mayoclinic

Addendum to the previous post. Under The Pats as an Elite Team: Con please add:

8. 2 of the 5 wins and 87 of the +100 point difference has come in the past 2 games, against teams which were 0-14 in their first 7 games. For the first 5 games the Pats were 3-2 and +13 against teams which went 21-14 over their first 7 games. The next 5 games are against teams which have gone 24-11 over their first 7 games, including two teams who have gone 7-0 and > +100.

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Mike the Brit

Week 9

(After the bye week). I was going to give myself another post, but mayoclinic has said what I would want to say -- but better. So just see above. In short, there's pro and con. We'll know a lot more on Sunday evening.

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They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Well, Pats fans should be invincible by now. [Fitzy, 16 November 2009]

Still here to learn

AndyJohnson

Hard to tell if the last 2 weeks tell us much. On one hand, thos were bad teams, on the other, we looked as dominant as 2007.
Other than the fact we have lost 2 games we should have won its hard to find faults with this team. I guess those 2 losses accent the potential fault, not being able to finish, but we all have a great set of rationalizations for that.
I dont see the Fins posing much of a problem. Not to say it will necessarily be a blowout, but I see little chance of losing to them.
The 3 that follow will be critical. At this point I see a typical close game with Indy that could go either way. F Dave Thomas. I see us beating the Saints (I dont believe they are complete) and pounding the Jets.
I still see 13-3 or 12-4 and an appearance in the AFCC.
I am not concerned about Denver taking the homefield advanage from us, I see them 11-5 or so. I think the Indy game is going to decide where the AFCC game is.
I think today that we are as good as anyone and have as good a chance as anyone to win the SB. I also think that given BBs history we will improve more from today on that any other contender (injuires aside).

I am very confident about our chances of winning the SB this season.

convertedpatsfan

WOW that bye week felt so much longer. I'm really excited for today's game.

Indy's next week, but it's dangerous to overlook the Dolphins. They were the team that broke our NFL record win streak (when Brady was hurt), they started the Wildcat against us, and the 6-10 Dolphins of 2006 were also the last team to shut us out. It shouldn't be close, but we've lost enough games we shouldn't have to this team, so I'm not going to chalk up the victory just yet.

This game should tell us quite a bit about this team. The last two victories came against the dregs of the NFL. Miami has struggled, but they're the defending division champs, they're undefeated within the division, and they almost took out New Orleans.

But I feel really good about our chances. Brady is back, our defense is getting better, and we're fresh off our bye. I'm hoping for a big statement win. But really, I'm just dying for the game to start. It's been so long. 3+ hours???

signbabybrady

SBB's week 10 thoughts.

Very nice win yesterday and we have now created some breathing room with in the division but it doesn't mean much with the tight race for the top two seeds but what does mean alot is this weeks game vs the Colts. If we want a bye this one is a must win.

Good thing is I think we match up well vs them. Our secondary seems to be a strength and our offense can keep up with anyone.

....

I think we played well last week except for a few option plays that Pat White ran and the red zone struggles.

.....

Big disapointment this week in the crowd which was very quit for a key division game. I know the crowd is a quit one but this one was bad and this season has actually been pretty good up until this one. Us Fans in attendance need to kick it up.

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Leave No Doubt

The Fishies gave the Pats a good game which was good! I'm most encouraged by the fact that each week they continue to improve in just about all aspects of the game but the biggest plus of all, at least for me, was AD making some key plays.

If AD continues the kind of heads-up playing he showed on Sunday that will be HUGE, HUGE, HUGE!

The Pats are exactly how they should be; improving every week and stepping it up during crunch time. Eyes on the prize, GO PATS! And keep it up AD, we love it

On to Indy; the Pats look Ready.

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chris_in_sunnyvale

Post-Weeks 8 & 9:

The bye week had no chance against the juggernaut that is NE.

As for Miami, I expected Sparano to spring something new against the Pats and he did: The WildPat. After some major flashbacks to last year's Wildcat debut that tore into NE, it appears the Pats were ready to counter new wrinkles this time and quickly subdued the formation. Without a functioning Wildcat/WildPat, Miami really doesn't have much left on offense and it showed. Henne looks like he'll be good down the road, but he's still young. His WRs are garbage. I don't think a single throw was made to try and stretch the field. On D, Miami really couldn't stop the Pats and only the Pats fizzling out in the red zone kept the game close through 3 quarters. This was a team the Pats should have beaten if they are to be considered one of the AFC's elite.

