Playoff thread

[Dolphster]

In the words of Al Davis, Just Win Baby!

Even if the Dolphins don't make the playoffs it's been a helluva successful season.

This sums up my feelings exactly.  Take care of your own business. You can't control what happens in other games.  Win your game.   And no matter what happens this weekend, the Dolphins are way ahead of where I expected them to be this year in terms of becoming a force to be reckoned with in the NFL again. 

[Pappy13]

Saying that PIT "doesn't have much to play for" is like saying that IND "doesn't have much to play for."

How?

[Dave Gray]

Well, now the Bills can clinch the number two seed with a win, so they will be playing all out.

I'm not necessarily saying they won't play all out, but the #2 seed really doesn't mean much of anything this year.

#1 gets a bye and that's a huge deal, so I get that.  But #2 vs. #3 only matters if #2 specifically plays against #3 at some point, in which case they'd get to play at home, which also doesn't seem to matter as much this year.  And with the other team in the mix being the Steelers (who are not a great team by any stretch), I doubt they'll even be around late in the playoffs anyway.  I have a feeling that the seeding won't matter one bit.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I'm not necessarily saying they won't play all out, but the #2 seed really doesn't mean much of anything this year.

#1 gets a bye and that's a huge deal, so I get that.  But #2 vs. #3 only matters if #2 specifically plays against #3 at some point, in which case they'd get to play at home, which also doesn't seem to matter as much this year.  And with the other team in the mix being the Steelers (who are not a great team by any stretch), I doubt they'll even be around late in the playoffs anyway.  I have a feeling that the seeding won't matter one bit.

Lot of strong teams in the AFC this year where 3-7 doesn't matter. Chiefs and Buffalo are clearly the best but I would lump everyone from 3-7 in together.

[EDGECRUSHER]

The Steelers announced they are starting Mason Rudolph on Sunday and will probably rest a lot of their starters. So, that sucks for us. Hopefully, Buffalo sees this and rests a few of their own on Sunday. Browns losing was probably our best way to get in, now it would take some huge upsets orn we beat Buffalo.

[Pappy13]

I think it's more than that.  Pitt is a fraud. 

They've had to advantage of being in a terrible division in the AFC, while simultaneously playing a terrible division in the NFC.

Pitt is in a terrible division? You think Cleveland and Baltimore are pushovers? Not sure where you are coming from with that take. Now I don't think Pitt was as a good as their record indicated a couple weeks ago, but they are about where they should be now. Getting to play the NFC least was nice but they lost to Washington so they didn't feast on that division as much as they could have. Pitt is still a good team, they've just had a couple of bad weeks lately. I think Pitt would be favored or at the very least a 1 or 2 point spread with the Browns if the Steelers were playing all their starters.

[Pappy13]

The Steelers announced they are starting Mason Rudolph on Sunday and will probably rest a lot of their starters. So, that sucks for us. Hopefully, Buffalo sees this and rests a few of their own on Sunday. Browns losing was probably our best way to get in, now it would take some huge upsets orn we beat Buffalo.

I'm torn a bit whether I want to see Miami make the playoffs. Don't get me wrong, I would love to make the playoffs to get a taste of what that's like for the players, but I can also see us getting blown out in the playoffs and ending the season on a sour note. I wouldn't be that disappointed if they put up a good showing against Buffalo but end up losing and missing the playoffs. Make the team good and hungry for next year plus maybe pick up a few spots in the draft would not be such a terrible thing. If you would have told me going into the year we'd be 10-6 but miss the playoffs I would have taken it with a smile.

[Tenshot13]

I'm torn a bit whether I want to see Miami make the playoffs. Don't get me wrong, I would love to make the playoffs to get a taste of what that's like for the players, but I can also see us getting blown out in the playoffs and ending the season on a sour note. I wouldn't be that disappointed if they put up a good showing against Buffalo but end up losing and missing the playoffs. Make the team good and hungry for next year plus maybe pick up a few spots in the draft would not be such a terrible thing. If you would have told me going into the year we'd be 10-6 but miss the playoffs I would have taken it with a smile.

The Dolphins haven't been blown out all season, what makes you think that will start happening in the playoffs?

