Playoff Possibilities

[55CrushEm]

I don't believe the 1,2,3, or 5 seeds will change in the AFC. Only 4 and 6 can/will. And I find it hard to believe I'm saying this......but now I want Pittsburgh to win out.

If Pitt beats Cincy this weekend, they will hold the 6 seed. I believe that Pittsburgh is the ONLY team that could POSSIBLY knock out New England in the wildcard round. They're the only team with a defense good enough. Also with New Englands crappy secondary......Ben could have a good day with Wallace, et al.

Cincy, while a decent team, just doesn't have the horsepower to slow down the Pats offense.

Hell, Pitt might even be good enough to then go on and knock out Houston in round 2.....giving us a home game in the AFC title game.......

So, the teams I'm pulling for in week 16.....

1. Minnesota over Houston (to keep our hopes for #1 seed alive)

2. Pitt over Cincy (to get Pitt into the 6-seed)

3. Indy over KC (don't want Indy slipping to 6 seed; not good enough to beat Cheatriots in round 1)

4. Baltimore over NYG (again, don't want Baltimore slipping to 6-seed, as they are not good enough to beat the Cheatriots, either)

[baja]

Originally Posted by 55CrushEm

I don't believe the 1,2,3, or 5 seeds will change in the AFC. Only 4 and 6 can/will. And I find it hard to believe I'm saying this......but now I want Pittsburgh to win out.

If Pitt beats Cincy this weekend, they will hold the 6 seed. I believe that Pittsburgh is the ONLY team that could POSSIBLY knock out New England in the wildcard round. They're the only team with a defense good enough. Also with New Englands crappy secondary......Ben could have a good day with Wallace, et al.

Cincy, while a decent team, just doesn't have the horsepower to slow down the Pats offense.

Hell, Pitt might even be good enough to then go on and knock out Houston in round 2.....giving us a home game in the AFC title game.......

So, the teams I'm pulling for in week 16.....

1. Minnesota over Houston (to keep our hopes for #1 seed alive)

2. Pitt over Cincy (to get Pitt into the 6-seed)

3. Indy over KC (don't want Indy slipping to 6 seed; not good enough to beat Cheatriots in round 1)

4. Baltimore over NYG (again, don't want Baltimore slipping to 6-seed, as they are not good enough to beat the Cheatriots, either)

If your dream scenario plays out that would mean we play Pittsburg for the AFCC, although it would be in Denver not sure I want that for the same reason you want them to play NE.

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by baja

If your dream scenario plays out that would mean we play Pittsburg for the AFCC, although it would be in Denver not sure I want that for the same reason you want them to play NE.

I thought of that, too. But this isn't 2005. They don't have a stellar o-line, and Ben gets sacked alot. Good for our defense.

Still, it would be nice to not have to play EITHER New England or Houston.

[Kaylore]

I don't care who we face. In the playoffs, everyone is good. Especially in the divisional round on up. I would like to see the Patriots lose just because I hate them. I don't agree the Steelers are better equiped to handle them than we are. I think the Bengals make are healthier and have a better shot. Dalton isn't elite, but he's not crappy. Really though, who is going to beat the Patriots at home? Not very many.

Regardless, I think to earn our Super Bowl we will have to face NE. I think we need to. It will prove to us that we can and exercise all sorts of demons. There was a time we owned them. We haven't beat NE since McDaniels was a head coach. It's time to bring them here and face them on our terms. If we can't beat or are scared of the Patriots, we don't deserve the Super Bowl.

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

I don't care who we face. In the playoffs, everyone is good. Especially in the divisional round on up. I would like to see the Patriots lose just because I hate them. I don't agree the Steelers are better equiped to handle them than we are. I think the Bengals make are healthier and have a better shot. Dalton isn't elite, but he's not crappy. Really though, who is going to beat the Patriots at home? Not very many.

Regardless, I think to earn our Super Bowl we will have to face NE. I think we need to. It will prove to us that we can and exercise all sorts of demons. There was a time we owned them. We haven't beat NE since McDaniels was a head coach. It's time to bring them here and face them on our terms. If we can't beat or are scared of the Patriots, we don't deserve the Super Bowl.

