2020 Pats: Do the Patriots Make the Playoffs?

Do the Patriots make the playoffs?

  • Yes - they are winning the division

    Votes: 57 23.5%
  • Yes - they will be a Wild Card team

    Votes: 135 55.6%
  • No - they will barely miss out

    Votes: 33 13.6%
  • No - they will comfortably miss the playoffs

    Votes: 18 7.4%

  • Total voters
    243

BigSoxFan

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Ok, time to get on the record. The Patriots are currently 2-2, 2 games behind 4-0 Buffalo with both games still to be played and have acquitted themselves pretty well so far. They are currently in 8th place in the AFC but only 1 game behind the last wild card spot. Here is the remaining schedule:

vs. Denver
BYE
vs. San Francisco
@ Buffalo
@ New York Jets
vs. Baltimore
@ Houston
vs. Arizona
@ LA Chargers
@ LA Rams
@ Miami
vs. Buffalo
vs. New York Jets

Cam probably won't play this week but should be back after the bye. So, time to get on record and see who's going to be proven right or wrong. Will this team make it or will this be the first season since 2008 without playoffs?
 

Kliq

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If the defense is as good as they showed last night; this team with Cam back could win every single one of those games on the schedule. I think they will win the division, but with the expanded playoffs and the AFC not being very good, I see it being impossible barring injury for them to miss the playoffs. Seven teams make the playoffs, what AFC teams are better than New England?

KC
Baltimore
Buffalo
Pittsburgh
Tennessee
Cleveland?
Indy?
Las Vegas?
San Diego?
 

Jungleland

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Beat Buffalo twice - win the division
1-1 against Buffalo - wildcard
0-2 against Buffalo - potential outside looking in

On talent I feel pretty comfortable putting them 6th in the AFC at worst, and I don't think it's clear that Pittsburgh, Buffalo, or Baltimore are better than them yet unless we're giving Balt built in credit for last year. Their biggest obstacle to the playoffs, if they can stay relatively healthy, is that the schedule opens the door for a lesser AFC team like the Chargers, Browns, or Raiders getting in. But I think they should be 9-7 or better, and that should be wild card worthy.
 

DeadlySplitter

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I'm all in on the division. I think even with Stidham the Broncos should be fine, the rest of the team is playing good ball righ tnow. the 49ers do not scare me at all. I think we have a real chance against Baltimore. Texans are in shambles. The Chargers should be a win. Rams on a Thursday will be tough but I'm not going in afraid of Goff (Goof).

you can build the argument they were one play and a freak health issue to their best player (that is temporary, God forbid) from 4-0.

I'd be shocked if they don't get in at all. And they are fully capable of making noise even without a bye.

all of the above is dependent upon Cam, gotta keep him healthy. and arguably OL continuity is just as important.
 

RedOctober3829

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I honestly think as long as Cam is healthy this team is on the verge of a massive run. As far as the Baltimore game, if MA is allowing fans for that game they're winning that one too.
vs. Denver--W(3-2)
BYE
vs. San Francisco--W(4-2)
@ Buffalo--W(5-2)
@ New York Jets--W(6-2)
vs. Baltimore--W(7-2)
@ Houston--W(8-2)
vs. Arizona--W(9-2)
@ LA Chargers--L(9-3)
@ LA Rams--W(10-3)
@ Miami--L(10-4)
vs. Buffalo--W(11-4)
vs. New York Jets--W(12-4)
 

BigSoxFan

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I would be shocked if this team beats Baltimore, even at home. They are such a bad matchup for us.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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I voted they win the division. If Cam is back and healthy, I think they are the second best team in the AFC, and clearly last night could have won if anyone other than Hoyer had been at QB for the game. I cannot see them going worse than 11-5, and honestly would not be surprised if it is better than that. Both losses were really very encouraging - shootout at Seattle, stopped on the last play of the game, and holding KC on the road to almost no offense despite Hoyer repeatedly giving away chances to score.
 

tims4wins

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If the Pats can get to 8-5 entering the final 3, I think they win the division.

If they're 7-6, I think they are a wild card.
 

BaseballJones

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Pats win 10 games and make the playoffs. They'll lose one to Buffalo, another to Baltimore at a minimum. I think likely a couple more tossed in as well. Hoping for 11-5 but thinking 10-6.
 

nattysez

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Beating Denver without Cam is critical. If they do that, I like their chances of making the playoffs as long as their injury luck is reasonable the rest of the way.
 

E5 Yaz

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Wild card team. Josh Allen has taken his game up a notch and Buffalo overall looks like a team eager to displace the Patriots as division top dog. After that, it's simply a matter of matchups.

