New England Patriots

The smartest team in football just traded one of their best defensive players to the dumbest team for a late 3rd rounder

Presumably Jamie Collins just lost a leg (although he could probably still start for the Browns)

He's off contract at the end of the season and the Patriots weren't going to pay him what he wanted.  So they trade him now to get a draft pick out of it.  Rob Ninkovich has played well since his return

from ped suspension and they have some young talent stock piled at the linebacker position probably because they could see this coming.  They're in a good position to absorb his loss but will miss

Collins' versatility, he is good against the run and against the pass he can cover receivers or rush the passer.

Rare to go unbeaten , think they will slip up when least expected

Would be willing to take them on in week 16 or 17 under the assumption that they have locked up the division and home field etc. Couple of divisional games against the Jets and in Miami are never easy. Particularly with the Jets QB job still up in there air and someone wanting to make a case to start next season

Steelers only team that can stop NE,they have the offence to do it,one of them 2 will come out of AFC,think Steelers are a bit of value,worth a few quid at the prices and put the same amount on NE for AFC at evens for insurance

The Steelers have been over rated this season in my opinion. I think the teams from the AFC West are the only ones I could see troubling the Patriots before the Superbowl. The Patriots' play off win over Kansas City Chiefs last season was a lot closer than the scoreline suggested - the Chiefs just lacked the belief to actually win that game and it was only last season that they won their first play off game since 1993 so I think that they can build upon that looking ahead. They also have failed to convert several huge plays after initial good work in that game. They have a well balanced team, a strong running game and I think I read somewhere that they have won 17 of their last 20 games including in the play offs. You would have to respect the Raiders and Broncos too but I think the experience in Foxboro last season in the play offs would be invaluable should the Chiefs get another crack at them - plus they were banged up heading into that game, I remember Maclin couldn't run so don't rule them out just yet.

Cowboys and Falcons are the teams to focus on in the NFC - if the Cowboys can avoid injuries to the likes of Sean Lee and Terrell McClain in their defense then they will have a serious chance to go all the way as they have shown that they can establish the run over anyone with their O-Line. The Patriots still don't have a genuine deep threat so I think they could be a good match up for Dallas.

That was some performance by Seattle to comprehensively beat New England, in their own back yard.

Done without their best pass rusher Micheal Bennett, third choice running back, and a still not fully fit Russel Wilson.   

This team will get better and better and the Patriots certainties are no more.

Seattle definitely have the best defense in the competition and a proven winner at qb.  Seattle obviously had extra motivation going into the game against New England considering what transpired the last time these two teams met, the superbowl two years ago.   I wonder if we just saw a superbowl preview?  The Cowboys may have something to say about that in the NFC but New England still the team to beat in the AFC by some margin.

This will be of much interest...

http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-nfl-predictions/?ex_cid=rrpromo

Thanks CMIYC, that is indeed, very much of interest.

fickle fans in San Fran. The NFC west used to be the nuts. Only Seattle left to fly
the flag.

Kaepernick just didn't turn out to be the player they thought he would when they made the superbowl whereas Wilson has proven himself to be one of the best QB's in the league.  The 49ers got rid of Alex Smith for Kaeprnick too but tbh he wasn't the long term answer.  The 49ers defence was the best in the league with Seattle's but they just haven't been able to hold on to or replace the key players like Seattle have, credit must go to Seattle's front office and coaching staff which leaves the 49ers setup for dead.  49ers never really replaced superbowl coach Harbaugh either who the players at won time revolted against and who butted heads with the GM and was subsequently fired by the team, I doubt the 49ers will contend with their current GM.

In Harbaugh's first 3 years as 49er head coach they lost the NFC championship game to the Giants who won the Superbowl, then they lost the Superbowl to Baltimore, then they lost the NFC championship game again to Seattle who won the Superbowl.  So in his first three season the team was either one game from the superbowl or in the superbowl and all three seasons they were knocked out by the eventual superbowl winners.  In his 4th year he was fired.

where is Harbaugh now?

head coach of Michigan in ncaaf

A rather hefty kick in the balls for Pats supporters/backers...Gronk out for indefinite period,possibly season...Absolutely huge for them.Fair drift on here too.....

Still confident nugget??
Think Raiders are a big big price now....were even bigger few weeks ago.

what happened to Gronk?

Back surgery wise...morn...

No Collins,no Gronk a big old hole in there team......imo.

you around for Thursday Night Football jedi? Cowboys to break the record?

