Want to feel better? Just remember 2005

[aluminum seats]

It’s funny how reactionary everyone---fans, media, everyone--is after every game, although nobody likes to admit it…..we all pretend we’re being objective and realistic. The Pats win yesterday? They’re awesome. They get blown out? “Give me the last 5 years of my life back.” It’s comic.

Here’s the thing. The Pats lost big yesterday to a really outstanding team. Too often we forget there are two teams playing. Yesterday, the Saints were at the top of their game, and the Pats played a bad game, with predictable results.

I think the best thing to do is go back to 2005. That season, the Pats got clobbered more than once--the last beating by the Colts in November in a game very similar to yesterday’s. They went on to win 6 of their last 7 (not including the last game of the season to Miami that they wanted to lose). It might not be that hopeful to refer back to a season with a second round playoff loss, but anyone who watched that game knew the Pats had a really outstanding squad at that point, with uncharacteristic errors doing them in. The goal for the Patriots now is to work to get back to that level of play, and let the chips fall.

There were a lot of things wrong yesterday you could reasonably expect not to see again. Brady played poorly. The offensive line was out of sync, and will benefit greatly from getting Vollmer back. The bad line play threw the whole offense out of whack. The young secondary isn’t anywhere in the vicinity as bad as they looked yesterday--the coaching staff will make the most of the learning opportunity. On the plus side, Maroney is running harder than I’ve ever seen him. The lack of a consistent pass rush is the one element that would be the best bet to end their season, but one game at a time.

Point is, there’s a lot of talent on this team on both sides of the ball. Yesterday was one game, a bad one for the Pats. But they’re winning the division, Cincy & SD play each other, Cincy goes to Minnesota, San Diego goes to Dallas and (hard to believe they’re playing well but they are) Tennessee, etc. , so the #2 seed is hardly a stretch. It’s always darkest before the dawn. Keep the faith.

 

[maverick4]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

Not sure if you want to use 2005 as an uplifting example... we didn't do anything that year.

 

[Garbanza]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

It’s funny how reactionary everyone---fans, media, everyone--is after every game, although nobody likes to admit it…..we all pretend we’re being objective and realistic. The Pats win yesterday? They’re awesome. They get blown out? “Give me the last 5 years of my life back.” It’s comic.

Here’s the thing. The Pats lost big yesterday to a really outstanding team. Too often we forget there are two teams playing. Yesterday, the Saints were at the top of their game, and the Pats played a bad game, with predictable results.

I think the best thing to do is go back to 2005. That season, the Pats got clobbered more than once--the last beating by the Colts in November in a game very similar to yesterday’s. They went on to win 6 of their last 7 (not including the last game of the season to Miami that they wanted to lose). It might not be that hopeful to refer back to a season with a second round playoff loss, but anyone who watched that game knew the Pats had a really outstanding squad at that point, with uncharacteristic errors doing them in. The goal for the Patriots now is to work to get back to that level of play, and let the chips fall.

There were a lot of things wrong yesterday you could reasonably expect not to see again. Brady played poorly. The offensive line was out of sync, and will benefit greatly from getting Vollmer back. The bad line play threw the whole offense out of whack. The young secondary isn’t anywhere in the vicinity as bad as they looked yesterday--the coaching staff will make the most of the learning opportunity. On the plus side, Maroney is running harder than I’ve ever seen him. The lack of a consistent pass rush is the one element that would be the best bet to end their season, but one game at a time.

Point is, there’s a lot of talent on this team on both sides of the ball. Yesterday was one game, a bad one for the Pats. But they’re winning the division, Cincy & SD play each other, Cincy goes to Minnesota, San Diego goes to Dallas and (hard to believe they’re playing well but they are) Tennessee, etc. , so the #2 seed is hardly a stretch. It’s always darkest before the dawn. Keep the faith.

Lordy!

This defense is transitioning.....I get that. This defense is also trending downward. The talent isn't that great, folks. Face it.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

2006 is a better example.

It's shaping up to be a similar year.

 

[Eugene Chung]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

Lordy!

This defense is transitioning.....I get that. This defense is also trending downward. The talent isn't that great, folks. Face it.

Sure, we can face it, but I can also look back at the past 2 playoffs and realize there's some hope for lower-seeded teams. All you need to do is make the tourney and anything goes.

Let's take this season one week at a time. The Pats will have their hands full Sunday in Miami.

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

Not sure if you want to use 2005 as an uplifting example... we didn't do anything that year.

We lost to Denver in the playoffs, correct. The result of that game wasn't the point.

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

2006 is a better example.

It's shaping up to be a similar year.

Disagree. 2006 was marked by offensive struggles throughout the season due to a subpar receiving group. The Pats didn't get blown out the way they did yesterday or in 2005 (they were shutout in Miami in a weird game.) The defensive collapse against the Colts in the playoffs wasn't indicative of their season or reflective of the current group.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

Not sure if you want to use 2005 as an uplifting example... we didn't do anything that year.

True but if our defense is playing like that one towards the end I'll be happy. The avalanche of turnovers against the Broncos isn't something you can predict by regular season play, it just sorta happened.

We have a chance to beat some mediocre teams and build confidence, it helped in 2001 and 2004 as well after some bad losses.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

Yeah watching last night is what I remember from 05, but the key for this team is getting in the playoffs and then see what happens...

 

[Eugene Chung]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

True but if our defense is playing like that one towards the end I'll be happy. The avalanche of turnovers against the Broncos isn't something you can predict by regular season play, it just sorta happened.

We have a chance to beat some mediocre teams and build confidence, it helped in 2001 and 2004 as well after some bad losses.

