How can PATs win SB XLI?

[JR4]

I know to many it seems a dream at this point in the season.
Looking at the injuries PATs have and teams like Chargers and Ravens
it seems difficult.
But here are a few thing that I feel need to happen to make it a reality.

1. PATs need to Clinch the Division then get injured starters healthy
and other starters rested if possible.
It would be nice if PATs could clinch this week but that won't happen
without help from the JETs
I'm thinking the PATs will need to win the next two games to be able to
rest starters. They may have to do it without Watson and Wilfork.

2. Three players have to really step up.
Wright for Wifork and Thomas for Watson. This has been in past the time
that second stringers have had a chance to excell and as result PATs
had better depth going into Playoffs.
The third guy is Jackson. I really think he needs to contribute in a big way
if PATs are going to have the fire power to take on teams like Ravens and
Chargers.

3. Rodney needs to be healthy. he will have probably two weeks to knock off the rust.
Can he do it? I am not sold on any of the other Safties.
Hawkins will be fine with Rodney in there. Rodney is crucial to stopping
the run. With Seau gone the run D has not looked good. Rodney can
change that if he is healthy.

4. Other players that need to get healthy and I don't care if they need to rest the next 3 weeks.
Wilfork, Watson, Hobbs, Graham, O'Callaghan.
These guys need to be as close to 100% as possible.

5. PATs need to win the next two games ... especially Jacksonville ... in
order to gain a high degree of confidence. The substitutes need to meld in
and the team need to soldify in the next two weeks.

6. The front seven needs to come together and show they can stop the
run. I was not impressed with Banta Cain last week and I hope there are
changes but I do not know how this unit can play like they did when
Seau was in there. Maybe Rodney is the only hope.

7. PATs need to put it all together and make a strong showing in
wild card weekend. I am really hoping the injury report is empty
at that point.

If all of the above happens I think PATs will have a real good shot. They will
be competitve with Chargers and Ravens. Is this too much to hope for?

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: How can PATs win SB XVI?

I know to many it seems a dream at this point in the season.
Looking at the injuries PATs have and teams like Chargers and Ravens
it seems difficult.
But here are a few thing that I feel need to happen to make it a reality.

1. PATs need to Clinch the Division then get injured starters healthy
and other starters rested if possible.
It would be nice if PATs could clinch this week but that won't happen
without help from the JETs
I'm thinking the PATs will need to win the next two games to be able to
rest starters. They may have to do it without Watson and Wilfork.

2. Three players have to really step up.
Wright for Wifork and Thomas for Watson. This has been in past the time
that second stringers have had a chance to excell and as result PATs
had better depth going into Playoffs.
The third guy is Jackson. I really think he needs to contribute in a big way
if PATs are going to have the fire power to take on teams like Ravens and
Chargers.

3. Rodney needs to be healthy. he will have probably two weeks to knock off the rust.
Can he do it? I am not sold on any of the other Safties.
Hawkins will be fine with Rodney in there. Rodney is crucial to stopping
the run. With Seau gone the run D has not looked good. Rodney can
change that if he is healthy.

4. Other players that need to get healthy and I don't care if they need to rest the next 3 weeks.
Wilfork, Watson, Hobbs, Graham, O'Callaghan.
These guys need to be as close to 100% as possible.

5. PATs need to win the next two games ... especially Jacksonville ... in
order to gain a high degree of confidence. The substitutes need to meld in
and the team need to soldify in the next two weeks.

6. The front seven needs to come together and show they can stop the
run. I was not impressed with Banta Cain last week and I hope there are
changes but I do not know how this unit can play like they did when
Seau was in there. Maybe Rodney is the only hope.

7. PATs need to put it all together and make a strong showing in
wild card weekend. I am really hoping the injury report is empty
at that point.

If all of the above happens I think PATs will have a real good shot. They will
be competitve with Chargers and Ravens. Is this too much to hope for?

The only way I see them winning the superbowl is if the offense suddenly comes together or they get extremely creative on offense or they play 4 perfect games.

I mean creative like half back passes, points on special teams, fake punts or kicks. I don't see them doing that.

 

[JR4]

Darn roman numbers .... XLI not XVI ( already played )

 

[shakadave]

Let's add to this list something about the WRs and something about the O-line.

I honestly wrote my new signature before seeing this thread, but this seems like the perfect place to debut it!

