Titans game meant less than nothing

[spacecrime]

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=174756

So Felger has been saying all along that it was much more important to win the Titans game and go for the third seed than it was to rest the starters.

And in his article he maintains The Patriots [team stats] did the right thing yesterday at LP Field. They showed some pride and played to win against the Tennessee Titans

Huh? If the Pats had rested their starters, we would be exactly where we are, fourth seed facing the Jets. Instead the starters lose their bye and Harrison is hurt.

In fact, had the Colts lost and we ended up with third seed we would be facing LJ and the Chiefs. I'm much rather face Noodle Arm.

We should have rested our starters.

The Titans game meant less than nothing. Winning cost us starters going into the playoffs rested, maybe cost us Harrison, and could have had us facing a TOUGHER team than we are facing as fourth seed.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=174756

So Felger has been saying all along that it was much more important to win the Titans game and go for the third seed than it was to rest the starters.

And in his article he maintains The Patriots [team stats] did the right thing yesterday at LP Field. They showed some pride and played to win against the Tennessee Titans

Huh? If the Pats had rested their starters, we would be exactly where we are, fourth seed facing the Jets. Instead the starters lose their bye and Harrison is hurt.

In fact, had the Colts lost and we ended up with third seed we would be facing LJ and the Chiefs. I'm much rather face Noodle Arm.

We should have rested our starters.

The Titans game meant less than nothing. Winning cost us starters going into the playoffs rested, maybe cost us Harrison, and could have had us facing a TOUGHER team than we are facing as fourth seed.

As I said out here last week, this is one of those times when I just look to the sky and say "In BB (and his three Lombardi's) I trust." But, my gut is to agree with you.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=174756

So Felger has been saying all along that it was much more important to win the Titans game and go for the third seed than it was to rest the starters.

And in his article he maintains The Patriots [team stats] did the right thing yesterday at LP Field. They showed some pride and played to win against the Tennessee Titans

Huh? If the Pats had rested their starters, we would be exactly where we are, fourth seed facing the Jets. Instead the starters lose their bye and Harrison is hurt.

In fact, had the Colts lost and we ended up with third seed we would be facing LJ and the Chiefs. I'm much rather face Noodle Arm.

We should have rested our starters.

The Titans game meant less than nothing. Winning cost us starters going into the playoffs rested, maybe cost us Harrison, and could have had us facing a TOUGHER team than we are facing as fourth seed.

No offense but that's why Bill Belichick is the coach and you aren't. This has been his M.O. since he's been here, to keep the momentum, stay on a winning note, and go into the playoffs positive. It has worked for him to the max. Globe article even quoted Brady as begging to go in for one more series. Besides, you can't rest all the starters, and who's to say the ones that do play don't get hurt. I'd bet Rodney would have begged to play also, probably wanting the reps to continue his comeback.

 

[SoCal Bong]

Rhythm over rest.

 

[jczxohn1]

Something to be said for continuing an improving "body of work". 3 games ago, in the dark of night, my deepest thoughts were this team would go 10-6 or 11-5 if we had to, to win the div. 12-4 only means this team is continuing to improve. You can't just look at past performance and say"Well, this is how it's going to go--" because they haven't played their best game yet. This is going to be an exciting post-season.

 

[DaBruinz]

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=174756

So Felger has been saying all along that it was much more important to win the Titans game and go for the third seed than it was to rest the starters.

And in his article he maintains The Patriots [team stats] did the right thing yesterday at LP Field. They showed some pride and played to win against the Tennessee Titans

Huh? If the Pats had rested their starters, we would be exactly where we are, fourth seed facing the Jets. Instead the starters lose their bye and Harrison is hurt.

In fact, had the Colts lost and we ended up with third seed we would be facing LJ and the Chiefs. I'm much rather face Noodle Arm.

We should have rested our starters.

The Titans game meant less than nothing. Winning cost us starters going into the playoffs rested, maybe cost us Harrison, and could have had us facing a TOUGHER team than we are facing as fourth seed.

I don't agree with your assumptions here at all. Not only are you saying that the Patriots should have tanked a game, but you are looking at this in hind-sight and dis-regarding things.

1) There is no guarantee that Harrison is out. He was walking around the sidelines at the end of the game.