Last night, the Pats gave up 480 yards in a loss to a powerful Saints offense televised on ESPN. In 2001, the Pats gave up 482 total yards in a loss to a powerful Rams offense televised on ESPN.

Obviously, some different circumstances in those games, but my point is this: let's stop making so many rash judgments. All you need to do is make the playoffs. The Pats have proven that they can play tough in Indy. Cincy has struggled with the Raiders and Browns the past two weeks. San Diego still has Norv Turner and a bunch of key injuries. Pittsburgh looks like a shell of last year's squad. All of these squads have issues that can be exploited.

Let's focus on the Dolphins over writing about the "demise" of the Patriots.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

Disagree. 2006 was marked by offensive struggles throughout the season due to a subpar receiving group. The Pats didn't get blown out the way they did yesterday or in 2005 (they were shutout in Miami in a weird game.) The defensive collapse against the Colts in the playoffs wasn't indicative of their season or reflective of the current group.

The Patriots lost by 21 points in December of 2006.

The Patriots had the same problems that year that they are this year.

That offense was good enough to hang 24 points on the Colts in one half.

The defense, obviously, was not up to par.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

Lordy!

This defense is transitioning.....I get that. This defense is also trending downward. The talent isn't that great, folks. Face it.

This defense has more talent than some other Patriot teams that went a good long way. Namely 1996.

They need more seasoning, yes, but the talent is there.

 

[letekro]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

2005 is a perfect corollary. That team beat up on the little sisters of the league and showed a complete inability to beat good teams. That doesn't make me feel better.

 

[zoostation]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

It’s funny how reactionary everyone---fans, media, everyone--is after every game, although nobody likes to admit it…..we all pretend we’re being objective and realistic. The Pats win yesterday? They’re awesome. They get blown out? “Give me the last 5 years of my life back.” It’s comic.

Here’s the thing. The Pats lost big yesterday to a really outstanding team. Too often we forget there are two teams playing. Yesterday, the Saints were at the top of their game, and the Pats played a bad game, with predictable results.

I think the best thing to do is go back to 2005. That season, the Pats got clobbered more than once--the last beating by the Colts in November in a game very similar to yesterday’s. They went on to win 6 of their last 7 (not including the last game of the season to Miami that they wanted to lose). It might not be that hopeful to refer back to a season with a second round playoff loss, but anyone who watched that game knew the Pats had a really outstanding squad at that point, with uncharacteristic errors doing them in. The goal for the Patriots now is to work to get back to that level of play, and let the chips fall.

There were a lot of things wrong yesterday you could reasonably expect not to see again. Brady played poorly. The offensive line was out of sync, and will benefit greatly from getting Vollmer back. The bad line play threw the whole offense out of whack. The young secondary isn’t anywhere in the vicinity as bad as they looked yesterday--the coaching staff will make the most of the learning opportunity. On the plus side, Maroney is running harder than I’ve ever seen him. The lack of a consistent pass rush is the one element that would be the best bet to end their season, but one game at a time.

Point is, there’s a lot of talent on this team on both sides of the ball. Yesterday was one game, a bad one for the Pats. But they’re winning the division, Cincy & SD play each other, Cincy goes to Minnesota, San Diego goes to Dallas and (hard to believe they’re playing well but they are) Tennessee, etc. , so the #2 seed is hardly a stretch. It’s always darkest before the dawn. Keep the faith.

Exactly.....everyone calm down and take a deep breath.

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

The Patriots lost by 21 points in December of 2006.

The Patriots had the same problems that year that they are this year.

That offense was good enough to hang 24 points on the Colts in one half.

The defense, obviously, was not up to par.

They lost by 21 to Miami because they were shutout. If I recall, Miami had figured out the Pats playcalls. The game was strange. Generally speaking, the Patriots did not have the same problems that year compared to this year.....Reche Caldwell was a go-to guy? Please.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

They lost by 21 to Miami because they were shutout. If I recall, Miami had figured out the Pats playcalls. The game was strange. Generally speaking, the Patriots did not have the same problems that year compared to this year.....Reche Caldwell was a go-to guy? Please.

Are you making stuff up now?

Where does it say "Reche Caldwell was a go-to guy?"

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

Are you making stuff up now?

Where does it say "Reche Caldwell was a go-to guy?"

Oops, that's not clear. My bad. Rushing around here--my post before that wasn't clear either (I hate that! Now I can't mock others for awhile.)

To restate.....what we saw last night feels like 2005 to me....THAT team was really struggling throughout the season, but had a lock on the division title. The team in the playoffs was very different, even though they lost to Denver.

 

[SVN]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

i think you can find a loss like this in every down yr including last yr like the miami shellacking @home. We then win a bunch of games and become the team "firing on all cylinders" when the reality is that league is full of average teams and you have to beat only 3-4 good teams in an yr to make the playoffs. The mediocrity in the league makes us and other teams look good at the end .We may win the next 5 and people will forget its the same team which got blown out @NO and start saying things like we can beat indy and NO in the playoffs.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

Compare them to any of the last Pats team, like in 08, 06, 05. Only having a winning record because of beating bad teams, fold like a house of cards when ever you face a good team.

That's just the Patriots for you the last 4 years.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Want to Feel Better? Just Remember 2005

Oops, that's not clear. My bad. Rushing around here--my post before that wasn't clear either (I hate that! Now I can't mock others for awhile.)

To restate.....what we saw last night feels like 2005 to me....THAT team was really struggling throughout the season, but had a lock on the division title. The team in the playoffs was very different, even though they lost to Denver.

I really think this team is better than 2005. They remind me more of 2006.