Let's break down the Pats remaining games

gosteelers

Will they go undefeated? I think so...

Washington-Easy win
At Indy-Indy will score about 31 and still lose by 10-17
Bye week
At Buffalo-Easy win
Philly-Easy win
At Baltimore-probably about a 27-7 win for the Pats
Pittsburgh-about a 38-21 win for the Pats
Jets-this one should be fun. Revenge against Mangini. I say they put up 60 points.
Dolphins-this just isn't fair
At NY Giants-might be their toughest remaining game, but still...you never know!

Playoffs will be in Foxboro against teams including: Indy, Pittsburgh, SD, Jacksonville, Tennessee, etc. (Not really a problem there, either)

Super Bowl-forget about it...19 wins 0 losses

RonBurgundy

If they beat Indy, the '72 Dolphins should be worried. Very worried.




Ron

kcballboy

I think the biggest question mark will be, what if they get to 15-0, and are playing a tough Giants team that may still be fighting for a playoff spot? Do you start the studs, knowing they might get rusty with at least 2 weeks (1st round bye included) off, or do you let them go at it for a chance at history? Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

On a side note, my day was ruined yesterday when I realized that I committed to go to the dinner theatre with my mom for her birthday on the afternoon of the Pats-Colts game.

Morgoth

If a big time player would get hurt by them chasing a meaningless 16th win and they subsequently lose the SB I would think Patrioit nation would be outraged. Belicheck wouldn't do it anyway. Really if the Pats beat Indy there would be no reason to play all their studs in the last game if they won all 15 as the best the Colts could do is tie their record and lose in a tie breaker.

stevek

Ain't gonna happen - the Patriots will not go undefeated. I'll be surprised if they only lose one game.

stevek

Patriots won't be undefeated going into that last game so it won't be a concern.

perkdog

We all know what happened to Indy a few years back, their starters took some time off and then the first round bye came and went... Indy loses, most likely from losing their edge. Bellichek will NOT allow this to happen. I think they have a decent shot at it. But by all means a Super Bowl win is most important.

Estil

Maybe they could set a record for fastest clinching of a division title or playoff spot? Cuz last time I checked the other teams had only two, one, and zero losses. I bet Flipper must be hanging his head in shame at how his fellow Mammals have done this year.

Publius

<< <i>If a big time player would get hurt by them chasing a meaningless 16th win and they subsequently lose the SB I would think Patrioit nation would be outraged. Belicheck wouldn't do it anyway. Really if the Pats beat Indy there would be no reason to play all their studs in the last game if they won all 15 as the best the Colts could do is tie their record and lose in a tie breaker. >>




I agree

We will see how much pride they take in breaking this record real quick. If they suit up their starters for a few games when they are 13-0, 14-0, 15-0 with division clinched and home field, that will say alot about if that record is important to them.

If they lose one game by a fluke, or if they outpace Indy for home field early on.

I agree though, if Brady or Moss get hurt in the Giants game to try to go 16-0, Belicheck would be crucified. Its funny, Im sure the Pats fans want to see them break that record, if they sat key players during a giants game im sure they would be mad, but if someone got hurt, they would be mad

Cant have your cake and eat it too

Estil

I'm pretty sure getting the Lombardi trophy always has priority over 16-0 or 15-1. I mean, who cares if you go undefeated in the regular season if you don't bring home that big silver trophy? Just ask Tubby Smith who ran the table in the SEC in 2003 but came up just short of making the Final Four.

JackWESQ

First off, I'm not a Pats fan, but I would LOVE to see the Pats go undefeated. I'd like nothing better than to bury the 1972 Dolphins and see them go away to their watery grave. But, I don't think it will happen. This thread pretty much sums it up, but there are too many reasons for the Pats to lose a game THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO PERFORMANCE, e.g. injuries, bigger goals, meaningless (non-fantasy) games.

That being said, Bill Simmons of ESPN has a great column here, which may support the Pats' quest for a 19-0 season.

Eff You TD

/s/ JackWESQ

grote15

The way the Pats are playing these days, even if the starters play only the first half, they may win those last couple of games.

History has shown that teams that clinch home field early and rest their starters have had some problems in the playoffs (KC, Indy, Minn, etc.). I agree that Bill will keep them sharp, even if he rests his starters down the stretch, but I also agree with Steve, in that I'd be surprised if they go into that last game at 15-0. As good as NE looks right now, there's always that probablity that they lose a game to a team you'd never expect (my guess is it'll be Pittsburgh or Baltimore).

Bottom9th

They definitely look unbeatable now, but anything can happen. I wonder how much those 72 Dolphin players are sweating right now?