Satchboogie3

That's not the point. The point is that statement assumes that the Colts won BECAUSE they had heart, which also assumes that the Patriots did NOT play with heart, or at least not as much as the Colts. That is just ridiculous. The Pats wanted this game just as much as the Colts. They played with just as much "heart" as the Colts.

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This is the year. We put our failures in the past, it's a new year, a new defense. It's time to prove to the league that the Patriots are back and aren't going anywhere and they will be the last ones standing in Feb.
Update: Well that didn't work out as I had planned. Next year baby, next year 19-0 we go. Next year.

convertedpatsfan

I KNEW the Atlanta call would be coming up

I'm fine with the decision to go for it. I supported it because quite frankly, Manning scared the hell out of me. I would rather let TB try and pick up 2 yards than let our D try and stop a HOFer playing at his peak at home with a timeout and 2-minute stoppage.

It didn't work out, but as the NYT reported earlier, statistically, it was the right move if you're trying to win the game. The odds of conversion leading to victory were higher than the odds of punting away in that situation, let alone to Manning for all the reasons I listed above.

Having said that much, I HATED the actual play call. A 2-yard throw from an empty backfield when you need 2 yards? Why not throw it past the sticks? The spot was a bit questionable, though it did seem like he bobbled it. But the call wasn't a very good one. And why not keep Faulk in the backfield as if he might run the same draw play they ran a kazillion times in the 4th quarter? At least give the defense something to think about.

But the actual decision to go for it? I'm fine with that. Don't forget, the Pats actually completed the play they wanted to. They just didn't get the result they wanted to.

Maroney's fumble, the conservative defense at the end of the game, the inability to run in the 4th quarter, the offensive play calling for most of the 4th quarter all had more to do with the loss than BB's 4th down gamble.

maverick4

I agree that the actual call was moronic. If they knew you were going to try to win the game right there, they should have just pounded the ball on 3rd and 4th down... or at the very least call a play where Brady is under center.

Then, after failing the conversion, why waste time stopping Addai at the goal line.

maverick4

The Colts won because the Pats gave them the game.

Peyton is as good as it gets, but from his own 30 yard line, it's probably only a 50/50 shot he actually scores an epic 2 minute game winning drive. It's not like he was on fire all game, he threw two horrible balls that were picked off earlier.

upstater1

Earlier in the game the Pats were getting a pass rush.

Peyton shredded the Patriots D twice in that same quarter and each time he did it in less than 2 minutes. There was no rush on him.

upstater1

No, I was looking for Ninkovich because the Colts fans were booing him when he got hurt. I wanted to see if he was acting. He wasn't. He was actually hurt.

upstater1

Faulk was the first read and he was open. There was a lot of pressure so he wasn't looking around the field.

By the way, O'Brien did come back with a run on the second timeout.

Here's the play-by-play:

Timeout #2 by NE at 02:23.
1st and 10 at NE 20 (Shotgun) K.Faulk up the middle to NE 20 for no gain (R.Brock).

Bobs My Uncle

O'Brien is a work in progress and who knows how he'll turn out.

With all of the skill players the Pats have on offense, most anyone in here could call plays between the 20's as O'Brien is going. What differentiates the best OC's from the alsorans is what plays are called when the field tightens up and you no longer have all of the field to enact your optimal mismatches with. When you get down in the RZ for example. Our RZ numbers suck this year because the playcalling down there has been horrid.

maverick4

This wasn't on the D. If our D-line was hurt/injured, then play dime and force Peyton to make an epic 70 yard TD drive with 2 minutes left.

mayoclinic

We blew a 17 point lead and gave up 21 points in the 4th quarter. It's on the D. With a big assist from the coaching staff, I grant you.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

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