This game Sunday is important!

[PATSNUTme]

Many of us have been feeling that this game against the Lions is a layup and not very important.

It is not a lay up and it is important. I hope the players take this game seriously and come out intense. We need to win this to go 9-3. We go to Miami next week where even the wins we have had there have not come easy.

Baltimore lost last night. SD will probalby lose one or two along the way. WE can finish with the 2nd seed and a first round bye. So, this is an important game as all the others are for now on. Just because it's againts the lowly Lions does not make it any less important and a loss could rally hurt.

 

[mgcolby]

Many of us have been feeling that this game against the Lions is a layup and not very important.

It is not a lay up and it is important. I hope the players take this game seriously and come out intense. We need to win this to go 9-3. We go to Miami next week where even the wins we have had there have not come easy.

Baltimore lost last night. SD will probalby lose one or two along the way. WE can finish with the 2nd seed and a first round bye. So, this is an important game as all the others are for now on. Just because it's againts the lowly Lions does not make it any less important and a loss could rally hurt.

I think SD has a good chance of losing Sunday in Buffalo. Baltimore will drop at least one more and I wouldn't be shocked to see Indy drop another 2 games wishful thinking is 3 but that would be tough. Indy plays @Ten, @ Jax and home for Cincy. Ten held them to 14 points at home, Jax always plays them tough and Cincy seems to be playing well. Then they play Houston and finish up against Miami.

Either way the final 5 weeks are going to be exciting in the AFC. Even the NFC will be exciting just to see which 8-8 team makes the playoffs.

Good times and Yes every game from here on out is huge for the Pats, if they win out they will take the 2nd seed, IMO.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

The team has to and will take the Lions seriously. When have they ever taken an opponent lightly?

We as fans do not have to. The Lions are a joke and we can wonder aloud when Cassell will get some snaps.

If the Pats win out they have a chance at a bye. Lose another game and the bye is most likely unattainable. All games are important.

 

[Tunescribe]

... a loss could rally hurt.

But if we rally to win your point is moot.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Many of us have been feeling that this game against the Lions is a layup and not very important..

Last time I checked the win against the Bears counted for 1 "W"
Every win counts for 1 "W" ... last time I checked anyways.

 

[JR4]

I think it has been posted before that PATs need to win last 5 games
to have a shot at a bye in postseason and that will not be enough
if SD wins at least 4 of their last 5.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

Many of us have been feeling that this game against the Lions is a layup and not very important.

It is not a lay up and it is important. I hope the players take this game seriously and come out intense. We need to win this to go 9-3. We go to Miami next week where even the wins we have had there have not come easy.

Baltimore lost last night. SD will probalby lose one or two along the way. WE can finish with the 2nd seed and a first round bye. So, this is an important game as all the others are for now on. Just because it's againts the lowly Lions does not make it any less important and a loss could rally hurt.

They'll beat Detroit, but it'll be closer than expected. I think they lose in Miami next week, though.

 

[DarrylS]

The problem always seems to be the Pats play to the level of their competition, thus a game that seems like a cakewalk will be closer than it should, not sure if the other team plays better or if we do not play as well.

OTOH, sure the players feel more a sense of urgency than they have for other games of this caliber.

 

[mgcolby]

I think it has been posted before that PATs need to win last 5 games
to have a shot at a bye in postseason and that will not be enough
if SD wins at least 4 of their last 5.

That isn't true. SD plays @Buf, KC, Denver, @Sea there is a good chance that they could drop two of those. If they lose to Buf or Denver that will give them 3 AFC losses and will come down to the next tie breaker. Which is games against common opponents. If they lose to both and we lose a game to an NFC team then we would win the tie breakers.

Common opponents we are 3-1 and SD is 2-0 with a game left against Buf and Den. If they lose one of them then it will go to strength of victory.

 

[Gumby]

TomBrady's Goat: The team has to and will take the Lions seriously. When have they ever taken an opponent lightly?

ummm. ..........Seemed like they took the Jesters kind of lightly and look where that got us.

 

[checkedout]

Can't take any team lightly any week! I don't think they will. They know they need to pay attention to ball control and get the LB's working as a group so they will be in the game all the way.

 

[BelichickFan]

No doubt, they're all important.

 

[BelichickFan]

ummm. ..........Seemed like they took the Jesters kind of lightly and look where that got us.

I don't think they took them lightly. They outplayed the jesters on a play by play basis, the stats show it, they just made several game costing, horrendous mistakes.

 

[zippo59]

ummm. ..........Seemed like they took the Jesters kind of lightly and look where that got us.

Just because you don't play well and lose doesn't necessarily mean you took the team lightly.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

Looks like Shaun Rogers will not be active on Sunday. He hasnt practiced yet this week and the Lions board says he's out.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Did Barry Sanders ever give the $$$ back?

I used to watch the Lions just to wtach Barry.

I used to love when he would run backwards away from a stuffed gap.

 

[brdmaverick]

chill out, Pats will beat the Lions, and I assure you that the coaches and players are taking them seriously

 

[BruschiOnTap]

The problem always seems to be the Pats play to the level of their competition, thus a game that seems like a cakewalk will be closer than it should, not sure if the other team plays better or if we do not play as well.

OTOH, sure the players feel more a sense of urgency than they have for other games of this caliber.

I'm hoping for another smackdown like we put on hte Vikes and Packers... I'd like Brady and the receivers to get another chance to mesh against a weaker opponent. The more reps we get now, the more polished we'll be come January.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

The team has to and will take the Lions seriously. When have they ever taken an opponent lightly?

We as fans do not have to. The Lions are a joke and we can wonder aloud when Cassell will get some snaps.

If the Pats win out they have a chance at a bye. Lose another game and the bye is most likely unattainable. All games are important.

I agree. Everyone(national media) always says be afraid of the "trap game". When's the last time they lost to a horrible team? it has to be prior to the last two superbowls.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

ummm. ..........Seemed like they took the Jesters kind of lightly and look where that got us.

I disagree. Pats were caught on the wrong foot and appeared to be out-coached but that does not mean that they took the Jets lightly. If us fans are aware of the importance of the inter-conference games, I am sure that the players and coaches might also be aware of it.

Jets were coming off a bye-week that provided them time to study exactly what the Pats are attempting to do with their new and still-evolving offensive tools. With Rodney Harrison going down the previous week, Mangini (whose players already had enough motivation based on how Mangini expected the NE fans to treat him badly on his return) had enough ammunition based on last year's experience on where the Pats defense's weak spots were.

So, IMHO, the Pats should have prepared more than their usual preparation for that game.

The Pats take each opponent seriously and will do so against the Lions.