People on here are ridiculous...

[ivanvamp]

On paper, this should be a complete blowout. But the games aren't played on paper. Every playoff game worries me because if you have just one bad game, your season is over. Crazy things happen.

I'm sure the Patriots won't be taking Houston lightly, fortunately.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

We should rest starters.

 

[Bruins29]

What is funny is one of the most ridiculous posters here calling others ridiculous.

 

[archstanton543]

why unsettling? It's just a game. If they lose nothing changes for any of us same if they win, except it's more fun.

I disagree. My plans for the following Sunday, if they lose, change dramatically.

 

[aluminum seats]

The idea that fans being ****y has any impact on a game is ridiculous, of course. Laughable.

But sometimes it feels true.

Random weird stuff so many of us do during and around games are silly superstitions. Fun, but obviously completely meaningless.

But there was that time I forgot to wear my lucky t-shirt...

Players don't pay attention to fans, to the public. They're focused professionals who would never take a playoff game likely, particularly with this coach.

Of course, they are human beings.

Take a look at upsets in sports history. There's a lot of them. This wouldn't be the biggest.

The Pats will win big, I agree. And it's not some silly tough-guy "scared" thing. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that the "rest the starters" and "bye week" stuff doesn't ping something primal.

 

[IllegalContact]

What is funny is one of the most ridiculous posters here calling others ridiculous.

I think you're being ridiculous

 

[IllegalContact]

The idea that fans being ****y has any impact on a game is ridiculous, of course. Laughable.

But sometimes it feels true.

Random weird stuff so many of us do during and around games are silly superstitions. Fun, but obviously completely meaningless.

But there was that time I forgot to wear my lucky t-shirt...

Players don't pay attention to fans, to the public. They're focused professionals who would never take a playoff game likely, particularly with this coach.

Of course, they are human beings.

Take a look at upsets in sports history. There's a lot of them. Thus wouldn't be the biggest.

The Pats will win big, I agree. And it's not some silly tough-guy "scared" thing. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that the "rest the starters" and "bye week" stuff doesn't ping something primal.

all I know is that a couple of years ago when the pats were down 24-0 to the broncos, my buddy and I started drinking absinthe to turn the game around....the pats kept scoring and we kept drinking....the pats won and I haven't been the same since....I still get flashbacks

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Most reasonable posters understand the "on any given Sunday" rule applies to any opponent. Stating a loss would be impossible to any team in the NFL is absurd.

Lecturing fans to "take the game seriously" is also ridiculous. If you believe what you think or do, as a fan, plays out on the field, then you probably need a reality check. You can be as negative or positive or absurd in your views of an upcoming game as you want to be, and the game will play out based exclusively on the preparation and execution of the coaches and players on the field. You are a spectator, not a player or coach.

All good points, but no one here is suggesting that what we say here has any direct impact on the game...unless of course you have fan superstitions

It's really just a matter of looking back on our previous playoff losses and appreciating what it takes to win at a professional level in sports, where even the worst teams can find ways to win.

The more we learn to do this, the better we can appreciate the work and preparation the players and coaches put into these games....despite what Shaughnessy says about 'tomato cans'

 

[IllegalContact]

All good points, but no one here is suggesting that what we say here has any direct impact on the game...unless of course you have fan superstitions

It's really just a matter of looking back on our previous playoff losses and appreciating what it takes to win at a professional level in sports, where even the worst teams can find ways to win.

The more we learn to do this, the better we can appreciate the work and preparation the players and coaches put into these games....despite what Shaughnessy says about 'tomato cans'

fuk that.........I'm clubbin baby seals until its over

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

We're using an electronic forum to discuss a game which, admittedly, should have no impact on our life/livelihood, we're not actively participating in, and you want everyone to be rational about it?

 

[mgcolby]

First off this post is ridiculous. Just want to point that out. And its funny coming from a guy who thinks our defense sucks. But somehow one of the worst offenses in football is suddenly gonna go off on Saturday night.

With that said if I am sick of hearing about the 2010 Jets game. Nothing about this is comparable. Has Houston been successfull in the past few post seasons? Have they reached an AFCCG with their current core? Mark Sanchez was actually better than Brock....let that sink in. The Jets had an excellent defense full of playoff tested vets. They were a divisional rival with one of the two coaches that actually gives Bill, the OC and Tom fits. Not to mention the 2010 Pats were "ridiculously" young and untested. The 2017 Pats are full of Vets and have plenty of guys on both sides of the ball with a SB ring.

This game will not be close, The Texans defense is solid, but it won't matter, they will quit by the end of the 3rd quarter when they realize their offense has failed them once again.

Open question to the board: Who on the Texans offense scares you beside Hopkins? Miller? No one has run on this defense all season, I doubt Miller does it Saturday night. So basically bracket Hopkins and make Brock beat you with Fidorowitcz (sp?) and the 84 kid that I had not noticed prior to last week.

Good luck with that Houston. My humble advice, grab a beer some good chow, sit back, RELAX and enjoy the beat down. The angst can wait for the AFCCG and then hopefully the SB.

