9-3 feels great...but something is still missing

[RobertWeathers]

Jason Taylor's sack numbers are down this year. But that doesn't mean he struggles getting to the passer. That means that he's generally a 10+ sack guy who's having an off season to date, right?

The consensus in Baltimore is that Flacco has regressed compared to previous season. If he's a 56% passer THIS YEAR, that means he's a 56% passer THIS year and you can expect to see that 56% passer to show up in a game.

Taylor is a poor example. Hes 37 and has been in decline for years.

Flacco is throwing the ball 6 more times a game this year without Mason, Heap and Housh to throw to. Thats a lot of experience to walk out the door. Teams are keying on Boldin as well.

 

[andrewgarrr]

Pitt had a great gameplan a few weeks ago. Hats off to them for that, but does anyone think that its going to work twice in row? I dont. Its on film and once that happens that bell has been rung. Theres no doubt in my mind that BB has an answer for both sides of the ball if Pitt uses the same plan again.

The Steelers give the Patriots the toughest challenge in the AFC.

They can play press coverage and rush the passer. They have a consistent running game, a good QB, playoff experience, and speed on the outside.

The Steelers' same game-plan would work again.

 

[Garbanza]

How'd the "we own the Steelers" thing work out earlier this season?


I think the Patriots have the offense (read: Brady) to beat any team in the NFL under the right circumstances, but the Steelers and Ravens are both better teams than the Patriots once you take the QB out of the mix, imo.

The Ravens defense is so far superior to the Pats, it almost comical.....but Flacco kind of sucks. If Rice is contained, I'm confident that Flacco is unable to carry the team offensively. The Steelers, however, are another thing altogether. If Rapistsburger's o-line can keep him semi-clean, the offense can do some real damage against the Pats d. Brady and Co. would have to put up 35.

So, I'm agreeing with you. Thing is, I'm afraid of any team in the playoffs. Not just the two mentioned.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I'm fine with where the Pats are right now. The defense still isn't that good, but if Brady plays a couple of lights-out games--potentially all at home--next month, then the Pats are in the Super Bowl. I'd like for the defense to be able to carry the team when needed, but unfortunately that's unlikely to happen. But even so, the Pats still have a far better shot than most.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Another glass not quite half-full opinion on the original topic:

Pats Propaganda, Patriots domination of Colts still feels like a loss

The only time that I can remember a victory feeling like a loss was week 1 in 2008.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Lets all be real, the Pats schedule is the only reason this team is 9-3. They Blew a 21 point lead to the Bills, the Steelers beat them soundly, and Eli once again marched down the field and scored a touchdown. Other than that the only other team with a winning record (now) that they have beaten is the Jets (who pretty much played the same schedule as the Pats). Everybody knows that to beat the Pats play bump and run, man to man in the secondary, and rush Brady. The Pats are coming off what their thrid, fourth game playing against a back-up QB? The Pats are lucky that they are not in the NFC. The Pats defense would not stand a chance against either the Saints or the Packers.

I'm hoping for better, but I doubt they can win a playoff game.......

 

[Ochmed Jones]

It is incredible that with this defense, we are sitting at 9 and 3.

Our pass rush is pathetic and our poor secondary is spending way too much time on the trainer's table and in coverage.

It is even more incredible when you consider half our secondary is not NFL calibre.

If we win out the rest of the season, this will rank as one of the best coaching performances of BB's career.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

YUP what's missing is us having a consistant above average defense. Not a spectacular defense or No 1 or 2 defense. If we did what really seperates us from'da Packers? We could have held our own against Steelers & Giants. As bad as we played In that Giant game we needed a STOP! Brady ALWAYS gives our D a chance to close out games.

Pats need a Bye Home Playoff Game. But most of all, Pats need to come out FIRED UP! In last 2 home PO losses Ravens & Jets Rammed it down their throats! I know welker didn't play in Ravens game but IMO those 2 PO losses they wanted it more.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

It is incredible that with this defense, we are sitting at 9 and 3.

Our pass rush is pathetic and our poor secondary is spending way too much time on the trainer's table and in coverage.

It is even more incredible when you consider half our secondary is not NFL calibre.

If we win out the rest of the season, this will rank as one of the best coaching performances of BB's career.

We also seem to have many really dumb "fans" who continually show and want to continually prove they are clueless.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Lets all be real, the Pats schedule is the only reason this team is 9-3. They Blew a 21 point lead to the Bills, the Steelers beat them soundly, and Eli once again marched down the field and scored a touchdown. Other than that the only other team with a winning record (now) that they have beaten is the Jets (who pretty much played the same schedule as the Pats). Everybody knows that to beat the Pats play bump and run, man to man in the secondary, and rush Brady. The Pats are coming off what their thrid, fourth game playing against a back-up QB? The Pats are lucky that they are not in the NFC. The Pats defense would not stand a chance against either the Saints or the Packers.

I'm hoping for better, but I doubt they can win a playoff game.......

So....how exactly does one get a record that isn't dictated by a team's schedule?

How do you get wins or losses against teams you don't even play?

Has it ever occurred to you that you actually have to play soneone to get an outcome?

 

[patsfan-1982]

Lets all be real, the Pats schedule is the only reason this team is 9-3. They Blew a 21 point lead to the Bills, the Steelers beat them soundly, and Eli once again marched down the field and scored a touchdown. Other than that the only other team with a winning record (now) that they have beaten is the Jets (who pretty much played the same schedule as the Pats). Everybody knows that to beat the Pats play bump and run, man to man in the secondary, and rush Brady. The Pats are coming off what their thrid, fourth game playing against a back-up QB? The Pats are lucky that they are not in the NFC. The Pats defense would not stand a chance against either the Saints or the Packers.

