Pats in first place for Wild Card

[PATRIOT64]

Hoping for a wild card? - Hell back in the late 80s-90s I was hoping for ANY win that Zolak or Wilson could muster.

 

[dtbrks]

??? His point wasn't that the season wasn't lost - it was that we are having a good season.

You say it is too early to say the Patriots are on a course to make the playoffs, but it isn't too early for you to think the Pats season might be over? What kind of logic is that? If you don't want to project into the future, and only look at the present, why can't you just admit that the Pats have the fifth best record in the AFC?

It's not too early to look at the standings and see where teams are.

All teams will win and lose games, but right now, the Pats are one of the better teams.

Try and accept that.

Repeat after me: The Pats are currently one of the best teams in the NFL. Most teams in the NFL have a worse record than the Patriots.

whatever dude. I haven't said anything in my post that was negative regarding the pats but rather I would personally like to wait until week 10 to judge Why do you, or for that matter, many of the posters here on Patsfan.com take things so personal? Why must you make it so personal? It's a sports message board. Try and accept I have an opinion and treating me like a KID isn't the way to make your point.

Come on, it's week six, i said i would wait till week 10 to see what direction the team will go in. WHERE DID I SAY THE SEASON WAS OVER?

No wonder I rarely post on this board, people run wild here.

PS- Sorry if I took your message the wrong way, I am a little pissy after staying up to watch the sox loose

 

[GaryfromTO]

I've watched every Bills game this year, I have watched all but one Patriot game this year. (being in Toronto, the Bills get forced down our throats)

Hate to say it, but right now the Bills defense is playing way better than the Pats defense.
The Bills seem to have this quiet air of confidence around them (very similar to past Patriot teams) and I don't see any panic in them when they fall behind. Trent Edwards, while not spectacular is an efficient QB who does not seem to make the big mistake and Lynch is an excellent back who gives the Bills a legit running attack.

Don't kid yourselves, this is a very good and very talented Buffalo team this year. They will be trouble for anyone who faces them.

 

[Kontradiction]

I love how some people say "don't harshly evaluate Cassel as it's only week 7" but then turn around to point out how we're in first place in the wild card running. Pretty hypocritical if you ask me and I'm one of the people who thinks we should still stick with Cassel and that it's way too early to judge either way just based on how the entire team is playing.

 

[fumbrunner]

I love how some people say "don't harshly evaluate Cassel as it's only week 7" but then turn around to point out how we're in first place in the wild card running. Pretty hypocritical if you ask me and I'm one of the people who thinks we should still stick with Cassel and that it's way too early to judge either way just based on how the entire team is playing.

Agreed. It is way to early to start thinking playoffs. There are alot of things that need to improve on this team to get to that point. QB play, O line play, secondary, pressure from front seven, running game, etc. (yikes that's a big list). Lets hope they start improving in some of those areas. Right now, I'm just glad we have a somewhat easy schedule this year.

 

[mgteich]

FOR PERSEPCTIVE
On December 20, 1981, the Patriots played in the "Toilet Bowl" against the Baltimore Colts. The loser would get the 1st pick in the 1982 draft. And with the first pick, the Patriots chose Ken Sims. Both teams ended 2-14 in 1981.

Hoping for a wild card? - Hell back in the late 80s-90s I was hoping for ANY win that Zolak or Wilson could muster.

 

[PonyExpress]

I love how some people say "don't harshly evaluate Cassel as it's only week 7" but then turn around to point out how we're in first place in the wild card running. Pretty hypocritical if you ask me and I'm one of the people who thinks we should still stick with Cassel and that it's way too early to judge either way just based on how the entire team is playing.

It is a fact that as of this moment the Pats are leading the wild card chase. There is nothing "hypocritical" about stating a demonstrable fact.

 

[fumbrunner]

It is a fact that as of this moment the Pats are leading the wild card chase. There is nothing "hypocritical" about stating a demonstrable fact.

....and that means diddly squat in week 7

 

[Rob0729]

I love how some people say "don't harshly evaluate Cassel as it's only week 7" but then turn around to point out how we're in first place in the wild card running. Pretty hypocritical if you ask me and I'm one of the people who thinks we should still stick with Cassel and that it's way too early to judge either way just based on how the entire team is playing.

I agree that judging the wild card race is far too premature. Just two weeks ago, the Cowboys were considered the best team in the NFL and now they seem to be sliding out of the playoffs. Last week, the Colts and Chargers were on their way back to dominance in the AFC and today they are both teams that look to be struggling for a Wild Card berth.

I think it is too soon to judge Cassel and it is too soon to judge the Wild Card race. Personally, I only commented on my opinions of the playoff contenders mentioned in this thread, but I will conceed that by the end of the season my opinion will be way off.

 

[mgteich]

Really?

If you check the AFC playoff qualifiers last year after Week 7, I suspect that you will find that at least 5 of 6 were in the playoffs. However, let's see where we are in the morning.

....and that means diddly squat in week 7

 

[patsfanindoltsland]

San Diego was also going all the way across the country to face a team that was coming off of a bye. Buffalo had everything going for it this week.

very true. however, people seem to forget that buffalo was missing three starters in the secondary - they switched the safeties around, and two of their best three cb's were out for that game, as well as their best DE.

bills had a bunch of guys out during that game, but still played well. we'll have to see if the wins have been flukes or if the arizona game was a sign of things to come when they don't have a bye week. however, i don't think they're a fluke.

