Pats might want to lose week 17 on purpose

[BobDigital]

I know this is looking ahead but if things line up right it makes sense.

If the Pats beat Denver this week the best they can do is 10-6 (at 8-5) Pats @ KC Oak
On the other hand Miami is a team we can give a free win to (at 8-5) @ NYJ @ Bills Pats

As long as the first round bye and #1 seed is wrapped before this game there is no reason to want to win it. Also it ups your chances of maybe getting one the Dolphins/Texans/Titans in the divisional round as they are the 6th and 4th seed most likely. I would not be upset about that.

I know this is looking ahead but it is possible depending on how things go this week (A Pats win/Denver loss and Miami win) i think we can force Miami in.

 

[Ring 6]

STOP

 

[BobDigital]

STOP

They did it in 2012 i think correct?

 

[Brick27]

That would also up the chances of playing the Steelers in their first playoff game if the Pats are 2 and Steelers 3. Not the type of matchup I'd like to see the Pats start off with.

Rather just play to win them all. There's obviously a lot of uncertainty in matchups and who beats who, but having the 1 seed locked down minimizes some of those concerns.

 

[BobDigital]

That would also up the chances of playing the Steelers in their first playoff game if the Pats are 2 and Steelers 3. Not the type of matchup I'd like to see the Pats start off with.

Rather just play to win them all. There's obviously a lot of uncertainty in matchups and who beats who, but having the 1 seed locked down minimizes some of those concerns.

If the Pats are the #1 and Steelers #3 they can't play them first. I would assume Steelers will be #3 with Titans/Texans #4. It does up the Chance of maybe getting Oakland though who will be #5 but that is only cause you Eliminate the chance of getting Denver who would be #6 otherwise.

 

[Double TE]

If the #1 seed is guaranteed by week 17 then you'll see Jimmy G, Devin Lucien, Cyrus Jones and Chris Gronkowski (resigned just for this game) on the field.

 

[BobDigital]

If the #1 seed is guaranteed by week 17 then you'll see Jimmy G, Devin Lucien, Cyrus Jones and Chris Gronkowski (resigned just for this game) on the field.

Well obviously the #1 seed needs to be locked up or it's not worth doing.

 

[Brick27]

If the Pats are the #1 and Steelers #3 they can't play them first. I would assume Steelers will be #3 with Titans/Texans #4. It does up the Chance of maybe getting Oakland though who will be #5.

That first sentence is exactly what I'm saying. Which is why I don't understand why the Pats would want to throw a game and possibly get the 2nd seed, and then matchup with a 3rd seed Steelers right out of the gate.

Now if the 1st seed is locked up going into week 17, then a more conservative game plan/resting guys makes sense of course.

 

[Double TE]

Well obviously the #1 seed needs to be locked up or it's not worth doing.

It doesn't mean they'll try to lose but they will certainly play basic packages on O and D and not care about w/l. But the Fins may be w/o their #1 QB as well.

 

[Sicilian]

I don't like the idea of losing on purpose to a division rival, thus opening the door to playing them in a do-or-die situation, while assuming you can just flip the switch back on and beat them. That's some bad mugumbo you're invoking there.

 

[dannydyn]

I just ran this through the playoff machine and reached the same conclusion, albeit for a different reason. If the Ravens lose to the Steelers and we drop (on purpose week 17 against the dolphins), the dolphins make it in and the Ravens are out of the playoffs. I know we wiped the floor with that bird$hit last night, but I don't want them in the playoffs - point blank!

 

[tasmlab]

We only get 19 games per year. I want them all to be good.

 

[neuronet]

 

[BobDigital]

I don't like the idea of losing on purpose to a division rival, thus opening the door to playing them in a do-or-die situation, while assuming you can just flip the switch back on and beat them. That's some bad mugumbo you're invoking there.

If the Matt Moore lead Dolphins beat the Pats then that means they would have lost to any AFC playoff team they played that day no matter who it was.

BB did it before IIRC.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

If we have a chance to knock out Pittsburgh or Denver, and already have the #1 seed locked up at that point, then I wouldn't be entirely opposed to this idea.

Hell, I might even settle for the #2 seed, if it gives us a chance of resting our starters

Don't know why @BobDigital is getting flak for suggesting this....

 

[50-yard-line]

If the Pats go into Denver and beat a desperate Donkey team in their home stadium, why do we care if they make the playoffs?

Why would we prefer to play Miami to Denver?

 

[HeadHunter]

I don't want them facing a division rival in the play offs period.

 

[PatsDeb]

I just want the No. 1 seed. When we start trying to manipulate things. to me it turns into "careful what you wish for," and bad karma. Just take care of your own team and hopefully everything else takes care of itself.

 

[PatsDeb]

If the Pats go into Denver and beat a desperate Donkey team in their home stadium, why do we care if they make the playoffs?

Why would we prefer to play Miami to Denver?

Also, there's that, "it's hard to beat a team 3 times in a season thing."

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

I don't want them facing a division rival in the play offs period.

That's assuming the Phins can even get past the 1st round...

Are you afraid of a backup QB or a hobbled Ryan Tannehill?