A matter of inches

[mgteich]

Had Faulk been deemed to have converted the 4th and 2, and we had won the Indy game, we'd be 10-4, division champs, strong contenders for the bye, and most of us would be generally happy with ourselves (with reservations of course), expecting a 12-4 or 11-5 season depending on how much we played our starters.

We would have been the conquerers of Indy. The hope would be that we would improve enough by the end of the season to beat the chargers and the saints.

Instead we are the "hapless" patriots, as one poster just posted. What a crock!

Perhaps, the reality is that we will still be the division champs, still win our first game at home.

AND THEN,

And then, just perhaps, we should expect a great game with Indy who we played to within inches last time, and hope to have improved enough to beat the chargers and the saints.
============

Much has happened this season, but I suspect that much of the perspective of many posters would be greatly different if the ref had made a different call, or if Faulk had gained a few more inches.

 

[Jangles]

meh

If Faulk had converted and we won I would have been pleased with the game but the fact the Manning was one drive short of having another huge comeback against us would still be there.

He still would have exploited our defense and poor second half adjustments. He just wouldn't have won the game

 

[mayoclinic]

Had Faulk been deemed to have converted the 4th and 2, and we had won the Indy game, we'd be 10-4, division champs, strong contenders for the bye, and most of us would be generally happy with ourselves (with reservations of course), expecting a 12-4 or 11-5 season depending on how much we played our starters.

We would have been the conquerers of Indy. The hope would be that we would improve enough by the end of the season to beat the chargers and the saints.

Instead we are the "hapless" patriots, as one poster just posted. What a crock!

Perhaps, the reality is that we will still be the division champs, still win our first game at home.

AND THEN,

And then, just perhaps, we should expect a great game with Indy who we played to within inches last time, and hope to have improved enough to beat the chargers and the saints.
============

Much has happened this season, but I suspect that much of the perspective of many posters would be greatly different if the ref had made a different call, or if Faulk had gained a few more inches.

"Hapless Patriots" is, as you say, a bunch of crock. Hapless Lions, Raiders, Browns, Chiefs, Rams and Bucs, perhaps. But not hapless Patriots.

Nevertheless, having blown 3 games that we clearly had put away (Denver, Indy, and Miami) is cause for concern. One would not be concerning, but 3 out of our first 12 games (25%) is concerning.

 

[FootballFan85]

That game showed exactly what this Pats team is capable of, which completely includes winning a Super Bowl. That team is frightening.

However, they are far off of that form right now and they only have 2 games left to get back in it. Brady has 4 TDs and 6 INTs in his last 4 games. That's not Tom Brady.

This season definitely could've been very different for the Pats at this point had certain things changed. But getting that conversion in that game would have no effect on how the team is playing right now, which is sub-par at best.

The question is which team is going to show up in the playoffs. The one that's been on the field the last few games, or the one from mid season that looked like they were just as good as the top seeds.

 

[Jangles]

But getting that conversion in that game would have no effect on how the team is playing right now

doubtful

Going into one of your biggest rivals houses and leaving with a big win would have given this time a huge confidence boost after a shaky start

 

[Deus Irae]

I think the "Improvement?" polls I ran were very telling, actually. No subgroup on offense or defense was voted as playing worse (the DBs did split between "same" and "worse"), despite the obvious struggles of the team in the past month. The only area of the team that people voted as being worse now than at the beginning of the season was the O.C., so the perspective of the posters is still of the "half-full" variety, despite the team's struggles.

New England dominated the Colts for a fair portion of that game and still lost. Since then, the Patriots offense has clearly been struggling, and the defense hasn't improved.

The Patriots got waxed by the Saints and beaten by the Dolphins. They played a mediocre game against the Panthers and were fortunate, for the second time this season, that Buffalo is such a bad team. The team hasn't looked good since the game Sanchez gift wrapped.

The best team that the Patriots have beaten all season long is a team that's still not even guaranteed a playoff berth (Ravens), and the Patriots won because a Ravens receiver dropped an easy catch.

It's not a matter of inches. It's a matter of quality of play. Even in a year with most teams being pretty lousy, the Patriots haven't been able to stand out, and they were Super Bowl favorites heading into the season. Given all the circumstances, it's not surprising that people aren't buying into the team. "Hapless" may be over-the-top, but "disappointing" is certainly valid, even for a team that's still got a chance at an 11 win season.

 

[mgteich]

The only difference between our positions is that I have "reservations" and you have "concerns".

"Hapless Patriots" is, as you say, a bunch of crock. Hapless Lions, Raiders, Browns, Chiefs, Rams and Bucs, perhaps. But not hapless Patriots.

Nevertheless, having blown 3 games that we clearly had put away (Denver, Indy, and Miami) is cause for concern. One would not be concerning, but 3 out of our first 12 games (25%) is concerning.

 

[Sivy]

Man, I know....what you say is true. But the only thing we can do as fans is hope the team gets better by the playoffs and has enough for a strong game against Minn. in the superbowl.

 

[Patriots Nation NY]

Wes Welker was wide open on that 4th n 2 btw ...

 

[IcyPatriot]

Had Faulk been deemed to have converted the 4th and 2, and we had won the Indy game, we'd be 10-4, division champs, strong contenders for the bye, and most of us would be generally happy with ourselves (with reservations of course), expecting a 12-4 or 11-5 season depending on how much we played our starters.

