The official Patriots vs Colts POST game thread

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

The only complaint I really have about this team is that they seem to take their foot off the gas way too much. I want us goin back to 2007 days when we never stopped trying to score until it was a billion to one shot of the other team comin back.

[Metaphors]

While Cunningham is getting much deserved credit for the pressure on Manning (the decision was horrific but Cunningham turned the throw into a punt), nobody is talking about the fact that Cunningham was tackled on that play. Cunningham clears the edge as Manning is about to begin his throw...and then Diem locks his right arm and takes him to the ground.

If you aren't going to call holding on that play, you just aren't going to call it. I don't know why the officials seem intent on reinforcing the "Manning Comeback" narrative, but it is really hard to dismiss at this point. When your offense is able to hold, your receivers get flags on any contact while your DBs never have to worry about illegal contact or PI...well it makes a comeback almost inevitable.

It really puts the Pats at a severe disadvantage to be up big in the 2nd half (as crazy as that sounds). In a close game, the officials don't have the opportunity to get caught up in the comeback frenzy. Any calls (or non-calls) would not be seen as THE call that changed the whole flow of the game.

Give the Pats (and Cunningham in particular) credit for coming up big in a huge spot. Give Manning all the blame since that decision was borderline incompetent. Even if the throw wasn't altered, McCourty had Garcon blanketed and would have been in good position to break up the pass. Of course he would have had to do it without brushing, bumping or otherwise upsetting Garcon.

[blackglass3]

Originally Posted by Metaphors

While Cunningham is getting much deserved credit for the pressure on Manning (the decision was horrific but Cunningham turned the throw into a punt), nobody is talking about the fact that Cunningham was tackled on that play. Cunningham clears the edge as Manning is about to begin his throw...and then Diem locks his right arm and takes him to the ground.

If you aren't going to call holding on that play, you just aren't going to call it. I don't know why the officials seem intent on reinforcing the "Manning Comeback" narrative, but it is really hard to dismiss at this point. When your offense is able to hold, your receivers get flags on any contact while your DBs never have to worry about illegal contact or PI...well it makes a comeback almost inevitable.

It really puts the Pats at a severe disadvantage to be up big in the 2nd half (as crazy as that sounds). In a close game, the officials don't have the opportunity to get caught up in the comeback frenzy. Any calls (or non-calls) would not be seen as THE call that changed the whole flow of the game.

Give the Pats (and Cunningham in particular) credit for coming up big in a huge spot. Give Manning all the blame since that decision was borderline incompetent. Even if the throw wasn't altered, McCourty had Garcon blanketed and would have been in good position to break up the pass. Of course he would have had to do it without brushing, bumping or otherwise upsetting Garcon.

That's not just the Colts...holding rarely gets called on the last minute drives. The NFL wants excitement, and a team "getting screwed" on a holding penalty with 45 seconds left is not good for buisness.

The "2 minute drill" has gone from what seperates the great QB's from the good ones, to a weekly exercise in lacadasical officiating.

[D-Money]

Lets be honest here.I am sure everyone here thought we was gonna lose that ballgame on that last manning drive.We got away with one and sometime its better to be lucky then good.Once again this damn coaching staff gets conservative holding a big league!It seems like it happens in every second half of the ball game.They where very flat in that second half and sitting on a big lead.Someone needs to tell BB and O'Brien that football is 4 quarters and no lead is safe especially against a guy like Manning!

[Brady2Welker]

To the people complaining about the Pats not dominating the colts. Only a few times have we just wiped the floor with him. Probably 2-3 times at most. One of the greatest games in all of modern Patriots history was what NFL films called "The longest Yard". When McGinest was table to do that amazing TFL on fourth down on the goal line with seconds left. As much as we hate Manning, he's an icredible QB and he's very very hard to stop. It was not pure luck by the defense that we did, it was well earned.

[ATippett56]

Originally Posted by Joker

and if Edelman STOPPED like he was supposed to, as explained post game, the ball would have hit his hands in FRONT of that LB. If that ball was meant for Welker it would have been up higher, not chest high where it hit the LB'er. I'm assuming I have the same game recording you do and I see what you mean but YOU don't seem to want to believe what I HEARD post game. Fine. You win.

Well if Edelman did not run the correct route, then it's time for Edelman to spend some time on the deactivated list. Dropped passes and bad route running is not what Tom Brady needs right now.

[the Patriot]

Originally Posted by Brady2Welker

To the people complaining about the Pats not dominating the colts. Only a few times have we just wiped the floor with him. Probably 2-3 times at most. One of the greatest games in all of modern Patriots history was what NFL films called "The longest Yard". When McGinest was table to do that amazing TFL on fourth down on the goal line with seconds left. As much as we hate Manning, he's an icredible QB and he's very very hard to stop. It was not pure luck by the defense that we did, it was well earned.

Yes, but the offense's failure to convert in the 4th quarter really doesn't help. All we needed was to sustain one drive and we win the game. Instead we put Manning in position to almost have 3 scores in the last 8 minutes.

[Brady2Welker]

Originally Posted by the Patriot

Yes, but the offense's failure to convert in the 4th quarter really doesn't help. All we needed was to sustain one drive and we win the game. Instead we put Manning in position to almost have 3 scores in the last 8 minutes.

Oh, I absolutely agree with the fact that the offense basically rolled over in the fourth. I'm just saying the defense did well, all things considered.

[ATippett56]

Originally Posted by Brady2Welker

To the people complaining about the Pats not dominating the colts.

It's more the frustration of the New England Patriots playing 60 minutes of football, on both sides of the football especially in the tenth game of the season.

[DaBruinz]

Originally Posted by Joker

and if Edelman STOPPED like he was supposed to, as explained post game, the ball would have hit his hands in FRONT of that LB. If that ball was meant for Welker it would have been up higher, not chest high where it hit the LB'er. I'm assuming I have the same game recording you do and I see what you mean but YOU don't seem to want to believe what I HEARD post game. Fine. You win.

As for what you "heard", who said it on WEEI? Who were they interviewing? Why is it that other journalists (Reiss/Breer) haven't mentioned this?

BTW, Tom Brady disagrees with you. Brady was going for WES. He said so today on D&C..

Tom Brady on WEEI - 11/22/2010

Listen at around the 8:20 mark..

"Yeah. Yeah. That was just a terrible read by me. I was just trying to jam it in to Wes..... "

I'll take Tom Brady's word for it over yours..