1. When the clock wound down to zero, all I could think was, "Whew, THANK YOU, San Diego Chargers"!. If ever a team gifted a win to another it was that game. It was a microcosm of their entire season. Good Defense, Productive offense, No wins. If I wasn't such a homer I'd almost be ashamed to take that win. From the first fumble right up until the last procedure penalty SD just gave the Pats one gift after another.
2. If I were a Charger fan, I think I'd be on suicide watch right now. Remember they have 3 OTHER loses just as bad as this one. (though I bet this HAD to be the worst.)
3.I agree with BB on going for it on 4th and a long 1. It is important to remember that if they had kicked it and say pinned them at the 15, they would have plenty of time and 3 time outs. Time wouldn't have been an issue. What WAS the issue was that Sergio Brown and James Sanders were going to be your Safeties on the last drive. (Merriweather might have played some, but he was banged up and compromised.
BB had already seen that Sergio Brown on even a hobbled Gates was a bad mismatch, and James Sanders isgenerally bad in coverage (though he made a nice play in the endzone), especially outside the red zone. This was like the decision in Indy, where we also were very thin and inexperienced at the Safety position.
4. You won't here it reported on the media, but the reason the 4th down play failed, was that BJGE ran past the hole. If you get to see the replay from behind the QB, it will be clear to you. The TE does a nice job in setting./sealing the edge. Connolly cuts it up just out side the TE and created a soft spot. BJGE took one hole farther out where no one was blocking an lost the 2 yds. I contend that if he had followed Connolly and run off his butt, he would have gotten the needed yard.
You heard this analysis first here....and probably last here. Check it out yourself, since I'm sure you'll get to see it enough time this week. But you won't see it clearly until you see the behind the RB angle
5. I'm sure all the "we miss Randy" crowd will have a field day. The offense looked positively 2006ish today, with Deion playing the part of Reche Caldwell.
Its a legitimate question though, but its way to early to start to draw any conclusions one way or the other. File it under a situation to be watched.....CLOSELY
6. Clearly the offense adjusted at the half and was much better in the 2nd, but it shouldn't take an entire half to make adjustment and start move the ball on a consistent basis.
7. My 2 favorite players Edelman and Tate didn't catch a ball today. I'd love to see a coaches tape to see if they just were not being targeted, or just couldn't get open. And if its the latter, why. I also think we could start to target Gronk more. Clearly he has Orick/Dyson hands, and can catch the ball in a crowd. He has earned more looks. (and I'm not just saying this because I'm stubbornly playing him on my FF team.
8. The run defense keeps getting better each game, and the pass D, in case you didn't notice, is getting better as well...just more slowly. And the injuries to the safeties isn't helping.
9. I know Brace was inactive, was it due to injury or is he back in the doghouse. Same for Butler, was he active, because I didn't notice him.
10. The offense did do something right today - ZERO turnovers. I can't even imagine a win if we had had even one.
11.The onside kick was a perfect play. I first thought that he touched the ball before it went 10 yds and his momentum carried him past the 10 yds, but the replay showed that he just made it by INCHES. It was a great call by the refs. They catch a lot of crap from all of us, but they got that call right WITHOUT any replays.
12. Another give we got was the PI. Yes the DB barred the receiver's way with an arm bar, but I really doubt the ball was catchable. The fairer call would have been illegal contact, 5yds and first down. I also know that when the ball is in the air, it has to be call a PI. I think the NFL would be better served if there was a mechanism to call it holding. Reward a team with a 20+yd gain on what was essentially a poorly executed play never sets well with me. OTOH, too often lately I've seen the Pats on the wrong side of a call like that. So I'll take it. I just don't have to like it.
BOTTOM LINE - we are 5-1 tied for the best record in the conference, after winning another tough road game on the west coast. In a few weeks all the details of this game will have faded into obscurity and a whole new list of issues will be debated.
To sum it up. The defense continues to get better (fingers crossed on Chung and Merriweather), and the offense is in flux, though they aren't hurting us with TO's
On to the Randy homecoming and your comments