Oh, I didn't say that Pitt was better equipped than WE are. I just said I thought they were the only potential WILDCARD that could possibly beat them in the FIRST round. I don't think any other 1st round team could have any chance. Pitt has a chance.

And while I agree that it would be very satisfying to beat New England in the playoffs.....if the Cheats got knocked out before we had a chance to play them....well, I wouldn't complain either.

[TheChamp24]

Pittsburgh is not that good geez.

I think it would be hilarious if somehow Miami gets that last spot. They win out, Jets lose 1 game, Cincy loses out and Steelers lose to the Browns, they are in lol!

I don't care about some other team knocking out the Pats, we shouldn't worry about that, we shouldn't worry about that. We match up well with anybody IMO.

Get the #2 seed, rest up and get ready for most likely the Pats in the Divisional Round barring an upset.

[baja]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

I don't care who we face. In the playoffs, everyone is good. Especially in the divisional round on up. I would like to see the Patriots lose just because I hate them. I don't agree the Steelers are better equiped to handle them than we are. I think the Bengals make are healthier and have a better shot. Dalton isn't elite, but he's not crappy. Really though, who is going to beat the Patriots at home? Not very many.

Regardless, I think to earn our Super Bowl we will have to face NE. I think we need to. It will prove to us that we can and exercise all sorts of demons. There was a time we owned them. We haven't beat NE since McDaniels was a head coach. It's time to bring them here and face them on our terms. If we can't beat or are scared of the Patriots, we don't deserve the Super Bowl.

I agree somewhat. I want to play NE at home although if we do win the SB we will have earned it regardless of whom we play.

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by TheChamp24

Pittsburgh is not that good geez.

I think it would be hilarious if somehow Miami gets that last spot. They win out, Jets lose 1 game, Cincy loses out and Steelers lose to the Browns, they are in lol!

I don't care about some other team knocking out the Pats, we shouldn't worry about that, we shouldn't worry about that. We match up well with anybody IMO.

Get the #2 seed, rest up and get ready for most likely the Pats in the Divisional Round barring an upset.

Their defense is. #1 overall, and #1 vs. the pass.

They are equipped to slow down NE. Question is whether or not their offense is good enough.

And I disagree.....we DON'T match up well with the Pats. I'm not saying we can't beat them....I think we can. But it's not the best matchup for us. Our LBs can't cover TEs, and that is the Pats' bread and butter. The center of our defense (DTs, MLB, safties) is our weakness.

We might be able to match them point for point, cause their secondary sucks balls......but I'm not sure that the best thing for us is to be in a shootout with Brady.

[baja]

Originally Posted by TheChamp24

Pittsburgh is not that good geez.

I think it would be hilarious if somehow Miami gets that last spot. They win out, Jets lose 1 game, Cincy loses out and Steelers lose to the Browns, they are in lol!

I don't care about some other team knocking out the Pats, we shouldn't worry about that, we shouldn't worry about that. We match up well with anybody IMO.

Get the #2 seed, rest up and get ready for most likely the Pats in the Divisional Round barring an upset.

True they are not that good this year but they had a lot of key players out for several games this season and if Big Ben gets hot they can beat anyone. They can be a dangerous team in the playoffs

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by baja

True they are not that good this year but they had a lot of key players out for several games this season and if Big Ben gets hot they can beat anyone. They can be a dangerous team in the playoffs

Exactly. Ben's first Superbowl came from the 6-seed......as Bronco fans well know.

[Rohirrim]

My dream scenario is for the Broncos to kick the Pats' asses in our house and to see Brady sniveling and throwing a tantrum on the sidelines while Knowshon pounds the rock down the field in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.

[TheChamp24]

Originally Posted by 55CrushEm

Their defense is. #1 overall, and #1 vs. the pass.

They are equipped to slow down NE. Question is whether or not their offense is good enough.

And I disagree.....we DON'T match up well with the Pats. I'm not saying we can't beat them....I think we can. But it's not the best matchup for us. Our LBs can't cover TEs, and that is the Pats' bread and butter. The center of our defense (DTs, MLB, safties) is our weakness.

We might be able to match them point for point, cause their secondary sucks balls......but I'm not sure that the best thing for us is to be in a shootout with Brady.

