JJDChE

The fans and the media.

Coming off a Super Bowl appearance, going 3-3 with three losses by a total of 4 points to teams that are a combined 14-5 with 4 of 6 games on the road. I mean ferchrissakes, every year isn't 16-0. That's only happened once EVER, twice if you want to count 14-0.

Sure, nobody likes to see the secondary continue to get trashed, but you have to look at the facts. We were within minutes of a Super Bowl win with, arguably, a worse secondary.

All these posts, articles and radio talk show hosts talking about how the Partiots 'have a lot of question marks right now' are such garbage. They don't have question marks, they are in the same place they were last year and that was enough for an AFC Championship. If things bounce the right way, it's a Super Bowl team. That's how it goes in the NFL. Very few teams just plow right through everyone. You need to get there and get a few breaks. This team is obviously good enough to get there, hopefully things break our way this year if they do get back.

I can't blame the media too much, in this day and age they get paid to overreact. The lack of perspective among the fanbase is pretty sad.

I'm not saying you can't complain about the team's warts and shortcomings, just recognize that every team has them and if you find yourself typing 'the sky is falling', 'this team sucks', 'you can't win like this', etc. take a step back and consider pressing the delete key a few times before making yourself look silly.

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JJDChE

OK, the secondary is a problem, too.

(...and kudos to the members who have started threads in the same vein. It's just hard to find them among the sky is falling threads sometimes.)

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DarrylS

This morning there are 14 of the 16 teams in the NFL with a record to or equal to .500... need perspective, here folks.

The critical thing is can they make adjustments?? Last year the Giants entered the tournament with a 9-7 record...

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IllegalContact

LOL....

I though this was going to be something that made sense

as in 'the REAL problem is that this team appears to only be prepared to play football half the time

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“ I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4. ”
—Hank Bullough, who installed one of the first 3–4 defenses with the New England Patriots.

JJDChE

Thanks for proving my point.

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PATSYLICIOUS

Let's establish the fact that 3-3 is a decent record for most teams and it's only disappointing when you have the expectations we have for this team since 2003.

That said, the issue to me isn't necessarily the record. The continued inability to close out these tough games is a big concern. People can argue all day over blaming the offense, defense, Brady, the OC, but the fact is this team as a WHOLE can't get it done in big situations and they fold like a cheap tent in te clutch. It's been a huge problem since the 2006 AFCCG when we couldn't get one first down to ice the game.

And like you touched upon, I won't even get into the secondary.

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IllegalContact

what point? that the pats lost 3 games because they were completely unprepared to finish them?

they should be 6-0, and the only thing that separates them from that is an occaisional complete breakdown of competence

unless I am mistaken, I believe the performance of the team on the field is not relevant to fan base opinion

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“ I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4. ”
—Hank Bullough, who installed one of the first 3–4 defenses with the New England Patriots.

RayClay

Like all teams in the salary cap era, the Patriots have a flaw. Unfortunately, it's known to the rest of the league and they must become at least competent in the secondary.

Having said that, they could have nailed every game with better execution. They have young players, new players and new schemes and teams like that need to gel.

I agree with the OP, of course. In years past, we'd be talking about securing a playoff spot, which we're fortunately still easily on pace for in our current division.

Our newer "fans" are discussing the design of the Super Bowl rings in August and I'm almost happy they've gone away. It's never easy, nor should it be. When young teams come together early, that's the exception, not the rule.

Time to beat the Jets, that's all there is right now.

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JJDChE

As long as you realize that your comment about being unprepared to finish games is just a fanbase opinion, then we are in agreement.

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Jackson 2

We all know that it is not possible for you to be mistaken.