AzPatsFan

The Pats lost a game. I am as much a fan as any other.

But I am already sick of the Conspiracy Theories, the Accustions, the Backbiting. And the lamentations and beating of breasts and gnashing of teeth. The other guys get paid too. The Cards are not pushovers, and have been to a Superbowl recently.

The Pats played a game. They did lots of things right, and a few things wrong. I'll take that Defensive effort in every game of the year if I could; and would have a Top 10, if not Top 5 Defense.

The Pats Coaches and players are experimenting and trying to expand their passing Offense horizontally and vertically for strategic reasons. They have succeeded horizontally; and not so much vertically.

The Pats coaches want to transform the running game from a finesse running game, to more of a power running threat. They have succeeded so far.

The team is transitioning its Offensive line to a next generation of players. They are making progress in doing so, as well. If not for the injury to Kopa, and Gallery's and Water's retirements, Dante could have worked Marcus Cannon at RG, where I think he will be tremendous.

Look at how successful the running game has been to his side. It wil have to wait a year though, since he is needed at spare tackle. Meanwhile he can learn to pass block even better than what is expected of a Guard, and which he can do more than satisfactorily, even now.

Just think what you would have said about the team, if Ghost had kicked 5 for 5, instead of going only 4 for 5. Or if the late TD had not been brought back. Or if the 2 point conversion had worked.

You would have been proclaiming this edition, as perhaps the best Patriots team ever. I see no reason to change that opinion, because of a single errant kick, or poor hold...

The Patriots got behind, but came back in the fourth quarter to score a TD, and also kick another Field Goal. They then had two opportunites to take the lead and win the game; and another opportunity to tie with the 2-point conversion.

None worked out. It happens. So move on.

Efstratios

I do agree that this one loss doesn't mean that the Pats are screwed and that the sky is falling. I do however lament the fact that they lost what should have been a winnable game (kind of like the Ravens did when they played the Chargers last year), and are now entering arguably the most brutal stretch of their going 1-1. Granted, my worry at this loss has much more to do with my anxiety about playing the Ravens. If the Pats re able to beat them in a convincing fashion (at least by 7-10 points), I'll feel a lot better. As long as our record stays at at least .500 in these first four week, I'll have faith.

PATSNUTme

Well then how do you explain the sky dropping down into falling position, and all it needs one more straw on Sunday night.

Off The Grid

Exactly.

The Patriots have made huge strides in two weeks.

It's a long season, and Mad Bill is focused not on September, but on February.

As well he ought.

Here's a brilliant Post, along these lines, written by an extraordinarily insightfull ~ and good looking!! ~ contributor!!

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Love HURTS!!

ivanvamp

I will say that it would be pretty awesome if the Pats actually peaked in the postseason instead of week 7. I'd love to see them building the pieces, gaining momentum as the season went along, and then just wrecked everyone in the playoffs.

ATippett56

The End of the World has NOT arrived ........

but starting Donald Thomas at right guard just may end Tom Brady's season.

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The End of the Chad Ochostinko Era!

Brady_to_Moss

people will jump off bridges if they lose next week...happened last year when we lost 2 in a row

Mack Herron

Not me. I mean it only stands to reason; after all, they'll be playing a far more talented team than they did Sun. Tom must be looking forward to seeing how the OL handles Ngata et al (although we get a break with Suggs).

robbomango

The end of the World has arrived, WELKER DIDN'T START ThE GAME!!!

Crononaut

Agreed, I was reflecting on the game last night with my friend (a Steelers fan, but as all my other friends are diehard hockey fans that see any other sport as strictly a neat distraction that ultimately leads to less discussion about hockey, I have to make do) and did like that some things bode well for us:

1. First and foremost, I LOVE that anytime we've pooped the bed in recent memory and played a horrible game, it still almost ALWAYS ends up with us within a score and at least one realistic shot at winning the game. In the past 2 years the 5 games we've lost have been by a total of 21 points. This reflects on the fight in the team that Bill has finally instilled. Compare that to the 2009 season where Bill stated he was having trouble getting the team to buy in, and you see a couple of lopsided scores including against the Ravens in the playoffs, as well as in 2010 where all 3 losses got away from them. Like TS said, they were literally one of any number of plays going their way to victory, and I feel like it was the same in the SB (gut clench), and the regular season Giants game.

