Positives

[Triumph]

- Buffalo lost
- Miami lost
-

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

yup..both divisions rivals lost...jets will lose on monday so we are fine on that from

- D is getting better and better. Rush D is lacking without wilfork however. Back end very solid.
- Danny getting back into action
- Gronk back next week
- Saints can lay duds on the road..lets hope!

 

[ATippett56]

Which was weird. It seemed like after Blount had the ball knocked away McDaniels said to himself "Well that's it for the running game today"

Only 7 rushes after the strip on Blount. Which happened with 9 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. And one of those runs was the run by Blount from the 1 on 1st and Goal.

Which again it's like McDaniels panicked after Blount got stopped. You still have 2 more shots and maybe even 3 to run it in from the 1. But yet he calls a pass to the starting LT playing TE on 2nd and goal and then spreads them out on 3rd and goal. Which I guess the 3rd and goal call was a good one because if Edelman can hold on no-one is second guessing it.

Q: What do you think about the execution of the New England Patriots offense?

A: I'm all for it.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

Which was weird. It seemed like after Blount had the ball knocked away McDaniels said to himself "Well that's it for the running game today"

Only 7 rushes after the strip on Blount. Which happened with 9 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. And one of those runs was the run by Blount from the 1 on 1st and Goal.

Which again it's like McDaniels panicked after Blount got stopped. You still have 2 more shots and maybe even 3 to run it in from the 1. But yet he calls a pass to the starting LT playing TE on 2nd and goal and then spreads them out on 3rd and goal. Which I guess the 3rd and goal call was a good one because if Edelman can hold on no-one is second guessing it.

Seems like we never should have let BJGE go to Cinci if our entire running game was predicated on ball security.

 

[nabwong]

Just based off today's game.

1. This d is legit. Super Bowl calibre D like the 02 ravens. Well, depends on if Kelly is healthy.

2. We have a great punter.

3. I thought our WRs were getting open consistently but Brady had his worst game of the year and drops. At least they're open.

4. Our rookie DTs are serviceable.

5. Mayo is starting to make plays.

6. No penalties.

7. Miami lost.

8. Dobson has playmaking potential.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Redundant points.... are you going to say those are positives after every loss?



Blount and Bolden getting quality reps just means Ridley/Vereen are hurt... which is actually a bad thing, not a positive.

We won't re-sign Bolden next year and Blount is probably just on a temporary stay in New England, so it's not like we benefit in the long term from them getting extra snaps.



What does that have to do with todays game?


They looked really bad today.


He had a terrible game today as well.

Rookies dropping passes are given a bit of a pass since they're rookies. Edelman has been in the NFL long enough now he should have much more reliable hands. Especially since he's undersized and not a speedster. Guys like that make their living by having trustworthy hands.

If he continues with all those drops, he could be #4 on the WR depth chart by the time the season ends.


We already knew that.


That's an Unknown, not a positive.


Dangerously thin at DT. If Tommy Kelly is injured and misses time, it could get ugly.



We were 4-0 last week... so 4-1 now isn't really a positive.

5 out of 6 of those players are no longer with the team, so I don't see how that's positive either.



Don't take it personally but you made a lot of stupid points.

Adios Mio! Ok, you're right. we are 4-1 and atop the division but it means nothing because we lost. Our new WRs and the return of DA getting/continuing to get much needed reps doesn't matter because we lost. Getting Gronk back, likely, next Sunday doesn't matter because we lost. Backup RB's whose play may prove critical in December and January getting needed reps doesn't matter because we lost. We have the best HC/QB combo on the sidelines to captain the ship doesn't matter because we lost. Really, how could the OP think about/discuss the positives to take into next Sunday (and through the whole season) when the extremely unusual and eerie event of losing a regular season game occurred.

Here's another positive for you to consider: You got all the way to week 5 before a loss occurred rendering the big picture positives unworthy of mention/consideration. Last year's poor showing and ultimate loss to a not so good Cardinals team happened a very early week 2. Man that's 3 extra weeks!

 

[Deus Irae]

Brady wasn't yelling at his receivers, so that probably gave them better self esteem.

 

[Joker]

Rivers just threw an INT to end the Chargers chances...dump Brady and get Rivers because...well...familiarity breeds contempt and the ritalin riddled Patriot fanbase wants a new flavor....

 

[VrabelJr]

Vereen won't be back until week 11 at the earliest. Can we stop clamoring for the guy like he is god already?

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Just based off today's game.

1. This d is legit. Super Bowl calibre D like the 02 ravens. Well, depends on if Kelly is healthy.

2. We have a great punter.

3. I thought our WRs were getting open consistently but Brady had his worst game of the year and drops. At least they're open.

4. Our rookie DTs are serviceable.

5. Mayo is starting to make plays.

6. No penalties.

7. Miami lost.

8. Dobson has playmaking potential.

An excellent list. A couple of things I would add:
- Considering Vince is gone and Kelly was eventually out, a bunch of no names were playing yet the run D still played alright. And since that was my biggest worry coming into the game, I think the run D earns a specific mention as a positive (not that they played great but it definitely wasn't bad)

- I agree that this was not a good game for TB. A few caveats to that though: 1) While the OL played good at times, when a QB is hurried often it ultimately can cause a QB to feel hurried always. IMHO the OL's overall performance has to be a bit better than this or losses will hit an unacceptable level (I do believe the OL will be fine). 2) It seems like TB throws a dud or two every season. Let's hope this is a 1 dud season. 3) Even with a lesser performance, I'd bet less dropped passes and a modest level of improved OL play would have seen TB do enough for victory.

