Everyone take a DEEP breath...

[Afterlifemobile-86]

FACT 5: This team is average. Come to grips with that fact and the rest of the season is easier to tolerate. Lets just get into the playoffs and hope they suddenly figure out how to win games on the road.

Fact: The 2001 Patriots were way less talented than this team.

 

[RxJock1120]

You saw the game tonight right?

Now you want us to "take a deep breath?"

Seriously, this team lacks leadership, coaching, defense, 3rd WR, and can't hang with the true elites of the league.

If you think there is a trip to Miami in the cards this year you are seriously kidding yourself, not with what's wrong with this team at this point anyways.

I always thinks the Pats will win the Super Bowl, every single freaking year. Call me naive, call me a blind believer. It kinds makes the season more fun to watch, believing we have a chance.
The Saint could have run the ball every down tonight and still won the game. They wantted it that much more. On every single play. Come the playoffs. That will not be the case. Not because we are going to morph into a different team, but because during the playoffs every team wants, every single play.
We are NOT an average team. 7-4 is not an average record. Tom Brady is not an average QB. And BB is not an average coach.
The Giants may have had an unrelenting pass rush, but they did not have a Wes Welker or a Tom Brady.

 

[condon84]

...and step away from medicine drawer!!! 2 out 3 of our Superbowl victories came in seasons where we got trashed just like we did tonight.

FACT 1: We are still 2 games up our division
FACT 2: This defense is nowhere near ready for the playoffs, but there still are 5 games for BB to figure it out. He has before and I would never bet against him.
FACT 3: The only time we would have to face the Saints would be in the Super Bowl, and personally I would bet on the Vickings
FACT 4: If you are true fan, you should stand by your team after a tough loss just as profoundly as you every week when we went 16-0.

I completely agree. BUT, we as fans have the right to criticize our team as well.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

Fact: The 2001 Patriots were way less talented than this team.

How many members of that team are on this one?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I completely agree. BUT, we as fans have the right to criticize our team as well.

Yes, criticism is fine, but we don't really get "criticism," we mostly get shouts of "Fire X!" "Bench Y!" "Z sucks!"

 

[wilfork is beastin']

We lost to the best team in the league who fortunately don't play in the AFC. The team looked like crap tonight but hopefully they get it together and trounce the phins so we lock up the division

 

[bostonia3333]

Even Super Bowl teams have a dud performance each year. Pats looked like a SB team when they played at Indy. The thing that bugs me is the 3 other losses--the Pats blew those games. This was the dud game for the Pats this year. This was the game you circle on the calendar and mark as a possible loss in August. I'm not surprised really

 

[mgteich]

The 2001 patriots were much less talented than this team. So were the 2007 giants.

But then, is that the issue? We are NOT an elite team this year. Many just found out. On the other hand, we also are definitely NOT an average or mediocre team. We are well in control of our division and still are likely to win between 10 and 12 games. That is NOT average or mediocre.

The patriots faced a critical five game stretch. We likely needed to win the three division games to stay well ahead of the division, which is always the goal. The second season is just that. We start over again. Belichick will have everyone ready to win next week and complete the task of winning the three key division games.

The reality is that we may be the best team in the AFC. We may not be; but certainly no one is much better. The colts beat us on the last play in their stadium. Frankly, I am more afraid of a PITT team if they get Big Ben and Polamalo back.

Like it or not, the best two teams in the NFL this year play in the NFC.

 

[the Patriot]

Fact: The 2001 Patriots were way less talented than this team.

<sniff> <sniff> Really?...

 

[mgteich]

No, you are right. We are in the middle of a season. We are in the Super Bowl hunt. We shouldn't be looking for new coordinators now. We should wait until the offseason.

Yes, criticism is fine, but we don't really get "criticism," we mostly get shouts of "Fire X!" "Bench Y!" "Z sucks!"

 

[hosuepainter]

FACT 2: This defense is nowhere near ready for the playoffs, but there still are 5 games for BB to figure it out. He has before and I would never bet against him.

What about the offense? I say it is as much ready as the defense for the playoffs.

 

[muzz]

Yes, criticism is fine, but we don't really get "criticism," we mostly get shouts of "Fire X!" "Bench Y!" "Z sucks!"

Not Y or Z it's W, as in WilShiiiiiiite!!

 

[The Dynasty]

We're a good football team. We beat the teams we're supposed to beat, but we dont beat the teams that we arent supposed to beat

 

[SVN]

The 2001 patriots were much less talented than this team. So were the 2007 giants.

But then, is that the issue? We are NOT an elite team this year. Many just found out. On the other hand, we also are definitely NOT an average or mediocre team. We are well in control of our division and still are likely to win between 10 and 12 games. That is NOT average or mediocre.

The patriots faced a critical five game stretch. We likely needed to win the three division games to stay well ahead of the division, which is always the goal. The second season is just that. We start over again. Belichick will have everyone ready to win next week and complete the task of winning the three key division games.

The reality is that we may be the best team in the AFC. We may not be; but certainly no one is much better. The colts beat us on the last play in their stadium. Frankly, I am more afraid of a PITT team if they get Big Ben and Polamalo back.

Like it or not, the best two teams in the NFL this year play in the NFC.

one thing both those teams had which we dont. Great defense.

 

[mcmurtry86]

Fact: The 2001 Patriots were way less talented than this team.

The 53 guys on the roster were certainly less talented that year, but the guys in the hoodies and windbreakers were just a bit better. That team also had a pass rush and something resembling a good pair of CB's.

The big problem is that the Pats match up very poorly against high-octane offenses which the Colts and Saints have. To beat those teams, you need to get to the QB quickly (same way to beat the Pats). Whether it's bad schemes, bad personnel or bad luck, the Pats just can't get the pressure they need on the QB.

 

[mgteich]

You act like we got blown out by the colts.

The 53 guys on the roster were certainly less talented that year, but the guys in the hoodies and windbreakers were just a bit better. That team also had a pass rush and something resembling a good pair of CB's.

The big problem is that the Pats match up very poorly against high-octane offenses which the Colts and Saints have. To beat those teams, you need to get to the QB quickly (same way to beat the Pats). Whether it's bad schemes, bad personnel or bad luck, the Pats just can't get the pressure they need on the QB.

 

[Mogamedogz]

The proverbial take a deep breath thread ... hate these threads.

same here.

 

[Patspsycho]

I'm not panicking at all.
I've just realized that we're gonna need more luck (just as much as the SB years) than i had hoped for. and by "luck" i mean who we play in the playoffs.
We are probably not getting a bye.... so a combination of @SD then @Indy then NO/Minn will be near impossible to go through.

Not necessarily.. SD and CIN are only one game up on us and I think their schedule is harder than ours. If we win the rest of our games we have a good chance at a bye.

 

[The Dynasty]

I can see this too. I think we just need to focus on winning out and see what happens. Even if we're the #3 seed, it isnt the end of the world. The extra playoff game might even help our team

 

[vyrago]

The proverbial take a deep breath thread ... hate these threads.

I love them. They bring perspective.
We got blown out (how often does that happen?) by the best team in football. For some, it just confirms their constant negativity and we become a board full of Tiny Misserottis.

For others, like Randy Moss, for example, it's a bad experience that hurts, but it's not the end of the world, much less the season. There are more games and still a division to win.

We absolutely demolished the Titans 6 weeks ago and they have been able to pull up their socks and win 5 straight. It didn't destroy them and this beatdown won't destroy the Patriots.

So if I have to choose between the toenail chewing grumps and those who want to see things with a positive slant, I'll take the latter every time.