We've been playing a lot better of late in that aspect, plus their TE's have been banged up this year.
We have a good pass rush to force quick throws, limiting big plays.
Our offense matches up with their defense, we had two turnovers deep in their territory last game and still scored 21 points, on the road.

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by TheChamp24

We've been playing a lot better of late in that aspect, plus their TE's have been banged up this year.
We have a good pass rush to force quick throws, limiting big plays.
Our offense matches up with their defense, we had two turnovers deep in their territory last game and still scored 21 points, on the road.

I hear ya. And the tougher the opponent, the more satisfying the victory will be. But that matchup makes me nervous.

I won't have any fingernails left about an hour before the game......and I'll drink my beer too fast.

[baja]

Another thing about our Broncos is they have not peaked yet. We are getting better every week since week 1. Exactly what you want for a SB run. There is usually a stinker game mixed in and we had that in KC. My big concern going forward is injuries. Get Kupe back, stay healthy, win the bye and we are looking very good to win it all.

[Irish Stout]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Regardless, I think to earn our Super Bowl we will have to face NE. I think we need to. It will prove to us that we can and exercise all sorts of demons. There was a time we owned them. We haven't beat NE since McDaniels was a head coach. It's time to bring them here and face them on our terms. If we can't beat or are scared of the Patriots, we don't deserve the Super Bowl.

I thought I might be the only one who wants to face the Patriots.

There are some years where I want the easiest playoff road possible. Then there are years like this and 1998 when I wonder just how good our team really is. The only way to truly find out is to play the best. I think NE is still the best in the AFC and I want to see that we can beat them.

I won't complain about home-field advantage throughout though. Love it when the boys in Orange are in Denver.

[Mountain Bronco]

Pitt got handled by a mediocre Dallas team and people think they could handle NE in NE. I just don't get it. Pitts D is a shell of their former self, which I think leads to NE easily beating Pitt. We have to beat the best in the playoffs and that is that. We will either have to beat NE, hopefully at home or go on the road to Houston and win. I don't see any other scenario playing out.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by 55CrushEm

Oh, I didn't say that Pitt was better equipped than WE are. I just said I thought they were the only potential WILDCARD that could possibly beat them in the FIRST round. I don't think any other 1st round team could have any chance. Pitt has a chance.

And while I agree that it would be very satisfying to beat New England in the playoffs.....if the Cheats got knocked out before we had a chance to play them....well, I wouldn't complain either.

I would rather not play the team that knocked NE out of the playoffs in their own house. Those are the teams that win the SB every year.

[MagicHef]

Baltimore already beat New England.

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by Mountain Bronco

Pitt got handled by a mediocre Dallas team and people think they could handle NE in NE. I just don't get it. Pitts D is a shell of their former self, which I think leads to NE easily beating Pitt. We have to beat the best in the playoffs and that is that. We will either have to beat NE, hopefully at home or go on the road to Houston and win. I don't see any other scenario playing out.

Bad argument. New England lost to Arizona in New England.....so why couldn't Pitt beat them, too?

Those "that team beat them, but lost to them, but beat them" arguments are meaningless.

All I said, is that Pitts defense is best suited to slow the Pats.....of ALL THE FIRST ROUND TEAMS.

I don't think the Pats will lose at home in the first round.....but I also didn't think wounld in 2009 to the Ravens, or in 2010 to the Jets, either.

[rbackfactory80]

Baltimore is the team you want playing the Pats. They matchup well.

[yakyakyuk]

I agree with 55's original analysis - that is exactly how I am cheering this weekend.

Why not wish for the Broncos best path to Super Bowl? Of all the possible 6 seeds, Pittsburg has best chance to upset New England.

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by rbackfactory80

Baltimore is the team you want playing the Pats. They matchup well.

Not without Webb and a healthy Suggs, they don't.

[Fedaykin]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

If we can't beat or are scared of the Patriots, we don't deserve the Super Bowl.

^^ This

[Txdonk]

This......plus they have Pollard the Patriot killer.

Originally Posted by rbackfactory80

Baltimore is the team you want playing the Pats. They matchup well.

[spdirty]

What I like about that scenario is the fact that even though the Pats will probably win, they'll be in for a fight. And will have to throw everything they have at Pittsburgh to win. And it would at least soften New England up for us.