JoeSixPat

Wow - first of all I don't think anyone's been making excuses for the Defense - they haven't really needed to.

As far as the offense, does everyone REALLY think this team is playing as well as the SB winners in 2001, 2003, & 2004?

Trivia question for you all. How many teams have the Patriots beaten this year who have winning records?

Now here's an easier one. How many teams with .500 records or less do you expect we'll face in the playoffs?

I'm not all that down on the team - but I don't try to kid myself either.

I'm not just a homer who sees only the good and none of thebad. If they play as inconsistently as they have been playing to date, we're in for a big disappointment. And that includes the coaching.

If they play like they are capable of playing - with no more excuses about a "new" offense creeping into their minds - this will be another great offseason.

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pats1

How many teams with winning records (at season's end) did the Pats beat in 2001?

1. The 10-6 New York Jets. (By a mind-boggling blowout score of 17-16, too)

The offense?

I think it's safe that A) The offensive personnel on the team right now trumps the 2001 squad by lightyears, and edges out the Antowain-attack of the 2003 offense and that B) The methodical precision of the 2001, 2003, and 2004 offenses wasn't replicated earlier on in the season, but has come on as of late, the Jets and Colts games notwithstanding.

There seems to be some mythical assumption out there that the 2003 and 2004 teams had shutdown defenses, light-em-up offenses, and dominated their opponents at every turn. Not true.

As Reiss puts it:

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal...eiss/11_21_06/

Enough with this 'homer' crap too. PatsNutMe both live in Homerville and are proud of it.

If you want to stay skeptical, continually reminding yourself of how many teams with winning records the Pats have beaten, that's fine. But nobody is care come playoff time. It's the second season. Every team is 0-0. Enough with the winning probabilities of each seed. Enough with how the team performs during the regular season. In the regular season, the objective is to MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, any way possible! In fact, I consider each ROUND of the playoffs to be a separate season. Once that NFL Playoff logo is painted on the field, it's only the 60 minutes of football that week that matter. From there, the sole objective is to get to the next round - the next season.

Whether you win 3-0 or 30-0 in the first round of the playoffs has no bearing on the second round. Whether you beat 8 'quality' teams or 0 'quality' teams in the regular season has no bearing on the playoffs.

Seymour93

It would be interesting to look at all the stats for our opponents and compare the one's we've lost to and the one's we've won against. But then again arguing over stats is for Colts fans. The 70,000, including the QB himself, who were there can tell you the offense, despite the stats, wasn't clicking against the Broncos, Colts, Jets, and wasn't anything special against the Bills and Dolphins either.

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RayClay

No one said their offense has been clicking on all cylinders. Those are the stats using a new running back and 4 new receivers. 3 of the receivers had virtually no training camp.

I think they're going to get better.

Did I think that when they were using Stokes and Ward at the end of seasons? No.

Fortunately the Patriots play one game at a time and don't worry or quit as long as they have practice and games to improve.

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JoeSixPat

Yup - guess I am imagining things -

Thanks for correcting me guys.

This team is playing better ball than any we've ever had on the field. The lackluster performances are no doubt designed to lull opponents into complacency and we can take comfort that come February, the true fans will be reminding us that we just need to give everyone a little bit more time.

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RayClay

I guess it's how you look at it.

I thought 35-0 was pretty good, but I guess all but three games are exhibition season.

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PatsSteve1

[QUOTE=pats1;246827]OK, thanks for enlightening me.

* Well someone has to - It's what's called a prediction. Ever make one?
IMO, the Patriots need to beat the Bears for thier own confidence. They know they haven't beaten a top team in 2 years and have now lost 3 games at home this year. (last year's win against the Steelers was before they went on THIER run which I guess you think meant nothing to thier confidence) I would rather the Patriots beat the Bears and lose another game later in the year than lose to the Bears and not lose another game. That's what's called an opinion.

MrBigglesWorth

You honestly think Vinny was brought in to be a quarterback? I believe he was brought in to take the palce of Doug FLutie and I think the Pats offense is missing that presence more than we know and think.

RayClay

[QUOTE=PatsSteve1;246990]I guess Brady will eventually gain confidence in himself. We can only hope.

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pats1

[quote=PatsSteve1;246990]Predictions are bull****.

And if the Patriots need to beat the Bears for playoff confidence, you aren't watching the same Pats I have.