 

[BTTA]

all I know is that a couple of years ago when the pats were down 24-0 to the broncos, my buddy and I started drinking absinthe to turn the game around....the pats kept scoring and we kept drinking....the pats won and I haven't been the same since....I still get flashbacks

Well, thanks for making that sacrifice for all of us. I've been wondering what turned that game around.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I disagree. My plans for the following Sunday, if they lose, change dramatically.

It's a win win. If they lose I get $1,000 for the AFCCG tickets. All of which I'll spend on drinking myself to death because we'll have lost to the Brock Osweiler ****ing Texans

 

[A Defiant Goose]

The idea that fans being ****y has any impact on a game is ridiculous, of course. Laughable.

But sometimes it feels true.

Random weird stuff so many of us do during and around games are silly superstitions. Fun, but obviously completely meaningless.

But there was that time I forgot to wear my lucky t-shirt...

Players don't pay attention to fans, to the public. They're focused professionals who would never take a playoff game likely, particularly with this coach.

Of course, they are human beings.

Take a look at upsets in sports history. There's a lot of them. Thus wouldn't be the biggest.

The Pats will win big, I agree. And it's not some silly tough-guy "scared" thing. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that the "rest the starters" and "bye week" stuff doesn't ping something primal.

I have a weird ritual like that for the Celtics and Bruins in the playoffs. Basically, they win the games I miss but when I actually have time to sit and watch a full game, they lose. It's weird

 

[mgcolby]

Yep, I remember the talk of trying to beat the same team three times and such.

I see a bit more nervousness this week than is warranted, actually. That's not saying there's no chance for Houston to win, but the stars and planets would have to align.

Along with that newly discovered Dwarf galaxy that is sending out radio signals. So there's a chance....

 

[Todd Bradley]

This season, the Texans have played 17 games.

12 of those 17 games were played in a dome. 8 of them at home, 3 of them on the road, in Minnesota, once and Indianapolis, twice.

So with 5 games on the road in an open stadium, 4 of those games were played in warm weather, in New England early on, Denver early on, Jacksonville, Mexico against Oakland and Tennessee. The only road game they won was against the Jags.

Only one of their games was played on the road, in a cold environment, and that was against Green Bay (who was only one game in from their bad losing stretch)....and the Texans still lost.

So...what exactly is so "terrifying" about Houston? Considering they have to come here, on the road, and play in a very cold open stadium against Tom Brady and not Jacoby Brissett this time around.....

Not very much.

 

[brdmaverick]

Many others have said it before but the point bears repeating..............

Yes, we all know that 'ANY GIVEN SUNDAY' things could go terribly and we could lose. Yes, we've had letdowns in the past including the losses to the Jets in 2010 and the Eagles last year.

Us fans, however, are NOT playing in the game nor are wer responsible for helping the players prepare for the game. Frankly, I'm 100% confident that what we do or do not will have zero impact on the game's outcome.

So yes, most fans do feel good about our chances at winnings this weekend BUT WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO FEEL CONFIDENT! The team is vastly superior to the Texans, has home field, and is playing well.

Yes, the Texans could pull off one of those once in a lifetime upsets, but that still won't discredit the confidence that we fans feel before the game. Even if they lose, it's won't be because the Texans were better, it will be becasue all of the stars aligned for them (fluke plays, perfect passes, generous calls, lucky bounces of the football, etc). To run around this board like a chicken little because of 2010, the anomaly of all anomalies, is insane. For every example we have of the Jets in 2010, we have at least twice as many games indicating the opposite (but let's choose to ignore those right?).

 

[WinstonSmith]

So you are one of the Guardians of the Mentality? Thank you for showing me that the Patriots have actually lost seemingly winnable games in the past and that the Patriots probability of losing isn't actually 0.

Fivethirtyeight.com tells me that the Patriots have a 15% chance of losing on Saturday, sure Homers could interpret that as having an 85% chance of winning but now I see the truth...if this game could somehow be reset and played 100 times the Patriots would not win every single freakin time but instead would inexplicably lose 15 out of 100 times.

What is that strange sensation? I feel my legs involuntarily pulling up to my chest with my hands grasping them and pulling them tight. Ohhh it actually feels good..especially if I rock back and forth...I can't wait to watch the game from this position on Saturday. Thank you Guardian!!

 

[A Defiant Goose]

For every example we have of the Jets in 2010, we have at least twice as many games indicating the opposite (but let's choose to ignore those right?).

Exactly. I've said it before but these are the games I felt 100% confident in the Patriots winning, and the results:

2005 Wildcard round vs the Jags: W 28-3
2006 Wildcard round vs the Jets: W 37-16
2007 Divisional round vs the Jags: W 31-20
2007 Super Bowl vs the Giants: L 17-14
2010 Divisional round vs the Jets: L 28-21
2011 Divisional round vs the Broncos: W 45-10
2012 Divisional round vs the Texans: W 41-28
2013 Divisional round vs the Colts: W 43-22
2014 Championship game vs the Colts: W 45-7

Overall 7-2 when (in my opinion) they were 100% clear cut favorites and I was completely confident in a victory. But let's freak out about 2007 and 2010, and even forget the games in which the Pats were underdogs and still came out on top. Yawn.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

why can't we as fans be ridiculous? Most of the media, players, coaches, owners and the NFL HQ personnel are ridiculous 24 / 7!