Initial Thoughts ... (Patriots lose to Arizona Cardinals)

[PatriotFan77]

I have a razor blade on my wrist as I say this but Eli looks like the new Brady:bricks:

 

[Deus Irae]

I thought the Pats should have won the game, but didn't "deserve" too. The reasons I thought they didn't "deserve" it:

1. Their intensity and focus seemed lacking, to an extent that I haven't seen since the 2010 Cleveland game. Arizona played with more intensity, and gave me the impression that they wanted it more.

2. The team made too many mistakes in key spots. Missing game winning field goals. Giving up points on ST turnovers.

3. There were too many sloppy mistakes and penalties, and the Pats failed to capitalize on several opportunities.

With that in mind, by those standards Philadelphia probably didn't "deserve" to beat Baltimore, and the Giants probably didn't "deserve" to beat Tampa Bay. But both teams hung in and made enough plays to win. The Pats hung in too, and then couldn't convert when it counted.

See, you're arguing things that happen in pretty much every game suddenly equal not deserving to win. I don't buy that argument. You don't deserve a win when you come out flat and stay that way, when you benefit from a gift call, you get a lucky bounce, or something like that. That's not what happened today. Today, the lost the player that so many here have been insisting the team is game planning around, had their best receiver seemingly playing at less than 100%, missing their OG1 because he's home on his couch and their OG2 because of injury, and were forced to fight their way out of an early hole.

If they'd won, people would be touting a gritty comeback. Because they lost, their trying to rationalize that loss.

 

[Ring 6]

It wasnt that difficult to win in the end. Kick the ball in. But we choked, becoming a habit now.

Becoming a habit? From the team that wins more often than any other?
Please explain.
I think what you really mean is on the rare occassions that the Patriots rule, it is now a habit for your to categorize it a choke.

 

[mayoclinic]

Good post, but I am going to comment on this one point.
I will never understand how a fan determines what the intensity of the team was from their TV set.
The Patriots didn't make as many plays as they needed to today, but why would we need to guess that they were ambivalent or didn't care to focus?
How come whenever we win, we were great, and its not the other team lack focus and intensity?

It's obviously subjective. But win or lose, I didn't see the same level of overt energy that I saw last week. Maybe that's just a byproduct of Arizona playing good defense. But I commented on it during the game, and would have felt that way regardless of the outcome. Obviously, I'm not the authority on how the team actually played, and BB will make his own determination regarding their effort, focus and intensity.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Well, to the extent I was on the fence before, I'm now convinced that the "deserves" argument (or its close cousin the debate about whether the losing team was "better") is officially the dumbest debate in sports.

To quote a good movie, deserve's got nothing to do with it.

 

[Deus Irae]

They deserved to have the game come down to one or two critical plays that could have decided it either way.

Yup... and that's where the holding call comes in.

 

[Ring 6]

I have a razor blade on my wrist as I say this but Eli looks like the new Brady:bricks:

You should toss the razor blade and visit the optometrist.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Good post, but I am going to comment on this one point.
I will never understand how a fan determines what the intensity of the team was from their TV set.
The Patriots didn't make as many plays as they needed to today, but why would we need to guess that they were ambivalent or didn't care to focus?
How come whenever we win, we were great, and its not the other team lack focus and intensity?

I'm with you on this. Coincidence that no one ever won a game where fans claimed they lacked heart and intensity? Probably not. The single criteria for lacking heart or intensity appears to be losing.
However I will say this, the Patriots are a lot younger this year. With a younger team it should not be surprising for them to look like they lack focus -- when it reality it simply is new guys still feeling their way through the NFL....

 

[12ClutchFactor]

I have a razor blade on my wrist as I say this but Eli looks like the new Brady:bricks:

I think it's safe to say he's surpassed Brady

 

[PatriotFan77]

You should toss the razor blade and visit the optometrist.

You're right Eli didn't comeback today, I clearly saw them lose.

 

[Ring 6]

Yup... and that's where the holding call comes in.

Sure. But not being able to overcome 1 bad call is where the ideas that they deserved to win or didn't deserve to win are both incorrect.
As I said they deserved to be in a close game that could be a win or a loss based upon clutch play, good fortune or uncontrollable factors such as a bounce or the officials.

 

[1%er]

I have a razor blade on my wrist as I say this but Eli looks like the new Brady:bricks:

Eli threw 3 picks today. Brady is has averaged 8.5 ints the last 2 seasons.