2. To build on this, I think this game does nothing towards saying Brady and co are no longer "clutch". To be down by 11 points in the 4th quarter and have 3 or 4 realistic chances at winning dispels that. I am well aware that by not winning the team as a whole did not come up clutch in this instance, but that certainly does not mean they no longer will be. When Brady needed to drive down the field in 2 minutes to leave time for another drive, he did that. The rare circumstances of the end of the game aside (forced fumble included), I don't know what else Brady could have done at the end of this game. Weird circumstances like that, just like the Giants recovering 3/3 forced fumbles in the SB on pure luck, won't always go against the Pats, and in the long run they will and have gotten their own share of lucky "bounces". I agree it's frustrating to see Manning have another horseshoe-out-of-his-ass victory at the same time, but remember also that his so-called clutchy self was nowhere to be found in the season opener. And let's not forget recent victories like Dallas and week 17 over Buffalo (I'll concede that my argument is weakened by the team being Buffalo, but coming from 21-0 to a complete blowout is extremely impressive.

3. I'll admit there was an irrational fanboy in me that was quietly hoping for another perfect season ending with an absolute decimation of the Giants in SB for ultimate vengeance. Keyword: irrational. This is a very young team, and you have many players that up until now haven't yet experienced what loss feels like in the NFL. In keeping with what TB said on WEEI this morning, I hope they bask in how much this one stings (even better for the learning that it came in such heartbreaking fashion) so their resolve will be strengthened that much more. You want ALL team members to be mentally hardened by the time the postseason rolls around, and outside of a tough loss like this I'm not sure how else the rookies would be able to gain that perspective. Of course, it's too bad it came against a team like Arizona who, while talented, the Patriots should have been able to dominate, and it's very likely they'll have a couple more rough patches ahead with tougher teams on their schedule. Still, maybe this will be the kick in the @ss the team (and cocaches/McDanielses) need. Better now than week 14.

4. What other teams look like full-package, premium contenders right now?
- Green Bay got a win over a team who completely self-imploded in the Bears. While they played better, Rodgers has looked completely human so far this year.
- After a blistering offensive start against Cincinatti, Flacco looked like his old inconsistent self in the second half against Philly last night.
- Ditto for Mark Sanchez (Weren't his final stats like 8/23? That's Tebow territory)
- New Orleans is flat out struggling so far.
- Giants have huge secondary issues, Manning may be clutch at times but he will NOT be throwing for 510 yards every game.
- Dallas just got romped by Seattle
- Atlanta are potential contenders
- The class of the AFC right now seems to be the Texans. They've looked great. My ONLY concerns would be injury-prone stars and a bit of uncertainty due to their completely marshmallow schedule so far (Miami and Jax). Denver next week should provide an upper but not top tier test.
- The class of the NFC and the NFL IMO right now are the 49ers, who've had 2 very impressive wins over 2 supposedly top tier teams in GB and Detroit. Not much to complain about here.
- So basically, there seems to be a marked divide between the 49ers, Texans, and everyone else at this time. LOOOOONG point short is I would be much worried if all the other competition wasn't struggling as well.

I went on WAY longer than I thought I would there, so if TL;DR my main points are:

1. The current iteration of the Patriots only lose close games and always find a way to stay in it.

2. I believe these Patriots are still clutch.

3. The loss should give perspective to the rookies on the team and enhance their mental toughness.

4. Outside of the 49ers and maybe the Texans, most of the top contenders around the league are also having their own difficulties.

So here's hoping the Pats correct some obvious issues they're having, get a huge win on the road Sunday, and we can go back to Superbowl discussions rather than this nihilistic nonsense!