This game has the potential to be a very nice win

[supafly]

When you throw the records aside, there are many numbers, stats, and trends that show Miami as a pretty tough opponent in the 2nd half of the season.

The link I have provided was pretty eye opening, as I realized that we shouldn't take Miami lightly, but was not aware that they were so tough in so many areas.

Although most of us expect N.England to win tomorrow, they may not realize how tough our team should be viewed by once again rising to the occasion. We all know Miami is not a playoff bound team, but they aren't as far off as many here think.

Check out the link:

Pats vs Dolphins week 16 potpourri :All Things Pats

And lastly, Happy Holidays to all of the great people on this forum. Enjoy your times with your families, and be safe. It's always a pleasure discussing football with such a top-notch group of posters, and I appreciate the back and forth with all of you.

 

[PatriotSeven]

There's some things that go beyond stats as well. Anytime you play against a guy like Moore who is fighting for his NFL future and job, and has been as solid as he has the last few weeks, you should take them seriously. His team is probably fighting for him too.

With Luck, RJ 3 and all these other hyped up draft picks, he has two games to convince Miami he's their man for the job. He's looking to make a statement against the Patriots I'm sure. Definitely can't sleep on them.

 

[DarrylS]

Miami is a very forminable opponent, and on "any given Saturday"... but pretty confident that BB has prepared his team.

 

[supafly]

There's some things that go beyond stats as well. Anytime you play against a guy like Moore who is fighting for his NFL future and job, and has been as solid as he has the last few weeks, you should take them seriously. His team is probably fighting for him too.

With Luck, RJ 3 and all these other hyped up draft picks, he has two games to convince Miami he's their man for the job. He's looking to make a statement against the Patriots I'm sure. Definitely can't sleep on them.

Great point, and I was very surprised to learn that Moore has only turned the ball over 2 times in his last 7 games.

For a team like N.England who thrives on turnovers, we need to raise that number.

I was also very surprised to learn that Miami leads the league (??) in big plays of 25+ yards, with those bigger type plays coming at a high percentage.

I hope to see some better secondary play, and an ability to focus in and stop a red-hot Reggie Bush, as our rush defense hasn't exactly looked all that great lately. One positive is that they stiffened up against DEN in the last 2-2 1/2 quarters last wk, so let's hope that continues.

 

[Bella*chick]

It's crazy that we're saying this given how they played early on. but it's true. They have become a pretty good team especially considering the coaching turmoil. Do they even have a head coach now?

 

[RobertWeathers]

Moore is a somewhat experienced NFL QB. He'll do well and won't lose the game for his team. Keep the big plays to a minimum when it matters during the game is what NE has done well all season.

Brady will have plenty of opportunities to make plays in the passing game. If they can contain Wake, Taylor and Odrick you might seem them start to blitz more with Jones. Would like to see some quick screens to Ridley and see what kind of damage he could do with a convoy in front of him. Would be nice to see Vereen but I'm pretty sure he'll be inactive.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Interesting that the writer has the Fins holding the advantage in three of four key aspects of the game but still predicts a solid win by us.

Not disagreeing.

 

[pherein]

I agree about Moore. He is a good QB and does not usually make mistakes. He a solid 60% completion guy and does not throw that many interceptions. We saw him as a serious threat , more than any QB when he was on CAR.
Moore was never given a chance on CAR, and they never expected to make him a QB, drafting 2 QB's while he was there. We were actually laughing when they drafted Cam and traded him.
Moore is a classic type QB, and if given a good run game, OL, and decent receivers, would have been a better QB than Matt Ryan , we thought. His stats are messed up by 1/2 games and 1/2 seasons. Hopefully Miami doesn't see it , or he might be a bigger pain in your sides than Ryan is to us. Ryan is a route passer with little talent for reads or seeing the field. You bump ATL receivers , like GB did, and mess up the routes and Ryan has a very hard time finding anyone.
We had no idea why CAR did not see what we saw in this kid, CAR is a coaching mess anyway.
He's never going to play too the level Brady plays today, but I would tell everyone to really watch him play today. How he moves in the pocket, his reads, progression, arm strength, decision making. Hopefull he's on today, and the dogma of playing the patriots doesn't rattle him to much. But, we thought Moore was better than Ryan, Smith, Kolb, vick, and a lot of other QB's that have been given a chance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_GAW97kta0

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Just waking up in the morning gotta thank God.... I dunno but today seems kinda odd!

 

[PatriotSeven]

I agree about Moore. He is a good QB and does not usually make mistakes. He a solid 60% completion guy and does not throw that many interceptions. We saw him as a serious threat , more than any QB when he was on CAR.
Moore was never given a chance on CAR, and they never expected to make him a QB, drafting 2 QB's while he was there. We were actually laughing when they drafted Cam and traded him.
Moore is a classic type QB, and if given a good run game, OL, and decent receivers, would have been a better QB than Matt Ryan , we thought. His stats are messed up by 1/2 games and 1/2 seasons. Hopefully Miami doesn't see it , or he might be a bigger pain in your sides than Ryan is to us. Ryan is a route passer with little talent for reads or seeing the field. You bump ATL receivers , like GB did, and mess up the routes and Ryan has a very hard time finding anyone.
We had no idea why CAR did not see what we saw in this kid, CAR is a coaching mess anyway.
He's never going to play too the level Brady plays today, but I would tell everyone to really watch him play today. How he moves in the pocket, his reads, progression, arm strength, decision making. Hopefull he's on today, and the dogma of playing the patriots doesn't rattle him to much. But, we thought Moore was better than Ryan, Smith, Kolb, vick, and a lot of other QB's that have been given a chance.

