Possibly only TEN (10) wins needed for Pats to get 2nd seed

[mosslost]

11 wins gets it for sure. If Pats go 3-3, Texas and/or Baltimore have to win out to prevent us getting a bye, if we go 3-3. Ten wins actually probably gets the Pats 2nd round bye.

EDIT: Provided we still win division of course. Wild to think of it but the Dolphins are a bigger threat to the second round bye then either Houston or Baltimore.

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

11 wins gets it for sure. If Pats go 3-3, Texas and/or Baltimore have to win out to prevent us getting a bye, if we go 3-3. Ten wins actually probably gets the Pats 2nd round bye.

EDIT: Provided we still win division of course. Wild to think of it but the Dolphins are a bigger threat to the second round bye then either Houston or Baltimore.

That last game at Miami may be more important than I initially thought. OTOH, Miami does have 3 road games in December against cold weather teams (Bills, Jets, Ravens). I see them no better than 9-6 when we play them down there and, if we're not at at least 11-4 at that point, we have significant problems.

 

[mosslost]

HFA is necessary. But I think this year more than ever they need to be playing at their best by playoff time and they are not there yet. I want to see them on a roll, in fact it would be great if they just start a streak now that does not end through the Super Bowl.

But it is conceivable that the Pats would get the 2nd round bye with as few as 10 wins. It would take that one of those wins is the Miami game, and Miami lose at least one other (they go 4-1 aside from our game.. very likely ) And then Houston goes 4-2 in remaining games, and Baltimore goes 4-2, or maybe even 5-1 depending on tie breakers... then Pats gets the bye week with only 10 wins. Another way to look at it also, is if these teams lose some games now and we keep winning, we will win the bye early.. we could have 2 seed locked up by the Denver game if things go a certain way.

 

[Ross12]

I would almost rather have the Miami game be important just to keep the fire lit and keep everyone engaged. This year's unit seems as though it could be more easily knocked off-course than some other years, to this point anyway.

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

HFA is necessary. But I think this year more than ever they need to be playing at their best by playoff time and they are not there yet. I want to see them on a roll, in fact it would be great if they just start a streak now that does not end through the Super Bowl.

But it is conceivable that the Pats would get the 2nd round bye with as few as 10 wins. It would take that one of those wins is the Miami game, and Miami lose at least one other (they go 4-1 aside from our game.. very likely ) And then Houston goes 4-2 in remaining games, and Baltimore goes 4-2, or maybe even 5-1 depending on tie breakers... then Pats gets the bye week with only 10 wins. Another way to look at it also, is if these teams lose some games now and we keep winning, we will win the bye early.. we could have 2 seed locked up by the Denver game if things go a certain way.

This next game against the Jets is pretty significant. We're flying cross country, playing back to back road games, we may not have Gronk, and our defense sucks so it's hardly a sure thing. Would have been nice if the Jets just "gave up the ghost" and started Petty.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

11 wins gets it for sure. If Pats go 3-3, Texas and/or Baltimore have to win out to prevent us getting a bye, if we go 3-3. Ten wins actually probably gets the Pats 2nd round bye.

EDIT: Provided we still win division of course. Wild to think of it but the Dolphins are a bigger threat to the second round bye then either Houston or Baltimore.

There's no 2nd place around here.

 

[PatsFan2]

Good/Great Teams beat Teams they are suppose to beat. If we cannot Defeat the Just-End-The-Season JETS we don't deserve the #1 Seed. Two Teams going in opposite direction.

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

Good/Great Teams beat Teams they are suppose to beat. If we cannot Defeat the Just-End-The-Season JETS we don't deserve the #1 Seed. Two Teams going in opposite direction.

The Jets are at home, coming off a bye week, a division rival, and they have a defense. We're flying cross country for a 2nd of a back to back road game. This has "upset" written all over it. I don't see this as a game we're "supposed" to win. If we pull this off, it will likely be by one score.

 

[mosslost]

There's no 2nd place around here.

Umm. TWO of our SB wins came from the 2nd seed. BOTH of Brady era SB losses came from One Seed.

I am just saying that the First Round bye is hugely important in Patriot playoff history. Getting number one is the goal, but getting at least the number 2 is always an important goal. And it is interesting how good of a position they are in early to get at least the 2.

 

[Froob]

I would almost rather have the Miami game be important just to keep the fire lit and keep everyone engaged. This year's unit seems as though it could be more easily knocked off-course than some other years, to this point anyway.

Helps that our backup QB is pretty ****ing good if we decide not to go full throttle.

 

[Ring 6]

I would almost rather have the Miami game be important just to keep the fire lit and keep everyone engaged. This year's unit seems as though it could be more easily knocked off-course than some other years, to this point anyway.

I agree. As BB says the only way to prepare to play football is to play football and the only way to get better at football is to play football.
Teams that prepare well (which is as important as playing) and play hard right up through the end of the season are more successful in the post season than teams that coast home and worry about rest.
Even if we have the #1 seed locked up by 2 games, I would like BB to treat that game like it matters, because actually, it does.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

another "setting low expectation goal" thread? smh..

 

[mosslost]

I would almost rather have the Miami game be important just to keep the fire lit and keep everyone engaged. This year's unit seems as though it could be more easily knocked off-course than some other years, to this point anyway.

I agree, but remember it WAS important last year...

 

[mosslost]

another "setting low expectation goal" thread? smh..

dumb comment

 

[Ring 6]

I agree, but remember it WAS important last year...

Last year was different. BB was afraid to have his own offense on the field because the OL was a shambles.
He used the game to see if his offense could run under any circumstances at all, and found out it couldn't.
Would have been better to play to win and guess that they couldn't run because it seemed obvious.
I would say that goes down as BBs dumbest move as HC of NEP.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

another "setting low expectation goal" thread? smh..

I read it more as an interesting projected cutoff for achieving a first round bye. Ideally, we'll earn the first seed; even if we struggle, however, chances are still good that we could earn the second seed. I enjoy looking at the possibilities.

 

[Jangles]

Good/Great Teams beat Teams they are suppose to beat. If we cannot Defeat the Just-End-The-Season JETS we don't deserve the #1 Seed. Two Teams going in opposite direction.

The only thing I'd say about this is that the Jets usually play us pretty well. Records sort of go out the window for intense divisional games.

The only thing that would surprise me in this game is if we lose. If we win by 30 it wouldn't shock me, and if it comes down to a last second field goal I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[PatsFan2]

The Jets are at home, coming off a bye week, a division rival, and they have a defense. We're flying cross country for a 2nd of a back to back road game. This has "upset" written all over it. I don't see this as a game we're "supposed" to win. If we pull this off, it will likely be by one score.

But we are still UnDefeated on the Road with Dion Lewis having a game under him. Saw the Patriots deployed a Full House Formation with Lewis and White in the Backfield at the same time. That Formation should give any Defense Problems.

 

[FCB02062]

Based on last season we know that if that last game in miami is a question of playing guys that aren't 100% and devising a game plan designed to prevent injury/further injury VS winning and getting home field, we know Belichick will side on the side of running the ball 25 times and passing 3 times in the first half, running up the gut on 3d and 10 from their own 45....

 

[PatsFan2]

Here's a stat thats still alive regarding our Patriots we haven't Lost a Game with a Healthy Dion Lewis yet...fun fact.