2025 New England Patriots Playoffs Discussion

[Yankee Traveler]

Yeah at least practice that all week and have it ready if needed. It was not Myles Garrett bad last night but it needs to be considered.

Not Myles Garrett, But Khalil Mack is a beast.

 

[nefansince75]

WHO DO YOU WANT???

Steelers? Texans?

After the Patriots beat them.......................

WHO DO YOU WANT FOR THE AFCCG???????

Bills?? Broncos??

Steelers, and Doncos if we get to play at home... Oops- meant the Buffalo Nils.

 

[YankeeRebel]

Not Myles Garrett, But Khalil Mack is a beast.

And a veteran FA if I am correct

 

[BigKen]

Funny isn't it????? Every team thinks that playing the New England Patriots is the easiest road to the AFC Championship. The Bills, Broncos and the Texans figure that no matter what, the Patriots are their key to the door.

Answer me this.......The Chargers rested everyone for their final game with the Broncos so they could play the Patriots. What did that do for them??

The Patriots beat the Bills earlier in the season and didn't have Campbell, Wilson, Spillane, or Landry in their second matchup and yet nearly beat them. All those players are back and the Bills WR corps is depleted. Yet they believe that the Patriots will be the easiest team???

All things considered, it would seem that the Patriots might be the worst team to play ight now.

 

[cdumler7]

Funny isn't it????? Every team thinks that playing the New England Patriots is the easiest road to the AFC Championship. The Bills, Broncos and the Texans figure that no matter what, the Patriots are their key to the door.

Answer me this.......The Chargers rested everyone for their final game with the Broncos so they could play the Patriots. What did that do for them??

The Patriots beat the Bills earlier in the season and didn't have Campbell, Wilson, Spillane, or Landry in their second matchup and yet nearly beat them. All those players are back and the Bills WR corps is depleted. Yet they believe that the Patriots will be the easiest team???

All things considered, it would seem that the Patriots might be the worst team to play ight now.

I think it comes down to how much is still unknown about the Patriots. We know the Bills have Josh Allen. He is the best QB in the league and showed last week he can take the team on his back and win the game. Houston they have an incredible defense that no one wants to play.

Personally, I go back and forth if the Broncos win tomorrow of who I would rather play in the AFC Championship. With the Patriots it would be the biggest environment most of those players have ever been in on the road. Drake Maye hasn't really proven in the biggest pressure situations he is the man yet. Doesn't mean he isn't, just that most games for them this year were not close and I want to see how they handle being in a close game especially when the pressure is amped up like right now.

I honestly think it is a pretty even field between the 4 remaining AFC teams. I would not be shocked by any of them making the Super Bowl.

 

[BigKen]

I think it comes down to how much is still unknown about the Patriots. We know the Bills have Josh Allen. He is the best QB in the league and showed last week he can take the team on his back and win the game. Houston they have an incredible defense that no one wants to play.

Personally, I go back and forth if the Broncos win tomorrow of who I would rather play in the AFC Championship. With the Patriots it would be the biggest environment most of those players have ever been in on the road. Drake Maye hasn't really proven in the biggest pressure situations he is the man yet. Doesn't mean he isn't, just that most games for them this year were not close and I want to see how they handle being in a close game especially when the pressure is amped up like right now.

I honestly think it is a pretty even field between the 4 remaining AFC teams. I would not be shocked by any of them making the Super Bowl.

Your question about playing under extreme pressure is true for all four of the remaining AFC teams. None have been in the AFC Championship game. Only one QB has been in a AFC Championship game and that's Allen. Maye is the youngest and yet he hasn't lost a road game this year. What people forget or don't know is that they lost their first two home games this year and didn't lose another game until Week 15 against the Bills. AND...They had the Bills down 21-0 and Vrabel made the mistake of playing 'Clock Ball' in the third quarter.

Stroud and Nix would also be playing in their first Championship. The only QB with experience is Josh Allen and he's been the loser both times.

If the Patriots win Sunday, the Bills would be the easier of the two teams between them and the Broncos. The Broncos have the 12th player in their loud home crowd. I honestly believe that Maye can silence them.

All four of these teams are in a "Must Win" situation or they'll be watching the Championship on television. This weekend might have more pressure than the Championship, these will be the games that separate the wheat from the chaff.

