This may sound crazy

[sporadic]

Given that the Boys lost at home to the Pats and have had a couple of less than stellar outing in the past month, but I do not see a huge difference between the Pats and Boys...and I almost give an edge to the Colts in the AFC. While the Patriots have looked very good in the regular season...they got 6 very easy wins by virtue of playing in the worst division in football. Every NFC East teams they faced had legitimate chances of winning...Indy plays in one of the strongest divisions in football and has fared well. I think that being tested during the regular season will fare both Dallas and Indy well.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

The AFC dominance is grossly overrated.

 

[ethiostar]

Given that the Boys lost at home to the Pats and have had a couple of less than stellar outing in the past month, but I do not see a huge difference between the Pats and Boys...and I almost give an edge to the Colts in the AFC. While the Patriots have looked very good in the regular season...they got 6 very easy wins by virtue of playing in the worst division in football. Every NFC East teams they faced had legitimate chances of winning...Indy plays in one of the strongest divisions in football and has fared well. I think that being tested during the regular season will fare both Dallas and Indy well.

I agree, let me add the Jags as another team that is capable of beating the Pats in the playoffs.

 

[sporadic]

I agree, let me add the Jags as another team that is capable of beating the Pats in the playoffs.

Good call...they are more than capable of taking the air out of the ball and keeping Brady by the cheerleaders.

 

[khiladi]

I agree, let me add the Jags as another team that is capable of beating the Pats in the playoffs.

The Jaguars can run the ball and play in inclement weather. Hell yeah, they can beat the Pats, AND in Foxboro I might add. The road to the SB in the AFC is going to be a pretty tough battle, because all the teams seem to be coming on as of late, with the exception of the Patriots who have struggled as of late.

Rememeber also, the Colts didn't have Marvin Harrison when they played the Patriots and Gonzales has been stepping up his game ever since.

 

[THUMPER]

I agree, let me add the Jags as another team that is capable of beating the Pats in the playoffs.

If the Jags play a smart game they can control the ball and beat the Patriots in the playoffs. They have an excellent running game that should serve them very well in cold weather. I would love nothing better than to see the Patriots go undefeated in the regular season, only to lose in the playoffs, ideally to the Cowboys in the SB.

 

[Doomsday]

If I am the Patriots the last thing I want to do is play the Jags on a windy or snowy day.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

I have had the Jags as a sleeper team for a while now. I think they can beat anyone.

They have a solid D, a smart QB, and a good running game.

Playoffs will be interesting.

 

[Hostile]

Given that the Boys lost at home to the Pats and have had a couple of less than stellar outing in the past month, but I do not see a huge difference between the Pats and Boys...and I almost give an edge to the Colts in the AFC. While the Patriots have looked very good in the regular season...they got 6 very easy wins by virtue of playing in the worst division in football. Every NFC East teams they faced had legitimate chances of winning...Indy plays in one of the strongest divisions in football and has fared well. I think that being tested during the regular season will fare both Dallas and Indy well.

I wonder how many people watched the Patriots struggle in the snow against a really poor NY Jets?

Now tell me this, if there is another weekend storm to where teams have to rely on the run instead of the pass, how would you rank the running ability of the AFC Playoff Teams? This is how I would.

1. Chargers
2. Jaguars, because they have 2 capable runners.
3. Colts
4. Steelers, traditionally a running team.
5. Patriots
6. Titans or Browns

Now, I readily admit that Indy is an indoor team and J-ville and San Diego are warm weather teams, but they have better running attacks. I think J-ville is really flying under the radar and has the kind of physical defense that could disrupt the Pats the way the Eagles and Ravens did.

New England has relied too heavily on the pass. I don't think they are the hands down best chance to make the Super Bowl that the media does. Will they be favored even if the weather is bad? Sure, and rightly so. Could they win despite the weather? Absolutely. Are they the guaranteed AFC representative? Hell no. I think a healthy Indy is as good or better anyway.

