But I do think the refs screwed the pats this time.
Not only that, but the Pats could have won the game without even playing it. It hasn't been a big story, but KC almost had to forfeit the game, because a container with much of the team's needed equipment was mistakenly sent to the wrong city. The team got it sent to the right place just in time to play the game. I've never heard this happening before, but what a stink there would have been if KC really had to forfeit. That could have had major implications for seeding in the AFC.
An equipment fiasco nearly ended in disaster for the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of their highly anticipated matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
www.foxnews.com
Absolutely amazing how bill keeps his team in games where they are being outplayed with a special teams play pretty much every week and a crazy turnover d.
Maybe by cheating? The Pats are being accused of spying again, though it's hard to believe it would be worth it against their next opponent, 1-12 Cincy.
But the Pats have caught a big break in another way. There hasn't been much talk about this, but the Bills play NE in two weeks. If they win that game, and don't lose any ground in their other two remaining games, they would finish the season tied with NE for the division. The first tie-breaker, head-to-head, would be even. The s second tie-breaker, division record, would be even. What used to be the third tie-breaker, conference record, would go to the Bills. But in a switch I hadn't even noticed before, record vs. common opponents, which used to be the fourth tie-breaker, has been moved to third. NE would win that. So unless the Pats lose two of their remaining games, one of them being to Buffalo, they do have the division locked up. They still could end up as a no. 3 seed though, if they lose one game and KC wins out.
Speaking of tie-breakers, consider the NFC W. The division will almost certainly be decided by the SF@SE game at the end of the regular season. There are very few scenarios in which the team that wins that game doesn't win the division:
a) SE could win that game and not win the division if they lose at least one of their next two games, and SF wins both of its next two games (or one of them if SE loses both of its next two games). But SE has the easier schedule, CAR and AZ vs. ATL and LAR for SF.
b) If SF loses both of its next two games, and SE wins both of its next two games, SF could beat SE and maybe not win the division. In that case, the two teams would finish tied. They would be even through the first four tie-breakers. The fifth is strength of victory, i.e., the number of games won by all the teams the team in question beat. It appears SE would win that tie-breaker, but it's not at all certain at this point. It depends on how various teams do in the last three games. It also appears likely that SE would win the sixth tie-breaker, the number of games won by all the team's opponents, but again, that isn't certain. The seventh tie-breaker, ranking in points scored and allowed, would almost definitely go to the 49ers, if it actually got to that point.
If SF loses that game and the division, Shanahan's decision not to run the ball late in OT in the first game vs. SE, keeping alive the possibility of a tie, could come back to haunt him. If that game had ended in a tie, SF could lock up the division--and probably the top seed--by winning its next two games.
As for the NFC E, at this point I'm hoping that Dallas and Philly both lose their next two games, then play to a tie in the final game. Then the winner of the division would be 6-9-1, worst ever. And if you think it's a scandal that that team could host a 12-4 or 13-3 WC team, consider that neither SF nor SE has yet even clinched a postseason berth. Though it's very unlikely, one of these teams, or the Rams, could finish 11-5 and not make the postseason. Think about being 11-5 and not playing in the postseason while a team with a losing record does. Ugh.