 

[Southieinnc]

I think it comes down to how much is still unknown about the Patriots. We know the Bills have Josh Allen. He is the best QB in the league and showed last week he can take the team on his back and win the game. Houston they have an incredible defense that no one wants to play.

Personally, I go back and forth if the Broncos win tomorrow of who I would rather play in the AFC Championship. With the Patriots it would be the biggest environment most of those players have ever been in on the road. Drake Maye hasn't really proven in the biggest pressure situations he is the man yet. Doesn't mean he isn't, just that most games for them this year were not close and I want to see how they handle being in a close game especially when the pressure is amped up like right now.

I honestly think it is a pretty even field between the 4 remaining AFC teams. I would not be shocked by any of them making the Super Bowl.

Lost in all the talk about how good the Houston defense is?
Patriots defense was #2 earlier in the season. They are now at full strength!
Patriots offense is #2 and will get points against Houston Defense, How many will they need against the Houston offense?
Do you really bekieve the #2 offense cannot score 17 points?

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Your question about playing under extreme pressure is true for all four of the remaining AFC teams. None have been in the AFC Championship game. Only one QB has been in a AFC Championship game and that's Allen. Maye is the youngest and yet he hasn't lost a road game this year. What people forget or don't know is that they lost their first two home games this year and didn't lose another game until Week 15 against the Bills. AND...They had the Bills down 21-0 and Vrabel made the mistake of playing 'Clock Ball' in the third quarter.

Stroud and Nix would also be playing in their first Championship. The only QB with experience is Josh Allen and he's been the loser both times.

If the Patriots win Sunday, the Bills would be the easier of the two teams between them and the Broncos. The Broncos have the 12th player in their loud home crowd. I honestly believe that Maye can silence them.

All four of these teams are in a "Must Win" situation or they'll be watching the Championship on television. This weekend might have more pressure than the Championship, these will be the games that separate the wheat from the chaff.

Lets not forget that while Vrabel has not coached in any SB's he has won 3 and played in more plus Championship games. Josh McD has coached in...how many?
Of course Sean Peyton has won as a HC, DeMeco Ryan I cannot see has been there as a player or coach, while McDermott has been to the big game once as a DC.

That makes a difference too.

 

[cdumler7]

Lost in all the talk about how good the Houston defense is?
Patriots defense was #2 earlier in the season. They are now at full strength!
Patriots offense is #2 and will get points against Houston Defense, How many will they need against the Houston offense?
Do you really bekieve the #2 offense cannot score 17 points?

This is where context comes in though. Patriots just played the 10th easiest schedule in NFL history. The 2007 Seahawks are the only other team in the top-10 from this century. So when you say #2 on offense and defense I question the validity of that statement. This is again why people have questions about the Patriots. Is it that they are really that good, or is it their schedule made that possible?

I'm not saying the Patriots are bad. I'm just saying that because of that there is just so much more unknown about them compared to the other 3 teams still left on the AFC side. It is why the other 3 teams would rather play the Pats or at least the fans of those teams would in the hopes that their numbers are inflated and that they are a lesser team compared to the others.

I'm not in agreement with that. I really have it as a 50/50 between Texans and Patriots of who I would rather face in the AFC Championship game.

 

[cdumler7]

Your question about playing under extreme pressure is true for all four of the remaining AFC teams. None have been in the AFC Championship game. Only one QB has been in a AFC Championship game and that's Allen. Maye is the youngest and yet he hasn't lost a road game this year. What people forget or don't know is that they lost their first two home games this year and didn't lose another game until Week 15 against the Bills. AND...They had the Bills down 21-0 and Vrabel made the mistake of playing 'Clock Ball' in the third quarter.

Stroud and Nix would also be playing in their first Championship. The only QB with experience is Josh Allen and he's been the loser both times.

If the Patriots win Sunday, the Bills would be the easier of the two teams between them and the Broncos. The Broncos have the 12th player in their loud home crowd. I honestly believe that Maye can silence them.

All four of these teams are in a "Must Win" situation or they'll be watching the Championship on television. This weekend might have more pressure than the Championship, these will be the games that separate the wheat from the chaff.