If the Patriots defense plays as it did against KC, they have a shot. That's all you can ask.
 
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tims4wins

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I honestly think as long as Cam is healthy this team is on the verge of a massive run. As far as the Baltimore game, if MA is allowing fans for that game they're winning that one too.
vs. Denver--W(3-2)
BYE
vs. San Francisco--W(4-2)
@ Buffalo--W(5-2)
@ New York Jets--W(6-2)
vs. Baltimore--W(7-2)
@ Houston--W(8-2)
vs. Arizona--W(9-2)
@ LA Chargers--L(9-3)
@ LA Rams--W(10-3)
@ Miami--L(10-4)
vs. Buffalo--W(11-4)
vs. New York Jets--W(12-4)
I'll play

vs. DEN - W 3-2
BYE
vs. SF - W 4-2
@ BUF - L 4-3
@ NYJ - W 5-3
vs. BAL - L 5-4
@ HOU - W 6-4
vs. ARI - W 7-4
@ LAC - W 8-4
@ LAR - L 8-5
@ MIA - W 9-5
vs. BUF - W 10-5
vs. NYJ - W 11-5

That gets you to 11-5. Obviously every game is big, but the SF and @ HOU games look especially big to me, if you assume they will split on the LA road trip. Also, they're gonna need to win in Miami this year.
 

54thMA

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Well call me crazy but I have them at 12-4, winning the division and getting the #3 seed, they're one yard and competent QB play away from being 4-0.

I'm highly optimistic about this team, they showed me a lot last night, they had every excuse to lay an egg and they played hard and well at 21 positions.

My God does Hoyer suck; he looked like one of those tomato can QB's who played during the year players were locked out and scabs took their place for a few games.

Just God awful; "Pat, pat, pat.......sack, fumble".............
 

JMDurron

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In as a wild card. Will play like a division winner until Cam gets hurt. Then will fall to the WC and an early playoff exit.
 

j-man

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2 paths

VS DEN L
BYE
VS SF If Jimmy G plays L if not W
@ BUFF L
@NYJ W
BALT L
@ HOU L
VS Zona W
@ LAC L
@ RAMS W
@ MIA W
BUFF W
NYJ W
8-7-1

2ND PATH
Den w
SF Toss up
@ buff L
NYJ W
BALT L
@ HOU L
Zona W
@ LAC W
@ RAMS L
@ MIA L
BUFF W
NYJ W
8-7-1

u guys are underselling HOU romeo will give u guys a game and cam will get knick up and miss a week or two late
 

RG33

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Really solid team that nobody will want to play if all are healthy and games are, well, playing.

With that said, Buffalo is legit — have a 2 game lead — and will be tough to overcome. 10-6 and wild card. Which would be a fantastic outcome for this team, this year.
 

tims4wins

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Really solid team that nobody will want to play if all are healthy and games are, well, playing.

With that said, Buffalo is legit — have a 2 game lead — and will be tough to overcome. 10-6 and wild card. Which would be a fantastic outcome for this team, this year.
In fairness one reason they have a two game lead is that they haven’t played KC or Seattle yet.
 

wilked

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In fairness one reason they have a two game lead is that they haven’t played KC or Seattle yet.
Exactly. They’ve had two common games (Raiders and Dolphins) who they’ve both beaten.

the other two Pats lost to SEA and KC, Bills got lucky against the Rams and beat the Jets

let’s not crown them just yet...
 

the1andonly3003

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Jul 15, 2005
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playoffs only happen if they shut down for a month and create a bubble...or else, it'll be some hackneyed practice squad filled teams as playoffs
 

DJnVa

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Hey, if they are going to power through this, it might be better *IN REGARDS TO ON FIELD NFL CRAP ONLY* to have some of our better players get this now and not later.
 

Garshaparra

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I had them at 8-8 before the season, presuming losses vs. SF, LAC and LAR. I think they beat SF and the Chargers, still lose to the Rams, and end up at 10-6:

vs. Denver W 3-2
BYE
vs. San Francisco W 4-2
@ Buffalo L 4-3
@ New York Jets W 5-3
vs. Baltimore L 5-4
@ Houston W 6-4
vs. Arizona W 7-4
@ LA Chargers W 8-4
@ LA Rams L 8-5
@ Miami W 9-5
vs. Buffalo L 9-6
vs. New York Jets W 10-6
 

tims4wins

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I had them at 8-8 before the season, presuming losses vs. SF, LAC and LAR. I think they beat SF and the Chargers, still lose to the Rams, and end up at 10-6:

vs. Denver W 3-2
BYE
vs. San Francisco W 4-2
@ Buffalo L 4-3
@ New York Jets W 5-3
vs. Baltimore L 5-4
@ Houston W 6-4
vs. Arizona W 7-4
@ LA Chargers W 8-4
@ LA Rams L 8-5
@ Miami W 9-5
vs. Buffalo L 9-6
vs. New York Jets W 10-6
If the season goes this way, it means a WC. But it also means if they beat the Bills in week 16 they probably win the division.
 

