So how early do the Pats clinch their division? (1 Viewer)

[SuperJohn96]

Not that it was ever in doubt...but having a 2-game edge after the first two weeks is not a fluke I think...NEP ... 2-0NYJ ... 0-2BUF ... 0-2MIA ... 0-2What does this mean for the Pats the last few weeks of the season?Sure they'll be playing for home field advantage, but the Jets, Bills and Dolphins just look like crap...with maybe the Jets having a chance to make something out of their season.Stick a fork in the Bills and Dolphins...

Week 1 ... W - at NYJWeek 2 ... W - vs SDCWeek 3 ... ? - vs BUFWeek 4 ... ? - at CINWeek 5 ... ? - vs CLEWeek 6 ... ? - at DALWeek 7 ... ? - at MIAWeek 8 ... ? - vs WASWeek 9 ... ? - at INDWeek 10 ... BYEWeek 11 ... ? - at BUFWeek 12 ... ? - vs PHIWeek 13 ... ? - at BALWeek 14 ... ? - vs PITWeek 15 ... ? - vs NYJWeek 16 ... ? - vs MIAWeek 17 ... ? - at NYG

Man, they could start 8-0 until they visit Indy. Then depending if Philly turns it around, they would have a tough 3 game stretch from 12-14.If I had to call it, they would be 8-1 going into the Week 10 BYE.They could go 3-1 from Week 11-14, then follow that up by winning the last three games.Then by my count they would go 14-2, and if the Jets squeeze out 8 wins, the Pats would have unofficially clinched the division after Week 11...FWIW, I'm a Browns fan so don't think this is a homer post or anything. I just thought we haven't had a thread on the Pats for a while

 

[QuizGuy66]

Only cuz the math would have to go perfectly am I picking week 10 instead of week 9 (there would have to be a tie game b/w the Jets-Bills-Dolphins for it to happen week 9)

Week 8 is mathematically impossible I think.

-QG

 

[eom]

where is the week 2 option?

 

[yesitsme]

I don't think that's the real question here;

The real question is when do they start to rest their starters because they've clinched their division.

The answer lies within how well Indy does. If Indy holds up and only loses say 2 to 3 games, then that forces NE to play their starters to hold them off for home field advantage.

If they can get up 2 to 3 games on teams, then they'll rest them before we want.

 

[Modog814]

Only cuz the math would have to go perfectly am I picking week 10 instead of week 9 (there would have to be a tie game b/w the Jets-Bills-Dolphins for it to happen week 9)Week 8 is mathematically impossible I think.-QG

Assuming that their is no ties in any divisional games between the Jets/Bills and Dolphins, one of those two teams has to have 2 wins by end of week 10. (Winner of Jet/Miami game will have 1, then Jet's and Buff play twice before week 10 (so either they all have one win at this point or at least someone has 2), and Miami Plays Buffalo in week 10 this game guarantees someone has 2 wins.)Even if NE goes undefeated and is 9-0 after 10 weeks they'd still only have at most a 7 game lead and theoretically could lose their last 7 games, ending in a first place tie if (the team with 2 wins NYJ/Mia/Buf) wins their final 7 games. And of course, you can't clinch a tie-breaker by week 10 (unless they've played both their h2h's already and Im almost certain that won't be the case). So Week 8, 9, 10 are impossibilities. Week 11 is the earliest, and that would only occur if none of the other team had more than 3 wins.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

I don't think that's the real question here;The real question is when do they start to rest their starters because they've clinched their division.The answer lies within how well Indy does. If Indy holds up and only loses say 2 to 3 games, then that forces NE to play their starters to hold them off for home field advantage.If they can get up 2 to 3 games on teams, then they'll rest them before we want.

As important as AFC home field is, I doubt they rest anyone unless the conference standings are already known.

 

[David Yudkin]

If won't make any difference, as the rest of the AFC will have teams that the Pats are battling for home field advantage. That's the real question here, the division title doesn't amount to much of anything.

 

[TD Ryan]

Pats fan here: We're focusing on Buffalo. They're a good, young team. They've got a lot of young talent of both sides of the ball. They make you pick your poison a bit with the running game and big play passing attack. Top to bottom, they've got some play makers at receiver, 3 or 4 guys who can all really change the game in one play, so... we'll have to prepare for that.

 

[yesitsme]

I don't think that's the real question here;The real question is when do they start to rest their starters because they've clinched their division.The answer lies within how well Indy does. If Indy holds up and only loses say 2 to 3 games, then that forces NE to play their starters to hold them off for home field advantage.If they can get up 2 to 3 games on teams, then they'll rest them before we want.

As important as AFC home field is, I doubt they rest anyone unless the conference standings are already known.

yah, i said division instead of conference, which is why I was mentioning Indy as the team they'll keep an eye on. They don't rest anyone until they get things clinched in the entire conference.

 

[nxmehta]

Pats fan here: We're focusing on Buffalo. They're a good, young team. They've got a lot of young talent of both sides of the ball. They make you pick your poison a bit with the running game and big play passing attack. Top to bottom, they've got some play makers at receiver, 3 or 4 guys who can all really change the game in one play, so... we'll have to prepare for that.

Bill, is that you? I didn't know you were a FBG subscriber.

 

[Marc Levin]

Week 10 or 11 they will have eliminated the Bills and Dolphins - don't forget those crappy teams play each other, which inchworms them closer to the Pats. At least it keeps the Pats from clinching when the Jets Dolphins and Bills get wins against each other.

 

[TD Ryan]

Bill, is that you? I didn't know you were a FBG subscriber.

I realize the OP didn't start this thread to be a turd, but it is way too early to have this discussion.

 

[jon_mx]

It really depends on how well the Pat's espionage game holds up. It was under attack this last week, but I think it will be going strong the rest of the season.