JMC00

I think you should read the subject title again.

everlong

They lost to the Ravens by a point in Baltimore on a night where the refs blew call after call going against the Pats. Since then they lost Webb and the Pats added Talib and are playing much better defense than at that point. The offense is also playing much better.

Houston is debatable I just don't see the Ravens or Broncos as better.

__________________
"When Peyton Manning was a kid he used to go to bed at night and dream about throwing the winning touchdown for the Saints in the Superbowl. And on Sunday he did."

There's only two conclusions for Patriots fans on rookies. They are either a bust or being fitted for their bust in Canton.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

PATRIOTSFANINPA

I don't think the Broncos are even any better than the Steelers with Roethlisberger at this point,they are lucky to be in a division that is even weaker than the AFCE

SoCal Pmen

You are what your record says and for now the Pats are not as good as the Texans but it doesn't matter in November nor will it matter in December. It will matter in January. If you recall the Pats were wiping everyone out in '07 including the Giants on the final game of the season only to get upended by those same Giants in the SB. I don't believe the Texans are playing like a championship caliber team but they're doing enough to escape and get W's which is the sign of a good team. I like the Pats chances as a #2 seed this year.

Elijah

The Jets almost beat us in Gillette when we had Gronkowski. How did their second crack at it go?

Even if that's apples and oranges, it's very evident that the Ravens aren't allowed to lose a game at home. The refs will do anything and everything to ensure that they go undefeated at home and there's nothing the Patriots can do about it. If the Ravens get the 1 seed, it's game over for the AFC.

Patriot Missile

Give it a couple of more games. Pats seem to be improving and Houston is flattening out. As Ken mentioned in another thread most teams are having trouble stopping the pass and Houston is no longer the exception.

The Pats ability to force turnovers is becoming a form of art. Stop the run,force turnovers and they'll handle the Texans in my opinion.

Positives that set us apart as of late.

Ability to force turnovers.

Can score points at will.

Offensive line is a evolving door of continuity.

Secondary is playing better with Dennard and Talib at the moment.

Pats clobbered a common opponent in the Jets. (hard to gauge)

Give it a couple more games and we'll know where this team is at. Seems to be all coming together.

Afatguy

Brady's going to need to take JJ Watt's swatting ability out of the picture. Watching JPP bat down a ton of Brady's passes in the SB last year was hard to watch.

patriotsgoat

The Patriots are clearly better. Stop being obnoxious realists by saying bullsht like "Oh, you're only as good as your record"

Tonroc77

Hi, patriots fan here living in Houston. I've watched quite a bit of texans football the last couple years and they have made significant changes on offense. The offensive line used to be a sieve, and now seem to have it together holding the line very regularly. I hope patriots have c jones back for the game, because they will need to put pressure on Shaub. If there is no pressure, he has shown the ability the last couple games the ability to pick apart a defense. The running game is nasty as well. Those cut blocks just open everything up. But I think the pats are disciplined enough to remain in there lanes with those sweep plays.

I think defensively the texans are definitely struggling without their full line backing core. I think the pats tight ends will take advantage of the intermediate like they always do, against the replacement linebackers of the texans.

I am actually coming to foxboro for the game, and I am really excited. This will be my first time to Gillette and I hope to see a win.

edboc

Some interesting stats that aren't talked about often:
1.) Patriots lead league in takeaways (32) & takeaway/giveaway differential (+24). They are ahead of the Bears in takeaways. The team behind them in the differential is +12 (Baltimore, Chicago & Washington). Hopefully the trend continues, but turnovers can dry up in the playoffs. The Ravens (9), and Texans (12) are right behind the Patriots (8) in least giveaways in the AFC.

2.) Mayo is leading the NFL in tackles (112). Though he doesn't seem to have many flashy plays, he's consistent.

3.) Tannehill has a lower QB rating (70.8) than Sanchez (75.6). This may be misleading, he had two bad games with 3 interceptions each (Texans & Titans).