from a surprise team like the Rams or Seahawks. The Pats will be ready to rumble with the few top teams they face.

 

[VinnyPatrollie]

Odds are still good that all will be back by the first game.

And you base this on.....?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

bleacher report needs to be blown up

 

[lurker1965]

OK, if just making the playoffs is the concern then we need to ask who else wins the AFC East.

Assuming the Patriots plane crashes or something, um, Jets? Bills? Miami? They might implode on their own even if the division is handed to them. The replacement Patriots - mostly late cuts before the 53 was set - would still have an outside chance of "winning" the division if the other teams shot themselves in the foot.

 

[signbabybrady]

And you base this on.....?

I think you could base it on several things.

• They have been in shorts on the sideline which is usually a sign they are close.
• They are on the active PUP not the reserve PUP not much value in placing on the reserve pup but still it means they can be activated at any time.
• Normal time line for an ACL is 6-9 months I believe Mankins surgery was in Feb.
• Mankins said he wanted to be ready for training camp.
• The lack of panic/ any move more then a UDFA from the front office to find OLs despite 4 of 5 starters from last year not present.
• And maybe even the fact that there is nothing to base the idea they could be on the shelf longer than that other then the actual pup designation.

 

[BananaRepublican]

Patriots as having the top % chance of making the playoffs at 71%.

It's reflective of what any objective observer would say. The team is loaded.