Tough Loss

[Ring 6]

No more, no less. We went on the road against an undefeated team allowing 6.5 points a game, in a stadium with a big home field advantage, where we have struggled consistently, and we lost in OT, after having opportunities to put it away.
As losses go, and every team but the 1972 Dolphins have had some, I can't understand how this one is as damning as this board makes it out to be.
I think we are so totally spoiled that many fans expect a win every game no matter what, and losing under the most difficult circumstances, by the narrowest of margins is now considered a disaster. I don't get that.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I agree. I think it's tougher because we had so many chances, and it's against a team we feel we could beat. It'd be a different story if we had no chance and got smoked. But we have a chance every game, and that's something to be thankful about when you really think about it.

But boy, it does hurt thinking about some of those chances. Remember that play where I think Ninkovich knocked the ball up in the air and Marshall knocked it down before anyone could get to it? Or Brady's pass that hit Welker's hands, bounced up and through Bailey, then through Welker's hands again. Or that 3rd and long play where Orton's pass deflected high in the air and a few Pats had a chance at it before it was caught by a Broncos receiver for a first down.

We could have won, and it just slipped through our hands a few different times. That's football though. It could have went either way, and it just didn't happen. Time to start thinking about Tennessee.

 

[Ring 6]

I agree. I think it's tougher because we had so many chances, and it's against a team we feel we could beat. It'd be a different story if we had no chance and got smoked. But we have a chance every game, and that's something to be thankful about when you really think about it.

But boy, it does hurt thinking about some of those chances. Remember that play where I think Ninkovich knocked the ball up in the air and Marshall knocked it down before anyone could get to it? Or Brady's pass that hit Welker's hands, bounced up and through Bailey, then through Welker's hands again. Or that 3rd and long play where Orton's pass deflected high in the air and a few Pats had a chance at it before it was caught by a Broncos receiver for a first down.

We could have won, and it just slipped through our hands a few different times. That's football though. It could have went either way, and it just didn't happen. Time to start thinking about Tennessee.

There were games like this in 01, in 03 and 04 too. I think selective memory and reinventing history leads fans to think we dominated every team we played in those 3 seasons and never made any mistakes or missed any opportunities. Just not the way it is or was.

 

[PrairiePat]

I think that's exactly it. It's one thing to lose and get dominated; you shake that off as a bad day/good opponent and move on. But when you have a 10 point lead, and then miss a normally certain FG and several sure TD passes, it hurts a little more.

Between the Sox loss earlier in the day and this one, the day almost had a pre-2001 feel to it.

Yeah, we're spoiled by success.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

There were games like this in 01, in 03 and 04 too. I think selective memory and reinventing history leads fans to think we dominated every team we played in those 3 seasons and never made any mistakes or missed any opportunities. Just not the way it is or was.

The Pats also seemed to find a way to put together a nice winning streak in most of those years so that probably helps blur the history. 2007 spoiled everyone too.

 

[cavtroop]

There were games like this in 01, in 03 and 04 too. I think selective memory and reinventing history leads fans to think we dominated every team we played in those 3 seasons and never made any mistakes or missed any opportunities. Just not the way it is or was.

We're living in the shadow of 2007. We need to get out of that mentality. Once Tom is back 100%, we'll be fine. We're averaging what - 16pts a game given up? We should win those games, and we will as the season goes on.

Losses happen. Heck, we can still go 14-2 at this point...

 

[luvbrain]

No more, no less. We went on the road against an undefeated team allowing 6.5 points a game, in a stadium with a big home field advantage, where we have struggled consistently, and we lost in OT, after having opportunities to put it away.
As losses go, and every team but the 1972 Dolphins have had some, I can't understand how this one is as damning as this board makes it out to be.
I think we are so totally spoiled that many fans expect a win every game no matter what, and losing under the most difficult circumstances, by the narrowest of margins is now considered a disaster. I don't get that.

Agreed. We also need to give Denver credits. They are a good team. Their defense is swarming and their defense is definitely one of the best. No shame in losing.

 

[Ring 6]

We're living in the shadow of 2007. We need to get out of that mentality. Once Tom is back 100%, we'll be fine. We're averaging what - 16pts a game given up? We should win those games, and we will as the season goes on.

Losses happen. Heck, we can still go 14-2 at this point...

It is very interesting how similar the beginning of this season looks to the beginning of the 03 season.
Lost a division game early when we played horrible, lost to a team we felt we were better than (Skins then, Broncos now) in a close game where we fell short on a number of opportunities. We have a big turnover on defense. In fact after the Wash game we played Tenn and won something like 38-35, we also let up a ton of point to the Colts when we beat them. By playoff time we were dominant of defense.
Its just too early. Historically predicting the next 11 (and then 3-4 more) weeks based on the first 5 is foolhardy.

 

[upstater1]

If I hadn't watched the game yesterday and only saw the result, I'd agree.

But we were ahead 17-7.

I really struggled to think of a Belichick team that blew a two score late lead like that, other than against the Colts in 2006.

Anyone?

 

[cavtroop]

It is very interesting how similar the beginning of this season looks to the beginning of the 03 season.
Lost a division game early when we played horrible, lost to a team we felt we were better than (Skins then, Broncos now) in a close game where we fell short on a number of opportunities. We have a big turnover on defense. In fact after the Wash game we played Tenn and won something like 38-35, we also let up a ton of point to the Colts when we beat them. By playoff time we were dominant of defense.
Its just too early. Historically predicting the next 11 (and then 3-4 more) weeks based on the first 5 is foolhardy.

