PatsFanInVa

"Defense Wins Championships"

98 Vikings. The Colts, most of this decade (BBS, or "Before Bob Sanders.") The Chargers in the Coryell era.

Two formulas are used when describing championship teams: "They're just the more complete/balanced team," and "defense wins championships."

I'm not dogging our defense. We might be one of those teams where there's "just enough D" to get it done.

I also note we're still the prohibitive favorites to go all the way.

But if anything keeps me up at night, it's this. The weather is getting colder, and we're getting down to the nitty gritty.

Don't hate me... I am noting the history and noting the cliches they've boiled that down to, and saying It worries me.

Discuss.

PFnV

apricissimus

The Patriots defense is currently 4th in the NFL in both yards allowed per game and points allowed per game.

I hope that makes you sleep better.

Michigan Dave

Funny, I was looking at this cover at my desk yesterday.

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RussFrancis

Let me put your mind at ease. First of all, the teams you mentioned WERENT the Patriots. Those old Vikings and Colts teams. Those teams had never won rings. Specifically THREE rings. They also didnt have Tom Brady. They were also DOME teams, which are typically softer teams built to run on a track. Dont let the smooth taste fool ya with this team. This is NOT a finesse team. They may not be running the ball a ton this season, but these guys still play POWER football. Noone. Noone. NOONE is going to tell Vince Wilfork, Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Vrabel, Thomas, Seau, etc etc etc that they are a FINESSE team. Who's going to tell one of those guys that?? I can see it now. "Hey, Big Vince. So, you guys seem to be playing SOFT this year. When did you start playing with finesse?" Big Vince would finesse that reporter's head faster than he could fart.

Look, scoring is big. Obviously youd rather score alot than a little. But look how have the Pats closed the deal in the 5 big wins theyve had this year. Think about it. Dallas. Those guys take a brief lead early in the 3rd quarter, New England outscores them 27-3 the rest of the way and SHUT THEM DOWN. NE trails Indy 20-10 into the 4th quarter, SHUTS THEM DOWN after that and closes the deal with a strip sack. Philly. Another challenge, but in the end, NE slammed the door late with not one, but TWO huge INTs. Game over. Baltimore. That game was a complete fluke all the way around. You'll never see another game like that in your life, but NE completely shut them down in the 4th and made the huge defensive stops to get them off the field when they needed to. And Pittsburgh. Completely SHUT OUT in the 2nd half. Outscored them 17-0. Not to mention they held most everyone else theyve faced to far below their averages. Theyve had some flukey games where theyve lost a little focus or taken the team a little light. Dont sweat it. It happens.

This is a team of champions. They know how to win big game against other great teams. Their D has been there and done that. As has Belichick many times over. You forget the man has coached in 5 Superbowls. Those teams won all of those games. Dont buy into the hype that some team is coming to our house and taking this team down. Its not happening. No DOME team or any other is coming to Foxboro in January and winning a football game against this team. Not happening.

Mike the Brit

Me too -- but then I would be worried if it were the fourth quarter of the Superbowl and the Patriots were up by three touchdowns. So would you PFnV -- I don't really understand fans who don't worry ...

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My prized possessions: Our family pictures; my dad and me getting doused by Bruschi in Super Bowl XXXIX [Shalize Manza Young Up Close with ... Bill Belichick]


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They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Well, Pats fans should be invincible by now. [Fitzy, 16 November 2009]

Still here to learn

Michigan Dave

Seriously. I worry about the game until the clock is triple zeros.

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AirForcePatFan

I'm glad I'm not the only one that worries about the playoffs... It's not that I don't doubt our team, but I'm a worrywart and I worry that a team is going to figure out the "formula" (whatever it is) that defeats the Patriots and they won't be able to go to the chopping block to fix it for the next game...

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Linnea and The Crew


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JR4

Up until last week I would share your concern.
PATs red zone D last week was very encouraging to me and against one
of the better offenses in the red zone.

In big games, the vets on this team will step it up.
Is this a shut down D? ... no. But it is good enough to keep any team
to less than 30 in good weather and probably less than 20 points
in bad weather.
Even in bad weather, I just can't see PATs O scoring less than 21 points.

Bottom line PATs D is one of the best with potential to be
very very good in big games.

BelichickFan

I would say I do worry - it's not a shutdown defense. And if we didn't have a historically great offense I would be really concerned I do think it's a good enough defense, though - believe it or not we are 4th in the league in points allowed.

shakadave

General averages don't guarantee a whole lot, though. Think specifically: we're hosting the Colts in the AFCCG, we're up 23-21, the Colts get the ball with 2:44 left. Are we OK?

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Please, God, don't let us ever suck as bad as the 2011 Cowboys did in the Jets opener.
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"I got a little shine on and showed you guys a little taste of my speed."

----Vince Wilfork, Jan. 7, 2007