The Official Post game thread

[Marqui]

Originally Posted by JackBauer

Dude, your jihad against Ninkovich is really pathetic.

It's almost as pathetic as your overrating of him.

[letekro]

Originally Posted by Sciz

As we found out tonight, using your resources to upgrade your coverage and pass rush doesn't really matter if those players aren't on the field. Not a whole lot you can do about that.

It annoys me how fans and commentators alike ignore this critical fact or use the inane "no excuses" mantra. Our defense sucked last year. We added two major difference makers--Talib and Jones. Jones allows Francis to kick inside and be disruptive on 3d down. Talib allows Dennard to play the other team's WR2 and allows ARrington to play the slot, where he excels.

Take those two guys away because of injury, and guess what? we have generally the same defense as last year. No surprise that they couldn't get it done.

On offense, Gronk and Edelman are explosive players. Replacing them with statues like Hooman and Branch is going to hamstring the offense. Big shock.

This team was good this year, just had some bad injuries to key, key players toward the end of the year.

[upstater1]

About Ridley's fumble. Shin down means he's down, right?

[patsinthesnow]

Patriot Missile nailed a positive point that hopefully gets it's own thread tomorrow when this place settles down, Alfonzo Dennard looks like a potential shutdown #1 CB. He's a stud, too bad we had a clueless stiff across from him when Talib went down.

[Patriots_Poet]

we just don't have enough bad guys in the team , we need to be a physical team like the niners and the ravens and seahawks (monster mode is good) , talent only won't go far in such league .

[zoostation]

Originally Posted by pheenix11

I love Tom Brady but he's gone soft. When you can't suck it up and run 5 yards for a wide open first down in crunch time then your heart isn't in it. This was the AFCCG, if you can't sacrifice your body now then when? He doesn't have to be a running QB, but for christ sakes take one for the team when its right there.

I really couldn't believe he didn't run for that 1st down. I don't want to let emotions take over but his demeanor in the pocket is not what it was. Again, don't want to overreact but he wins this game in the earlier part of the decade.

[mcgraw_wv]

Guys, there is no such thing as helmet to helmet with a ball carrier. There is a rule for QBs, and Defenseless Receivers... If you have the ball as a RB, you are never considered defenseless unless your wrapped up and people can then take shots at you.

[Schmo]

I agree. Discipline will avoid penalties and get you wins in the regular season, but when the refs are too afraid to throw flags in the postseason, "dirty" play will help you win. Yes, I'm calling the Ravens dirty, but I'm not condemning them for it.

Even when the Pats still had time in the 4th quarter, you could see it on their faces... they got bullied. "Bend, but don't break" applies to the rules as well.... maybe our D should actually adopt the mentality.

[condon84]

Gutless performance by the entire team.

The Brady brain fart to end the half was inexcusable. A veteran QB, nevertheless someone who's been there in the most critical situations in the biggest of games can't make that mistake. That was Mark Sanchez like.

The Wes Welker experience. He's just not fast enough, and just isn't clutch enough.

Our defensive approach. The biggest disappointment by far. We did not go after Flacco at all until the game was out of reach. Those back to back to back drives for TDs felt inevitable the way our defense just read and reacted. The games leading up to this where our D was aggressive gave us false sense of hope. What a ****!ng letdown these guys were.

Gregory should never be a starting safety if we want to win a championship. He sucks.

Massive disappointment in the way we performed. No real fight in the end. Just laid down and got our @sses kicked.

[blackglass3]

This opinion will not be liked at all, but I am tired of watching these games KNOWING they are going to blow it. Its the same damn thing year after year.

Its time to start over. I appreciate everything Belichick and Brady have done for the franchise. But it just seems like this is the end point. We will never get back over that hump because there is no way to fix a broken philosophy. Belichick has bought into a finesse offense and a bend don't break D. These things don't get it done anymore. If you don't believe me look at the teams playing for the Lombardi in 2 weeks (which I refuse to watch BTW). Monster defense, high quality run games, tough receivers, ballsy coaches who go for the jugular. We have NONE of that here in NE. Call me "spoiled" if you like. But this will be the same result every year until our team philosophy changes.

Oh, and remember when Brady was just a "game manager"? I miss that Brady, he wasn't all hung up on being a superstar.