Pats are AFC Division Champs

[ctpatsfan77]

h/t Frankie Galasso

 

[Jangles]

glorious

on a slightly different note, 7 years in a row with a first round bye: 1 SB win

perhaps the first round bye is slightly overrated?

 

[Gronkowski123]

we're so spoiled!!

 

[reflexblue]

we're so spoiled!!

Ho Hum another first rnd bye, yes we're spoiled at least i am. When brady and bb are gone i don't think i could start over and watch also ran teams.

 

[long distance]

The only downside of the week is that Pats will probably need to go all out and win in Miami to get the HFA.
Hope also here they can turn over last years script!

 

[long distance]

Just sign the contract!
(don't even look whats written)

 

[Bruins29]

I am trying to figure out what happens if OAK wins out and we lose in MIA. We would have the same records and the same division records. Then comes common games and Conf games.

Can someone run the numbers..I am too lazy. There may be a chance for us to beat the Jets and know if we can rest players last game of the year even if OAK has the same records as us.

 

[AtomicDawg]

 

[AtomicDawg]

 

[NE_Zealot]

glorious

on a slightly different note, 7 years in a row with a first round bye: 1 SB win

perhaps the first round bye is slightly overrated?

Yes but it is nice to get the bye. Getting an automatic birth to the divisional round is huge. There is the "rest or rust" argument but I'll always prefer getting the bye. It is incredibly difficult to win it all.

 

[long distance]

I am trying to figure out what happens if OAK wins out and we lose in MIA. We would have the same records and the same division records. Then comes common games and Conf games.

Can someone run the numbers..I am too lazy. There may be a chance for us to beat the Jets and know if we can rest players last game of the year even if OAK has the same records as us.

Oakland owns a decisive tiebreaker as mentioned before so Pats have to stay one win ahead.
No rest for the brave @Miami.
Looking forward to change last years script in Miami as well!

(I actually like that. With such a short season one wants to see the best team out there each time.)

 

[scott99]

GREAT early Christmas gift ! Beat Denver IN Denver, win the AFC East, and clinch a 1st round bye. AWESOME ! Great defense. Don't wanna be greedy, but would love to finish off the season by beating the Jets and Dolphins, always 2 tough games for the Pats. Just so happy about the last 2 weeks, I hate the Ravens and Broncos and the Pat's dominated both of them.

 

[The_Riddler]

I'm thinking Pats/Cowboys. How great would that be?

 

[mosslost]

glorious

on a slightly different note, 7 years in a row with a first round bye: 1 SB win

perhaps the first round bye is slightly overrated?

it is not overrated by SB appearances. (we did under perform though, 2 out 7) Overall a very high percentage of first round bye teams make it to the Super Bowl. The Super Game game itself is kind of an equalizer though.

 

[long distance]

 

[luuked]

The only downside of the week is that Pats will probably need to go all out and win in Miami to get the HFA.
Hope also here they can turn over last years script!

After what the Colts did to the Vikings I am not so sure if Oakland will actually win their game. It will be a shootout that imho can go either way.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

glorious

on a slightly different note, 7 years in a row with a first round bye: 1 SB win

perhaps the first round bye is slightly overrated?

We're not the only team with a first round bye.

Each year, there are 4 teams with a first round bye. Not all of them can win the Super Bowl. But more often than not, one of those 4 does.

2015: 2 teams in the final with byes
2014: 2 teams in the final with byes
2013: 2 teams in the final with byes
2012: 1 team in the final with bye, 1 team without which won the Super Bowl
2011: 1 team in the final with bye, 1 team without which won the Super Bowl
2010: 1 team in the final with bye, 1 team without which won the Super Bowl
2009: 2 teams in the final with byes

Last 7 years, out of 14 teams in the Super Bowl, 11 had first round byes, and 4 Super Bowl winners had byes vs. 3 Super Bowl winners who didn't. Interestingly enough, the only 3 teams that played in the Wild Card round that survived to the Super Bowl ended up winning it.

Still, that bye matters. Only 3 of 56 teams playing in Wild Card Weekend made it to the Super Bowl, while 11 of 28 with first round byes did.

 

[mosslost]

glorious

on a slightly different note, 7 years in a row with a first round bye: 1 SB win

perhaps the first round bye is slightly overrated?

just out of curiosity I check out the last 10 Super Bowls. 15 out of 20 participants had the first round bye, (1 or 2)

 

[BadMoFo]

h/t Frankie Galasso

Pat patriot is having some liberties with that tree.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

AFC East Champs?

Typical.