As close as the playoff race is this year, the AFC East could come down to the Strength of Victory tiebreaker. If Miami ran the table and NE lost one game down the stretch (they still have 2 road games remaining), then NE and Miami would have identical records. If NE's loss was to either Buffalo, J'ville or Houston, Miami would win the AFC East on Div or Conf record (straightforward tiebreaker). If, however, NE's loss was this week to Carolina, Miami would still have the tiebreaker advantage (for now).

As both NE and Miami would have identical Div and Conf records, the 4th tiebreaker would be Strength of Victory (which is the combined win % of teams each squad has beat). If NE lost to Carolina and won the rest of their games (and Miami ran the table), we will have beaten identical teams with the following exceptions (Miami will have beat Carolina, Pittsburg and NY Jets while NE will have beat Atlanta, Baltimore & Buffalo). Currently, Carolina, Pitt and the Jets have a total 17 wins while Atl, Baltimore and Buffalo have a combined 16 wins. Tie-breaker advantage = Miami.

What's this all mean... well, we need to root for Carolina, Pitt (except game against us) and Cryin' Ryan & the Jets the rest of the way and hope that Atlanta, Baltimore and the Bills lose the rest of the way (except Bills game vs. NE).

Bottom line ... we have no path to get there except to win out.

We have had ans still have the toughest schedule, but if we get to the playoffs ... we will have played most of the caliber of teams that will be there ... thus deserving of entry.

If we don't we have zero margin to get there other wise and in my humble opinion would not s=deserve to be there.

The ultra embarassing loss to the Bills almost puts us out of playoff deservedness IMHO anyway.