 

[Ring 6]

You're right Eli didn't comeback today, I clearly saw them lose.

If you think coming back in a game vs the Buccaneers is where the bar is set for GOAT, you need more than an optometrist.

 

[PatriotFan77]

Eli threw 3 picks today. Brady is has averaged 8.5 ints the last 2 seasons.

And who actually won their game? In a comeback?

 

[Ring 6]

I think it's safe to say he's surpassed Brady

Good job raising the bar above his post for most moroninc post of the year.

 

[Calciumee]

9. The game day threads are an embarrassment. Every missed play turns into hand wringing, epithets being hurled at the players involved, and cries of doom. Some "fans" seem to take delight in seeing the team fail. We're so spoiled by the sustained success of this team.

Well put! Some of the post-game post were a joke!

I think it's advisable for some to take 24 hours away from a computer following a loss!

 

[PatriotFan77]

If you think coming back in a game vs the Buccaneers is where the bar is set for GOAT, you need more than an optometrist.

how about just coming back in general? who did it today? or last february for that matter

 

[Ring 6]

And who actually won their game? In a comeback?

Clearly you simply don't get it.\

 

[1%er]

And who actually won their game? In a comeback?

its week 2. I will sleep just fine tonight knowing that getting are passing game in order is the only real issue.

Tom Brady threw for 316 yards. Made plays when he had to and put his team in a position to win. He did this despite playing behind a below average offensive line and with JM struggling to understand he is no longer coaching Tim Tebow.

 

[stcjones]

Agree with #1,5,7.....Pats didn't deserve to win today....agree....when gost
shanked his kick late today....wasn't that amazed ...the TEAM did NOTdeserve it. Would NOT agree that ONE loss means nothing right now....a loss always means something. Either team wasn't prepared...or has a lot of gaps....or....it will affect us later in year. I agree that our D played well overall. Brady was off his game...again....and did not look like the guy that so any here said was the guy to get the pats back to another SB. I contend that Brady has seen his last SB in N E.....McD called a Horrible game today and after seeing welk and gronk underutilised so badly....wonder what he is doing. Where were the RB screens or any screen in 2nd half (that worked well in 1st half)?...... The QB draw....or delay draw needs to be rarely used going forward. Opposing defenses relocate when they see us bringing that out.....coaching was ABYSMAL today.....hope we straighten out......or will be long season. No offense to lose uninspired o a team like AZ is very damning to ALL personnel ad may foreshadow the season

In no particular order:

1. The Pats didn't deserve to win today. Too many mistakes, too many blown opportunities. FGs instead of TDs. Blocked punt. Missed 2-point conversion. Missed game-winning FG. Just not good enough.

2. The refs stunk and may have changed the course of the game, but that doesn't change the fact that the Pats didn't deserve to win.

3. Arizona has a legitimate defense, and they dominated our OL. Scar has some work to do before next Sunday night.

4. The special teams cost us 10 points with the blocked punt and the missed GF. Scott O'Brien has some owrk to do before next Sunday night.

5. The defense was awesome, and it's a shame the rest of the team let them down. They held Arizona to 245 yards overall, and gave up 20 points only because of the blocked punt. They made several big plays, including one in crunch time (when people were deriding them for "letting the team down once again") which gave the team an opportunity to win the game.

6. One loss means nothing. Especially a non-conference loss. The 2003 SB team lost it's opener 31-0. We've seen time and time again that the teams that start the season looking unbeatable are seldom the ones hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season. This is a young team, and I'm much more interested in how they finish than how they start.

7. With that in mind, the overall focus and intensity was poor. The team seemed flat and out of sync, and just didn't play with the same intensity and energy as last week, except for the defense. I suspect we'll see a different performance next week, but the lack of focus and consistency is somewhat concerning.

8. The Packers and Giants are 1-1, and both have a ton of problems. The Saints are 0-2. The Ravens lost to Philadelphia and gave up almost 500 yards of total offense. So one of the might Pats or the might Ravens will start their season 1-2 after next week's debacle. But I wouldn't count the loser out of the AFC race.

9. The game day threads are an embarrassment. Every missed play turns into hand wringing, epithets being hurled at the players involved, and cries of doom. Some "fans" seem to take delight in seeing the team fail. We're so spoiled by the sustained success of this team.