RhodyPatriot

WOW!! I could not believe it when Steve DeOssie came out with that stat today. Very interesting and it backs up my assertion that it's the offense who is the real culprit with this 7 - 5 team. Nobody is saying this is anything but an adequate (by today's NFL standards) D at best but they've been hung out to dry in quite a few games this year by an O that goes to sleep in the 2nd half of games.
DeOssie also had an interesting point in saying that there are no great defenses in the NFL this year and the teams that max out their O's will be the most successful, i.e. Indy, NO, Minn etc.

pats1

I was thinking about that second point last night. There really isn't a dominating defense this season. Specifically, I can't think of any dominating cornerbacks.

PatsFaninME

Not sure that I agree with the premise that this D if even average but I do agree that the offese has to carry this team if they're to go anywhere this season. I think the offensive playcalling has got to improve. For that matter, so does the D playalling. Did anyone else feel that something good happened every time the Pats rushed more than 3-4 guys.

Let all the haters go away because the bus was too crowded with them anyway. I'd love for Pats to be written off come playoff time. Giants proved in '07 that a team can get "hot" and win without being the best team. We just need our O to get hot and our D to continue to improve.

Let's remember that lasst year most of us (me included) were saying they were old and slow and needed to get younger and faster. Not many teams can go 7-5 (and I believe they'll finish 11-5) and win there division during such a transition phase.

Deus Irae

1.) The offense is still winning the TOP battle, leaving the defense on the field for fewer minutes. It's just not converting in, or near, the red zone, and that's been the difference in every loss but one.

2.) The Patriots have played a lot of lousy offenses.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

BionicPatriot

Thank you. Against good offenses, they struggle. In game winning situations outside of the miracle against the Ravens, well lets not talk about that.

This defense is so overrated it's freaking ridiculous. If I hear one more stupid "re-building" excuse from someone I'm gonna slam my head in the monitor cuz I've heard that talk since 2005 and it isn't getting better.

That said, this OL is killing this team. They really need to fix the right side.

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Defense, defense, defense

DougFlutie

The Patriots have played horrible Bucs and Titans defenses which have skewed their offensive stats. The Patriots were shut down by two rookie Colts corners in the 2nd half. The Patriots offense was shut down by a Saints defense missing 2 starting corners and with 1 starting safety who signed a week before.

In the 5 losses the offense has averaged 3.5 points in the 2nd half.

In the past 27 minutes of the Dolphins game the Patriots offense scored 0 points.


The offense is largely responsible for most of this 7-5 team's 5 losses.

RhodyPatriot

1) TOP is so misleading. WHEN is the Patriots offense dominating in TOP?
In the 4th quarter when the D needs some help?? Nope!!!
They dominated TOP in the Dolphins game in the 1st quarter and did nothing after that.
Take the Colts game.
The D forced Peyton Manning into 7 punts and 2 INT's.
Problem was Peyton Manning was allowed FOURTEEN possessions. 14!!
This Patriot offense did not use ball control to manage the clock thus keeping Manning on the sidelines in the 4th quarter.
The D ran literally out of defensive front bodies in the 4th quarter and needed the O to burn some clock.
Did it happen? Nope!
TOP is important in the 4th quarter when trying to close out a game.
The Patriots have been awful against the good teams.

2) What kind of offenses did the '04 Pats face?? Anyone as good as Brees and these Saints??

Patspsycho

Revis says hi. He shut down Moss and TO basically.

Deus Irae

See, this is the sort of ignorance that must be stomped out. The defense made Chad Henne look like Peyton Manning, and you're *****ing about the offense. It's been a team failing all season long.

Now, since you were banned, why are you here?

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

PATSYLICIOUS

2 points is a significant dropoff, but it's not bad considering offense is supposed to be a clear strength on this team now. Aside from the NO loss and partially the Colts loss, the offense and it's 2nd half ineptitude has been the culprit. And why do people keep bringing up the supposed weak opponents? That's how it is every year... you face some good teams and you face alot of bad teams. So we faced awesome teams week in week out in 2004?