2) There was the potential to face 3 different teams. The Jets, Broncos, Chiefs. At least by playing hard, they put pressure on the Colts to win. Amazingly, Manning didn't choke like we normally see.

3) There was the potential for the Pats to move to the 3rd seed. With not knowing how the 5th and 6th seeds were going to play out, how can you sit there and second guess things.

It was more important for the Patriots to end the see season STRONG and carry that momentum into the play-offs.

 

[Tunescribe]

No offense but that's why Bill Belichick is the coach and you aren't. This has been his M.O. since he's been here, to keep the momentum, stay on a winning note, and go into the playoffs positive. It has worked for him to the max. Globe article even quoted Brady as begging to go in for one more series. Besides, you can't rest all the starters, and who's to say the ones that do play don't get hurt. I'd bet Rodney would have begged to play also, probably wanting the reps to continue his comeback.

Excellent points, all. The fact remained, also, that getting third seed would have given us a better shot at hosting the championship game. If you can posibly improve your playoff seeding, you need to go for it.

 

[Return of the Nizz]

F THAT! This is why the New England Patriots are the New England Patriots. Bullock was talking his **** that the Pats were just going to roll over because it doesn't mean anything. This is football. This is about knowing that you're the baddest mother on the planet and proving it to some upstart wannabe. The best way to get guys hurt is to go into a game with no intensity. This was one of the best games of the year as far as I'm concerned. That rag-armed ***** Pennington probably shat his pants watching that game.

 

[PatsFan37]

I have to agree with the Nizz, who from his diction, is anything but.
His point, though, is well taken. Not only did they win, but they dominated an up-and-coming team. The last game against the Jets was lost for any number of reasons, but key among them was a lack of domination at the LOS. Clearly, that day, the Jets came to win. They were better coached and better prepared. They played harder and better.

Belichick and Brady have both said that you don't know the character of a team, the chemistry in the locker room, until they're well into the season. If ever there was a game to build chemistry, that was it.

 

[mgteich]

Have we conveniently ignored 2005 in assessing bb's M.O. ?

No offense but that's why Bill Belichick is the coach and you aren't. This has been his M.O. since he's been here, to keep the momentum, stay on a winning note, and go into the playoffs positive. It has worked for him to the max. Globe article even quoted Brady as begging to go in for one more series. Besides, you can't rest all the starters, and who's to say the ones that do play don't get hurt. I'd bet Rodney would have begged to play also, probably wanting the reps to continue his comeback.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

Have we conveniently ignored 2005 in assessing bb's M.O. ?

There are exceptions to every rule. Maybe not even an exception there. To me, turnovers were the story in the Denver game, not fatigue or injuries.

I used to question the guy for playing his starters so long when it didn't seem to matter any more, but, with his record, he has a lifetime pass with me now, if such a thing is possible.

 

[PatsDeb]

What happened with the Broncos was a fluke which we didn't know about when we played. We tried the "rest the starters" bit last year and it didn't work. They guys seemed like they wanted to play well and wanted to win. I like our momentum going into next week.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Looking at things in hind sight is always 100% correct. But, they way things were it was right to go after the win. And, it worked out well for us.

We still get the Jest, but who could have seen the Niners beating Denver in Denver.

 

[wistahpatsfan]

F THAT! This is why the New England Patriots are the New England Patriots. Bullock was talking his **** that the Pats were just going to roll over because it doesn't mean anything. This is football. This is about knowing that you're the baddest mother on the planet and proving it to some upstart wannabe. The best way to get guys hurt is to go into a game with no intensity. This was one of the best games of the year as far as I'm concerned. That rag-armed ***** Pennington probably shat his pants watching that game.

Totally agree. This game was right up there with the Bears game as far as emotion and intensity. Playing like that for not only principle of doing your beast at all times, but to keep the machine tight and running smoothly. Ask anyone in Indy whether it's a good idea to lay down for the season finale.

 

[spacecrime]

No offense but that's why Bill Belichick is the coach and you aren't. This has been his M.O. since he's been here, to keep the momentum, stay on a winning note,

No offense, but if this is your observation, then you should change your name to Fanfrom2006, because you obviously started following the pats after week 17 of last year. This has NOT been his MO, ever. He gives players time off from practice and series within games as the need arises.

