Something to lift the spirits

[ivanvamp]

If you're feeling down after a rough few weeks with the Pats, consider the following:

- 2008. The Arizona Cardinals, eventual NFC champs (and almost SB champs), went 2-4 in their last 6 games. In week 12, they got manhandled by the Giants 37-29. In week 13, they got *crushed* by the Eagles, 48-20. Then, in weeks 15 and 16, they got destroyed by the Vikings (35-14) and the Pats (47-7). They then went on to a couple of impressive upsets to get to the Super Bowl, which they darned near won.

- 2007. The New York Giants, eventual Super Bowl champs, went 4-4 over their last 8 games, only to get hot and run the table in the playoffs. In week 10, they got beat by their archrivals, the Cowboys, 31-20. Then, two weeks later, in week 12, they got smoked by the Minnesota Vikings, 41-17.

- 2006. The Indianapolis Colts, eventual Super Bowl champs, went 3-4 over their last 7 games, only to get hot and run the table to win the Super Bowl. In week 11 they got beat by the Cowboys, 21-14. In week 13, they got beat by the Titans, 20-17. Then, in week 14, they got destroyed by the Jaguars, 44-17. Finally, in week 16, they lost to the Texans (the only time that's ever happened), 27-24.

- 2005. The Pittsburgh Steelers, eventual Super Bowl champs, went 3-4 down the stretch, with three straight losses during weeks 11-13. In week 11, they got beat by the Ravens, 16-13. In week 12, they got crushed by the Colts, 26-7. Then, in week 13, they lost to the lowly Bengals, 38-31. They then went on to win three straight road playoff games to get to the Super Bowl, then won the championship over Seattle.


Here's the point. The last 4 seasons, a team that won the Super Bowl (or, in the case of the Cardinals, at least got there) all had a very rough stretch at about this point in the season, losing several games, and some of them in absolutely horrible fashion, getting beaten very badly. Now, this doesn't mean the Pats are destined to get to the Super Bowl. Rather, it's just a reminder that even championship-caliber teams in the very recent past (really, every year after the 2004 Pats champs) go through periods late in the year where they look like anything but championship caliber. (heck, even the Steelers last year got smoked in week 16 by the Titans, 31-14)

 

[Wax Frog]

Again, it's not about being the "best team", it's about performing best when it counts.

 

[BionicPatriot]

That's why I've lowered expectations and at this point I'm simply enjoying the game, hoping for the best.

 

[pats1]

If you're feeling down after a rough few weeks with the Pats, consider the following:

- 2008. The Arizona Cardinals, eventual NFC champs (and almost SB champs), went 2-4 in their last 6 games. In week 12, they got manhandled by the Giants 37-29. In week 13, they got *crushed* by the Eagles, 48-20. Then, in weeks 15 and 16, they got destroyed by the Vikings (35-14) and the Pats (47-7). They then went on to a couple of impressive upsets to get to the Super Bowl, which they darned near won.

- 2007. The New York Giants, eventual Super Bowl champs, went 4-4 over their last 8 games, only to get hot and run the table in the playoffs. In week 10, they got beat by their archrivals, the Cowboys, 31-20. Then, two weeks later, in week 12, they got smoked by the Minnesota Vikings, 41-17.

- 2006. The Indianapolis Colts, eventual Super Bowl champs, went 3-4 over their last 7 games, only to get hot and run the table to win the Super Bowl. In week 11 they got beat by the Cowboys, 21-14. In week 13, they got beat by the Titans, 20-17. Then, in week 14, they got destroyed by the Jaguars, 44-17. Finally, in week 16, they lost to the Texans (the only time that's ever happened), 27-24.

- 2005. The Pittsburgh Steelers, eventual Super Bowl champs, went 3-4 down the stretch, with three straight losses during weeks 11-13. In week 11, they got beat by the Ravens, 16-13. In week 12, they got crushed by the Colts, 26-7. Then, in week 13, they lost to the lowly Bengals, 38-31. They then went on to win three straight road playoff games to get to the Super Bowl, then won the championship over Seattle.


Here's the point. The last 4 seasons, a team that won the Super Bowl (or, in the case of the Cardinals, at least got there) all had a very rough stretch at about this point in the season, losing several games, and some of them in absolutely horrible fashion, getting beaten very badly. Now, this doesn't mean the Pats are destined to get to the Super Bowl. Rather, it's just a reminder that even championship-caliber teams in the very recent past (really, every year after the 2004 Pats champs) go through periods late in the year where they look like anything but championship caliber. (heck, even the Steelers last year got smoked in week 16 by the Titans, 31-14)

Don't forget the Pats losing in Miami in December 2004.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Don't forget the Pats losing in Miami in December 2004.

I don't think you can compare the 04 Pats to those teams. The 04 Pats were favored at the start and lost 2 game all season.

 

[borg]

All this team needs to do is win on the road, score points in the 2nd half, keep opposing QB ratings below 140, make a red zone stop, protect Brady from the dreaded 3 man rush, cover a WR, and create pass rushing wind so that the opposing QB falls down.

 

[pats1]

I don't think you can compare the 04 Pats to those teams. The 04 Pats were favored at the start and lost 2 game all season.

Right, I'm just saying that even Super Bowl teams aren't immune from having a bad game late in the season.

 

[D-cleater]

Great Post. Don't forget the Steelers played a red-hot Titans in week 15 last year and got beat 31-14.

Not saying there aren't many problems to fix with this team, but all we need is for the defense to get hot during the playoffs and if Brady gets enough chances you have to think that the offense can score points against the Colts, Bengals, SD, etc

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Nice one ivanvamp. I didn't remember that the prior champs suffered a brutal thumping in the regular season. After monday, I assumed that we were 'exposed' and so kept aside my hopes.

But now...

