PittPatriot

Agreed 100% - but I don't think anyone expects a 71ppg average. It just seems like we do a great job marching up and down the field in the first 2/3 of a game and seem to do less in the last 1/3…and the losses at B'More, escape against Denver, and the loss yesterday could have all been averted by converted 1 or 2 more first downs or even getting a extra FG here or there.

The Pass D stinks. No statistical hocus-pocus will overcome the failed eye test. We can blame the overrated losers in the secondary (can anyone waste upper round draft picks on DBs like we can?) or scouting/personnel…but this team will only go as far as the offense can make up for the secondary. If TB is the GOAT for all the credited SB wins…then to me he can also be the goat for the games he should have closed out. He has been given a Ferrari of an offense, above average ST, and a very solid front 7. Now go out and make up for the secondary.
I feel like good teams know - the Patriots peak early and then slow down. All you need to do is weather the initial storm and stay within 2 scores in the final 15 minutes and you will have a shot to win. Peyton Manning probably hasn't slept in a week realizing what he left on the table even after torching us. It is even worse after yesterday - any QB who does not take 5-7 shots WAY down the field (without fear) on this team either is mentally impaired or forgot to watch SportsCenter - that is all the film you need to prepare for this group of DB's. I don't think a safety has looked worse on any single play than Mr. Tavon Wilson did on the go-ahead bomb.

Deus Irae

I see that the Patriots offense still has some issues, and it always will since it's not perfect, but the Patriots have 52 points scored in the 4th quarter this season (admittedly most were against the Bills). Let's break down the drives:

Titans
- 2 4th quarter drives, beginning with 9:20 left and a 28-13 lead. The Patriots took the first drive and ran 7 times, compared with 4 passes, taking up about 5 minutes of clock time and resulting in a FG. The second drive came after the Titans turned the ball over on downs. With the game already over the Patriots ran the ball 5 times and then kicked a field goal.

Nothing wrong there.

Cardinals
- 4 drives, one ending in a TD, one ending in a FG, one being a drive where Ridley lost 4 yards on a 3rd-and-1 from the Cardinals 39, and one being the drive where the Patriots had a TD called back and Gost missed the 42 yarder

Given the O-line situation at the time, there's not much to blame here.

Ravens
- 3 drives, including the one that began the quarter with 2nd and 8 from the Ravens 8 yard line (so really only 2 drives). One netted 2 first downs and got the ball to the Ravens 44 yard line. The other netted 3 first downs and got the ball to the Patriots 49. That was certainly not a great 4th quarter, but it wasn't an epic offensive disaster.

Bills
- 31 4th quarter points. No sense breaking that down

Broncos
- 4 drives while sitting on a 17 point lead. The first drive was ended by back-to-back sacks. The second drive was ended by that horrible 4th down call that got Brady sacked. The third drive ended with the Ridley fumble. The last drive resulted in two first downs and a kneel down. So, 3 bad drives, but not on Brady.

Seahawks
- 5 drives. The first drive was a holdover from the 3rd quarter, and ended with Brady getting picked by Earl Thomas. The second drive sputtered after the Patriots had first and 10 from the Seattle 25 and ran the ball three straight times. The Patriots settled for a FG, giving them a 23-10 lead. The third drive was Brady's second intentional grounding series. The fourth drive was a 3-and-out where the team tried running the ball with no success. The 5th drive was the desperation drive with no timeouts.

All in all, it's nowhere near as bad as people are making it out to be:

1 Blowout cruise
2 games protecting big leads
1 game lost by officials
2 games with legitimate 4th quarter difficulties, both against top defenses and one largely a problem due to that Brady INT.

__________________
"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

Brady_to_Moss

No but 2 of their losses you can argue that if the pats get even 1 more 1st down..the could have won both of those games...ravens..and seahawks..just 1 more first down needed to at least waste another 1 min of clock if not close it out while on O

Deus Irae

Sure, but, in both those games, the offense gave the team the lead and the defense couldn't hold it. 9 points in Baltimore with only 7:29 left, and 13 points in Seattle with 9:21 left...

__________________
"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

Brady_to_Moss

Yeah you can blame both the O and D...i blame the O more in the seattle game than in the Balt game.

With the D this year...you have to know somewhat that they can't hold a lead..all the more reason the O must find ways to get 1st downs in critical times in the game


ST also let washington get what a 30 yard punt return there at the end? Horrible coverage