Besides, you can't rest all the starters, and who's to say the ones that do play don't get hurt. I'd bet Rodney would have begged to play also, probably wanting the reps to continue his comeback.

Never said players don't want to play and never said that you could rest all the starters. Said that those who claim today we are better off winning the game by playing our starters so much instead of resting them are wrong.

This was a debated topic last week (which is better, trying for 3rd seed or reting players). For Felger and you to continue to say we are better off playing our starters than having them rested are just wrong.

 

[spacecrime]

Looking at things in hind sight is always 100% correct. But, they way things were it was right to go after the win.

Hindsight is not always 100%. That was the point of my post, which most people must have scanned without actually reading. I didn't say we shouldn't have gone after the 3rd. I said that those who are still saying today that it was the right thing to do are wrong.

I am saying that right now, today, we would be better off with rested players and an 11-5 record, that with a 12-4 record, a hurt Rodney, and non-rested players. I'm saying that win or lose the Titans game we would be exactly in the playoff spot we are now.

I am surprised at how many prefer a third seed and tired starters to a third seed and rested starters, but perhaps it is an issue of momentum vs rested players, I don't know. Perhaps there are football gods who reward teams that do the "right" thing.

I just don't understand how anyone (and by anyone I meant Felger in his article) can look back and say, "Yeah, we are better off than we would have been if we had we rested starters."

Hindsight is wonderful, but some people get it wrong even with hindsight.

 

[DegeneratePatsFan]

Hindsight is not always 100%. That was the point of my post, which most people must have scanned without actually reading. I didn't say we shouldn't have gone after the 3rd. I said that those who are still saying today that it was the right thing to do are wrong.

I am saying that right now, today, we would be better off with rested players and an 11-5 record, that with a 12-4 record, a hurt Rodney, and non-rested players. I'm saying that win or lose the Titans game we would be exactly in the playoff spot we are now.

I am surprised at how many prefer a third seed and tired starters to a third seed and rested starters, but perhaps it is an issue of momentum vs rested players, I don't know. Perhaps there are football gods who reward teams that do the "right" thing.

I just don't understand how anyone (and by anyone I meant Felger in his article) can look back and say, "Yeah, we are better off than we would have been if we had we rested starters."

Hindsight is wonderful, but some people get it wrong even with hindsight.

I see your point, but I really think that this game fired up our boys in a way that will offset any fatigue. The fire and the swagger are back.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Hindsight is not always 100%. That was the point of my post, which most people must have scanned without actually reading. I didn't say we shouldn't have gone after the 3rd. I said that those who are still saying today that it was the right thing to do are wrong.

I am saying that right now, today, we would be better off with rested players and an 11-5 record, that with a 12-4 record, a hurt Rodney, and non-rested players. I'm saying that win or lose the Titans game we would be exactly in the playoff spot we are now.

I am surprised at how many prefer a third seed and tired starters to a third seed and rested starters, but perhaps it is an issue of momentum vs rested players, I don't know. Perhaps there are football gods who reward teams that do the "right" thing.

I just don't understand how anyone (and by anyone I meant Felger in his article) can look back and say, "Yeah, we are better off than we would have been if we had we rested starters."

Hindsight is wonderful, but some people get it wrong even with hindsight.

OK, no offense intended. But, let me ask you this question. Had everthing gone according to script would you be happy today playing Denver vs the Jest?

My answer is no. I would be not happy playing Denver. By winning the Titans game we had a chance to go 3rd seed. Most people figured that Mia had a better chance beating the Colts than the Niners beating Denver.

That was my point.

 

[Patriotic]

Pats beating the Titans also helped the Chiefs get in. Chiefs are a tougher matchup for the Colts. So the Pats win could be big from that vantage point.

 

[upstater1]

No offense but that's why Bill Belichick is the coach and you aren't. This has been his M.O. since he's been here, to keep the momentum, stay on a winning note, and go into the playoffs positive. It has worked for him to the max. Globe article even quoted Brady as begging to go in for one more series. Besides, you can't rest all the starters, and who's to say the ones that do play don't get hurt. I'd bet Rodney would have begged to play also, probably wanting the reps to continue his comeback.

He didn't do this last year against Miami.