 

[BelichickFan]

Good defense, good running game and quit the turnovers. This could easily be a better version of the 2001 team, not good enough offensively to light up the scoreboard but good enough defensively to keep the game within winning range. I'm not saying it's the same, with Dillon, Maroney, Watson and a veteran Brady it's a better offense than 2001 for sure (when they're all healthy) but the way they can win would be along those lines.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: How can PATs win SB XVI?

No huddle offense

Man, watch our passing game. Slants or not, we aren't winning the SB running a no huddle consistently. We need a big time running game and a moderate passing game to go along with it.

 

[BelichickFan]

The really strange thing about this year's defensive team. While they have played very well in several games, and have been very instrumental in preserving victories for the offense.....they have yet to score a defensive touchdown...

Safeties, Yes..... but not one TD via returned Interception or returned fumble.

Very unusual.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that because I believe in the law of averages" we are going to see some of those devensive TD's during the final stretch run.

Difficult to disagree as we're tied for 5th/6th in INTs (more likely to go for a TD than fumble recoveries). You would think we would return one if that INT rate continues.

 

[JR4]

.........This could easily be a better version of the 2001 team, not good enough offensively to light up the scoreboard but good enough defensively to keep the game within winning range..........

Talent wise this team probaly has more than the 2001 team. But there is
one very very big difference ... Belief in themselfs.the plan BB has and
the coaching staff.
This confidence I think has been additionally eroded by the lack of offense,
turnovers and the losses to Miami and the Jets.
In 2001 no one gave them a chance but they believed in BB, his
game plan and the coaches they had.
It may be that the loss of Romeo and Charlie is too big for this team to overcome.
As BB said in his PC he doesn't do very much one on one coaching.
That he leaves to his staff.
But you know his staff is not what it use to be.

 

[BelichickFan]

And remember, if I am not wrong, didnt we go quite a few games into the season before we got ONE int, and then had relatively few for several games into the season?

Through 3 games we only had one INT and that one was Bruschi's game ender vs. the Jets on a pseudo hail mary, not a real INT. That was before Samuel got going

 

[pats1]

How can the Pats win the Super Bowl?

Win each of their playoff games.

No need for 7-point "if's."

 

[JR4]

How can the Pats win the Super Bowl?

Win each of their playoffs games.

No need for 7-point "if's."

WOW .... Really!

 

[F0nSY]

We can't win the SB XLI

 

[Bruschi 3:16]

I can't see how this team wins XLI unless the training staff perform miracles. At full health, they can beat anyone, but when they are in the shape they are, lets win the division and take it one game at a time.

 

[F0nSY]

Yes we can, and we WILL.

NEM,we can't win the SB XLI.

 

[BelichickFan]

I can't see how this team wins XLI unless the training staff perform miracles. At full health, they can beat anyone, but when they are in the shape they are, lets win the division and take it one game at a time.

Most of our injured are expected back before or for the playoffs. Harrison. Maroney. Wilfork. Watson.

What's the problem ?

 

[Rob0729]

Re: How can PATs win SB XVI?

I agree. You can only count on your defene bailing you out for so long, eventually your offense needs to start playing like champions.

The best defense is still a good offense.

We won on defense in 2001 and 2003. Neither of our offenses those year were playing all that much better than this year. You can win win without much of an offense. The 2002 Ravens proved that.

We ran through the AFC in 2003 on defense. Our offense didn't exactly play all that well against either Tennessee or Indy (1 TD and 5 field goals isn't all that great since we turned over the ball 5 times in that game while only turning it over twice). Even in the Super Bowl, our offense was wildly inconsistent doing nothing in the first and third quarters (isn't that a knock on McDaniels?). Also that year, we had three games where we didn't score a single TD (this year the Dolphins game was the first time).

In 2001, our defense and special teams carried the day for most of the games in the playoffs. Against Oakland, we really didn't do anything on offense until late in the second half. Against Pittsburgh, we had three TDs and two were special teams TDs. Against the Rams, other than Brady's remarkable last drive we didn't do a heck of a lot on offense.

The best offense is a good defense, but it doesn't work the other way around. If the best defense was a good offense, the Colts would have won a Super Bowl by now or at least beaten the Pats in the playoffs. The fact of the matter is usually the refs let more go in the playoffs and that makes the defense even more important than the regular season.