I'm not saying the other teams don't have pressure on them. Bills to me have the most pressure of any of the remaining teams NFC and AFC. If Josh Allen could win a Super Bowl good chance by the end of his career he is looked upon as one of the best to ever do it. Without it though and especially if he can't even make it to the game then he will be another great QB statistically that couldn't get it done when it mattered most. I don't think people should look at him that way as he has been one of the best QB's in playoff history but has seen his teammates let him down time and again.

And of course these are must win situations. Kind of built into the whole win or go home 1 game picture that the playoffs have.

 

[nefansince75]

This is where context comes in though. Patriots just played the 10th easiest schedule in NFL history. The 2007 Seahawks are the only other team in the top-10 from this century. So when you say #2 on offense and defense I question the validity of that statement. This is again why people have questions about the Patriots. Is it that they are really that good, or is it their schedule made that possible?

I'm not saying the Patriots are bad. I'm just saying that because of that there is just so much more unknown about them compared to the other 3 teams still left on the AFC side. It is why the other 3 teams would rather play the Pats or at least the fans of those teams would in the hopes that their numbers are inflated and that they are a lesser team compared to the others.

I'm not in agreement with that. I really have it as a 50/50 between Texans and Patriots of who I would rather face in the AFC Championship game.

The definition of what makes a team "easy" as in "part of an easy" schedule - doesn’t mean every defense or every offense was easy. That alone means 10th easiest schedule doesn't mean they only or mostly played weak defenses. I'd say last week's performance by the Pats mostly invalidates the entire argument.

 

[BigKen]

This is where context comes in though. Patriots just played the 10th easiest schedule in NFL history.

According to SOS, In 2025 the Patriots SOS was #32 and the Broncos was #26. Buffalo was #24 and Houston was #1.

I don't think too much weight should be put on SOS for any of the three bottom teams. Houston had the toughest schedule of all 32 teams.

Broncos had a pretty easy ride too, all things considered.

One thing to remember is that the schedule is set in stone before the end of the previous season. Play 6 against your division, 4 against an AFC division and 4 against an NFC division and three games against teams that finished with as close to your finish the previous season. No one gets to pick who they play. I'm sure that the top four teams remaining this weekend will not be considered bottom feeders when the schedules are finalized in March.

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings from TeamRankings.com, your source for pro football computer power rankings.

www.teamrankings.com

 

[cdumler7]

The definition of what makes a team "easy" as in "part of an easy" schedule - doesn’t mean every defense or every offense was easy. That alone means 10th easiest schedule doesn't mean they only or mostly played weak defenses. I'd say last week's performance by the Pats mostly invalidates the entire argument.

Not sure last week invalidates everything. Chargers were a shell of what they were earlier in the year. Throw in not like the Pats are the first team to destroy the Chargers in the playoffs with Herbert at the helm. He has been a top-5 QB of all time in playoff games. This is why again the whole upping pressure thing matters. Some teams like the Chiefs have thrived in such situations. You guys did that with Brady for years. You could see the Pats go from really good team to great team when the lights were brightest.

I need to see really all these QB's and teams how they handle such pressure. Not saying the Broncos will handle it well. I do think Bo will. My bigger concern for the Broncos is the rest of the team. Last year Broncos had almost a 25% drop rate in the game against the Bills. Not good.

 

[cdumler7]

According to SOS, In 2025 the Patriots SOS was #32 and the Broncos was #26. Buffalo was #24 and Houston was #1.

I don't think too much weight should be put on SOS for any of the three bottom teams. Houston had the toughest schedule of all 32 teams.

Broncos had a pretty easy ride too, all things considered.

One thing to remember is that the schedule is set in stone before the end of the previous season. Play 6 against your division, 4 against an AFC division and 4 against an NFC division and three games against teams that finished with as close to your finish the previous season. No one gets to pick who they play. I'm sure that the top four teams remaining this weekend will not be considered bottom feeders when the schedules are finalized in March.

