Even if we do win this game I think the absolute worst record the Pats will come away with is 9-7 with an 11-5 record more likely IMO (based on their schedule). For us I'm fairly confident we can get to 9-7 but an absolute max of 10-6. So unless the Pats falter to 9-7 and we either beat them on tie-breaker or somehow finish with a better record I really don't see us winning the division. It's still possible and I mean anything can happen, including injuries to key players for the Pats (we have a few already)...I just don't think it will happen.
Not sure if I remember a case where every team in a division was 3-3 after six weeks. These head-to-head games are going to be extremely important. And right now the AFC East looks like a very mediocre division, so winning it may be the only way any of these teams will get into the postseason.
Every division looks mediocre. AFC West - Really? Broncos/Chargers loser has a chance to compete for a Wild Card, but neither is that impressive. AFC South - LOL. Indianapolis might have a chance just because their schedule down the stretch is a joke, but this is probably a 1-bid division. AFC North - The main Wild Card competition. Though Pittsburgh can't win on the road, Baltimore's defense may be down 3 of its 5 most important pieces without Suggs, Lewis and Webb, and Cincinnati just isn't that good. The AFC East is wide open. But so is the entire AFC. Even on the top of the AFC, who is the class of the conference? Houston? Probably, but they're too one-dimensional and the defense takes a big hit without Cushing. New England? Normally, I would say yes, but they're not playing like a typical New England team. Baltimore? Like I said, lost some key defensive pieces and the offense isn't great. Pittsburgh? Can't lose to Oakland AND Tennessee and call yourselves the class of the conference. Denver? Peyton isn't quite himself and the defense is mediocre. San Diego? They're the Chargers. They're never the class of the AFC, even when they're supposed to be. And they're not as good as they used to be. The AFC as a whole is WIIIIIIIDE open right now. Get hot at the right time, and any team could make the playoffs or even make the Super Bowl.
Good points, across the board. You're right, the entire conference is wide open and there's no dominant team. But that kind of reiterates the importance of winning the division to get in, rather than relying on other teams to lose.