We would have been the conquerers of Indy. The hope would be that we would improve enough by the end of the season to beat the chargers and the saints.

Instead we are the "hapless" patriots, as one poster just posted. What a crock!

Perhaps, the reality is that we will still be the division champs, still win our first game at home.

AND THEN,

And then, just perhaps, we should expect a great game with Indy who we played to within inches last time, and hope to have improved enough to beat the chargers and the saints.
============

Much has happened this season, but I suspect that much of the perspective of many posters would be greatly different if the ref had made a different call, or if Faulk had gained a few more inches.

That much is obvious ... but all the situational - leave no stone unturned coaching that Belichick has done tells me a different story. All those small things that most of us miss (inclusing myself) - which has helped us win 9 games. I am sure the inches that have helped us far outweigh the inches we have lost. We could also well be 8-6 or 7-7 ... only the all 22 would tells us how close we are to that. Without seeing it ... I'd like to think preparation has helped this mostly blue collar team be 9-5.

 

[mayoclinic]

The only difference between our positions is that I have "reservations" and you have "concerns".

One man's "notion" is another's "idea".

 

[billdog3484]

true only a few more inches and id be a pornstar named **** strong living in vegas with a few playboy bunnies

 

[mayoclinic]

true only a few more inches and id be a pornstar named **** strong living in vegas with a few playboy bunnies

Now that's something about which I'd have "reservations".

 

[Jangles]

true only a few more inches and id be a pornstar named **** strong living in vegas with a few playboy bunnies

lol

winner

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

meh

If Faulk had converted and we won I would have been pleased with the game but the fact the Manning was one drive short of having another huge comeback against us would still be there.

He still would have exploited our defense and poor second half adjustments. He just wouldn't have won the game

Did you not watch the game or are you delusional and clueless?

Indy had 14 points at halftime and 21 points with less than 3 minutes to go. That means 7 points and 2 ints for the second half. The "exploiting" you STUPIDLY point to was a totally bogus PI call on Butler. Take away that bogus call and it's over.

I hope some of these observations and opinions are the result of patsfans.com needing some posters to satify Disabilities Act requirements.

 

[Jangles]

Did you not watch the game or are you delusional and clueless?

Indy had 14 points at halftime and 21 points with less than 3 minutes to go. That means 7 points and 2 ints for the second half. The "exploiting" you STUPIDLY point to was a totally bogus PI call on Butler. Take away that bogus call and it's over.

I hope some of these observations and opinions are the result of patsfans.com needing some posters to satify Disabilities Act requirements.

lol calm down

It was a bad call but not the worst ever. Either way we lost the game and the teams confidence took a hit. We haven't played as well as we did for 3 quarters in Indy in any game since.

 

[dhamz]

Much has happened this season, but I suspect that much of the perspective of many posters would be greatly different if the ref had made a different call, or if Faulk had gained a few more inches.

There is no accounting for the chicken littles who would use a word like hapless.

I think you are overemphasizing the Colts loss and underemphasizing the Saints and Dolphins games in the way the majority of the fan base views this team.

The Colts loss was viewed as a bitter loss to a good team - one that got away. There was concern about the defensive disaster in the 4th quarter which reminds all of us of 2006 and 2007 season ending losses but I think most still thought this was at worst the 2nd best team in the AFC and one of the top 3 or 4 in football.

I think it was being totaly outlcassed on both sides of the ball by the Saints (an elite team) and then being again beaten on both sides of the ball in the last 3 quarters a week later by a mediocre at best Miami team that is the main cause for people to be pessimistic about the Pats Super Bowl chances.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

That game showed exactly what this Pats team is capable of, which completely includes winning a Super Bowl. That team is frightening.

However, they are far off of that form right now and they only have 2 games left to get back in it. Brady has 4 TDs and 6 INTs in his last 4 games. That's not Tom Brady.

This season definitely could've been very different for the Pats at this point had certain things changed. But getting that conversion in that game would have no effect on how the team is playing right now, which is sub-par at best.

The question is which team is going to show up in the playoffs. The one that's been on the field the last few games, or the one from mid season that looked like they were just as good as the top seeds.

i don't know if i agree with you about the impact of that play...one play has turned teams in one direction or another many times in the nfl...the Cowboys didn't go to a Super Bowl for 11 years after "the Catch" in the 1982 NFC championship game, a pass that, to this day, some still believe Montana was trying to throw away...the Titans haven't been back to a Super Bowl for 20 years since Mike Jones tackled Kevin Dyson on the one yard line to end SB XXXIV...it remains to be seen whether the Belichick/Brady Patriots will return after the Magic Helmet catch two seasons ago....so, i really disagree and believe that one play and one game can affect a lot more than even one season....

you're right about TB's numbers in recent games...there are those who think his ribs were hurt badly in the Miami loss...

i think we'll know which team will show up in the playoffs after Sunday...if the pats can put together two good halves on both sides of the ball and beat a good team convincingly, i think we might see a team we haven't seen all year...especially if taylor is healthy and the pats present a balanced offense...but to be honest, i have no idea what's going to happen...

 

[NJPatsfan26]

true only a few more inches and id be a pornstar named **** strong living in vegas with a few playboy bunnies

Thats what she said.....

 

[Gwedd]

What the OP meant to say was, Had the Ref not blown the call when Faulk obviously made the play,.....

Faulk caught the ball with plenty of yardage. The ref blew the call. Word.

We live and die by the refs, always have.