Why is it so difficult to completely believe in the Pats?

[Patters]

We have more offensive weapons than anyone. We have the best quarterback and best coach in football. Our defense is fast and has only improved in game after game, and we have some of the best players in the League. We've taken on the best teams in the League and we've won. The sophisticated statistics that are used by footballoutsiders.com shows we are the best team. So by any reasonable measure we should easily handle the Jets like we did in our last game against them.

Yet, I'm still worried. Green Bay with a second string QB came close to beating the Pats because Belichick is not as a good coach when the opposing team does what he doesn't expect. I think back to when Miami used the wildcat to defeat again and again, and BB just waited patiently for Miami to do what he expected. They never did and we lost. Mangina offered some tips in the New York Post on how to beat the Pats; others have said that to have a chance you need an unexpected and original game plan. I saw how rusty the Steelers were for the first half of the game against the Ravens, and fear that the young Pats will not be ready for a playoff game, especially after a week off. Maybe the Pats can be defeated. After all, several teams, including the Colts and Packers, have come close, and the Jets and Browns actually did defeat us.

I suppose if I was a fan of the Jets, I would be even more worried, but I'd like to believe in the Pats with more certainty. Do you?

 

[Guts]

Mostly because of 2007 and the playoff beating the Patriots took last year. Those two things broke the mystic aura feel that the team had.

 

[swheeler23]

Mostly because of 2007 and the playoff beating the Patriots took last year. Those two things broke the mystic aura feel that the team had.

Agreed! The Patriots can be beaten.

 

[Raymond]

I've been a Pats fan for 30 years.

I've never been more confident on a po game. And I'm always worried.

The Jets go down tomorrow.

 

[ausbacker]

I'm not worried at all, mostly for the reasons you've mentioned. The Patriots won't beat themselves. They'll be beaten (if it does occur) because the other team played better than us.

 

[luvbrain]

2007 and last year team were on the decline heading to the playoffs.This year team has something special about them though. They are peaking as the season ends. I don't doubt that they will do something very special this year. I think we can see another blow out tomorrow

 

[cmasspatsfan]

We have a young, fast defense thats been the best in the league in the last 8 games, dont have to tell anyone how the offense has done the last 8 games, we have veteran leadership and we're peaking at the right time, barring a freak injury or something along those lines we should win the next 2.

 

[Patstopia]

I believe!!!


Always have!

 

[Guts]

Well here's to regaining that mystic feel that we had back. What better way then to beat two teams that we hate Jets and Steelers.

 

[bruce_w]

This team is the surest bet to win I have seen since the 80's 49ers. Enjoy the ride, it will be fun.

 

[Fahrenhype]

The only thing that worries me is the defense not getting their asses off the field on third down. The numbers don't lie, they were lousy at it this year. The offense is a juggernaut but Brady can't throw completions and touchdowns from the sideline.

If they can get off the field rather than relying on turnovers at the last possible moment, there is little else to worry about.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I believe...... I always do though.


Just this year, a little mote then others.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

We have more offensive weapons than anyone. We have the best quarterback and best coach in football. Our defense is fast and has only improved in game after game, and we have some of the best players in the League. We've taken on the best teams in the League and we've won. The sophisticated statistics that are used by footballoutsiders.com shows we are the best team. So by any reasonable measure we should easily handle the Jets like we did in our last game against them.

Yet, I'm still worried. Green Bay with a second string QB came close to beating the Pats because Belichick is not as a good coach when the opposing team does what he doesn't expect. I think back to when Miami used the wildcat to defeat again and again, and BB just waited patiently for Miami to do what he expected. They never did and we lost. Mangina offered some tips in the New York Post on how to beat the Pats; others have said that to have a chance you need an unexpected and original game plan. I saw how rusty the Steelers were for the first half of the game against the Ravens, and fear that the young Pats will not be ready for a playoff game, especially after a week off. Maybe the Pats can be defeated. After all, several teams, including the Colts and Packers, have come close, and the Jets and Browns actually did defeat us.

I suppose if I was a fan of the Jets, I would be even more worried, but I'd like to believe in the Pats with more certainty. Do you?

Go back and look at where the Green Bay game fell on the Patriots schedule. They just finished a grueling 7 weeks, they knew after the Jets lost to the Bears they pretty much had the 1st seed sown up, there was no Aaron Rodgers and they came out flat as a pancake and never really got fired up for the entire game until our 300+ lb O lineman almost ran a kick back for a TD. I'd be very concerned about the Packers if the Patriots had brought their A game when they played them. They didn't so I'm not worried about them. That was not a focused and fired up Patriots team who played the Pack.
The Browns game was even worse in terms of effort and flatness and yet if Gronk has an average day they win that game.
I fully believe in this team because Tom Brady is a mission this year and he will not be denied.

 

[JerseyDevil26]

I think anytime you play a division rival in the playoffs there has to be some concern, especially since they beat us in the regular season once. I know things have changed since then, but the fact of the matter is we still lost to them. They know us probably better than any other team, so it's hard to say with 100% certainty that they will win the game. Do I believe they will? Yes. Will they? We'll see...

 

[IcyPatriot]

Agreed! The Patriots can be beaten.

i don't believe we can be beaten ... we can lose but the Jet's are not talented enough in all positions to beat us.

 

[tests]

imo the patriots this year are peaking at the right time of the year.

Although 2007 superbowl lost was huge, i really believe the pats team (offensive line mainly) underestimated the giants. Belichick wont allow it this time

If someone does beat us, they will have to take down the pats at their best imo.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Our dominance is not due to a talent gap but due to superior execution: playing mistake-free football and simultaneously forcing lots of mistakes.

I am confident as ever, but this time of the year you can run into somebody else not making any mistakes too (though that was not the case for PITTS today). Fortunately many key Jets seem intrinsically stupid and undisciplined, so I doubt that they can play mistake-free football tomorrow.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

imo the patriots this year are peaking at the right time of the year.

Although 2007 superbowl lost was huge, i really believe the pats team (offensive line mainly) underestimated the giants. Belichick wont allow it this time

If someone does beat us, they will have to take down the pats at their best imo.

Possible, but IMO that is a small part because we beat them during the regular season although it went to the wire. So, BB and the coaches knew what the Gints were capable off.

I think that BB and the players were distracted by the stench of the fart that Mr. Tomase let loose the eve of the SB and couldn't focus. Really.

 

[blackglass3]

I'm concerned, also. We've seen what happens when the younger players start to believe their press clippings...it was the Browns game. I worry if the #1 seed has gone to their heads. I hope BB and TB have been drilling it into their heads that they haven't accomplished sh!t yet.

 

[rabthepat]

Another issue is that our team is soooooo dependant on one player, Tom. If Tom has an average or less than average day, like in SB 42, there is no Corey Dillon type player to take over. I also do not believe our defense is a shut down type of unit. Big leads have given them some wind behind their backs.