A Look at the Schedule - Page 2 - New England Patriots Forums

PATSYLICIOUS · 10-16-2009, 10:58 AM

The next 2 games are absolute must-wins. Can't take them for granted. But win those 2 and we are in good shape.

Miami is sneaking back into the race. After their bye they have a very difficult 3 game stretch (NO, @ NYJ, @ NE), if they can somehow take 2 of 3 there, the rest of their schedule is quite favorable (only 2 teams with winning records, and there's always an outside chance Pittsburgh could have nothing to play for on that last week. Unlikely with Cinci and Balti to deal with but you never know).

The Jets also have a very favorable schedule and Indy/Cincy are late in the season. Indy typically lays down once they clinch so that could pose a problem for us. Obviously, the rematch with them is another must-win.

Normally I'd say there's nothing to worry about in terms of getting to the postseason, but after going 11-5 and missing out last year it's hard to relax.

***mgteich*** · 10-16-2009, 11:06 AM

I don't see why the colts and giants are mentioned. They are the elite teams (with the saints, broncos and minny) and we are in the playoff mix, with a likely 12-4 or 11-5 finish.
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We have a tough five game stretch after the bye. We shouldn't lose any outside of those; but anything can happen. I see it as

current 3-2
5 games after the bye 2-3
other games 6-0

***PatsWickedPissah*** · 10-16-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PATSYLICIOUS

The next 2 games are absolute must-wins. Can't take them for granted. But win those 2 and we are in good shape.

Miami is sneaking back into the race. After their bye they have a very difficult 3 game stretch (NO, @ NYJ, @ NE), if they can somehow take 2 of 3 there, the rest of their schedule is quite favorable (only 2 teams with winning records, and there's always an outside chance Pittsburgh could have nothing to play for on that last week. Unlikely with Cinci and Balti to deal with but you never know).

The Jets also have a very favorable schedule and Indy/Cincy are late in the season. Indy typically lays down once they clinch so that could pose a problem for us. Obviously, the rematch with them is another must-win.

Normally I'd say there's nothing to worry about in terms of getting to the postseason, but after going 11-5 and missing out last year it's hard to relax.

Good points.

My head will implode if I have to read a spate of articles in January about how the Pats are the one and only team to have gone 11-5 and missed the playoffs twice, esp 2 yrs in a row. Rest assured, EVERY single pundit would write an article about it during the playoff season.

Deus Irae · 10-16-2009, 11:25 AM

The Patriots struggle against the Dolphins almost every year, and a split there is certainly not out of the question. People are acting as if this is the 2007 team when, right now, it's not even as good as the 2008 team. This team plays an offense that is built around the quarterback and, right now, the quarterback is struggling. Until that changes, this team will be very capable of losing against every team it plays.

Buffalo and Tampa should be pretty much marked down as "wins". Every other team on the schedule is more than capable of beating the Patriots that we've seen playing through 5 games this season.

***mgteich*** · 10-16-2009, 11:38 AM

I agree that the patriots we have seen so far are capable of losing to almost anyone. If there are no improvements, I think this is teams could be 8-8. But I do expect improvement on both sides of the ball.

For example, it wll be good to see Mayo and Seau lining up in the 3-4 for some of the game. Ten days ago, it was Guyton in the 4-3 with no effective options in the 3-4. I also expect Brady to be improved coming out of the bye. Perhaps not producing at an all-pro level, but improved nontheless.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deus Irae

The Patriots struggle against the Dolphins almost every year, and a split there is certainly not out of the question. People are acting as if this is the 2007 team when, right now, it's not even as good as the 2008 team. This team plays an offense that is built around the quarterback and, right now, the quarterback is struggling. Until that changes, this team will be very capable of losing against every team it plays.

Buffalo and Tampa should be pretty much marked down as "wins". Every other team on the schedule is more than capable of beating the Patriots that we've seen playing through 5 games this season.

cavtroop · 10-16-2009, 11:45 AM

I think we don't have enough info yet to prognosticate on the rest of the year.

We will after this game against TEN, though. If we don't win by a TD+, I'm going to be worried about the rest of the year. Everyone has beat up on TEN, and I fully expect us to, also. We'll see how it plays out though.

Metaphors · 10-16-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgteich

I don't see why the colts and giants are mentioned. They are the elite teams (with the saints, broncos and minny) and we are in the playoff mix, with a likely 12-4 or 11-5 finish.

I mentioned them because if you put this Pats team against the opponents on their schedule, they are likely 5-0 as well, Brady and his receivers would likely appear to be "on the same page" and the comparisons to 2007 would be "striking" instead of "unfair".

My point is that the perception of a team is greatly influenced by their competition. The Colts and Giants are 1-2 in most power rankings (for what that is worth) but both were "uneven" in their 1st two games and "dominant" since against below average to very poor teams.

Not putting down the Colts and Giants. They beat the teams on their schedule, which is all the league allows them to do. Just saying that the "facts" about teams today based on a difficult/easy segment of the schedule will likely be very different from the "facts" later in the season.

***MoLewisrocks*** · 10-16-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metaphors

I started this thread because I was tired of hearing how dominant the Giants and Colts were, while the Pats and Packers (just to pick a similar team) are in trouble.

Giants:
- 6 pt. win against Skins at home
- 2 pt. win against over-rated Cowboys
- Blowouts against Bucs, Chiefs and Raiders

Colts:
- 2 pt. win against Jags at home
- 4 pt. win after being dominated by Fins
- Blowouts against Cards, Hawks (injured Hasselbeck) and Titans

They have played 1 legit opponent each and they easily could have lost those games. They each opened with lackluster wins and have been on cruise control for the last 3 weeks against poor competition. In the Giants case, against historically poor competition.

In the next month, the Giants face NO, Philly and SD. Let's listen to the opinions on the G-men and Pats after this stretch. The point is that the Giants or Pats won't be significantly different than how they are now. They will just look that way based on the competition they face...and the "draw a final conclusion after every game" crowd will see the world completely different from how they do now.

I wish the Colts had a similar story, but unfortunately they don't. Between their division (6 games), the NFC west (4 games) and the bottom of the AFC east (Buffalo), the Colts get 11 wins just for signing their name on the schedule.

Jeesh, your like the voice of reason. How dare you try and bring that logic to a message board.

***PatsFanSince74*** · 10-16-2009, 11:52 AM

the only reason i'm not jumping all over this attempt at guessing what's going to happen 10 weeks from now is that it's at least a positive thread after all the negativity we've had out here...

...so, yeah, go for it...12--4, four game winning streak, rocking into the playoffs or whatever...i'll sign up for that program!

Deus Irae · 10-16-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metaphors

I mentioned them because if you put this Pats team against the opponents on their schedule, they are likely 5-0 as well, Brady and his receivers would likely appear to be "on the same page" and the comparisons to 2007 would be "striking" instead of "unfair".

My point is that the perception of a team is greatly influenced by their competition. The Colts and Giants are 1-2 in most power rankings (for what that is worth) but both were "uneven" in their 1st two games and "dominant" since against below average to very poor teams.

Not putting down the Colts and Giants. They beat the teams on their schedule, which is all the league allows them to do. Just saying that the "facts" about teams today based on a difficult/easy segment of the schedule will likely be very different from the "facts" later in the season.

The Patriots almost lost to the Bills. The Patriots have only looked "on the same page" for about 7 minutes of the season outside of the Atlanta game. Brady is missing throws to every receiver and every receiver is dropping passes Despite the way the Patriots have used the inactive list, Galloway is certainly not the only receiver that Brady is not in sync with, every receiver fits that description. The problem hasn't been the opposition.