Are the Pats still a title contender?

[nepatz11]

Take a look. Besides Indy and Pitt, much of our competition has questions at QB. Vince Young. Phillip Rivers. David Garrard. Jay Cutler. Not to mention in the NFC where teams like Minnesota, Green Bay, Tampa Bay and even the Giants are considered contenders despite questions at QB. Minne in particular is a hot pick but I think I would still take Matt Cassel over T Jackson and from top to bottom our team is way better. My point is a lot of contending teams have questions at QB and yes maybe Cassel is a big unknown right now but who knows he might be better than expected. So yes we are no longer elite but we still have a superbowl caliber team and are a contender.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Only if Bledsoe came back

 

[Pats726]

Time will tell..don't raise the bar too high..be patient..

 

[DynastyDriven]

Everything will have to fall perfectly in place just to make it to the Super Bowl, and the way things have gone the last 2 years I wouldn't count on it.

The good news, Brady should be ready to roll for training camp 2009, a year of expierence for the rookies, Moss still under contract, look for them to go after it hard in 09 especially if it is an uncapped year.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

I say no, but keep in mind that in my opinion the Giants weren't title contenders last year. NE is a division and wildcard contender, and once you get that far you have a shot.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

If the defense gels and can raise their level of play to a top 2-3 in the league, then the offense only has to be average to above average, then YES

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Comes down to injures.

Last year we lost our RBs so we had to rely on Tom's arm. If our defense is giving up 30 points a game and we have no ground option, we can not expect Matt to save the day.

We are still in it, but one or two more key injuries and it is game over.

 

[hambone1818]

It's been brought up in other threads, the media seems to have set a ridiculous standard for the Patriots because Brady has been the QB for almost this entire decade. It was brought up after Mort talked about both GB (unproven, first year starter) and Minn (average starting QB, some may feel he's even slightly below average) as legitimate SB contenders, and yet everyone seems to be writing off the Patriots.

Last year I saw TONS of articles talking about the lack of legitimate starting QB's in the league, and how so few teams have a good option. Is that not still the case? You have some solid locks (Dallas, Indy, Pitt, SD, maybe NYG, a few others), but after that it's a crap shoot and Cassel could prove to be better than most if not all of that second tier. While this situation isn't ideal, I'll still take the Patriots situation (best WR and slot WR in the game, top-10 running game, top 5 defense, suspect QB) over all but a handful of teams in football.

 

[DefenseRules]

Guys lets relax and let the team find it's identity for the 2008 season. The loss of Brady has already altered that dramatically. Let's wait a few weeks and see how things go. Right now, it's too soon to tell, IMO.

 

[pheenix11]

Yes they will win the Superbowl.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Everything will have to fall perfectly in place just to make it to the Super Bowl, and the way things have gone the last 2 years I wouldn't count on it.

The good news, Brady should be ready to roll for training camp 2009, a year of expierence for the rookies, Moss still under contract, look for them to go after it hard in 09 especially if it is an uncapped year.

Please stop.

 

[signbabybrady]

yes the Pats will still win it all

 

[alvinnf]

yup, it's only week 2, plenty of time to find their way.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

The simple answer lies in whether or not, the Patriots find a true "Field General" to lead this team. a true leader in the huddle. Someone who looks everyone in the eye and says "we are NOT going to lose today".

 

[alvinnf]

The simple answer lies in whether or not, the Patriots find a true "Field General" to lead this team. a true leader in the huddle. Someone who looks everyone in the eye and says "we are NOT going to lose today".

Youre right, Matt Guittierez...I'm in complete support of Cassel, I just have this strange gut feeling about MG, I'm sure I'm wrong.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

Youre right, Matt Guittierez...I'm in complete support of Cassel, I just have this strange gut feeling about MG, I'm sure I'm wrong.

I really admire Cassel.

But the nature of the NFL is that untested and inexperienced QB's in the NFL will get abused.

Some show moments of excellent football, but also make some bone-headed mistakes.....that cost a team victory.

A guy like Brady comes along once a generation.....and his generation has not turned the page yet.

Which is why, we should get someone with experience.

 

[alvinnf]

I really admire Cassel.

But the nature of the NFL is that untested and inexperienced QB's in the NFL will get abused.

Some show moments of excellent football, but also make some bone-headed mistakes.....that cost a team victory.

A guy like Brady comes along once a generation.....and his generation has not turned the page yet.

Which is why, we should get someone with experience.

Name somebody that could come in and learn the system on the fly and flourish. I think they are smart to groom their own guys.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

Name somebody that could come in and learn the system on the fly and flourish. I think they are smart to groom their own guys.

Nobody is going to come in and learn it on the fly. But there are a lot of guys on the Patriots right now whose shelf life is about to expire. Or guys who have a ton of mileage and will begin a downturn in ability.

Bruschi-age/mileage
Harrison-age/mileage
Vrabel-age/mileage
Seymore-knees
Faulk-mileage
Light-mileage
Watson-knees
Thomas-mileage

If the Patriots want to make one more run with some of these guys they have to have a good QB on the field to do so. A young inexperienced QB is not the best way to get deep into the playoffs.

 

[alvinnf]

Nobody is going to come in and learn it on the fly. But there are a lot of guys on the Patriots right now whose shelf life is about to expire. Or guys who have a ton of mileage and will begin a downturn in ability.

Bruschi-age/mileage
Harrison-age/mileage
Vrabel-age/mileage
Seymore-knees
Faulk-mileage
Light-mileage
Watson-knees
Thomas-mileage

If the Patriots want to make one more run with some of these guys they have to have a good QB on the field to do so. A young inexperienced QB is not the best way to get deep into the playoffs.

Good defense, win Ugly, 2000 Ravens

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

Good defense, win Ugly, 2000 Ravens

Yeah.....That thought has crossed my mind.

We've just gotten spoiled the last few years watching a future HOF'er every sunday.