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings from TeamRankings.com, your source for pro football computer power rankings.

www.teamrankings.com

You are correct that you don't get to choose your opponents. You play who you have in front of you and never apologize for having an easier schedule. My entire discussion here though is why teams still feel like they do not know who the Pats are yet. Maybe they are one of the 2-3 best teams in football. Wouldn't shock me one bit. It also wouldn't shock me to see them fall a bit and then next year with a tougher schedule have more struggles than they did this year. I could say the same thing about the Broncos. They had the 3rd place schedule of the division where next year they will have the 1st place schedule. Big difference in those few games different within the division. Such as Broncos now having to play Pittsburgh and Jacksonville compared to the chiefs having Bengals and Colts.

 

[nefansince75]

According to SOS, In 2025 the Patriots SOS was #32 and the Broncos was #26. Buffalo was #24 and Houston was #1.

I don't think too much weight should be put on SOS for any of the three bottom teams. Houston had the toughest schedule of all 32 teams.

Broncos had a pretty easy ride too, all things considered.

One thing to remember is that the schedule is set in stone before the end of the previous season. Play 6 against your division, 4 against an AFC division and 4 against an NFC division and three games against teams that finished with as close to your finish the previous season. No one gets to pick who they play. I'm sure that the top four teams remaining this weekend will not be considered bottom feeders when the schedules are finalized in March.

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings from TeamRankings.com, your source for pro football computer power rankings.

www.teamrankings.com

You are correct that you don't get to choose your opponents. You play who you have in front of you and never apologize for having an easier schedule. My entire discussion here though is why teams still feel like they do not know who the Pats are yet. Maybe they are one of the 2-3 best teams in football. Wouldn't shock me one bit. It also wouldn't shock me to see them fall a bit and then next year with a tougher schedule have more struggles than they did this year. I could say the same thing about the Broncos. They had the 3rd place schedule of the division where next year they will have the 1st place schedule. Big difference in those few games different within the division. Such as Broncos now having to play Pittsburgh and Jacksonville compared to the chiefs having Bengals and Colts.

The Pat sos was probably more difficult than the Donks if it were revised based on when they played. The KC team in Week 16 was an embarrassment. The Donks sos score it as a mediocre team.

 

[cdumler7]

The Pat sos was probably more difficult than the Donks if it were revised based on when they played. The KC team in Week 16 was an embarrassment. The Donks sos score it as a mediocre team.

I would say it balances out with the fact that we played the Colts at the prime of their season when they were looking like the most historical offense in football and best team in football.

 

[BigKen]

Interesting facts:

In each team's last eight games:

Texans 8-0
Broncos 7-1
Patriots 7-1
Bills 6-2

Bills loss was to the Texans & Eagles. Patriots loss was to the Bills. Broncos loss was to the Jaguars.

Doesn't look like anyone but the Texans have any advantage..........

 

[cdumler7]

Interesting facts:

In each team's last eight games:

Texans 8-0
Broncos 7-1
Patriots 7-1
Bills 6-2

Bills loss was to the Texans & Eagles. Patriots loss was to the Bills. Broncos loss was to the Jaguars.

Doesn't look like anyone but the Texans have any advantage..........

If I remember right teams entering the playoffs with an 7 game or more winning streak haven't won the Super Bowl in the last 25 years.

 

[Southieinnc]

You are correct that you don't get to choose your opponents. You play who you have in front of you and never apologize for having an easier schedule. My entire discussion here though is why teams still feel like they do not know who the Pats are yet. Maybe they are one of the 2-3 best teams in football. Wouldn't shock me one bit. It also wouldn't shock me to see them fall a bit and then next year with a tougher schedule have more struggles than they did this year. I could say the same thing about the Broncos. They had the 3rd place schedule of the division where next year they will have the 1st place schedule. Big difference in those few games different within the division. Such as Broncos now having to play Pittsburgh and Jacksonville compared to the chiefs having Bengals and Colts.

I think that you can already call the Patriots (and Broncos) a very good team.
I would be very surprised to se the Patriots (or Broncos) go 14-3 next year.
I believe the Patriots will finish with a worse record but a stronger team.
As you can imagine, I am very happy with where we are right now.
I do expect the Patriots to beat a one-sided Houston team.
I also expect Houston to improve next year - but wil Stroud be able to improve?

 

[Southieinnc]

If I remember right teams entering the playoffs with an 7 game or more winning streak haven't won the Super Bowl in the last 25 years.

Not surprprising either. Teams often peak too early!
Our offense continues to grow and our defense is coming together at just the right time.