The Bengals have Pittsburgh on the road and then Minnesota and Baltimore at home. I think they could lose one of those, but I doubt they lose two. If they go 2-1 and the Pats go 1-2, then Cincy gets the #2 seed.

If the Patriots go 1-2, they also might bump up against the Colts. If the Colts go 3-0, they would finish 11-5. Indianapolis would have the tiebreaker by virtue of the conference record. (The Colts currently have 3 losses in the AFC; the Pats have 2, but would have four if they go 1-2.)

Cincinnati has the tiebreaker over both teams because of head-to-head wins. Indy has the tiebreaker over NE. So if the Patriots lose two of their last three, they could even wind up the four seed.

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)

10. I forgot about Cincy...no way, however, will they slip to #4...

Reply to fishwax (Reply #9)

Mon Dec 9, 2013, 08:23 PM

Dec 2013

Indy has been sucking lately...they're destined for #4...for a while it looked like the Bengals might keep losing, but they seem to be doing better now...I still think the Pats will get #2...somehow...

fishwax

(29,148 posts)

12. Yeah, I agree about Indianapolis

Reply to joeybee12 (Reply #10)

Mon Dec 9, 2013, 08:49 PM

Dec 2013

They've got Houston, KC on the road, and Jacksonville at home. I think they go 2-1 at best, and I think there is a good chance they go 1-2.

As to the three seed, though, I think there is a better chance that the Pats go 2-1 than that the Bengals go 1-2. Cincinnati is quietly having a pretty impressive season. They've lost four games--all on the road and two in overtime--by a total of 19 points. Since the start of October they're 7-2 with both losses on the road in overtime against teams still in playoff contention (and by a total of five points). They've got the second best scoring defense in the AFC (behind Kansas City). (They've also got the AFC's second best home field scoring differential, behind Denver.)

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)

13. Off the top of my head, I bet the Pats have lost by a combined less than 19 points...

Reply to fishwax (Reply #12)

Mon Dec 9, 2013, 08:52 PM

Dec 2013

3 against Jets, I think 5 against Carolina, and 6 against Cincy, I think.

I would have considered Cincy a sleeper a few weeks ago, but now I'm not so sure...anyway, my Pats aren't going to win it all this year, so all I care about now is that it isn't Denver!

bluedigger

(17,086 posts)

3. They'll be lucky to get to the AFC Championship now.

Reply to WilliamPitt (Original post)

Mon Dec 9, 2013, 12:40 PM

Dec 2013

Considering the injuries they have endured this season that will be a good effort from them. I just keep telling myself, "Gronk is only 24, and has a long term contract".

TBF

(32,013 posts)

6. That's too bad -

Reply to WilliamPitt (Original post)

Mon Dec 9, 2013, 02:15 PM

Dec 2013

this is my husband's team (along with Miami historically) ... my Badgers are done for too so we are out of luck this year. We will have to go to our friends' super bowl party and cheer for Denver.

madinmaryland

(64,931 posts)

11. Egads! That's a mess. He'll be lucky to play again.

Reply to WilliamPitt (Original post)

Mon Dec 9, 2013, 08:26 PM

Dec 2013

Hopefully he will be able to make a comeback.

RagAss

(13,832 posts)

14. Is it too early to think of him as the Gayle Sayers of his position?

Reply to WilliamPitt (Original post)

Mon Dec 9, 2013, 11:31 PM

Dec 2013

Gronk has been the most impressive athlete at the Tight End position I have ever seen. Granted, I'm a lifeling Pats fan but when I saw that hit yesterday I kept going back to the sixties and thinking of Sayers and how his injuries robbed us of seeing all he had to offer the game. Get well, Gronk.

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