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Video: A cloudy playoff picture

Email|Link|Comments (3) Posted by Chris Forsberg, Boston.com Staff December 18, 2008 07:24 AM

FOXBOROUGH -- Last year, the Patriots clinched the AFC East title in Week 12. This year? Not so easy. With two weeks remaining in the 2008 season, the Patriots still have work to do to clinch a postseason berth. The Globe's Chris Gasper tries to make sense of a very murky playoff picture, but says the Patriots best chance at extending their season starts with a win this week against the Cardinals.

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3 comments so far...

Wow. And I thought Middle East politics was complicated.

Posted by Jim L. December 18, 08 10:55 AM

Cloudy? It's not cloudy. It's simple:
Win out + Baltimore loss to Dallas = wild card.
Win out + Jets/Miami each at least one loss = division.

Best chance -- probably only chance -- is this weekend, for the Jets and or Miami to lose and then that team beat the other the following week; or for Dallas to beat Baltimore. Every other scenario is so unlikely it's not worth worrying about.

Posted by JJCRUISER December 18, 08 01:17 PM

I think that we are in for a BANNER weekend as Pats fans. I have strong vibes that Baltimore, the Jets AND the Dolphins will all lose, and the Pats will beat the Cardinals.

Dallas we know needs this game, badly, and in front of their home fans will not want to hear boos cascading down. I expect them to pull all the stops.

The Jets are at Seattle, and regardless of their record, the Seahawks play fairly well at home, and at this stage of the season, they too need to show the home folk something to look forward to next season. They are no where near as bad as their record.

In Kansas City, the Chiefs will still have that sea of red surrounding them and the weather will be miserable. I look for the Chiefs to play their best game of the season.

Then, the following Sunday, there can be no letdown in Buffalo. The offensive game plan can not be conservative and the defense will have to play agressive and not drop off into a shell.

Posted by Mike Allen December 18, 08 03:30 PM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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