A Look at the Schedule

[PatsFanSince74]

The Patriots struggle against the Dolphins almost every year, and a split there is certainly not out of the question. People are acting as if this is the 2007 team when, right now, it's not even as good as the 2008 team. This team plays an offense that is built around the quarterback and, right now, the quarterback is struggling. Until that changes, this team will be very capable of losing against every team it plays.

Buffalo and Tampa should be pretty much marked down as "wins". Every other team on the schedule is more than capable of beating the Patriots that we've seen playing through 5 games this season.

Oh, Deus, you're no fun. This is a "Let's make believe" thread...didn't you get the memo?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Oh, Deus, you're no fun. This is a "Let's make believe" thread...didn't you get the memo?

That's half true... It's actually a lets take a step back and a look at the first 5 weeks of the NFL season in hype free perspective thread.

 

[Deus Irae]

That's half true... It's actually a lets take a step back and a look at the first 5 weeks of the NFL season in hype free perspective thread.

Except that it doesn't do that. It simply takes a slant that you prefer.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

That's half true... It's actually a lets take a step back and a look at the first 5 weeks of the NFL season in hype free perspective thread.

i still like the thread, but i think there's plenty of hype about the Jets and fins and Colts and the supposedly "given up" teams at the end of the season...

one man's "hype" is another man's "perspective" i guess...i'll stick with my take on it...but all in all, a positive thread is a good thing out here...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Except that it doesn't do that. It simply takes a slant that you prefer.

Yeah, I always tend to prefer the hype free, well thought out, rational slant.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I'd say that uncharacteristicly, the 1st 5 weeks of this post 2001 BB era season are chaoticly unpredictable. There are too many games that could have been lost, say without a terrific throw to Watson and catch in the Buff game, or a key last drive wide open drop by the Ravinz. Look at Brady's completely sub-par career performance to date. The D is still an enigma, holding opponents to low scores but not reliably stoping the big play 3rd down at an elite level and so far with a dearth of big play makers.

As a fan, I optimisticly believe that Brady and the WRs will work out the kinks in the next couple games and that the D will mature into a strong top 10 force as December approaches, but those opinions are an act of faith, not factual projections.

 

[Deus Irae]

Yeah, I always tend to prefer the hype free, well thought out, rational slant.

You used to, until a little over a year ago. But that's neither here nor there.

 

[JD10367]

This team has not developed enough stability to make any suppositions about them, either on O or on D. Sometimes the O looks very good; other times, we watch Maroney dance, Brady throw off-target passes, and the offensive play-calling seem as if it were being done by a moron. Sometimes the D looks young and energetic and ready to compete with anyone; other times, they give up huge long drives and big plays. Never mind game-to-game, from quarter-to-quarter or even play-to-play, they're hard to figure out. So I'd be hard-pressed to call any upcoming opponents probable Ws or Ls.

The short season has been a perfect representation of them so far: one made play against Denver and they're 4-1 with three victories against formerly-undefeated teams, and everyone's calling them Super Bowl favorites; one lucky fumble against Buffalo taken back, and they're 2-3 with people calling them "done" and burying them.

This coming game is a good indicator. The Titans have gone from first-to-worst and are reeling. Despite the fact that they're still a talented team, and probably shouldn't be 0-5, the Pats should be able to handle them at home, especially given the uncertain QB situation and Tennessee's injuries. Frankly, the Pats should be pretty pissed about last week, and take it out on the Titans. If the Titans keep it close, or win the game, then it's gonna get pretty ugly around here in both the media and on message boards.

 

[cavtroop]

I'd say that uncharacteristicly, the 1st 5 weeks of this post 2001 BB era season are chaoticly unpredictable. There are too many games that could have been lost, say without a terrific throw to Watson and catch in the Buff game, or a key last drive wide open drop by the Ravinz. Look at Brady's completely sub-par career performance to date. The D is still an enigma, holding opponents to low scores but not reliably stoping the big play 3rd down at an elite level and so far with a dearth of big play makers.

As a fan, I optimisticly believe that Brady and the WRs will work out the kinks in the next couple games and that the D will mature into a strong top 10 force as December approaches, but those opinions are an act of faith, not factual projections.

