So You're Saying There's a Chance: The 2020 Patriots Playoff Push

[condon84]

Every game has been essentially a playoff game since our last loss. I love how the team has responded thus far.

 

[1960Pats]

Not that sb1 is one of these, but there's a weird phenomenon in Boston that, no matter how good a team is, there will be a sizeable contingent of fans who are down on and complain about the team. We had a bunch of "fans" here complaining about one thing or another during the 45-0 pasting of the Chargers. Even BB doesn't carry enough credibility with these types. It is what it is.

All fans are critical of their teams, just like @Billsfanonapatsforum is about the 1st place Bills in his post.

In the case of the Pats, I don't see as much complaining about the team, and especially Belichick, as you're seeing. Then again, I stopped reading the GDT many years ago.

My only complaint stems from the fact that I, like many others, expected the team to be worse than it has been and a better QB could have put us in a much better position. Why we ended up without a decent QB is a legitimate question.

 

[oldrover]

Sorry to be a nitpicker, but the Pats went 5-11 in 2000 and finished 5 games out of the last playoff spot.
The most incredible thing is that the Pats had the best record in the AFCE from 2001 thru 2019.
Unfortunately, that streak will end this year.

You're right about 2000. But I think we're saying the same thing.

By the finale of that season, they'd been eliminated from the playoffs.

And that is the last game the Pats played where they essentially weren't still in contention for that year's Super Bowl. The first game of 2001 they were back in contention... every team is for the first game. But starting with the 2001 opener, the Pats were contenders for that year's Super Bowl in every game they played since. You're right... that string will probably end this year. But it's 20 years long. Quite the accomplishment.

 

[1960Pats]

Theyre not an issue if we win out, but if we drop one they would need to lose to either vegas who is playing awful right now or buffalo. If buffalo is playing to win im confident but if buffalo has everything wrapped up by then and decide to rest up/ not give 100 that could give Miami an easy win there.

I'm counting on Buffalo going for the best seed they can get, which will probably be the 3rd but could be the 2nd if Pitt falters.
Miami will lose 3 of 4 at least.

 

[1960Pats]

You're right about 2000. But I think we're saying the same thing.

By the finale of that season, they'd been eliminated from the playoffs.

And that is the last game the Pats played where they essentially weren't still in contention for that year's Super Bowl. The first game of 2001 they were back in contention... every team is for the first game. But starting with the 2001 opener, the Pats were contenders for that year's Super Bowl in every game they played since. You're right... that string will probably end this year. But it's 20 years long. Quite the accomplishment.

I see what you mean.
We hear that records are meant to be broken, but that's a run that will never happen again in any sport.
Even the Celtics run in the 60's and 70's, which was a great one, doesn't come close.

 

[amfootball]

All fans are critical of their teams, just like @Billsfanonapatsforum is about the 1st place Bills in his post.

In the case of the Pats, I don't see as much complaining about the team, and especially Belichick, as you're seeing. Then again, I stopped reading the GDT many years ago.

My only complaint stems from the fact that I, like many others, expected the team to be worse than it has been and a better QB could have put us in a much better position. Why we ended up without a decent QB is a legitimate question.

Yes. That is it exactly. This team has outperformed what I thought it would. It is 6-6 because of the play of the QB. How Bill could go into a season with this collection of QBs is frustrating beyond belief.

 

[IllegalContact]

Sorry to be a nitpicker, but the Pats went 5-11 in 2000 and finished 5 games out of the last playoff spot.
The most incredible thing is that the Pats had the best record in the AFCE from 2001 thru 2019.
Unfortunately, that streak will end this year.

if you look at the 2000 season, they didn't stop playing......they were a better team in the 2nd half.....20 rookies on the roster and 13 remained the following year.........it's a play to win audition

 

[sb1]

if you look at the 2000 season, they didn't stop playing......they were a better team in the 2nd half.....20 rookies on the roster and 13 remained the following year.........it's a play to win audition

Lost only one game that season by more than one score. Same is true with this season to date.

Testament to Bill and our coaching staff. Take out Bill and put an ordinary coach in here and we wouldn't be competitive at all. Fact.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I'm counting on Buffalo going for the best seed they can get, which will probably be the 3rd but could be the 2nd if Pitt falters.
Miami will lose 3 of 4 at least.

i sure hope so . All would depend on their rest vs momentum view, dunno how much incentive there would be in trying for 2nd seed given the new playoff format

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

All fans are critical of their teams, just like @Billsfanonapatsforum is about the 1st place Bills in his post.

In the case of the Pats, I don't see as much complaining about the team, and especially Belichick, as you're seeing. Then again, I stopped reading the GDT many years ago.

My only complaint stems from the fact that I, like many others, expected the team to be worse than it has been and a better QB could have put us in a much better position. Why we ended up without a decent QB is a legitimate question.

The GDT is not too bad - some good comments. Not as bad as before IMO. Come join us Thursday night

 

[amfootball]

Lost only one game that season by more than one score. Same is true with this season to date.

