Do you consider this weeks game at San Diego as the toughest on the schedule?

[PATRIOT64]

Sure San Diego is 2-3 and does not look that good right now but with all that talent and despite Norv as coach you just have to think they will or at least should be thick in the race for the AFC title when the playoffs begin

That being said do you think the Pats face thier toughest competition of the season this week in a rowdy San Diego or is there another game ahead you think is tougher

I don't know if this is the toughest but this game certainly looks to be in the top 2 or 3 games that will be a nail biter or hair puller.

 

[CheerforTom]

I took the last option because I just think SD looks so schizophrenic right now, like a lot of teams in the NFL - the AFC in particular. If injured, looking forward to Buffalo, you don't have Brady SD shows up it won't be too hard but if they play the way they can on paper it could potentially be the toughest.

For what it's worth I think Buffalo is going to be the hardest road game we have. Who knows how they'll be in the weeks until we play them, though.

 

[primetime]

We'll see. I think the Colts will be the most difficult game, to be honest.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

I think the Dolphin game proves, that if we dont play well for 60 min, we cant just walk on the field like last yr and expect to win.. Every game is tough this yr...

 

[PatsDeb]

I voted for the last one. I just don't know this year how we are going to be. It's back to the days when every game was a nail biter and you didn't know whether we would win or not. The Chargers seem down and out, but they are certainly gunning for us, so who knows. I still think we have a good shot to win.

 

[Mogamedogz]

Indy is the most difficult road game, but Denver will be the most difficult game PERIOD. I think Denver is going to blow us out BIG TIME. :beatingcoming:

 

[Rob0729]

I picked the second option although I don't think Indy or Seattle are all that tough either. I think people are still looking at San Deigo, Indy, and Seattle as the teams they were last year. None of them are close to those teams right now.

All the skills players on offense for the Chargers are banged up and less than 100%. Their o-line is struggling. Their defense can't put pressure and their secondary is suspect. I do believe they are schizepheric so they could end up being really tough and our toughest game, but I tend to doubt it.

As for the Colts, they can't run the ball, stop the run, stop the pass, and struggle to pass the ball. I don't see their defense improving all that much by the time they play the Pats. Also, how long does it take for people to go from "they are just getting their timing back" on offense to something is definitely broken?

As for the Seahawks, they aren't even the best team in a very weak NFC West. That division may be won by a team with an 8-8 or even 7-9 record and I doubt it will be Seattle. The only reason I think it may be a tough game is because it is in Seattle and that is a tough place to play.

For my money, the toughest games remaining on the Pats' schedule are all the division games, Pittsburgh, and Denver. I actually think I would be more worried about Arizona than San Deigo, Indy, or Seattle if we weren't playing them in late December in Foxboro. Right now Arizona is arguably a better team than either of those three.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I answered #2, "No," because I think we have a lot of tough games ahead that will likely be tougher when the time comes to play them.

As for Sunday, I think that Vegas has it right. We should be dogs by about a TD, given that the game is in SD, given Brady's absence, given how long it took us to put away the niners, given SD's motivation to avenge the last two years and given that, for the Chargers, it's pretty close (not absolutely, but pretty close) to a must-win game if they aren't to go 2--4.

 

[jmt57]

Before the season started I thought this would be the Pats toughest game. I felt most of the media 'experts' were not paying the Chargers enough respect by ranking them outside the top five in their 'power rankings' and not even considering the idea they could be better than the Colts, a team they had beaten on the road in the playoffs.

At this point though, it's a tossup as to what is the 'toughest' game - although you could make the argument that nothing (hopefully) will be tougher than the Miami game. The Chargers, Colts and Seahawks are not as good as expected, but of those I would have to pick the Colts for toughest road game, based on history. The games against the Steelers and Broncos will both be extremely difficult, even with home field advantage. However, at this point in time, the final game of the year at Buffalo looks like it may be the toughest road game - assuming it still means something to both teams.

 

[SoCal Pmen]

I picked the first option (Yes) but really the right answer is 1&2. Here's why:

1. SD is going to be playing desperate ball and don't want to drop to 2-4 on national tv.

2. Your next game will always be the hardest because there is so much parity in the league this year and with all teams bunched together they will be playing tough.

3. Its the Pats. With or without Brady, they have a bulls eye target on them by every team who wants to knock them off for a variety of reasons.

4. If the Pats continue to win, they will gain more attention by opposing teams who will use them as a measuring stick for where they need to be (see #3).

