My humble opinion on the Patriots

[checkers]

gotta thank that spycam thing from the Jets ..The Pats wouldn't be right where they're at now had this scam happened earlier...

they're out to prove all the doubters out there... !!!

Mark down week 14 guys !!!!

[3ebRocks]

3Eb they are allowing 4.2 YPR, 21st in NFL, doubt it's garbage time because teams will be throwing when they are down this much. Teams only run 21 times per game on them (2nd least in NFL) because they are so down. Just my opinion.

Dont know if you stayed up and watched til the end last night but if you did you would have seen Losman scramble for 19 yards and 11 yards on the final drive. Thats 30 yards rushing. 15 ypc when the game was 56-10. GARBAGE TIME. Think about it, if they had rushed 20 times for 80 yards up until that point their average would have been 4.0 ypc. Add those two meaningless carries into the mix and it now becomes 4.5 ypc. and 100 yards rushing. Its very easy to schew those stats and last night is a perfect example.

[3ebRocks]

I agree that the Pats are the best thing since sliced bread.

BUT...


Do you honestly think that Bill's was telling his players all week that that was the gameplan...we will trail in the game by 10 points with 10 minutes to go and then we will come back! Ready...Break! Comon 3eb...


That is rediculous.

I wasnt suggesting that the Patriots gameplan was to fall behind by 10 points going into the fourth quarter. I am merely suggesting that the Patriots are probably very aware that if they need a quick score or two they can get it, therefore felt they didnt need to give Indy a first hand look at how good they really are as to save some for the playoffs. This concept happens very often actually. Not in the middle of the season before the playoffs are locked up, but it certainly does happen.

[GrandPa]

Good points and well-written.

Couple of things to comment on.

1)I too believe they are on a mission. The only thing that could derail the 19-0 season is an injury to Brady, which is unlikely due to the protection he gets, but could happen via cheap shot by someone who is sick of the score-padding. I still think they leave the starters in waaaaaay too long. How much of a lead is enough?

2) I kinda doubt that they were " playing opossum" v Indy. The Colts had beaten them in 3 straight, and represented a severe challenge, and intercepted Brady twice, and I have a difficult time conceiving that those were intentional.

Week 15 prediction:

NE 77
NYJ 3

[3ebRocks]

Again, I am not suggesting that Brady threw interceptions intentionally. That is absolutely ridiculous. And thats not what "playing opossum" really refers to. It doesnt refer to dogging something on purpose then coming out on top. It refers to leaving something in reserve and staying in the background til you are ready to pounce. So no, I never said or suggested that Brady and company are giving up scores or turnovers on purpose. I said it seems they can and do turn it on when they see fit. That is the only thing I can find to explain how they have played 40 quarters of football this year and outplayed their opponent in 37. IMO Dallas is just as good as Indy. Probably better now that the injury bug has hit the Colts. Somehow the Patriots had no problem with Dallas. Or Cleveland. Or San Diego, who just beat the Colts (albeit luckily). And of those 40 quarters the only three quarters they didnt play well were against a team they are sure to face again in the playoffs and whose coach made some disparaging remarks about Bellichick. Bellichick is the master of psychology. At least he thinks he is. And it would not suprise me at all if he installed a gameplan that could keep the game close for 3 quarters just to have Dungy and company feel they can compete.

[roccodean]

But Rocks, over the entire season 1 or 2 garbage time runs (out of 230 rushes in this year so far and 350 over the entire year) will not shoot up the yards per rush.

[3ebRocks]

Rocco, I get where you are coming from and I love the debate we are having so let me try to explain it a better way.

Last night Buffalo had 62 yards rushing on 15 carries for 4.13 yards per carry. On the last drive of the game Losman rushed for 11 yards and 13 yards on two separate carries. (I mistakenly said 19 yards on the second carry before and that was wrong. It was 13). So, that is 24 yards on 2 carries for 12 ypc. Take 24 yards off the 62 and you are left with 38 yards on 13 carries. Thats 2.92 ypc. Huge difference. Now if you multiply that by 10 games, you should be able to see how garbage time affects the game. Sure they throw a lot in garbage time, I agree. But when the losing team has the ball under two minutes down by a boatload of points, often they just run the ball or scramble with the qb a few plays in a row to end the game and get out of there. Just 3 or 4 running plays per game with the Patriots in a prevent defense (3 men on line of scrimmage) could completely exaggerate the rushing numbers when multiplied by games played. Teams abandon run early. So carries are light until the end of game. Then they run just to get off the field in one piece, especially the qb, and move on til next week. And last night is a perfect example.

