patfanken

.....and we are all going to have to come to grips with it.

If we beat up on the Colts to the tune of 38 to 13, and it could get uglier that that, the general comment will be "ho hum". If its any closer than that, then its probably going to get nasty. The win will be quickly lost in questions about the Pats effort or ability, or talent.

But its not just for this game, the same issues go for the rest of the season. Any success the Pats incur will be countered by comments on the "2nd string QB parade". There will be no comments made about the Pats possible success in the playoffs, without TWICE the number of comments about the last 2 failures. And while it is not unfair to bring up those 2 playoff losses in 09 and 10, its STILL really irrelevant to the issue of THIS team. Nothing pisses me off more than pundits who opine that the Pats can't beat the Ravens because they won a game 2 YEARS ago.

So we all have to accept that the next 5 weeks have little or no meaning. Nothing good that emerges will be valued, and ONLY negatives will be worth commenting on. If the defense holds all these teams to under 20 points, it will be viewed as the result of playing inferior competition. The same will hold true for any of the offense's successes.

I know the games are important. I know the wins are necessary if we are going to get the all important bye. I know the secondary is a huge question mark. I know all these thngs, but it is still disappointing that the rest of the season has been seemingly made irrelevant because these are the teams that have been given to us by the schedule

I just can't rid myself of the nagging feeling that the rest of the season is like the game with the Colts....nothing good can come of it. I'm just biding my time, piling up wins, answering the same questions, and waiting for the playoffs to begin, hoping beyond hope that we will be lucky enough to be healthy enough to SHUT UP the naysayers.....at least for a couple of games.

Am I the only one that feels this?.....or should I just see my doctor and get some medication.
"

Deus Irae

The score is almost meaningless to me in terms of how I'll view the team's abilities, assuming the Patriots win, although I'd love to see a 60-0 game. What matters is the level of play. If the defensive backfield is as bad this week as it was last week, the game will be a negative regardless of the score. If, on the other hand, it plays significantly better but gives up more points, that'll be a positive.

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TB=TD

The Patriots beat every single playoff team last year and went out in the first.

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TBradyOwnsYou

tl;dr
However, I'll just point out that it technically a 1 win situation discounting the improbability of a tie.

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Zeus

Usual priorities (in this order)-

1. Win the next game (Rinse and Repeat)

2. Win the division.

3. Secure a bye.

4. Secure home field throughout

There's still lots of great football ahead. It's all good. We can worry about the play-offs when the time comes.

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PATSYLICIOUS

Each win is one step closer to our goal.

Other than Denver, they're all games we absolutely should win easily, but a bad 60 minutes and we could lose any of them. So don't take it for granted. With each win, we're closer to earning hopefully a first round bye. 13-3 and a 1/2 seed is always an accomplishment in this league no matter your schedule. Of course expectations have to be tempered given how probably the 2 best teams we've faced on the schedule have beaten us.

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Calciumee

I only see the game being close if Hoyer comes in for 30 minutes, and struggles! But if he doesn't struggle, I could still see him moving the ball!

Aslong as it's a win, I will not care! You don't have to win a Superbowl by 30 points, you have to win it by 1!

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Tunescribe

I think the Colts game is the only absolute "gimme" left, the Skins only slightly less so on their home turf. Denver will play hard and Miami/Buffalo are divisional opponents. Miami doesn't look like they're packing it in (yet) and if we're lucky, the Bills will be playing for nothing when they come to Gillette.

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Uncle Rico

I think that, while many of the details could never be predicted, the season is playing out pretty much as most here expected ... which is pretty much the way you describe it. The Patriots are cruising their way to a 13-3 or (heaven forbid) 12-4 season, while the fan base is holding its collective breath to see what the playoffs bring.

I say enjoy the ride; enjoy watching a franchise for whom 13-3 could possibly be seen as ho-hum. Enjoy seeing what kind of wrinkles can be added; maybe some of the unproven guys can do some stuff too. Enjoy the luxury of getting guys like Spikes and Chung and McCourty healthy for the playoffs. And I know I'll enjoy watching this board for analysis from guys like you and a few others, whose understanding of the game helps the less educated among us (me included) see signs of progress (or not).

Then, when the playoffs come: Well, stock up on liquor. And keep hoping. Because nothing could brighten the dullness of winter more than seeing the Pats hoist another Lombardi ... in Indy.

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borg

I don't want the Patriots to hurt anyone's feelings. Shut down the operation and lets get back to horseracing...Foxborough style

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