Sports Q: Is there a team you want the Patriots to avoid in the playoffs?
Discuss your thoughts with Chad Finn and other Patriots fans.
Welcome to Boston.com’s Sports Q, our daily conversation, initiated by you and moderated by Chad Finn, about a compelling topic in Boston sports. Here’s how it works: You submit questions to Chad through Twitter, Facebook, email, and any other outlet you prefer. He’ll pick one each weekday to answer, then we’ll take the discussion to the comments. Chad will stop by several times per day to navigate. But you drive the conversation.
Which potential opponent would you just as soon the Patriots avoid in the playoffs? The choice seems like an easy one to me: the Ravens. Awesome defense, history of not fearing the Patriots, and a quarterback who is kind of a wild card. – Jim S.
That’s probably what I’d say, too, Jim, though I’m not looking past this week. The Jets are going to be a tougher matchup than some might expect, though I figure the Patriots will ultimately win by a decent-sized margin and end up with the No. 2 seed. (Sorry, the Chiefs aren’t losing to the Raiders.)
In terms of the playoffs, I’d probably go with the Ravens, too, though this might be the only year during the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era in which we can say that the Patriots could beat any playoff opponent or lose to any playoff opponent and neither would be a huge surprise.
It’s been an uneven season by the Patriots’ crazy-high standards, but there’s no clear favorite in the conference. The Chiefs dominated early, but they’ve lost their four biggest games of the year, and Andy Reid teams haven’t traditionally peaked in the postseason.
I do know this: If the Patriots get Kansas City along the way, I’ll like the Patriots’ chances to beat them for a second time this season.
The Ravens? They’d be a tough matchup for sure, especially if Brady is still playing like a 41-year-old with an injured knee. I’m not going to doubt Lamar Jackson, either. He’s clearly got a long way to go as a passer, but he’s an electric runner, and someone you could see flashing some star power on the big stage.
So that would be my choice, too — this is a good year to avoid the Ravens. But what does everyone else think? Is there a team you don’t want the Patriots to face in the playoffs? I’ll hear you in the comments.
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