[wayne1218]

Good for the Patriots, may karma bite them in the ass

Maybe Karma is biting everyone else in the ass now after we got our asses kicked for a good 20 years. Maybe they are just returning the favor a little. Have you ever thought of that?

[kbsooner21]

Maybe Karma is biting everyone else in the ass now after we got our asses kicked for a good 20 years. Maybe they are just returning the favor a little. Have you ever thought of that?

I definitely agree with that. The Pats were whipping boys for years. Payback is a bitch

[jcindaville]

Maybe Karma is biting everyone else in the ass now after we got our asses kicked for a good 20 years. Maybe they are just returning the favor a little. Have you ever thought of that?

No, not looked at that angle.


Karma, it can be a powerful thing

You best be worried about my Steelers, you saw how good they were yesterday

[wayne1218]

No, not looked at that angle.


Karma, it can be a powerful thing

You best be worried about my Steelers, you saw how good they were yesterday

I'm just enjoying the ride like any other fan would be if it was their team.

I'm not stupid, i know we are one Tom Brady injury (That TMAC asked for) away from it all coming to an end.

[wayne1218]

I definitely agree with that. The Pats were whipping boys for years. Payback is a bitch

Kelly, Reed and Thomas used to beat us by 40 points twice a year. It was brutal but i enjoyed watching that offensive machine they had that brought them to 4 straight SB's. The Patriots returned one last night. It's all good and these people who have a hizzy fit over it need to loosen up a little bit.

[kbsooner21]

Kelly, Reed and Thomas used to beat us by 40 points twice a year. It was brutal but i enjoyed watching that offensive machine they had that brought them to 4 straight SB's. The Patriots returned one last night. It's all good and these people who have a hizzy fit over it need to loosen up a little bit.

That's the thing that gets me. I was the only Bills fan in that thread last night, did you hear me crying? HELL NO! I know the way that shit works. Like you said, I can remember those old no huddle days, scoring 40 points every game. Do you stop running your offense at halftime just cause you're up 3 or 4 td's? Hell no you don't! I'll admit and I know you'll attest to it, how big of a hater on the Pats I was even a few weeks back, cause I didn't think they deserved all the praise they were getting, but after they handled the Colts, they deserve some of it. What they are doing to teams IS freaking amazing! They're fun to watch!

[wayne1218]

That's the thing that gets me. I was the only Bills fan in that thread last night, did you hear me crying? HELL NO! I know the way that shit works. Like you said, I can remember those old no huddle days, scoring 40 points every game. Do you stop running your offense at halftime just cause you're up 3 or 4 td's? Hell no you don't! I'll admit and I know you'll attest to it, how big of a hater on the Pats I was even a few weeks back, cause I didn't think they deserved all the praise they were getting, but after they handled the Colts, they deserve some of it. What they are doing to teams IS freaking amazing! They're fun to watch!

kb, I listen to ESPN Radio and Sporting News radio all day every day at work. I also watched Sportscenter last night after the game. Every host, analyst and former player i hear says N.E. is not doing anything wrong and that they are doing what they should and playing their style for 4 qtrs. Most also say if the opposing teams don't llike it, than do something about it and stop them. They are all making basically the same money and they are playing Professional football. Instead of stomping your foot and crying about it, do your job and stop them. Most don't like Belichick and i can easily understand why but they still say don't blame N.E. for being good and playing their game. Like they said, what are they supposed to do, change their playbook every week in the 2nd half and try not to score? That can get dangerous too if you suddenly get complacent and loose your sharpness. Not many QB's play only 3 qtrs. a week in this league and i don't recall this ever happening very often at all. Brady hasn't finished many games this year and you never see that unless an injury is the cause yet people still bitch when he isn't benched at halftime. Records are made to be broken so why shouldn't Brady have the same shot at them that everyone before him has? All this running up the score talk and whining about them happens more at one place than any other and that's HERE. I realize it has something to do with gambling and people who love a different team but it is stupid really.

[tonynico]

But going for it on 4th and 1 inside the 10 late? I know it's a damned if you do or damned if you don't, b/c if they kick the fg, people will complain. But that is the lesser of 2 evils then punching it in for 7. Can't they practice fg's!!!!!