Bring on the 'Fins!!

GO PATS!!

 

[Nikolai]

If 2007 taught us anything, it's that it's better to be hot in January than in October-November.

 

[ivanvamp]

Nice one ivanvamp. I didn't remember that the prior champs suffered a brutal thumping in the regular season. After monday, I assumed that we were 'exposed' and so kept aside my hopes.

But now...

Bring on the 'Fins!!

GO PATS!!

The 2006 Colts present an interesting comp. They finished 12-4 but had that brutal stretch at about the same time in the year the Pats are at now. But more interesting, they had the #23 scoring, and #21 yardage allowed defense in the league. In other words, great offense, but *bad* defense. Yet during the playoffs, here's what they did:

- beat KC 23-8 (KC had a very good running game that year but Indy shut them down)

- beat Bal 15-6

- beat NE 38-34 (this is the game we should have won)

- beat Chi 29-17

So the only game they had a hard time stopping someone was vs. NE, but they had enough offensive firepower to come back. The Pats are in an eerily similar situation right now, though their defense is much more highly ranked than the 2006 Colts' D was. (NE has the #7 scoring and #12 yardage allowed defense in the league right now)

 

[RobertWeathers]

The 2006 Colts present an interesting comp. They finished 12-4 but had that brutal stretch at about the same time in the year the Pats are at now. But more interesting, they had the #23 scoring, and #21 yardage allowed defense in the league. In other words, great offense, but *bad* defense. Yet during the playoffs, here's what they did:

- beat KC 23-8 (KC had a very good running game that year but Indy shut them down)

- beat Bal 15-6

- beat NE 38-34 (this is the game we should have won)

- beat Chi 29-17

So the only game they had a hard time stopping someone was vs. NE, but they had enough offensive firepower to come back. The Pats are in an eerily similar situation right now, though their defense is much more highly ranked than the 2006 Colts' D was. (NE has the #7 scoring and #12 yardage allowed defense in the league right now)

Colts had great matchups in the playoffs. They sold-out on the run each game b/c they played teams who had great running games and mediocre passing offenses. Bob Sanders was never more important that he was during that stretch. Ironcally enough, statistically they were the worst run defense in the NFL.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

The 2006 Colts present an interesting comp. They finished 12-4 but had that brutal stretch at about the same time in the year the Pats are at now. But more interesting, they had the #23 scoring, and #21 yardage allowed defense in the league. In other words, great offense, but *bad* defense. Yet during the playoffs, here's what they did:

- beat KC 23-8 (KC had a very good running game that year but Indy shut them down)

- beat Bal 15-6

- beat NE 38-34 (this is the game we should have won)

- beat Chi 29-17

So the only game they had a hard time stopping someone was vs. NE, but they had enough offensive firepower to come back. The Pats are in an eerily similar situation right now, though their defense is much more highly ranked than the 2006 Colts' D was. (NE has the #7 scoring and #12 yardage allowed defense in the league right now)

I don't mind the loss but am shocked with the way we lost. Guess its been quite some time since we lost so badly by that margin.

Your points managed to bring back the much needed perspective for the average fans like me who might get disillusionsed by the gloom and doom predicted by others who swear by the cold hard #s only. In fact, I feel that the red zone woes will be set right soon and if the D does something on the pass-rush, we can fly under the radar all the way.

 

[Nikolai]

I don't mind the loss but am shocked with the way we lost. Guess its been quite some time since we lost so badly by that margin.

It's the law of averages. How many times have we seen some of the insane records and streaks of the Belichick-era Patriots be brought to end/back down to earth. I'd rather have those birds come home to roost now rather than after the New Year.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

It's the law of averages. How many times have we seen some of the insane records and streaks of the Belichick-era Patriots be brought to end/back down to earth. I'd rather have those birds come home to roost now rather than after the New Year.

Records and streaks will be broken, i have no qualms about it.

having a bad game can be considered part of 'law of averages' but if the game displayed some glaring weakness when we appear to be clueless, then it is reason to be more concerned.

My big worry: are our offensive calls that predictable that the much reputed Brady/Moss were not able to blow away rookie corners in the Colts game and humbled last Monday against a D, which for gods sake had a guy picked off the streets making major stops?

 

[muzz]

"2007. The New York Giants, eventual Super Bowl champs, went 4-4 over their last 8 games, only to get hot and run the table in the playoffs. In week 10, they got beat by their archrivals, the Cowboys, 31-20. Then, two weeks later, in week 12, they got smoked by the Minnesota Vikings, 41-17."

This one was already discussed and dissected, Eli GAVE the Viking 21 pts with THREE pick Six Ints (FOUR picks total), the Defense gave up 129 yds passing and 127 yds rushing, the rushing was 39 attempts for 3.26 ypc, and 60 of the passing yards and the pass TD was 1 60 yd play- the 2nd of the game to Sidney Rice(who BTW is enjoying a breakout year with a real qb) and 69 yards for the rest of the game.

That Defense played well enough to win that game easily, gave up 256 Total yds......... pretty tough to win when your offense stakes the other team to 21 free points.

Just sayin'........

 

[Nikolai]

My big worry: are our offensive calls that predictable that the much reputed Brady/Moss were not able to blow away rookie corners in the Colts game and humbled last Monday against a D, which for gods sake had a guy picked off the streets making major stops?

Monday night aside, Brady and Moss did indeed light up the Colts secondary. Had it not been for "the call", the discussion would have been about how Moss torched the Colts D for almost 200 yards receiving.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Monday night aside, Brady and Moss did indeed light up the Colts secondary. Had it not been for "the call", the discussion would have been about how Moss torched the Colts D for almost 200 yards receiving.

You are right. I should have kept my comment only to the Saints game.

I am surprised there are no threads on the game tomorrow and instead musings of everything else.