[EDGECRUSHER]

I'm torn a bit whether I want to see Miami make the playoffs. Don't get me wrong, I would love to make the playoffs to get a taste of what that's like for the players, but I can also see us getting blown out in the playoffs and ending the season on a sour note. I wouldn't be that disappointed if they put up a good showing against Buffalo but end up losing and missing the playoffs. Make the team good and hungry for next year plus maybe pick up a few spots in the draft would not be such a terrible thing. If you would have told me going into the year we'd be 10-6 but miss the playoffs I would have taken it with a smile.

I would rather lose by 40 in the playoffs and have our young players understand what it takes to be champions as opposed to losing in Week 17 by any amount.

[Pappy13]

The Dolphins haven't been blown out all season, what makes you think that will start happening in the playoffs lol.

The regular season is not the playoffs but I don't think it will happen, I said I can see it happening. It's a possibility is all I'm saying. I don't think the Dolphins are playing their best ball right now and they are missing a lot of pieces and some other pieces are banged up. They have been getting by the last couple of weeks, but it's not been pretty. I think it could get ugly against Buffalo this weekend as I think Buffalo is on a roll at the right time and for the most part they are healthy. Now we could catch a break and they rest a lot of players, but I don't see them doing that because as I said they are on a roll and when you are on a roll you go with it in my opinion and you don't risk breaking that momentum into the playoffs. I don't think people are giving Pitt and Buffalo enough credit as I think both are pretty good teams and combined with KC, I can see any of these teams and maybe even Tennessee rolling over Miami in the playoffs and I don't want to see that happen. The last time I wished for Miami to make the playoffs when they weren't ready, I watched them get run over by the Steelers 30-12. It wasn't pretty.

All I'm saying is that if Miami loses by 3 to the Bills and get bounced from the playoffs, I won't be that disappointed.

[Dave Gray]

Pitt is in a terrible division? You think Cleveland and Baltimore are pushovers?

Yes, I think it's a bad division.  Maybe pushover is a bit of a strong term, but yes...they're bad.  Cleveland isn't good.

The Browns haven't been over .500 since 2007.  They are a trash organization.

Their 10 wins this year:
Bengals
Washington
Cowboys
Colts (decent win)
Bengals again
Texans
Eagles
Jaguars
Titans (decent win)
Giants


They've lost to the Jets and the Raiders at home.

----

The Ravens have a better record historically, but similarly this year, can't beat anyone good.

Here are their wins:

Browns
Texans
Washington
Bengals
Eagles
Colts (decent win)
Cowboys
Browns again
Jaguars
Giants


I mean...that's a bad list.


Their own division is bad, so someone has to win.  Plus, they play the NFC East that is terrible and have at large games against the Jaguars and Texans and Jets.  I mean...it's a joke how bad their schedules are.

[Pappy13]

Yes, I think it's a bad division.  Maybe pushover is a bit of a strong term, but yes...they're bad.  Cleveland isn't good.

They've lost to the Jets and the Raiders at home.

The Ravens have a better record historically, but similarly this year, can't beat anyone good.

Their own division is bad, so someone has to win.  Plus, they play the NFC East that is terrible and have at large games against the Jaguars and Titans and Jets.  I mean...it's a joke how bad their schedules are.

I hear what you are saying I guess, but then again they still won all those games. You can only play the teams on your schedule. Miami's big wins are against who exactly? 49'ers? Cardinals? Rams? Not exactly powerhouses this year. I think Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Baltimore are every bit as good as the Dolphins and are better then the Patriots. The Bengals are a better team then the Jets as well. So if that's a bad division the AFCE is worse.

[Dave Gray]

I think the Patriots are better than probably both the Browns and the Ravens.  They have upwards of the hardest strength of schedule in the league:  Our division is tough, outside of the Jets (who beat the Browns).  The Patriots beat the Ravens head to head, as well.

Our division is good, and on top of that, we had to play the AFC West this year (also good) and the NFC West (also pretty good). 

I don't blame the Browns or Ravens or Steelers for being bad...as you said, you can only beat the teams they put on your schedule.  But, with that said, there are a lot of turds on that schedule and whoever is left standing in that division is about to get whooped by the rest of the league that has to claw its way into these final spots.

[Pappy13]

I think the Patriots are better than probably both the Browns and the Ravens.

Most people would disagree with you. By quite a large margin. I think a little of your homerism is showing.

[Phishfan]

I just can't grasp anyone not wishing their team to make the playoffs.