I hope they do,hada fair sized bet on them tonight as expected be shorter and for Bowl....injury free now a concern too,not just keep winning,tough tough game ...
Minnesota head coach absent and they have few injury concerns, Dallas to pummel and pull away second half....
I hope.
Enjoy.

Denver v Kansas killed me other night,killed me............

Gronk is a huge out for the Pats, obviously.

Happy to have Oakland at a big price.  Pittsburgh could be dangerous if they get healthy at the right time but have been overvalued all season.  I'm not sold on Kansas City but they seem to be finding ways to win the close ones.  Pats still worthy AFC favourites but are maybe falling pack to the pack a touch.

Back..
Raiders have a genuine shot at Pats nugget...Still decent price imo...thik win tonight again.

I agree, I'm pretty sure I mentioned having Raiders for the Superbowl and how they could are a good chance in another thread.  Someone else was saying they had the Raiders a 40's and 20's as well.  They are young and on the rise and could be the team with the most improvement left in them.  Also their form isn't as exposed as some of the other teams.  In the AFC where the Pats seemed to have had it all to themselves the Raiders are the team that seem to be jumping out of the pack, whether or not it's too soon for them time will tell.

Sticking with a Seahawks v Steelers superbowl.  Seattle would be extremely motivated after what happened in 2006.

I think Dallas should get homefield advantage but Seahawks experience may tip things their way.

Seahawks saftey Earl Thomas is out for the rest of the year.

still keep winning

How bout them Giants?  Someone wouldn't listen when I said they were one of the best teams in the NFC a while ago.

giants defence playing very well but if they end up #5 seed and had to go to lambeau yad wonder how they'd go,dont think dallas will win NFC although dont know who will,if steelers make it to playoffs theyd have to play their best game of the season in foxborough but they could be dangerous if hayward bey gets fit,new england keep on winning and will be hard stopped but they didnt hammer baltimore or denver and baltimore only just beat philly so philly playing giants tonight and steelers the ravens on sunday should give an idea of the collateral form but its going to be hard for any team to win away to new england and I think the steelers are the only team Id give a chance of doing that

Doubt Lambeau would hold any play off terrors for the Giants Sykes....they could even be thinking it's an omen after having to go there as underdogs in the play offs the last twice they've won the superbowl.....against Favre in the NFC Championship game and Rodgers'15-1 team.

And who's to say the Packers even make the play offs ....that secondary is just waiting to be shredded by a good passing offence.

i dont know the exact permutations but if green bay beat vikings which they ought to and bucs lose to saints,green bay will be as good as in although im not 100% sure,think the rodgers and the offence are beginning to click,if they won the next 2 games id give them edge over the giants and give them a chance against dallas,the worst matchup could be atlanta who could lose to seattle,green bay will be looking to score a certain amount in every game from here on in and its up to teams to match that and the more they score youd hope itd give the secondary some confidence as bad as it is

I put Green Bay in the same boat as Atlanta, offensively gifted but neither can guard a chair.  Atlanta have the more talented offensive skilled position players whereas Green Bay have a genius at qb, both offences are formidable.

atlanta and green bay are probably the form teams in nfc along with dallas,pats,steelers,chiefs and maybe miami the afc teams

Pats have had a great season schedule wise, haven't really played any heavyweights bar the Seahawks who they lost to at home and they beat the Steelers who were slumping at the time and without Big Ben. Steelers riding high at the minute, will be very interesting to see what the market thinks if the two meet at Fox. Hard to see past those two in the AFC now Carr is gone. NFC is wide open.

yeah ideally for the steelers,oakland get the #2 seed so they get to play oakland and not kansas city if they get over miami,kansas could give new england a tough game and the steelers could be fresh going to foxborough,they were so close to going out at the weekend,this ought to drive them on

In the AFC, Oakland @ Houston next week in the wild card round and Miami @ Pittsburgh.

New England and Kansas City with the bye.

Good news for Pats with Steelers having to go to KC in divisional round if games stay as they are and seedings play out....means they only have to play one of the teams with realistic chances of winning AFC

Yeah.  Oakland would've given the Pats all they can handle with Carr at QB but they have 0% chance without him.

In the NFC, the Cowboys and Falcons have the bye.  The winner of the SNF game between Packers and Lions will host the Giants and the loser will go to Seattle.

Packers would get an easier run if they lost against the Lions imo.

Packers win (last game vs Lions)
   vs Giants
   @ Dallas

Packers lose (last game vs Lions)
   @ Seattle
   @ Atlanta

could be 3rd time lucky for packers against giants in playoffs if they lost the last twice,new england got the draw they want alright