Running the table? I wouldn't bet on it. Lower your expectations. - Page 3 - New England Patriots Forums

***Deus Irae*** · 11-20-2012, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KontradictioN

He should. As bad as Henne is, Gabbert is that much worse. Captain Checkdown.

I agree, and Blackmon is probably doing fist pumps whenever nobody can see him. However, if the Gabbert experiment is acknowledged as a failure by the Jaguars, Smith might as well start packing up his office. He's probably gone anyway, but there's no way the new ownership is going to let him choose the next franchise QB when the last busted attempt at it is still in year two.

CityOfChampions · 11-20-2012, 02:58 PM

Ok buzz killington

Kjmass1 · 11-20-2012, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannydyn

Honestly, these two games can go either way...

For Houston, we may get the Houston the ripped the Ravens a new one, or it could be the Houston that almost lost to the friggin Jags.

For the Niners, it could be last night's Niners (ripped the Bears), or it could be the Niners from last week, who almost lost to the 5hitty Rams...

With home field advantage and the cold weather (and the Niners also traveling eastbound through three time zones), which neither one of these teams is accustomed to, I'm cautiously optimistic we can actually take both.

I'm hoping for a lot of snow, that'll do the trick.

ThatllMoveTheChains!!! · 11-20-2012, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatriotSeven

Looking at the remaining games, we have somewhat of an uphill battle with back to back games against the 49ers and Texans, two playoff bound teams with power house defenses, following 2 divisional games. We still have to face Miami twice who gave us a pretty good challenge late last year, and are looking just as prepared this year to do the same. You never know with these short week games so I can easily see the Beans stretching us again to the wire thursday. With Henne now in the line up for Jacksonvile, we can no longer overlook them either considering how they took the Texans into OT scoring 37 points. They can score now and are officially a trap game. A trap the Texans almost fell in.

With us missing Gronk and Hernandez still shaky, it doesn't make it any easier. Honestly, I'm not very confident about any talks of running the table. We looked great only over the past 4 games, it was still against weak teams, and I'm not ready just yet to conclude we have overcome the issues we had earlier this season of handing over a game late by 3 points or less now that we are getting ready to enter this stretch of very tough teams.

After our 59 point shellacking over the Colts it's easy to get caught up in it and start thinking we're there, but I think it's time to lower our expectations and come back to earth a little bit. So far we still have only beat 1 strong team. Denver. And that's a fact. And that was early in the season with Peyton still finding his groove.

Realistically speaking, 11-5 seems just as likely, if not more so, than 13-3.

Having said that, I am not concerned about our regular season schedule or seeding. I am actually quite happy with our remaining schedule, and the reason for that is that for once it appears as if this year we truly are being tested before we find ourselves in the playoffs or Superbowl running into a brick wall. We are getting ready to find out exactly what kind of team we are, and I'd rather know now than later.

I don't know about you, but personally I feel a lot more confident even if we enter the playoffs with an 11-5 record and a lower seed but having faced the Broncos, Ravens, Texans, 49ers, Seattle's and Arizona's defense than going in with a prettier record like last year, a higher seed and racked up against a bunch of weak teams.

I prefer being battle tested, scars and all, than having a nice shiny armor. It would be nice to run the table and get that high seed, especially having to go through the 49ers and Texans to get it, but I would not be demoralized with an 11-5 record, and going in somewhat under the radar.

I'd take this person seriously; they're clearly an expert at lowered expectations...

Jets are not good and have a recent history of getting blown out in the second meeting.

Phins are fading fast and have had one competitive game against the Pats in the past two years.

Jags are awful and are usually even worse against the Pats.

The Texans and 49ers are going to be tough games, but luckily both are at home and both are winnable.

12-4 seems like the sweet spot with a chance at 13-3 or 11-5 and a real long shot at worse.

PatriotSeven · 11-20-2012, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CityOfChampions

Ok buzz killington

Sorry, but somebody's gotta do it. I mean we blew out Andrew Luck and the Colts and Bradford and the Rams. Just consider this....so did the Jets.

***KontradictioN*** · 11-20-2012, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deus Irae

I agree, and Blackmon is probably doing fist pumps whenever nobody can see him. However, if the Gabbert experiment is acknowledged as a failure by the Jaguars, Smith might as well start packing up his office. He's probably gone anyway, but there's no way the new ownership is going to let him choose the next franchise QB when the last busted attempt at it is still in year two.

Indeed. That's pretty much the only reason why Gabbert might see the field again this year.

***patsinthesnow*** · 11-20-2012, 03:10 PM

The pats offensive line will neutralize Watt and co, the Texans will be shredded. Not sure about the 49ers game though.

PatriotSeven · 11-20-2012, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatllMoveTheChains!!!

I'd take this person seriously; they're clearly an expert at lowered expectations...

1.Jets are not good and have a recent history of getting blown out in the second meeting.

2.Phins are fading fast and have had one competitive game against the Pats in the past two years.

3.Jags are awful and are usually even worse against the Pats.

4.The Texans and 49ers are going to be tough games, but luckily both are at home and both are winnable.

12-4 seems like the sweet spot with a chance at 13-3 or 11-5 and a real long shot at worse.

Talk about discounting your competition.

1. We still only won by 3 points in OT and we are missing Gronk now.

2. Yes but in that competitive game, late last year, we were down 17-0 at half time and won by 3 points....at home.

3. They just took the Texans to OT and lost by 3 points. Jaguars were on the road.

4. Every NFL game is winnable but if you mean easy, you're nuts. Homefield advantage is pretty meaningless. I will remind you again, the Jets took us to overtime....at home. Arizona beat us at home.

All I'm saying is if you're going to be this arrogant then at least don't go on a bi polar dive and start screaming that the sky is falling if we manage to lose at least 2 of our remaining games. Because right now, you are clearly up there.

JMC00 · 11-20-2012, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patsinthesnow

The pats offensive line will neutralize Watt and co, the Texans will be shredded. Not sure about the 49ers game though.

Vikings put up 350 yards on the 49ers, Rams 458.

***Sciz*** · 11-20-2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJDChE

I'm curious how many teams have gone 8-0 in the second half since 2001. I don't recall it happening too often, but I have to guess it's happened a few times. Doing it 4 times seems pretty crazy. I wonder if any team has done it more than once?

It's been done 9 times since 2001:
2003 Patriots 3-0
2004 Steelers 1-1
2006 Chargers 0-1
2007 Patriots 2-1
2008 Colts 0-1
2009 Chargers 0-1
2010 Patriots 0-1
2011 Saints 1-1
2011 Patriots 2-1

Of those 9, the Patriots have four. Although, sweeping the second half of the season isn't all it's made up to be, I found out. Of those 9 teams, four lost their first playoff game, two lost the second. Only the 2003, 2007, and 2011 Pats made it to the Super Bowl, and we all know how that worked out. So 1 of the 9 teams to go 8-0 in the second half of the season has also gone on to win the Super Bowl.