Week 17 moved to 4:25 pm 12/29

[RedOctober3829]

@Nick_Underhill: Week 17 game between the Patriots and Bills moved to 4:25 p.m. http://t.co/n95d5khJT6

Pats will know before the game starts whether they have to win to clinch the 2 seed as Cincinnati and Indy play at 1.

 

[dynomite]

Odd but very unlikely to won't matter with the Broncos also playing at 4:25.  Here's hoping the Bills played the best game of their season today and take next week off.

Edited to reflect Broncos playing at 4:25pm.  Would be nice to take the field with the pressure off, but there's no way the Bengals and Colts will both lose at 1pm, and in any event they'll be going hard for the #1 seed.

 

[Euclis20]

No matter the results of the Bengals and Colts games, Denver plays at 4:25, and NE should be going for the 1 seed.  Since 2010, the Pats are 31-5 at home (7-0 this year) and 22-10 on the road (4-4 this year).  It's worth going hard for a chance at #1.

 

[dynomite]

Ah, didn't remember Denver played at 4:25. Fixed.

 

[CR67dream]

@Nick_Underhill: Week 17 game between the Patriots and Bills moved to 4:25 p.m. http://t.co/n95d5khJT6

Pats will know before the game starts whether they have clinched the 2 seed as Cincinnati and Indy play at 1.

Is this true? If Cincy wins, they're 11-5 and have head to head should the Pats lose. If Indy wins, they will  be 11-5 and will have both a better conference record and division record than the Pats should they lose. How do the Pats win a tiebreaker with Indy? This shit is ridiculously fucking confusing.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Is this true? If Cincy wins, they're 11-5 and have head to head should the Pats lose. If Indy wins, they will  be 11-5 and will have both a better conference record and division record than the Pats should they lose. How do the Pats win a tiebreaker with Indy? This shit is ridiculously fucking confusing.

Indy and Cincy don't play each other. If both lose their games (Indy v JAX and CIN v BAL) then the Patriots clinch the 2.

 

[Turrable]

Is this true? If Cincy wins, they're 11-5 and have head to head should the Pats lose. If Indy wins, they will  be 11-5 and will have both a better conference record and division record than the Pats should they lose. How do the Pats win a tiebreaker with Indy? This shit is ridiculously fucking confusing.

 
We don't win a tiebreaker with Indy or Cincy. The early start only means that if Cincy and Indy both lose, the Pats will have the 2 seed locked up. If either team wins, the Patriots need a win to secure the 2 seed. http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

 

[Ferm Sheller]

That tweet states that the Pats WILL know whether they have clinched the #2 seed before their game starts. That's not true. They MAY know, but if either or both Indy and Cincy wins, the outcome of the Pats game will be essential in deciding the #2 seed.

 

[Turrable]

Semantics, but I read that to mean they will know whether or not they need the win in order to clinch the two seed.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Semantics, but I read that to mean they will know whether or not they need the win in order to clinch the two seed.

. Yeah, I see that now. But, as you suggest, that's probably not the clearest way to state that.

 

[SMU_Sox]

The Colts are playing at home against JAX. That's a mortal lock if I've ever seen one. But this is the Colts and they have had some terrible games this year and play with a high variability. CIN hosts BAL in what should be a relatively easy win for CIN. But it's a divisional game with more at stake for BAL (while you could argue that the 4th seed in the AFC has the displeasure of facing the Chiefs I think making the playoffs is more at risk than finishing 2nd, 3rd, or 4th).
 
If I had to guess I'd say both CIN and INDY win leaving it up to the Pats. BUF is an intriguing matchup. Of all the matches I think NE has the worst chance of winning of CIN, IND, and NE. BUF has a good O and D line. Although I really liked the D-Line tonight and with Solder I have faith that our O-line can step it up. So I'll take the chalk and say all three teams win. Broncos will win too against Oakland and the AFC will look like this:
 
1) DEN 13-3
2) NE 12-4
3) CIN 11-5
4) IND 11-5
5) KC 12-4
6) PIT 8-8 (MIA 9-7 or SD 9-7 - KC 11-5 also work here. I'm just guessing who the 6th seed will be. No matter who it is they won't make it past the first round anyway).

 

[CR67dream]

That tweet states that the Pats WILL know whether they have clinched the #2 seed before their game starts. That's not true. They MAY know, but if either or both Indy and Cincy wins, the outcome of the Pats game will be essential in deciding the #2 seed.

Thanks guys, the opening post was what confused me. If it had said that the Pats will know if they have to win to obtain the two seed, it would have jibed with what I already thought the scenario was. Ultimately, I'll be shocked if they don't have to beat the Bills. Which they will do.    