Matt Moore Highlights 2009-2010 - YouTube

Oh now you hit a soft spot. Not to take the focus off this discussion but even as Patriots fans you can't deny Delhomme's play in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Delhomme had his bad days, but when he was on, he was on. It wasn't until that show-down in the Super Bowl that it really solidified Brady long before 2007 and put Delhomme on the map at the same time and while Delhomme had that unfortunate fumble, he didn't throw a pick. But they put on a hell of a show for everyone to see that day.

Moore's good and Carolina should have kept him this year, no doubt, but as far as credit goes, Delhomme/Moore debate in Carolina is no different than Brady/Manning, etc. Delhomme accomplished more and until Moore can do the same Delhomme's always going to be the man in Carolina.

Delhomme was Tebow before Tebow and still holds the record for the longest pass play from scrimmage in a Super Bowl(on 3rd and long too) and I think he still holds the one for the largest 4th quarter comeback in a Super Bowl. He played a great game. Our kicker didn't. Great Super Bowl though.

Funny thing is, nobody's really paying attention to the fact Fox was behind both of the Cardiac Cat season, and Bronco's Tebow comeback season. And the other funny thing is, the Pats got Delhomme with that forced fumble that blew the whole thing wide open during the Super Bowl, and it just happened again a week ago against Denver.

But to get it back on topic, Moore would have never gone anywhere if Fox had his way. It was NFL lockout politics and Jerry Richardson that destroyed the Panthers. We wanted to be a role model and set an example for how to win with rookies and not pay valuable veterans big salaries. We were the sacrificial lambs for the negotiations. Wish him the best in Miami.

 

[pherein]

Like this guy, not sure if anyone here watches him.
Football Gameplan's NFL Week 16 Preview - Miami vs New England - YouTube

 

[Dutchmaster617]

MIA is horrible, they haven't beaten anyone good on this short run. Don't say look at history because we lost to Pittsburgh, lost a home game, threw a RZ INT, beat DEN & MIA where we are supposed to struggle on the road by double digits etc. A lot of streaks over.

I think its a blowout, nice for a Saturday on Christmas eve, but not a win that says anything.

 

[patsinthesnow]

This second half of the season Miami team looks like a 10-6 wildcard team. (If they played the whole season like this)

5-2 the last 7 games, and they completely blew the Thanksgiving game, they should be 6-1.

Pretty good defense, average QB that manages the game well, good running game, they are a weaker 49ers team.

 

[supafly]

MIA is horrible.

I think its a blowout, nice for a Saturday on Christmas eve, but not a win that says anything.

Unfortunately, I am going to disagree with all of these statements, but I certainly hope you're right somehow about the blowout.

You need to look at those numbers from the link I posted.

If NE wins this game handedly as you say, then they did a lot of good things to do it, and should be praised.

MIA has a top 5 ranked defense in pts allowed on defense, pressures the QB extremely well, and leads the NFL in big plays over 25 yards on offense with a QB who has thrown only 2 INT's in the last half season. That doesn't even take their running game into account, and that's been pretty solid lately.

I will agree with the less than stellar talent level lately, of course the same could be said for us too.

I think that MIA is a much tougher team than the recent games we've played in many areas, and that if NE beats them handedly, they obviously are a better team than some thought, and should be given credit.

 

[PatriotSeven]

I've always believed that it's harder to win when you're expected to than when you're not. Becoming the best isn't nearly as hard as maintaining it. That's one of the main reasons few teams succeed at remaining consistent and win year after year. Remaining focused and never taking your opponent for granted actually becomes a battle after awhile.

 

[EJ Blitz]

MIA is horrible, they haven't beaten anyone good on this short run. Don't say look at history because we lost to Pittsburgh, lost a home game, threw a RZ INT, beat DEN & MIA where we are supposed to struggle on the road by double digits etc. A lot of streaks over.

I think its a blowout, nice for a Saturday on Christmas eve, but not a win that says anything.

The Colts and skins were horrible too and look how well they did, and they didn't have Reggie Bush.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Nail biter... Turning a 17-0 deficit into a win is nice... I could have done without the obligatory 4th quarter Miami TD... They will be TOUGH next year.

 

[pherein]

Nail biter... Turning a 17-0 deficit into a win is nice... I could have done without the obligatory 4th quarter Miami TD... They will be TOUGH next year.

hey, don't forget I warned you Moore was a good QB ok, thank god your boys never gave him a chance in the 2nd half. But we think Moore is a talent , better than ryan, very dangerous long ball.

 

[PatsGirl2011]

I like Morris more than Sanchez or Fitzpatrick

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I like Morris more than Sanchez or Fitzpatrick

Who? Morris the cat?