I won't be shocked if the Patsies do not make the Super Bowl. Not at all.

 

[CATCH17]

I've been calling it for a few weeks now

If the Chargers and Patriots play each other in the playoffs I believe the Chargers will beat them on their own turf.

Karma is going to come back to haunt the Patriots for last year as they danced all over the Chargers field.

There is bad blood between those 2 teams and I honestly think no team hates the Patriots as much as the Chargers currently do.

Plus the 2 teams are almost in reversed rolls. Chargers were the best AFC team last year when the Playoffs started. Patriots are this year.

 

[WarC]

AFC Championship: New England vs Indianapolis
NFC Championship: Dallas vs Green Bay
Superbowl Contenders: Indianapolis vs Dallas

Winners bolded.

Thats how it'd go if I ran the world. Manning and Romo would shake hands after the game and it'd be the start of a new dynasty. That, plus afterwards Romo will start doing the priceless peptalk commercials. Oh yeah!

 

[Fmart322]

"Every NFC East teams they faced had legitimate chances of winning"

Washington had NO chance when they played the Pats and got smoked. the Giant's have yet to play them yet.

 

[Hostile]

I've been calling it for a few weeks now

If the Chargers and Patriots play each other in the playoffs I believe the Chargers will beat them on their own turf.

Karma is going to come back to haunt the Patriots for last year as they danced all over the Chargers field.

There is bad blood between those 2 teams and I honestly think no team hates the Patriots as much as the Chargers currently do.

Plus the 2 teams are almost in reversed rolls. Chargers were the best AFC team last year when the Playoffs started. Patriots are this year.

So do I.

 

[gbrittain]

I believe that home field advantage for the Patriots could be their undoing. Passing team playing in potentially terrible conditions. Not a good match.

 

[CATCH17]

I believe that home field advantage for the Patriots could be their undoing. Passing team playing in potentially terrible conditions. Not a good match.

I agree.

Plus they have an older defense.

LT and Michael Turner could absolutely light them up. Plus I like Gates vs that defense.

Also Cromartie is one of the few guys who is just physically gifted enough to slow Moss down.

 

[sporadic]

"Every NFC East teams they faced had legitimate chances of winning"

Washington had NO chance when they played the Pats and got smoked. the Giant's have yet to play them yet.

don't know hww that shellacking didn't stick in my head...but my point is that the Pats are not as invincible (especially in January) as the mediots make them out to be. Sallas, Indy and Jax have faced much more competition and that will be invaluable in a tight playoff game. We still have yet to see Randy Moss pout if his team gets down and he is not getting the ball (which I think could happen). I think Moss = Charles Barkley: great player but will somehow never win the big one. At least I am trying to convince myself of that.

 

[burmafrd]

Problem for the Chargers is that they have Norv as the coach. There is such a huge edge to the Pats there.

 

[lzppjb]

I called the Jags beating New England in the playoffs about 5 weeks ago. I'm sticking to it.

 

[tyke1doe]

The key to beating the Pats is getting ahead of them and working the clock. If San Diego or Jacksonville can get an early lead, that will help. But if either team falls behind by two touchdowns, they don't have the offensive weapons to mount a comeback. Maybe the Chargers, but I don't trust Philip Rivers in a playoff game.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I've been calling it for a few weeks now

If the Chargers and Patriots play each other in the playoffs I believe the Chargers will beat them on their own turf.

Karma is going to come back to haunt the Patriots for last year as they danced all over the Chargers field.

There is bad blood between those 2 teams and I honestly think no team hates the Patriots as much as the Chargers currently do.

Plus the 2 teams are almost in reversed rolls. Chargers were the best AFC team last year when the Playoffs started. Patriots are this year.

Am I missing something? Under what scenario would the Patriots play in San Diego in the playoffs?
I think perhaps your sentence structure is faulty and you mean the Chargers could beat them even in Foxboro, right?