Very good point.

I expect TB to be back to form say after the bye. If we can win more than we lose by then, we'll be OK. However, the keys moving forward are beating the Jets, and beating the Jets. We have to win the division (though, with the game vs. BAL in hand...). After that, things fall into place.

Do we have some holes? Sure we do - 3rd WR, 3rd down pass defense (this is a problem every year). Can we overcome them? Heck yeah.

 

[Ring 6]

Very good point.

I expect TB to be back to form say after the bye. If we can win more than we lose by then, we'll be OK. However, the keys moving forward are beating the Jets, and beating the Jets. We have to win the division (though, with the game vs. BAL in hand...). After that, things fall into place.

Do we have some holes? Sure we do - 3rd WR, 3rd down pass defense (this is a problem every year). Can we overcome them? Heck yeah.

24 hours ago, we were the same 3-1 as the Jets and had played a tougher schedule.
Today, there is doom and gloom, and claims our season is over.
My point is let the Jets prove what they are before handing it to them.

 

[cavtroop]

24 hours ago, we were the same 3-1 as the Jets and had played a tougher schedule.
Today, there is doom and gloom, and claims our season is over.
My point is let the Jets prove what they are before handing it to them.

Yeah, I don't think the Jets are as good as everyone thought when they beat us, and I don't think we're nearly as bad as everyone thinks right now. I still see 11 wins, which means we lose 3 more times this year. 11-5 is fine, and if we beat the Jets next time around, should win us the division.

 

[makoute]

There were games like this in 01, in 03 and 04 too. I think selective memory and reinventing history leads fans to think we dominated every team we played in those 3 seasons and never made any mistakes or missed any opportunities. Just not the way it is or was.

We won those games back in 03 and 04. And made the plays we needed to make to win those games at the crucial moments.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Great perspective. The two teams, IMHO, that will meet in the AFCG are both 3--2 right now, the Steelers and the Pats.

 

[SVN]

We won those games back in 03 and 04. And made the plays we needed to make to win those games at the crucial moments.

frankly the broncos are playing like the pats of those yrs. everyone keeps saying they are not for real etc etc andthey keep finding a way to win.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Can't speak for others but my primary area for concern lies in areas that I have NEVER considered to be red flag areas at any time in the BB/Brady era ...... the QB position and the coaching staff.

For the first time in this era I consider the Pats simultaneously underperforming at both of these critical spots and that has me concerned.

 

[Ring 6]

We won those games back in 03 and 04. And made the plays we needed to make to win those games at the crucial moments.

We won almost all games in 03 and 04, but the ones we lost were similar to the ones we lost this year.
Our 2 losses in 2003 looked very, very similar to our 2 so far this year.

 

[Rob0729]

I agree that this is a tough loss and the frustrating thing is that the Pats could have won this game with a little better execution, but there is no shame in losing to a good team and the Broncos are a good team.

I would love to go 19-0 every year, but that ain't going to happen. You are going to lose a few times most years even if you win the Super Bowl. I would rather lose a tough, hard fought battle against a team that is playing very good football than a team that is struggling. If the Pats beat the Broncos yesterday and then went onto lose to the Titans next week like they did yesterday, I would be more worried.

I think far too many people (and I would consider myself in this) thought Brady would come back and not lose a beat. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. He is going to need time to right. Some of his bad throws like the pass to Welker's knees was a miscue between Brady and Welker and where Welker was going to go. That is easily correctable.

I still think this team is a playoff and Super Bowl contender. They lost two games vs. two teams with one loss between the two of them. They have a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way other than a short stretch against three very good teams. The Pats have a lot of time to right the ship and still can win the AFC East and even get a first round bye. It is a long season.

Too many people are acting like the season is over.

 

[Rob0729]

We won almost all games in 03 and 04, but the ones we lost were similar to the ones we lost this year.
Our 2 losses in 2003 looked very, very similar to our 2 so far this year.

Yeah, 2003 were games lost on one or two plays. The offense struggled a lot that year and the defense had to carry them in a lot of games. The Pats were uneven the first month of the season too.

 

[NJPatsfan26]

I agree that this is a tough loss and the frustrating thing is that the Pats could have won this game with a little better execution, but there is no shame in losing to a good team and the Broncos are a good team.

I would love to go 19-0 every year, but that ain't going to happen. You are going to lose a few times most years even if you win the Super Bowl. I would rather lose a tough, hard fought battle against a team that is playing very good football than a team that is struggling. If the Pats beat the Broncos yesterday and then went onto lose to the Titans next week like they did yesterday, I would be more worried.

I think far too many people (and I would consider myself in this) thought Brady would come back and not lose a beat. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. He is going to need time to right. Some of his bad throws like the pass to Welker's knees was a miscue between Brady and Welker and where Welker was going to go. That is easily correctable.

I still think this team is a playoff and Super Bowl contender. They lost two games vs. two teams with one loss between the two of them. They have a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way other than a short stretch against three very good teams. The Pats have a lot of time to right the ship and still can win the AFC East and even get a first round bye. It is a long season.

Too many people are acting like the season is over.

Well said Rob. I agree that it is a long season and going into week 6 we should be able to win against the titans. Loosing to them will be an issue and then we will have a lot more to worry about.