It's Pats/Colts Week! Sing it with me..."It's the most...wonderful time...of the yeeaaaar." This week is extra special as the Colts are 8-0 and making a run at NE's regular-season winning streak record, so a win here is big on many levels. Even though the game is in their house and they're undefeated, this is the most vulnerable Colts team in recent years as injuries have piled up on the defensive side of the ball and Peyton's receivers are collectively his weakest in a long time. Still, Manning continues to amaze as he has played at an MVP level this year and both Wayne and Clark have stepped up in the absence of Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzales. Despite the injuries on D, the Colts still have probably the best pair of pass-rushing DEs in the league which is a monstrous asset, one that has given Brady problems in the past. Still, I think the Colts are outmanned in this one and it will cost them their first loss of the year.

I said two weeks ago: "When Denver drops 3 or 4 straight later this year, I'll be nodding silently." Well, there's 2 so far and Orton is looking like I thought he would. I knew the Pats played him wrong . Cincy swept the Ravens and are right there at 6-2 and doing it with good D...they're no fluke. Pittsburgh is playing title-contending football as expected now that Polamalu is definitely back...and they have the tiebreaker over NE right now for playoff seeding so we need someone (Baltimore?) to knock them off. Speaking of the Ravens, how the mighty have fallen. They still have talent, though, and will bounce back. Let's see how NY gets back on track after their bye. San Diego is quietly making a move in the West as they have been playing better all around, so I'm keeping an eye on them. In the end, though, Indy is the top team in the AFC until someone knocks them down. Expect NE to do that Sunday night.

Regards,
Chris

Mike the Brit

Week 10

This one's the big one. The Patriots got past the Dolphins without too much to spare and played well in some respects -- the O-line holding Porter and Taylor was impressive. But the weaknesses remain: I can't see a third receiver; the run blocking isn't overwhelming; the D has its moments but it isn't Pittsburgh. Still hoping for the best, but not over-confident about the weekend.

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My prized possessions: Our family pictures; my dad and me getting doused by Bruschi in Super Bowl XXXIX [Shalize Manza Young Up Close with ... Bill Belichick]


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They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Well, Pats fans should be invincible by now. [Fitzy, 16 November 2009]

Still here to learn

mayoclinic

State of the Pats - Week 10

Not much new to add over last week's lengthy post.

The data still says we are one of the elite teams in the league:

1. One of only 8 teams at 6-2 or better; only 3 teams with better records: Indy, NO and Minnesota.

2. One of only 2 teams in top 5 on offense and defense.

3. Number 2 in scoring defense (behind Indy) at 14.4 PPG.

4. Number 2 in points differential (behind NO) at +110 points over 8 games.

5. As talented and deep across the board as any team in the league.

But there are still lingering question marks, despite the nice division win over the fins, particularly the red zone offense, commitment to the running game, and run defense. We are near the bottom of the league in terms of red zone efficiency, and we blew numerous chances to put the game against the Fins out of reach early. We still haven't scored a point in the road in the second half (not counting Wembley, which was neutral), and are 0-2 in our true road games so far with 5 road games remaining (Indy, NO, Miami, Buffalo and Houston) out of 8 games.

I'm still making no predictions. Win this game and we're the dominant team in the AFC until proven otherwise, even if Indy finishes with a better record. Win our next 3 games and I think we can win out end finish 14-2 and have home field throughout the playoffs, which was my initial prediction for the season. (I think Pittsburgh loses at least one of its 3 games left with Cincy, Baltimore and Baltimore). Lose the next 3 (or possibly even 2 out of 3) and we will be fighting for the division title and the #4 seed.

I think we should beat the Colts decisively if we bring our A game. Our defense has the ability to contain the Colts offense and hold them to under 20 PPG. Our offense has the capability to shred Indy's secondary and run effectively against them. I don't think Manning has seen a secondary like Meriweather, McGowan, Chung, Bodden and Butler in a long time. But the Colts are more consistent than we are right now, and aren't blowing as many chances. If we don't bring our A game and especially if we continue to blow our red zone opportunities I could easily see us losing this game.

My biggest concerns right now for the Colts game are (1) Meriweather being available and healthy, (2) how Vollmer and Kaczur do against Freeney and Mathis, and (3) making sure we don't do another meltdown like we did against the Broncos with a passive gameplan and no running game. We need to stay balanced, aggressive and attacking.

It's time to put up or shut up.

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Its_The_Patriots

Week 10 Patriots/Colts:

I've been looking forward to this game! All I want is for this Patriots team to come out strong and finish strong. I'd like to really see our offense explode, and for the defense to play tough, physical, and find a way to get some pressure on Manning. This game will probably be the game of the week. I have high hopes in this game, and if the Pats can play smart, they should come away with a Win.

No injuries please!

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