BigSoxFan

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With Raiders, Cleveland, and Miami looking better, I think the road to the playoffs will be a difficult one.
 

Saints Rest

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With Raiders, Cleveland, and Miami looking better, I think the road to the playoffs will be a difficult one.
OTOH, there's an extra WC team this year.

I think 11-5 is now my prediction. Looking at garshaparra's game-by-game predictions, I would guess that they pick up a win against Buffalo (I don't think they lose twice to Josh Allen) and possibly against the Rams. However, they will likely give away one game that seems like a win today, most likely @miami.
 

BigSoxFan

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OTOH, there's an extra WC team this year.

I think 11-5 is now my prediction. Looking at garshaparra's game-by-game predictions, I would guess that they pick up a win against Buffalo (I don't think they lose twice to Josh Allen) and possibly against the Rams. However, they will likely give away one game that seems like a win today, most likely @miami.
Losing in Miami isn’t really a giveaway. It wasn’t even a giveaway with Brady. That game will be tough. I also think there is a good chance they lose to Buffalo twice.

I love the optimism in this thread but I don’t see 11 wins. 9-7 feels about right to me. Maybe 10-6 if things break well. The margins with this Pats team are pretty small.
 

Saints Rest

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True. "Give away" was a poor choice of words. I actually started with "choke away" -- but then when I looked at where I thought they would lose a game, I went with Miami, and "choke away" definitely didn't fit. I should have said "However, one of Garshaparra's wins will likely be a loss, most likely at Miami.

However, while there may likely be a bit of homerism optimism about the Pats, I also think there is a bit of premature elevation of Buffalo. They've won all the games they've played, but they haven't exactly blown anyone out. Their defense has been middle of the pack in most traditional measures. Their net points is only +23, which puts them in the same range as (but just below) the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Buccaneers.
 

shoosh77

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A post-Covid Cam the rest of the way, at the position with the biggest drop-off in "next man up", should help them in the WC chase. Not wishing Covid on anyone, but as other teams have to deal with this the Pats could find themselves the beneficiary some games, much like the Chiefs found themselves benefiting from Heckle and Jeckle QB'ing the Pats the other night.
 

BigSoxFan

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True. "Give away" was a poor choice of words. I actually started with "choke away" -- but then when I looked at where I thought they would lose a game, I went with Miami, and "choke away" definitely didn't fit. I should have said "However, one of Garshaparra's wins will likely be a loss, most likely at Miami.

However, while there may likely be a bit of homerism optimism about the Pats, I also think there is a bit of premature elevation of Buffalo. They've won all the games they've played, but they haven't exactly blown anyone out. Their defense has been middle of the pack in most traditional measures. Their net points is only +23, which puts them in the same range as (but just below) the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Buccaneers.
Fair. I am admittedly very bullish about the Bills. Just seems like Allen has made “the leap” but it’s obviously still early.
 

RedOctober3829

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Fair. I am admittedly very bullish about the Bills. Just seems like Allen has made “the leap” but it’s obviously still early.
4 out of their next 5 games are @Tennessee, KC, New England, and Seattle.. We'll know soon enough whether the Bills are legit. They should have lost to the Rams, but that was a good win and the Raiders win is looking better today than it did last week.
 

pdaj

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4 out of their next 5 games are @Tennessee, KC, New England, and Seattle.. We'll know soon enough whether the Bills are legit. They should have lost to the Rams, but that was a good win and the Raiders win is looking better today than it did last week.
I'm also very bullish on the Bills. Outside of teams like NE, KC, and Baltimore, they seem to be one of the more stable organizations in the AFC, in terms of FO-HC-QB, and I do believe it's "clicked" with Allen and Daboll. They've built a team around the young QB.

But, I agree; we'll definitely find out soon. I'm especially excited about tomorrow night and the subsequent MNF game with KC. If they end up 2-0, is there any question?

Also think the Pats tough out a 10-6 season for a playoff bid. BB+ Good Cam + Defense is enough.

