Thanks to Some Help From The Broncos, Patriots Take Over #2 Seed With 5 Games to Go

[captain stone]

Losing in Detroit is still Unforgivable, and will likely cost us the #1 seed if not a Bye itself.

 

[fxmallon]

I called that Denver upset (back to back road games).
If they both stay healthy, I see Patriots and Steelers each losing only 1 more game this year (Pats losing @Steelers and Steelers losing @ NO).
I'd love to be wrong about this but I don't see the Chiefs losing another game this year. I think we're going to wind up being the #2 seed.

But what's the Saints motivation in that final game vs Pittsburgh?? I doubt we can count on a loss there, unfortunately.

And question 2: Why do we always play Pitt at their place??

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

But what's the Saints motivation in that final game vs Pittsburgh?? I doubt we can count on a loss there, unfortunately.

And question 2: Why do we always play Pitt at their place??

1-HFA still in play for saints.
2- the nfl is corrupt.

 

[fxmallon]

1-HFA still in play for saints.
2- the nfl is corrupt.

Yeah, mainly because I was thinking it was the final game, when it's the 15th game--big difference, because I doubt NO will have the HFA outright by game 15. A loss for Pitt.. now gotta find one for KC... that would make the Pitt-Pat game nearing Super Bowl dramatic.

 

[supafly]

We’re all spoiled and the 2018 Patriots are most definitely still a high quality product, but they’re not as good as last year. Or 2016. Or 2014. There’s nothing terribly complicated or even pessimistic about that. The question is which year’s team they most closely resemble. Is it the 2012 team? 2013? 2015? All of them made it to the AFCCG despite their flaws, and I don’t think you’ll find too many here who aren’t expecting another conference title game appearance.

The good news is that we’re always in the hunt with BB and Brady, and that the team seems to be continuing to show progress in certain areas. With a first round bye and some luck anything can happen. Fingers crossed for good health.

 

[supafly]

A loss for Pitt.. now gotta find one for KC... that would make the Pitt-Pat game nearing Super Bowl dramatic.

I don’t think I want a “near SB dramatic” game for the Heinz field matchup. We can lose that game and still be ahead of them at the end, assuming that both teams finish the season going 4-1. We need another loss for PIT. SD and NO are our best bets.

As a fan, I’m more focused on the first round bye than I am HFA. If we win the next three and get through games against MIN, @Mia, and @PIT, then I’ll start thinking about home field advantage. As you said, that would still mean that we’d need KC to trip up somewhere along the way, as well. It seems like we’ll need some very good fortune along the way if we expect to run the table AND have Kansas City lose.

 

[mgcolby]

I think the Chiefs drop back to back to games against the Chargers at home and then Hawks on the road. A divisional opponent playing hard to stay in the hunt for the division and a bye etc...Still not a fan of the Chargers in the end, but I think this is a good spot to predict a loss for KC and then playing in Seattle is always a challenge.

 

[PatsFan2]

The Texans have a very easy Schedule the rest of the way. Alot of easy home games they have a game @Philly but you have to wonder if the *just having fun* SB Champs haven't mailed it in. Texans remaining schedule...vs Cleveland vs Indy @Jets @Philly vs Jags. Both Indy and Cleveland are playing decent but the rest *sighs*. If healthy I think all those games are winnable for Texans... we might have to win out to hold serve.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Losing in Detroit is still Unforgivable, and will likely cost us the #1 seed if not a Bye itself.

It was a team loss, starting with the HC and coaching staff. Pathetic effort.
I'd feel better about losing to Patricia's squad if the big cats had gone on to post a decent record. They haven't.

Since I don't have my usual Pats homo faith & confidence feeling about this year's schizoid Patriots squad, they may go on to win the SB.

 

[Kontradiction]

Losing in Detroit is still Unforgivable, and will likely cost us the #1 seed if not a Bye itself.

Hopefully not but, in any event, the blame lies squarely at the feet of BB for that one. Still not sure how they could have just waltzed into the season with that WR corps with a straight face. Luckily, he's quicker to admit to some of his own mistakes than roughly half of this forum is on his behalf and fixed things pretty quickly with the Gordon trade.

 

[Huckleberry1]

We’re all spoiled and the 2018 Patriots are most definitely still a high quality product, but they’re not as good as last year. Or 2016. Or 2014. There’s nothing terribly complicated or even pessimistic about that. The question is which year’s team they most closely resemble. Is it the 2012 team? 2013? 2015? All of them made it to the AFCCG despite their flaws, and I don’t think you’ll find too many here who aren’t expecting another conference title game appearance.

The good news is that we’re always in the hunt with BB and Brady, and that the team seems to be continuing to show progress in certain areas. With a first round bye and some luck anything can happen. Fingers crossed for good health.

Yep. This season has gone pretty much as expected. Unfortunately they still have not progressed to the point where they look like a championship caliber team. The defense has been erratic and the offense has not come together the way it usually does by this time of year. And for the first time Brady has not played like a top 5 player in the NFL. That said there is still time for them to come together, and while the possibility of no Bye Week is certainly an impediment it by no means ends their hopes of a Lombardi.

On the bright side it looks like they are getting healthy for the stretch run, and with both Gronk and Shaq Mason back, the return of Burkhead, and the emergence of Sony Michel they may be able to morph into a power football team with Brady benefitting in numerous ways from that development. Brady will however have to adjust his game back to his early career style and maximize efficiency throwing the ball in an offense where he doesn’t throw 35 times plus a game. We should get a sense of where all of this is heading over the next two weeks, as Minnesota and Pitt provide two playoff caliber opponents. I’m looking forward to seeing how this all plays out, it should be interesting at the least.