Quite a few questions coming in about who I want the Pats to face in the playoffs. Before that though, I really don’t think it matters who they play, it depends entirely on them.
If they put together 60 minutes of their best football, they can beat any team in the NFL. If they are hot and cold, don’t force turnovers, turn the ball over themselves, they probably won’t get out of the divisional round.
That said, I think the Colts are the best matchup, but the game I’d most like to see is a rematch with the Bengals. I think the Patriots, playing at home in the rematch, would have the motivation and the experience from their first game to beat the Bengals. That would be a great game and one I think the Pats win 66 percent of the time.
I think they beat the Colts maybe 75 percent of the time, but the game against them just isn’t as enticing as seeing the Bengals.
The Chiefs scare me because there’s an element of the unknown with them and they had fewer giveaways that anyone else in the NFL. If the Pats don’t get interceptions or force fumbles, it will likely be a one possession game that comes down to the final minute.
The Chiefs matchup well on the Patriots as well. The Pats would have no linebacker who could cover Jamaal Charles, their pass rushers on the edge are good, but they also have Poe in the middle who could give hobbled Mankins/Wendell/Connolly problems.
All in all, the Chiefs have the elements necessary to beat the Patriots. Or better put, not beat themselves against the Patriots.