MNF

Agreed. It was pretty clear the refs butchered the game. The monday night game got all the headlines for the last play but the Pats game was a 60 minute highlight reel on who is not qualified to ref in the NFL.

Deus Irae

That's not the difference at all. I've criticized writers regardless of my agreement or disagreement with their position.

In the Sunday night game, there were 6 significant negative plays for McCourty counting the two missed INTs, and that's just on the plays he was involved in. You can pretend that's a good day at the office. McCourty knows better, as do most people.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

Rob0729

Eventhough the refs were horrible and their bad calls and non-calls seemed to help the Ravens far more than the Pats, I still blame the Pats for the loss.

JackBauer

Had the refs had called a decent game, the Patriots would have won, all else being equal.

Deus Irae

I agree. Discussing the player struggles is an intellectual exercise, but good officiating would likely have resulted in a comfortable win for the Patriots.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

JackBauer

I think the play in particular that stands out is the 2 yard PI call on Mayo. Next up would be Edelman's OPI, I guess.

The Patriots certainly could of, and perhaps should of, overcome the lousy officiating. But from my vantage, as you said, had this been a normal crew they likely would have prevailed even if the game progressed in a similar manner.

Rob0729

One negative play was a bad call. One of the dropped INTs was a positive play that people are turning into a negative. Even elite CBs like Revis might not have caught that ball with Smith stripping it out of his hands. I don't know why people call that one a negative play.

I never said it was a good day at the office. He had some great play and some bad play. At times he played like an elite CB and at others, he looked like last year. People are overblowing the few bad plays (I count truly 3-4) and diminishing the good or great plays.

And I never take what players say on face value ever. They all talk Belichickian.

Deus Irae

There were more bad plays where he wasn't targeted, and there were incompletions on plays where he was beaten with the same move. You're ignoring those and also claiming that bad plays weren't bad plays.

With that sort of thinking, it's no wonder you think he did fine. And, when players talk about things in general, the grain of salt is appropriate. When they talk about specifics (gotta make that throw/catch/INT/etc...) that grain of salt is no longer the way to take the discussion.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

Deus Irae

I'm with you. The Mayo PI led to 78 yards and a TD that would never have happened. It's the difference in the game, right there. The rest of the calls are bad, but that one's pretty clear.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

Rob0729

I forgot the golden rule of this board, Deus Irae's analysis is always right and anyone who disagrees with his opinion either has a hidden agenda that makes all their opinions biased and inaccurate or to stupid to understand what went on.

I'm done with this this ridiculous argument with you.