I feel better about this team than I did last Monday

[supafly]

....last year we had a secondary that was at least respectable to other teams

But were they any more respectable to themselves? Come to think of it, I recall some other NFL players talking of how "our defense couldn't stop a nosebleed." That doesn't sound like they had the respect that you feel they had.

As far as I can remember, last year's secondary was the 32nd ranked unit for the long majority of the entire year. Why does this fact keep getting pushed under the rug? We all b!tched and moaned in January when the "respectable secondary" (as you say) made Mark Sanchez look like one of the all-time greatest QB's ever.

A drastic change was in order. NO--I don't agree with how it occurred, but maybe the overall numbers and play will end up being better in the long run. Who knows?

 

[supafly]

Losing to an elite team on the road vs losing to an average team at home.....I repeat at home.

Gee, I feel so much better, now we are losing home games.

They lost last week to a team that was 6-2 at the time.

They lost this week to a team who is 6-2 now, has the best ability in the NFL to rush the passer with their front 4, and a QB who is putting up top 3 QB ranking numbers. The NYG may not be considered elite by any stretch, but they aren't anything less than 'good' either. They lost to a good team on a last second score, which was enabled by 2 game changing DPI penalties, 4 turnovers, and a plethora of key injuries.

You were apparently in the minority as you must have thought they'd never lose another home game again--ever? It's the NFL man.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

^^^ but who cares if they beat crap teams...they lost to two good teams. You have to beat good teams if you want a chance at the SB...pats are losing to good teams...cool they can beat up on miami

 

[Deus Irae]

With all due respect, I don't think the OP is anywhere close to crazy for feeling this way. There is reason for optimism, just as much as there is reason to be worried in some areas..but to NOT think anything is good/improved at all wouldn't be telling the whole story fairly.

After we all heard all week about the horrible defensive play, they held the NYG (a 6-2 team) to 4 of 14 on 3rd down. You don't see that as a major improvement? The defense was a DPI penalty from giving up 17 points, and that's with us giving them FOUR turnovers. How often is that going to happen?

Sure, I'm nowhere sold on them being a SB quality team either at this point, but that's what the regular season is for..to work out your weaknesses, try different things out, and hopefully earn at least one home playoff game.

We saw problems from the offense, as we have now for 3 weeks. That issue obviously needs to be addressed, but I think we're all on board that our offense is the side of the ball with the most potential. It was good to see an improved defensive effort from the 'lousy' side of the ball (according to the entire world, and reiterated approx. 100 times during the game)

I'm not saying you should be whistling out of your butthole in joy, but to use words like "******ed" etc is simply amazing. We still have a decent chance to host a playoff game, win the division, and work some things out in the end. You didn't mind when we lost 2 in a row during the 2006 season, only to go to the AFCCG, did you?

The defense was playing a much better matchup. It was expected that they would look better.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

The defense was great but you have to consider the injuries to the Giants offense. And the fact that they crumbled in the clutch is concerning, no the loss wasn't on them and I totally agree with Rob's thread where the offense is just as much to blame for it, but still in the playoffs are you comfortable with scrubs like Barrett, Brown, Molden, and White being called upon in key situations? All the other QB has to do is lob a pass up and worst case scenario is one of these morons will make a huge mistake bailing them out.

Offensively, I've felt the way I have since the Dallas game. We will never win a super bowl with BOB calling our offensive plays.

So no, not feeling better at all.

 

[supafly]

The defense was playing a much better matchup. It was expected that they would look better.

Yes, your matchup assessment was certainly spot on for the NYG game.

The reason I am personally feeling slightly more optimistic (on that side of the ball anyway) is due to 3 out of the last 4 games being better than the previous ones.

 

[supafly]

^^^ but who cares if they beat crap teams...they lost to two good teams. You have to beat good teams if you want a chance at the SB...pats are losing to good teams...cool they can beat up on miami

Obviously you have a great point, yet as we saw last year you can beat good teams/top 10 defenses all year, and still falter in the playoffs.

In my opinion, the Pats were tested this year, especially if you consider the situation per week to week. The SD game may not look difficult now, (actually to me it still does) but it certainly was then. As was the BUF game, considering their momentum at the time, and the fact that we were in their house etc. You're trying to tell me the NYJ game was not a tough matchup? That's another win. Dallas had Austin, Bryant, and Witten to take care of--and held them to 16 points. Even MIA on the road has never been 'easy' by definition, and considering that both teams were 0-0, I wouldn't consider that a gimme at the time.

I think some of those games may look easier to you now, but every single week is a dogfight for these guys.

The fact that they lost to the AFC champs in their house doesn't torture me the way it does some of you, as they are a high quality team. If you play that game 5 times, it will likely be a 5th game tie-breaker almost every time. Forget about Brady's record vs them, as it is meaningless.

This team can still beat the elite teams, maybe just not with the regularity that you're used to..that's all. Every yr's a new season, and the 2011 version is still producing some quality football, maybe not enough to make a deep playoff run, but last yr's 14-2 team didn't either.