Testament to Bill and our coaching staff. Take out Bill and put an ordinary coach in here and we wouldn't be competitive at all. Fact.

This is the thing though - Bill the GM put Bill the coach in this position.

 

[sb1]

This is the thing though - Bill the GM put Bill the coach in this position.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the QB uncertainty shakes out. It all starts there.

 

[sb1]

538 has this about our playoff chances:

Going into week 14: 13% to make the playoffs, 2% to win the AFC East. Bolded teams are the ones to watch

Games of interest
Pats @ Rams
Dolphins vs Chiefs
Raiders vs Colts
Ravens @ Browns
Bills vs Pitt

Worst case scenario: Pats lose, Dolphins, Raiders, Ravens, Bills all win, then we have a <1% playoff chance and very likely elimination in week 15.

Best case scenario: Pats win, those other teams above all lose. Pats chances improve to 37% with an 8% chance at the division.

No help scenario: Pats win, all those other teams win. Pats at 18% playoffs with a 1% chance at the division.

Predicted scenario: Pats lose, all those teams except Bills lose. Then we're at 7% for the playoffs and eliminated from the AFC East title race

 

[1960Pats]

i sure hope so . All would depend on their rest vs momentum view, dunno how much incentive there would be in trying for 2nd seed given the new playoff format

All we can do is keep our fingers crossed. Most of us didn't think we'd even have a shot this year.
The 2nd seed get's the 7th seed in the first game and has a shot at HFA if the #1 seed loses.
There's also a possibility that the NYFL will add an 8th team, especially if it's the Ratbirds.

 

[1960Pats]

The GDT is not too bad - some good comments. Not as bad as before IMO. Come join us Thursday night

I wandered in there a few times last year hoping to give the Pats some luck, but I didn't read many of the posts. I'll have to give it a try.

 

[1960Pats]

Yes. That is it exactly. This team has outperformed what I thought it would. It is 6-6 because of the play of the QB. How Bill could go into a season with this collection of QBs is frustrating beyond belief.

I still have some confidence in Stidham down the road.
Maybe Bill was caught off guard by Brady leaving.
Yup, it really is frustrating.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Yes. That is it exactly. This team has outperformed what I thought it would. It is 6-6 because of the play of the QB. How Bill could go into a season with this collection of QBs is frustrating beyond belief.

The collection of TEs is frustrating too. And the WRs are not too much better. I think this is a rebuilding year. Probably take two years this time to rebuild I am thinking. Rebuilding can be frustration beyond belief, but sh!t happens. Have another beer or an edible and I hope it looks better

Who knows what BB does this off season. We need another good draft and a few free agents and we can compete again. But I do not think there is any amazing QB plan because BB can not control what the other teams and players do.

It was interesting the Stidham came in against the Chargers and went play action and was throwing - almost like they wanted to see if he could it. They know a lot more about Cam's shoulder than we do - it did not look good when he tried to throw deep to Byrd. Maybe in 2021 Stidham takes 80% of the snaps and Cam is our wildcat QB for years to come.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

I don't think we're getting in.

I won't stop believing and I love how they're playing down the stretch though. Have won 4 of their last 5. If we do get in, I kinda want to play the spoiler role and knock a team or two out of the playoffs. Someone like Pittsburgh!

 

[Nikolai]

All fans are critical of their teams, just like @Billsfanonapatsforum is about the 1st place Bills in his post.

[/QUOTE]

Of course, but the level of entitlement among Pats fans is a bit much, and fairly unique to us. I hate to say it, but to outsiders, they don't see much difference between us and dumb fanbases like Pittsburgh.

In the case of the Pats, I don't see as much complaining about the team, and especially Belichick, as you're seeing. Then again, I stopped reading the GDT many years ago.

I kicked the GDT out of my life years ago as well. It's not a lot of people, but there are about a half dozen or so that seem to enjoy ****ting on the team. They seem legitimately upset when the team does well because it hurts their arguments.

My only complaint stems from the fact that I, like many others, expected the team to be worse than it has been and a better QB could have put us in a much better position. Why we ended up without a decent QB is a legitimate question.

Sure, that's a legitimate concern, but this idea I've seen posted that we have one of the worst rosters in the NFL is stupid. You can't win six games with no talent. Did we have one of the biggest drops in proven talent in the league since last year? Yep. But that doesn't mean we're in the basement.

 

[Nikolai]

I don't think we're getting in.

I won't stop believing and I love how they're playing down the stretch though. Have won 4 of their last 5. If we do get in, I kinda want to play the spoiler role and knock a team or two out of the playoffs. Someone like Pittsburgh!

I'd say it's 50/50 from this point that we'll get in, but otherwise I'm completely in agreement. Just getting to the playoffs means we're playing with house money and whoever will face will have the pressure that comes with not losing to a young, tough team that somehow wins with less than a hundred yards passing. I'd very much enjoy knocking Pittsburgh out. After that, anything we do is total gravy.