 

[Section15Box113]

6) PIT 8-8 (MIA 9-7 or SD 9-7 - KC 11-5 also work here. I'm just guessing who the 6th seed will be. No matter who it is they won't make it past the first round anyway).

 
 
As an aside, KC can't be a #6 as they've clinched the #5 seed.  Larger point holds.

 

[bsj]

Certainly no fan of Denver, but if I was, I would be a bit peeve that the NFL essentially forcing my hand in playing my starters. Probably would anyway...but nice as a coach to at least have the option, should the Pats fall.

 

[ivanvamp]

Oakland is pretty bad, but they had two pretty good wins at home already this year:  27-17 over the Chargers, and 21-18 over the Steelers.  There's no way the Broncos *should* lose that game, but I think Oakland has the capacity to make it interesting.  Wouldn't it be sweet if they somehow got beat by the Raiders?  Oh man.
 
My prediction:
 
1. Den 13-3
2. NE 12-4
3. Ind 11-5
4. Cin 10-6
5. KC 11-5
6. I have no idea how the tiebreakers work.  I think Baltimore, Miami, and SD all win.  No clue who that puts into the #6 spot.  Let's say Miami since they're currently there and I don't think anything would change.
 
Wild Card Round
Mia at Ind - Indy wins that one
KC at Cin - Cincy wins that one
 
Divisional Round
Cin at Den
Ind at NE
 
I can live with that matchup.  Would love to see Cincy be a pain in Denver's butt.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

Certainly no fan of Denver, but if I was, I would be a bit peeve that the NFL essentially forcing my hand in playing my starters. Probably would anyway...but nice as a coach to at least have the option, should the Pats fall.

 
Why is the NFL in any way obliged to accommodate teams that want to rest their starters?  It's contrary to their business model, and teams have no right to virtual byes late in the season.  If the Broncos didn't want the NFL to "force its hand", then the Broncos should have clinched the top seed earlier.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Peyton Manning resting up for the playoffs has always worked well anyways, what could go wrong?

 

[SMU_Sox]

I meant if sd was 9 and 7 kc woukd be 11 and 5 because sd plays kc next week. In my scenario I have kc as 12 and 4.

 

[loshjott]

Oakland is pretty bad, but they had two pretty good wins at home already this year:  27-17 over the Chargers, and 21-18 over the Steelers.  There's no way the Broncos *should* lose that game, but I think Oakland has the capacity to make it interesting.  Wouldn't it be sweet if they somehow got beat by the Raiders?  Oh man.
 
My prediction:
 
1. Den 13-3
2. NE 12-4
3. Ind 11-5
4. Cin 10-6
5. KC 11-5
6. I have no idea how the tiebreakers work.  I think Baltimore, Miami, and SD all win.  No clue who that puts into the #6 spot.  Let's say Miami since they're currently there and I don't think anything would change.
 
Wild Card Round
Mia at Ind - Indy wins that one
KC at Cin - Cincy wins that one
 
Divisional Round
Cin at Den
Ind at NE
 
I can live with that matchup.  Would love to see Cincy be a pain in Denver's butt.

 
You're predicting the craptacular, severely offensively challenged Ravens to go to Cincy and beat the Bengals, who haven't lost at home all year?

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Thanks for the heads up. Gives me more time to tailgate 

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

 
You're predicting the craptacular, severely offensively challenged Ravens to go to Cincy and beat the Bengals, who haven't lost at home all year?

 
I think the Ravens win, too.

 

[tims4wins]

 
I think the Ravens win, too.

 
Same here. I trust Harbaugh and Flacco (despite yesterday) a hell of a lot more than I trust Marvin Lewis and Ginger.

 

[DJnVa]

 
You're predicting the craptacular, severely offensively challenged Ravens to go to Cincy and beat the Bengals, who haven't lost at home all year?

 
So, you're saying the NFL is easy to predict these days?

 

[loshjott]

I don't know. At 1pm the Bengals will still have a shot at the bye and eliminating their division rivals.  I'll pick the Bengals.

 

[DJnVa]

I don't know. At 1pm the Bengals will still have a shot at the bye and eliminating their division rivals.  I'll pick the Bengals.

 
Sure. But, you know Seattle lost at home yesterday with some stuff on the line. Things happen.
 
I don't think people are saying Baltimore is a better team than Cincy, but it's not ridiculous to pick them to win. Seems like the kind of game the Bengals blow.

 

[Stitch01]

Ravens have a chance, but they're losing that game more often than not.  Particularly with a banged up Flacco.  Hard to see where the points come from.

 

[bsj]

Why is the NFL in any way obliged to accommodate teams that want to rest their starters? It's contrary to their business model, and teams have no right to virtual byes late in the season. If the Broncos didn't want the NFL to "force its hand", then the Broncos should have clinched the top seed earlier.

They aren't. I'd still be annoyed. But not faulting the NFL.