I can't believe teams let Newton go to New England. That said, as a Fins fan, I guess I prefer that to allowing BB anywhere close to a trade up for a Top '21 QB. Unless, of course, Newton re-signs with NE, and goes on to play like a beast for 3 more seasons.

As a side (but related) note, I like Cam a lot, but still can't quite shake his performance in his lone SB appearance. Not jumping on that fumble? ... weird.
 
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Jimbodandy

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I have them at 9-7, outside the playoffs. This is a bridge year.

Nice young players on defense but pretty sizeable brain drain. We will have a problem with chunk plays because of it.

Love that the OL has been solid and that we can run the ball somewhat, but the WR/TE talent problem hasn't been fixed yet.

We're not a playoff team this year. We'll look like one sometimes because of the coaching and presence of talent sprinkled across the roster. But good teams will generally beat us.
 

wilked

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4 out of their next 5 games are @Tennessee, KC, New England, and Seattle.. We'll know soon enough whether the Bills are legit. They should have lost to the Rams, but that was a good win and the Raiders win is looking better today than it did last week.
0-1 so far on this stretch. They will be 0-2 after KC
 

Saints Rest

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Although I am bearish on the Bills, I am also pretty bullish on the Titans. I had a feeling after seeing 23 out of 25 pundits (or whatever the exact count was) on ESPN and NFL picking the Bills, that Vrabel would pull a Belichick/Rodney Harrison and get his team fully rallied. I heard on TV this morning that Tennessee is now 11-3 since Tannehill took over as QB.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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As long as Henry stays healthy they are a serious threat to win any single elimination game because of the effect he has on defenses over 60 minutes. The ability to grind it out and control the clock in the fourth quarter while the other team’s offense sits watching helplessly from the sidelines is really big.
 

BigSoxFan

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Although I am bearish on the Bills, I am also pretty bullish on the Titans. I had a feeling after seeing 23 out of 25 pundits (or whatever the exact count was) on ESPN and NFL picking the Bills, that Vrabel would pull a Belichick/Rodney Harrison and get his team fully rallied. I heard on TV this morning that Tennessee is now 11-3 since Tannehill took over as QB.
Yeah, this may be less about Bills being overrated and more about the Titans just being really good. They’ve picked up right where they left off.
 

BaseballJones

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I had expected Tennessee to take a step back this year because I wasn't confident that Tannehill was for real. But he sure seems to be, and the rest of the team plays tough, hard-nosed football, and they just pound you. They're really good and they're going to be a handful for anyone. The question, like last year, will be how they do if they fall behind early.
 

nattysez

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Beating Denver without Cam is critical. If they do that, I like their chances of making the playoffs as long as their injury luck is reasonable the rest of the way.
Guess I should've just left it at "beating Denver is critical." Welp.
 

Mystic Merlin

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At this point, they will probably have to steal a game or two from a favored opponent to get to ten wins, which is realistically the target for a playoff berth. With the extra wild card spot, nine wins is a reasonable target, too, but that edges into tiebreaker madness territory.

Getting to ten wins would mean an 8-3 finish against the following slate: two BUF games, two NYJ games, MIA, HOU, SF, LAR, LAC, BAL, and ARI. Baltimore is their worst matchup, IMO, from a personnel perspective, and it is tough to see them sweeping Buffalo. Was always going to be a tough schedule, but dropping a game against Denver really hurts them.

Of course, the season isn’t written by Halloween, so we’ll see how it goes.
 

BaseballJones

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To me, now, they have to win both games vs the Jets, the Arizona game, the Chargers game, one of the Bills' games, and the SF game against a banged up 49er team. That would get them to 8 wins. Then they need to win 2 of the remaining 5 games against this schedule: Buf, at Mia, at LAR, vs Bal, at Hou.

The Bills will be tough. Miami is playing well and we know they'll be a handful there. The Rams have been really good this year. Baltimore is just the kind of team that can really give NE problems. And suddenly the Houston game, even though they're just 1-5, looks like a serious challenge. Losing today was enormous, as was not getting into the end zone on the last play of the game against Seattle. Ugh.
 

Silverdude2167

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If they play like they did in the first three/fourish weeks of the season from here on out with practice, then they will make the playoffs.

That was one of the best 10 teams in the league and will get to 10 wins.
 

luckiestman

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Besides Jets x2, it’s all decent teams the rest of the way for the Pats (depends how you feel about Houston and LAC).

6-8 more wins seems reasonable. I think they make it. If Cam goes down its over.


Edit: I’m just hoping final game matters to the Pats because if it doesn’t Belichick will throw it for sure to mess up Jets getting #1
 
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