I considered overall talent in making my argument and concluded that we just don't have the horses for a significant playoff run, due mostly to shortcomings defensively in talent and experience. I differ with you here:
* Without a healthy and productive Fred Taylor, the RBs are average.
* The tight ends are showing flashes of huge potential, but are inconsistent.
* Welker and Branch can't get it done by themselves; we need Tate to step up and make a statement.
* The defensive line and linebackers can't muster a consistent pass rush and the linebackers lag in pass coverage.
* The defensive backfield will be solid eventually but lacks experience, and whichever CB plays opposite McCourty is on shaky ground.
* Pass defense is this team's Achilles heel.
I don't see this team winning a playoff game at either Indy or New Jersey if things remain as they are now. I could see them having a reasonable shot at beating anyone else in the AFC
I think you need a new prescription for your glasses. This team is getting better in all aspects every week. The Offense is growing more productive both in their run and pass, and with growing consistency. The Pats O is now consistently rushing for around 135 plus yards a game, or more. Thsoe are championship stats, on the ground. The Patriots Offesne lead the league in the only really important stats, scoring and winning.
The Defense is progressing nicely too. The run defense has stiffened to the point where it of a full championship caliber, now yielding under 100 yards a game. Oh sure, the early Ravens and Jets, and the out-lier Browns games are exceptions, that distort the real stats.
The Pass pressure in steadily increasing, even if the sack totals are not. Belichick's Bend-don't Break is working too. Even as it distorts the stats. Purposely inviting the short pass over the middle, but in front of the deep backs, and LBs will yield yards, but not cheap, quick scores.
Opposing Teams have to work their way down the field over a number of plays consistently, without a pick, or a dropped pass, or a fumble, or a sack, or a good pass defense play. Eight times in ten, the other guys couldn't do it, enough.
This rope-a-dope strategy, inviting short pass completions, limits the number of sacks the Pats pass rushers can accumulate. The pass rushers don't have the time to get there, but they are increasingly forcing pressure and errant throws. I don't recall Peyton ever getting as much pressure,if not sacks, as in this game.
I don't recall a game either, where Peyton made 5 mistakes throwing the ball, and the Pats got 3 INTs, and should/could have had 2 more.
As far as talent is concerned, I echo the comment that the fast, raw talent is there. There are 2 number 1s on the DL, and a number 2; there are 1 number 1s, and 2 number 2s in the LB corps; and there are 2 number 1s, and 3 number 2s, in the DBs. The talent is there, but very young, and learning to play together.
So I fail to understand your comment as to "not getting better" in the remaining 6 games, and playoffs. It flys in the face of Belichikian history too. His teams generally get better as the season progresses, for two reasons. He always has more genuine depth than others, and he plays his newcomers, draftees and FAs early. So they get and have experience later in the season. His depth is showing now, he has lost three probowlers, and is still winning, as others cry "Injury" excuses.
There are seveal players who are developing this year. Unexpectedly, Guyton has been transformed as an inside pass defender. This year's Chung is night and day compared to his rookie year version. Cunningham is coming on, so is Ninkovich. Brace, Pryor, and Deadrick along with re-juvenated G. Warren, are providing key freshness and competency to the D-line. Zoltan has transformed the Punting, into a weapon. So has Tate transformed the returning, into a feared weapon. Mayo is making a bid for a Probowl berth. Most of all they are all coachable, follow the game plan, without free-lancing. What's not to like?