 

[PonyExpress]

....and that means diddly squat in week 7

It means that through 6 weeks of the season, the Pats situation is not the dire calamity some have portrayed. Of course, the last 11 weeks are decisive. There is no Kontradiction between those statements.

 

[Kontradiction]

It is a fact that as of this moment the Pats are leading the wild card chase. There is nothing "hypocritical" about stating a demonstrable fact.

One can also argue that as of this moment, it is a FACT that Cassel sucks. Sorry to side with the trolls on this one but it's way too premature to start thinking about the playoffs just as it is way too premature to say that only Cassel is the reason for our two losses without looking at the OL, the D, and the running game. You can throw all the stats you want at me, teich, but if there is one thing we can all agree on it is that the Pats have a very colorful history of bucking trends.

 

[Kontradiction]

It means that through 6 weeks of the season, the Pats situation is not the dire calamity some have portrayed. Of course, the last 11 weeks are decisive. There is no Kontradiction between those statements.

And believe me, I'm very happy about that. But do I think that **** can hit the fan between now and then and a lot of things could change? I sure do. Hence me saying that it's way too premature to predict or gloat over ANYTHING at this point in the season.

 

[Deus Irae]

One can also argue that as of this moment, it is a FACT that Cassel sucks. Sorry to side with the trolls on this one but it's way too premature to start thinking about the playoffs just as it is way too premature to say that only Cassel is the reason for our two losses without looking at the OL, the D, and the running game. You can throw all the stats you want at me, teich, but if there is one thing we can all agree on it is that the Pats have a very colorful history of bucking trends.

The problem with your post is that the Wild Card ranking is factual, but your Cassel assertion is opinion, not fact. That difference is the crux of the issue.

 

[Kontradiction]

The problem with your post is that the Wild Card ranking is factual, but your Cassel assertion is opinion, not fact. That difference is the crux of the issue.

Keep in mind I said that there are tons of other things wrong with this team other than Cassel. That is not opinion. That is fact. Anybody that has watched a game this season will ultimately agree that is fact (some just like to blame Cassel more than the D or the OL). That is a fact this week (as is the wild card ranking). But the NFL changes from week to week. What if the defense and running game play lights out this week but Cassel throws 3 INTs and we lose? What was factual a week before is no longer fact. The problems on the team have been shored up and it turns out that Cassel is the only weak link left. Same thing could happen in the following weeks. What if we go on a three game losing streak and the Jets win three games to catapult ahead of us and into second place in the East? What was factual three weeks earlier is no longer fact. Hence my point: WAY TOO EARLY to smile over anything at this point.

 

[NEPatriot]

I hope that we will not have a wild card in this season because of our "easy" schedule. Of course, Cassel doesn't make it any easier for us and that is a serious problem.

 

[Kontradiction]

I hope that we will not have a wild card in this season because of our "easy" schedule. Of course, Cassel doesn't make it any easier for us and that is a serious problem.

Shut up.

10

 

[NEPatriot]

Shut up.

10

Is it the best thing you ever come up? I haven't told you to shut up when you have different opinions.

Why don't you shut up?

 

[Deus Irae]

Keep in mind I said that there are tons of other things wrong with this team other than Cassel. That is not opinion. That is fact. Anybody that has watched a game this season will ultimately agree that is fact (some just like to blame Cassel more than the D or the OL). That is a fact this week (as is the wild card ranking). But the NFL changes from week to week. What if the defense and running game play lights out this week but Cassel throws 3 INTs and we lose? What was factual a week before is no longer fact. The problems on the team have been shored up and it turns out that Cassel is the only weak link left. Same thing could happen in the following weeks. What if we go on a three game losing streak and the Jets win three games to catapult ahead of us and into second place in the East? What was factual three weeks earlier is no longer fact. Hence my point: WAY TOO EARLY to smile over anything at this point.

But you keep posting as if the Cassel defenders are 100% thrilled by MC and think all is perfect. The Cassel bashers are all about how much "he sucks". His defenders are simply pointing out the fact: under Cassel, the Patriots are currently a playoff team. One of the real problems on this board is that far too many people think that their opinion is more powerful than, to steal from another site, the "Cold Hard Football Facts":

Cassel is the backup QB to Tom Brady, who was lost for the season.

Cassel is rated 22nd in the NFL in passer rating, among those considered eligible.

There are more than 22 teams in the NFL.

Therefore, even in his first 5 'starts' as the team quarterback, Cassel is playing better than some other teams' starters, at least as far as passer ratings go. He's also 10th in the league in completion percentage, 26th in yards per game and 24th in yards per attempt, so he's in front of other teams' starters there as well.

Counting the first game where Brady got hurt, the Patriots are 3-2 under Cassel and would be a playoff team according to the NFL procedures, if the season were to have ended as of yesterday.

Those are the facts about a backup quarterback who hadn't started a game since high school. "Cassel sucks" is opinion, nothing more. Making thread after thread essentially stating that "Cassel sucks" is idiotic, and it's guaranteed to lead to Cassel defenders countering with posts and threads of their own. The difference is that the Cassel defenders currently have the better argument.