I'm hoping for better, but I doubt they can win a playoff game.......

the Giants were less then a min away from beating the 12-0 packers the steelers were in the SB last year and once again they are one of the teams to beat in the AFC and the bills were the hottest team in the NFL at the time, i have been knocking this defense all year but with all the injurys they have and the way they are still finding a way to win gives me hope that they can beat anyone

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

The Steelers give the Patriots the toughest challenge in the AFC.

They can play press coverage and rush the passer. They have a consistent running game, a good QB, playoff experience, and speed on the outside.

The Steelers' same game-plan would work again.

How'd that press coverage work the following week against Baltimore?

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Lets all be real, the Pats schedule is the only reason this team is 9-3. They Blew a 21 point lead to the Bills, the Steelers beat them soundly, and Eli once again marched down the field and scored a touchdown. Other than that the only other team with a winning record (now) that they have beaten is the Jets (who pretty much played the same schedule as the Pats). Everybody knows that to beat the Pats play bump and run, man to man in the secondary, and rush Brady. The Pats are coming off what their thrid, fourth game playing against a back-up QB? The Pats are lucky that they are not in the NFC. The Pats defense would not stand a chance against either the Saints or the Packers.

I'm hoping for better, but I doubt they can win a playoff game.......

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the Play?"

 

[PatsFan24]

I still feel like we're not yet ready for Pittsburgh or Baltimore. I feel like if the playoffs come, and Brady doesn't play a spectacular game, we will lose. I just hope Brady and the offense are ready to bring their A game to every postseason game we play this year, because they're are only hope. We can't expect out soft defense to suddenly come alive in the playoffs, it's wishful thinking. It will come down to how stud like our offense performs.


9-3 is excellent for this team, # 1 in the AFC right now. I would love to get homefield advantage.

That lose to the Bills. Yuck.

 

[reflexblue]

Lets all be real, the Pats schedule is the only reason this team is 9-3. They Blew a 21 point lead to the Bills, the Steelers beat them soundly, and Eli once again marched down the field and scored a touchdown. Other than that the only other team with a winning record (now) that they have beaten is the Jets (who pretty much played the same schedule as the Pats). Everybody knows that to beat the Pats play bump and run, man to man in the secondary, and rush Brady. The Pats are coming off what their thrid, fourth game playing against a back-up QB? The Pats are lucky that they are not in the NFC. The Pats defense would not stand a chance against either the Saints or the Packers.

I'm hoping for better, but I doubt they can win a playoff game.......

Yeah this......

 

[reflexblue]

It is incredible that with this defense, we are sitting at 9 and 3.

Our pass rush is pathetic and our poor secondary is spending way too much time on the trainer's table and in coverage.

It is even more incredible when you consider half our secondary is not NFL calibre.

If we win out the rest of the season, this will rank as one of the best coaching performances of BB's career.

And this.......A few weeks ago there was a thread comparing GB's defense to the Pats. From what i remember it was pointing out that statistically they were the same. They may Have been, imo the difference is that GB actually Has the players to step it up when the playoffs begin, the Pats Don't. It has been posted here many times that if the Pats and GB meet in the SB it would be an evenly matched shoot out, i don't think so at all. Arron Rodgers would slice and dice the Pats secondary, while GB could effectively throttle the TB and the Pats offense.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

In the NFC, I just don't see how the Packers will be/can be denied a return trip to the SB. The Saints are awesome, but they haven't won an outdoor playoff game in their history and are 1--4 since 2006 in outdoor games played in December. I don't see that changing on the Frozen Tundra in January 2012.

In the AFC, I think any of the four 9--3 teams could get hot and put the pieces together not only to go to Indy, but to beat the Pack. I like the way Houston is "finding ways to win" with different QB's; teams that find ways to win in December usually do pretty well in January.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

In the NFC, I just don't see how the Packers will be/can be denied a return trip to the SB.

In the AFC, I think any of the four 9--3 teams could get hot and put the pieces together not only to go to Indy, but to beat the Pack.

I would bet my house that the NFC team respresentative wins this years Super Bowl .... Both Green Bay and New Orleans are miles ahead of the AFC top teams.

The only weak NFC team IMO will be the 49ers...I think any AFC team expecting to go to the playoffs wants 2 things to happen...

1) They win all the conference playoff games

AND

2) Hope that the 49ers are the NFC Representative

I don't think Alex Smith is all that improved and take away Frank Gore and Crabtree and you got a team that is beatable

 

[PatsFan24]

In the NFC, I just don't see how the Packers will be/can be denied a return trip to the SB. The Saints are awesome, but they haven't won an outdoor playoff game in their history and are 1--4 since 2006 in outdoor games played in December. I don't see that changing on the Frozen Tundra in January 2012.

In the AFC, I think any of the four 9--3 teams could get hot and put the pieces together not only to go to Indy, but to beat the Pack. I like the way Houston is "finding ways to win" with different QB's; teams that find ways to win in December usually do pretty well in January.

I don't see how losing outside in 2006 has any impact on how well they will do in 2011.

 

[ensoul]

It is incredible that with this defense, we are sitting at 9 and 3.

Our pass rush is pathetic and our poor secondary is spending way too much time on the trainer's table and in coverage.

It is even more incredible when you consider half our secondary is not NFL caliber.

If we win out the rest of the season, this will rank as one of the best coaching performances of BB's career.

Not sure if this is a joke or not. The only reason why this team is 9-3 is a combination of playing against back up QB's and a having a bunch of weak ass teams with below 500 records to feast upon. Even with all that this teams secondary is getting shredded by anybody and everybody. This is certainly not BB the GM or BB the coach best year.

When this team actually starts to play, you know, a good team, in the playoffs it is probably not going to go well.