I'd say that uncharacteristicly, the 1st 5 weeks of this post 2001 BB era season are chaoticly unpredictable. There are too many games that could have been won, say with a on-target throw to Moss or a catch by Welker in the Denver game, or a key field goal made by the the Ghost.

there, fixed that for you.

 

[borg]

I'd say that uncharacteristicly, the 1st 5 weeks of this post 2001 BB era season are chaoticly unpredictable. There are too many games that could have been won, say with a on-target throw to Moss or a catch by Welker in the Denver game, or a key field goal made by the the Ghost.

there, fixed that for you.

In the past, the Pats have been able to beat up on AFC East opponents in the back half of the seasons,....now division games are more spread out and the East seems more competitive(not Buff). Will be interesting to see if the Pats continue their NFC dominance.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

You used to, until a little over a year ago. But that's neither here nor there.

I still do. If you want to look for the thing that's changed, try a mirror.

 

[Kontradiction]

This season eerily reminds me of 2002. Rebuilding defense, Brady not himself, etc. Thankfully, we have an awfully soft part in the schedule coming up where Brady can work out the kinks in his game. If he can get back on track, the 2002 comparisons should stop.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

12-4 is a bit optimistic,If the offense stays the same or improves a little then we win 10 or 11 games,If the offense wakes up and starts to gel then 12 wins is certainly possible. The defense must stay on course as it is now and they will be all right.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I'd say that uncharacteristicly, the 1st 5 weeks of this post 2001 BB era season are chaoticly unpredictable. There are too many games that could have been won, say with a on-target throw to Moss or a catch by Welker in the Denver game, or a key field goal made by the the Ghost.

there, fixed that for you.

I agree completely. Chaotic.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

From NFLN's Jason LaCanfora this AM...

Undefeated teams more a product of league's weak links

 

[jmt57]

From NFLN's Jason LaCanfora this AM...

Undefeated teams more a product of league's weak links

Interesting that of all the still undefeated teams it is the Broncos - the team that has been taken the least seriously by the media - has had the toughest schedule so far (opponent's record 12-13, .480.) Meanwhile the team most nominated by the media to go to the Super Bowl right now, the Giants, has had the easiest schedule (opponent's record 6-19, .240.)

 

[PatsSox363804]

Interesting that of all the still undefeated teams it is the Broncos - the team that has been taken the least seriously by the media - has had the toughest schedule so far (opponent's record 12-13, .480.) Meanwhile the team most nominated by the media to go to the Super Bowl right now, the Giants, has had the easiest schedule (opponent's record 6-19, .240.)

They spent all Summer ripping the Broncos and McDaniels a new one, I'm not surprised they are downplaying his success so far.

As far as the Giants are concerned, I hope they go 18-0.. then lose to us in the Superbowl, how great would that be?

 

[shakadave]

I started this thread because I was tired of hearing how dominant the Giants and Colts were, while the Pats and Packers (just to pick a similar team) are in trouble.

Giants:
- 6 pt. win against Skins at home
- 2 pt. win against over-rated Cowboys
- Blowouts against Bucs, Chiefs and Raiders

Colts:
- 2 pt. win against Jags at home
- 4 pt. win after being dominated by Fins
- Blowouts against Cards, Hawks (injured Hasselbeck) and Titans

Good point, but do you think we're good enough to blow out the Bucs or the Titans? I guess we'll know pretty soon.

 

[jmt57]

Just a few years ago the media was wringing its hands because 'everybody' was 7-9, 8-8, or 9-7, and the whole parity concept was out of control because there were no 'good' teams anymore (or teams the media could laud as the greatest of all time.)

Now just a few years later we have had in the past two seasons a 16-0 team, an 0-16 team, more teams undefeated than ever this late in the season, and more teams than ever that truly look like they could go the season winless.

The way I see it a couple of things have happened. One, more teams have finally figured out how to succeed in the era of free agency and salary cap. The other is the salary cap itself: teams are no longer spending to the limit. As a result there is now more of a delta between the haves and have-nots as the cap has exceeded many teams budgets. Whether that is due to the cap being too high or due to some teams preparing for a lockout is debatable, but it is not all that surprising that there are more teams on the top and bottom, and not as many hovering around .500 this year.