Personally, I think the only thing we really must fix about our offense is the turnovers and penalties. Our offense has been moving and scoring other than this past weekend. Virtually the only times either Detriot or Chicago could stop our offense was when we turned over the ball and most of those were fumbles. Otherwise we punted five times in those two games and three of our turnovers vs. the Bears were on drives that had already gained at least 50 yards.

If we can stop the mental mistakes, this offense is as effective as the 2001 or 2003 offenses and can do enough to win in the playoffs as long as our defense plays like it is capable of.

 

[Rob0729]

Talent wise this team probaly has more than the 2001 team. But there is
one very very big difference ... Belief in themselfs.the plan BB has and
the coaching staff.
This confidence I think has been additionally eroded by the lack of offense,
turnovers and the losses to Miami and the Jets.
In 2001 no one gave them a chance but they believed in BB, his
game plan and the coaches they had.
It may be that the loss of Romeo and Charlie is too big for this team to overcome.
As BB said in his PC he doesn't do very much one on one coaching.
That he leaves to his staff.
But you know his staff is not what it use to be.

What lack of offense? We scored 17 points vs. the Bears that is giving up an average of a little over 12 per game. We scored 28 points vs. the Lions. Miami was the only game where we really didn't have an offense.

If you go back and look at our offensive production in 2003, our offensive production is better this year. We didn't score a single TD against Cleveland, Buffalo, Miami, or Dallas that year. We have scored at least a TD against every team this year other than Miami this past weekend.

Our defense isn't as good as the 2003 version, but I think the 2006 version of the offense is on par with the 2003 other than the turnovers. Which obviously is concerning.

 

[Ring 6]

We can win the SB the same way we won 3 others.
Playing excellent defense---over 13 games we have been as good this year as ever---especially with solid gameplans in big games. I expect the D will be in shape to control playoff games this year, just like in the past.

Be effective and consistent on offense. Last week aside that is just what we have been, with the exception of turnovers. We have to eliminate the turnover problem in the playoffs.

Make plays in crunchtime. That ability is the biggest reason for 3 Championships. I won't believe it isnt there until I see it.

In many ways you could argue this team is build for the playoffs. Offensively, we can be equally successful running or throwing. We will rarely tear up the scoreboard doing one or the other, but (again last week aside) we are effective enough on offense to whether its a running or passing gameplan to win when the D plays well. And that really is the offenses role in the big picture.
Defensively, we are probably having the best year of run D in the BB era. I'm fine with our pass D. The players on our D fit our system. I think this years playoff run is going to rank up there as one of the best defensive post-seasons we have had.

For us to win the SB, IMO, we need to keep the games on an even playing field by not turning the ball over. I believe that any game we play with zero giveaways and zero takeaways, we will win. I think the difference between this years team and the 03-04 teams is that those teams we so superior to the competition that they could overcome turnovers, penalties, sacks, field position issue, while this years team is just as good if it doesnt have to overcome large negatives but has a much harder time when it has to overcome them.

 

[JR4]

What lack of offense? We scored 17 points vs. the Bears that is giving up an average of a little over 12 per game. We scored 28 points vs. the Lions. Miami was the only game where we really didn't have an offense.

If you go back and look at our offensive production in 2003, our offensive production is better this year. We didn't score a single TD against Cleveland, Buffalo, Miami, or Dallas that year. We have scored at least a TD against every team this year other than Miami this past weekend.

Our defense isn't as good as the 2003 version, but I think the 2006 version of the offense is on par with the 2003 other than the turnovers. Which obviously is concerning.

Thing is we are not talking about the regular season. We are taling about
the playoffs where the teams PATs play will have good to very good
defenses. You may be able to score 17 points on a NFC team or 28 points
on a Detroit team but when you face a team like the Chargers or the
Ravens .... IMO ... Pats need a much improved offense over what I have seen. Defense alone will not cut it. PATs defense is not going to shut down
Chargers offense. That's what I mean lack of offense. That doesn't mean
PATs do not have an offense and have a potential to be very good. It does
mean when they face top defenses their Offense has been lacking.
The Oline especially but also in its WR core.

 

[JR4]

.......
Defensively, we are probably having the best year of run D in the BB era.
....

This was true. The loss of Seau is big. Morris ... 123 yds!
I need to see Harrision back and a healthy Wilfork. it may be ok
but against LT and the chargers?