This is the Pats remaining schedule:
<TABLE class=bkndgray cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 width=550 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=bkndwhite>Sun 11/27/2005 (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1582)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>1:00 PM (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1582)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>@</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>Chiefs</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#5e87ac>CBS</TD><TD class=bkndNavBlue align=middle>
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</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=bkndwhite>Sun 12/4/2005 (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1583)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>4:15 PM (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1583)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>vs</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>Jets</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#5e87ac>CBS</TD><TD class=bkndNavBlue align=middle>
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</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=bkndwhite>Sun 12/11/2005 (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1584)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>1:00 PM (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1584)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>@</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>Bills</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#5e87ac>CBS</TD><TD class=bkndNavBlue align=middle>
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</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=bkndwhite>Sat 12/17/2005 (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1585)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>1:30 PM (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1585)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>vs</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>Buccaneers</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#5e87ac>FOX</TD><TD class=bkndNavBlue align=middle>
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</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=bkndwhite>Mon 12/26/2005 (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1586)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>9:00 PM (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1586)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>@</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>Jets</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#5e87ac>ABC</TD><TD class=bkndNavBlue align=middle>
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</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=bkndwhite>Sun 1/1/2006 (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1587)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>1:00 PM (http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamedetails&eid=1587)</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>vs</TD><TD class=bkndwhite>Dolphins</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#5e87ac>CBS</TD><TD class=bkndNavBlue align=middle>
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Believe me, we aren't beating out the Pats from two games out when we have an impossible schedule and they have a easy one.
Ok so I just woke up today and my thanksgiving break has started for college, so I'm in a good mood. Let me try to put a positive spin on things. By the way, after breaking it down, it IS entirely possible, Please read ahead...I know it's a little complicated:
Now, I think that if we can TIE the Patriots after week 17 is over, IMO it is going to be VERY CLOSE...the BILLS I believe will hold the divisional tiebreaker:
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.<!--Best net points in division games.-->
6. Strength of schedule...(It will probally stop here, the Pats most likely have a harder schedule.)
Again, please read ahead...
For any of this to work, we need to beat the Patriots at the Ralph.
Unfortunatly, we have lost to the (1) NO Saints, (2) Oakland Raiders, and (3) Atlanta Falcons while the Patriots are 3-0 against those teams this year. However, the Patriots lost to the Broncos and Panthers. We play both the Broncos and Panthers at home. I believe we have a good chance at beating both those teams because our defense tends to play much better at home, and so does Willis. The Panthers are NOT a great road team (If Miami beat them, so can we), and Denver is 2-2 away from Mile High. I think with Denver being a Sunday Night Game at HOME, the Ralph should be jumpin...
What would need to happen is that the Pats would need to lose to the Chiefs, Bucs, and us. It's entirely possible. The Chiefs play well at home, and the Bucs look like a contender in the NFC with Chris Simms emerging and Cadillac re-emerging (Bucs are 3-2 on the road).
Now, we CAN lose to the Bengals and win the rest of our games. That would mean that we will be in a 9-7 tie with the Patriots and our division record and record against common opponents would be the SAME.
Which would lead us to tie-breaker scenario #4. If what I said above holds true, the BILLS would have the better record against AFC opponents.
I realize that this scenario seems a little far-fetched, but the Pats losing to the Chiefs, Bucs, and Bills is not a stretch. Nor is it a stretch to say that we can win those home games against Denver and Carolina and still lose to the Bengals.
Now people will say that we won't go anywhere even if we go to the playoffs. That's true, we'll never beat the Broncos or Bengals on the road, and we'll never beat the Colts regardless of where we play them. We'll probally not even beat the Chargers or Steelers even if we play at home.
However, if we even get to this, it would likely mean that:
1. JP is playing well. To me, if JP is playing well, I would consider it a successful season. We have our franchise QB and franchise RB and can build a team around those two.
2. JP would have the chance to play a playoff game at home. Say what you want, but it will be a great experience for him and Willis too.
Oh well, hope that someone found that helpful...