11-03-2020, 10:05 PM
(11-03-2020, 02:13 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Before anyone thinks I've got absolutely mad, please know that I'm not letting one game completely change my mind on this team. (It was a really nice win though)
There are reports out now that the NFL is strongly considering moving to a 16 team (8 in each conference) playoffs for this season. What they're saying that would make this all but inevitable is if any team has to cancel a game without a remaining bye, or if he a game is played where a team is forced to play missing multiple players. Apparently, adding a week 18 is off the table. This is where the expanded playoffs come in.
So, that is really the point of this thread. The potential of expanded playoffs. And according to Adam Schefter it's very likely to happen.
That changes things quite a bit. Now, do I think that, even with 8 AFC's teams potentially getting in, that we have a great chance? No. But....but, it's not completely out of the question.
We currently sit at 2-5-1. Even if we lose to the Steelers (we could beat them), which would put us at 2-6-1, all is not lost. Are next 4 game are as follows: @Washington, Giants, @ Dolphins, Cowboys.
Could we run those stretch of games? Could we win 3 of 4? What do we look like at 2-2?
If this team is sitting at, say, 5-7-1, we would at least be in the hunt for a final spot. I'm not saying we'll get one, but at least the last month of the season would be exciting with meaningful games.
Now here's what we're looking at with the final 3 games: Steelers, @Texans, Ravens.
The Texans game is definitely winnable, as they stink and are in the midst of a complete regime change. The Ravens, while very good, is the last week of the season. What happens if they rest their starters? And the Steelers, if you just chalked up next week as a loss, and can you automatically penciled them in for 0-2?
I'm not sold on this team at all, but a lot of these scenarios intrigue me. And in a year like this, if we get to 7-8-1, that will give us a chance at the 8th spot. If we somehow got to 8-7-1 then I'd guess we'd be all but a lock.
Just food for thought. Might want to watch for the playoff developments, and keep your fingers crossed that we can at least make this interesting.
Hey man, anything is possible with what you say here, very interesting. I am not throwing anything out at this point.
With Burrow playing the way he has, us getting this bye at the right time, our weapons looking more than decent and our Safeties
playing this well along with our young players at LB and on the DL we could pull off some wins, more than a few. Taylor finally does
not look completely inept at calling plays. Same with Turner with the OL and the D under Lou could get better with Hubbard coming
back and bringing in another pass rusher. Geno might look better after the bye who knows?
In the end agree with Big Boss though, Lou is pretty terrible. We got bailed out by some plays against the Titans.
Won't ever happen against the Steelers.