 

[MassPats38]

Prior to the season, I would have picked Bolts and Colts as the toughest games. Given how schizo teams have been from one week to the next, and given how SD has been performing of late, I do not know if either is a primary threat. I'm not saying the Pats will pound them or even win, they are just teams (like Seattle) that through injury or mismanagement have become inconsistent this year and I do not know if they will fix their problems. The problems they have are on tape after a few weeks so you know Belichick will target those weaknesses, so if they cannot shore up their problems they will not be the threat they should be. Picture the Pats in 2005 when the team took some pretty bad beatings because of defensive issues.

As for the Donkeys, I just hate seeing those guys on the schedule any year as it doesn't seem to matter how good a team the Patriots have. They are always scary. No more this year than any year the Pats play them.

Buffalo tends to play the Pats tough any year, and appears to be a better team this year than it was last year, so until that team is exposed as a fraud I would be more concerned with the two games against the Bills (I know, I can't believe I said that either but this is the new bizzaro NFL). The same would appear to be true for the Steelers. Either team could have the wheels fall off at some point during the season, but right now those two teams seem legitimate.

 

[ScottieC]

Indy is the most difficult road game, but Denver will be the most difficult game PERIOD. I think Denver is going to blow us out BIG TIME. :beatingcoming:

Denver is a fraud. We will win that game.

 

[SoCal Pmen]

Denver is a fraud. We will win that game.

It's good to be confident but realistically this will not be an easy game based on the history of how close these two teams play each other. Even with Brady, it was difficult to beat Denver.

 

[SVN]

Denver is a fraud. We will win that game.

we will have a tough time covering the defense offense , honestly .

 

[Kontradiction]

Denver is a fraud. We will win that game.

Yeah, what he said.

 

[ScottieC]

It's good to be confident but realistically this will not be an easy game based on the history of how close these two teams play each other. Even with Brady, it was difficult to beat Denver.

I agree, and I'm a Homer - But I'm also a fan of the Game and when I watch the Bronco's, I am NOT impressed with their O line or D Line and I think Cutler is currently playing over his head. Take a look at their games so far this year and while checking out those games and the teams they played - Look at some key stats.

They beat Oakland, Tampa Bay, and San Diego - Ok, that's great I'll give them credit for showing up AT home and getting the call from Ed that handed them that win.

New Orleans was the game I was most impressed with, but not enough to make me believe that they can beat the Patriots

Then you get beat by Kansas City? Please.

I'm not comparing them with us, ALL I'm saying is that they are NOT as good as they are being portrayed as in the media. Although, I think a lot of that has been watered down since the KC game.

I do agree that they play us hard - But at home on a Monday night? We win.

 

[AFPatsFan12]

This is just a very bad time to get the Bolts. 2-3, desperately needing a win at home in primetime before going to Buffalo THEN going overseas to London to play the Saints (we ***** about the Pats 4 west coast trips, but how's THAT for a two game road trip? Sure, they get a bye after, but damn...). Their season very easily could spiral out of control is they don't get this one. That's why the Niners game was so important for the Patriots to get last week...

If the Pats got San Diego last week, things might be different, but this is the WORST possible time to play San Diego.....

 

[ScottieC]

This is just a very bad time to get the Bolts. 2-3, desperately needing a win at home in primetime before going to Buffalo THEN going overseas to London to play the Saints (we ***** about the Pats 4 west coast trips, but how's THAT for a two game road trip? Sure, they get a bye after, but damn...). Their season very easily could spiral out of control is they don't get this one. That's why the Niners game was so important for the Patriots to get last week...

If the Pats got San Diego last week, things might be different, but this is the WORST possible time to play San Diego.....

Based on their (Chargers) current injury situation, I would disagree with you.

 

[Rob0729]

This is just a very bad time to get the Bolts. 2-3, desperately needing a win at home in primetime before going to Buffalo THEN going overseas to London to play the Saints (we ***** about the Pats 4 west coast trips, but how's THAT for a two game road trip? Sure, they get a bye after, but damn...). Their season very easily could spiral out of control is they don't get this one. That's why the Niners game was so important for the Patriots to get last week...

If the Pats got San Diego last week, things might be different, but this is the WORST possible time to play San Diego.....

But on the flipside, it could be the best time to get the Chargers. Several key players are far less than 100% including LT, Gates, McNeil, and Chambers (Chambers probably won't play). The Chargers actually did more traveling than the Pats over this past week coming across country from Miami after getting a physical beating against the Dolphins. Also, the Chargers have a lot more pressure on them in this game since as you stated the season could spiral out of control.

I don't know if it really is the worst time to face the Chargers. They are a beaten up team potentially both physically and mentally. If the Pats can smack them in the mouth early, the potential for them to fold is greater.

 

[Rob0729]

Based on their (Chargers) current injury situation, I would disagree with you.

I agree. Their offense are seriously hurting in the literal sense.