Warning: Beware of Playing the Patriots

[cmasspatsfan]

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I just hate how they are going into the playoffs and how they have been playing lately...doesn't look good for some reason

They won 7 in a row capped off by giving the #1 seed and a$s whooping, then played another great team in prime time on a cold rainy night and had a bad half, last week was probably a culmination of the last two games especially the SF game and having a hangover and being beat up, lets see what happens tomorrow and see if the O-line has worked out their issues before making the noose. A bye week would be nice for recovery.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

They won 7 in a row capped off by giving the #1 seed and a$s whooping, then played another great team in prime time on a cold rainy night and had a bad half, last week was probably a culmination of the last two games especially the SF game and having a hangover and being beat up, lets see what happens tomorrow and see if the O-line has worked out their issues before making the noose. A bye week would be nice for recovery.

problem is they are the #3 seed right now even after winning 7 in a row and 8 of last 9

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

problem is they are the #3 seed right now even after winning 7 in a row and 8 of last 9

While those 3 losses in the beginning of the season definitely hurt considering the 8 out of the last 9 will likely fall short of the bye, I wouldn't get too down about it. The Patriots capability to win is clearly disconnected from October's 3-3 team. It also is, imho, disconnected from the recent troubles that I lay (mostly) at the feet of the OL. Fortunately the OL showed for a sizable stretch of the season it can play at a high level. I'd be very surprised if they don't perform at a much higher level once the playoffs start.

As for not getting the bye (likely though there is still hope)? What does it mean for the Patriots to not get the bye besides the additional game? You'll hear it said that history is not on the Patriots side. That every Patriot SB appearance occurred when a bye was earned. Yep, that's what history says.....but the Patriots have a pretty small sample of being in the playoffs without earning a bye. To the best of my memory it has been 2 times without a bye since their last SB victory: a drubbing by the Ravens and a painful loss to the Colts that saw those pieces of $#!+ make a big comeback in the second half (to put it bluntly). What does that mean to this year's team? Nothing, this year's team is superior to those teams (definitely superior to the team that lost to the Ravens, arguably overall better than the team that lost to the Colts/missed the SB by the skin of their teeth). This year's team to me is clearly a SB team with or without the bye provided the OL does in fact fix what has been troubling them. With approx. 10 to 12 possessions/opportunities per game and TFB at QB and the targets he has to throw to and the running game the 2012 team has.....the Patriots are definitely going to score on enough of those possessions to beat ANY team at ANY venue. That's how I see it.....

 

[Wax Frog]

You'll hear it said that history is not on the Patriots side. That every Patriot SB appearance occurred when a bye was earned. Yep, that's what history says.....

1985 New England Patriots season - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

1985 New England Patriots season - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I guess I should have stated, instead of letting it be assumed, I was speaking of the 'BB' era (and only what specifics I could remember going back to 05 or 06).
Yet all due respect to "New England, the Patriots and We"......

 

[Wax Frog]

I guess I should have stated, instead of letting it be assumed, I was speaking of the 'BB' era (and only what specifics I could remember going back to 05 or 06).
Yet all due respect to "New England, the Patriots and We"......

I suspected you meant the BB era, but the fact remains that the WC route, while giving longer odds, is still a demonstrated viable one.