- Understandably many of us fans come to simply expect the division title. Getting past that unreality, #7 is a big deal along with the Bills losing and a very good chance that the Jets lose tonight (@ ATL). After the Saints this Sunday, there are back to back divisional games against the Jets then Phins. These are a much bigger deal than what happened last night or what happens this Sunday.

 

[supafly]

Vereen won't be back until week 11 at the earliest. Can we stop clamoring for the guy like he is god already?

He'll definitely help, but it would seem that Belichick agrees with you seeing as how he put a reported 3-4 week injury on the IR exempt spot which guaranteed him out for a full 10 weeks due to the bye.

I'm much more disappointed with Washington, and I probably shouldn't be since he's nothing more than a glorified special teamer, but I suppose deep down I had some crazy dream that he may be able to contribute on the offense in certain situations.

That's probably a huge mistake on my part, but either way--I'm still disappointed that we're either seeing a slug 250 lb bruiser back, or one of our most important defenders out there returning kicks. For a guy who was originally signed for 1.2 million dollars, (now only making 840k) it'd be nice to see some contribution.

 

[supafly]

I'm much more disappointed with Washington, and I probably shouldn't be since he's nothing more than a glorified special teamer, but I suppose deep down I had some crazy dream that he may be able to contribute on the offense in certain situations.

That's probably a huge mistake on my part, but either way--I'm still disappointed that we're either seeing a slug 250 lb bruiser back, or one of our most important defenders out there returning kicks.

For what it's worth, Adam Schefter reported today that Washington was "going to have his number called today" and was expected to see a bigger role in the 3rd down back prior to getting injured, so maybe my thoughts of expecting him to contribute more weren't so far fetched after all.

 

[RayClay]

You also forgot to mention this weeks biggest bright spot.


Aaron Dobson looks like he could be a star in this league.

He needs to fight for jump balls more. He needs to get stronger. But its easy to see he could be a good deep threat with more experience.


Instead of wasting reps on players like Sudfeld, and now Collie.... I think Brady and the coaching staff need to INVEST more reps with Dobson in practice. He's one player who could really pay off big time.


It's kind of sad that Dobson had to waste time diving for wobbly passes from Tim Tebow in preseason and training camp this year. They should've had him paired up exclusively with Brady from the start.

I guess we can thank Josh McDaniels for that one.

If he keeps going east when Brady throws west, you can throw all those factors out the window. I'm not down on him, but being a star in this league and in this offense are two different things. the ball is often in the iar before you make your cut around here.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

another positive:

Thompkins really has twice as many catches as the stats show, since he catches every ball twice!

 

[SHOWTIME15]

An excellent list. A couple of things I would add:
- Considering Vince is gone and Kelly was eventually out, a bunch of no names were playing yet the run D still played alright. And since that was my biggest worry coming into the game, I think the run D earns a specific mention as a positive (not that they played great but it definitely wasn't bad)

- I agree that this was not a good game for TB. A few caveats to that though: 1) While the OL played good at times, when a QB is hurried often it ultimately can cause a QB to feel hurried always. IMHO the OL's overall performance has to be a bit better than this or losses will hit an unacceptable level (I do believe the OL will be fine). 2) It seems like TB throws a dud or two every season. Let's hope this is a 1 dud season. 3) Even with a lesser performance, I'd bet less dropped passes and a modest level of improved OL play would have seen TB do enough for victory.

- Understandably many of us fans come to simply expect the division title. Getting past that unreality, #7 is a big deal along with the Bills losing and a very good chance that the Jets lose tonight (@ ATL). After the Saints this Sunday, there are back to back divisional games against the Jets then Phins. These are a much bigger deal than what happened last night or what happens this Sunday.

I don't know what some of you are talking about. The run D was terrible yeaterday. That may be in large part due to kelly and vince out, but still...they gave up way to many 5 yard carries.

 

[Rob0729]

The Pats are the #2 scoring defense in the league giving 14.0 PPG. If that can continue, the Pats can still go far in the playoffs with a less than monumental improvement on the offensive side of the ball.

 

[Triumph]

- BB and the team got to visiit with BJGE and see how hes doing.
- Cinci has some good chili places.
- The players didnt need a shower after the game.
- In 2001 NE lost to the Bengals and won the Super Bowl
- At least Ridley didmt fumble.

 

[vyrago]

One of the only things I dont agree with you is that McDaniels is still a premier play caller. I will probably get a lot of flak for this but I have to be honest. Most of the time than not I don't like his calls. We constantly abandon the run game, especially in the red zone, we run too many play actions with all the pressure and not establishing the run game. I don't know maybe I am just frustrated after today's loss but his play calling has stumped me more times than not this season. Just my opinion.

Interesting pseudonym you chose for yourself NEM.

 

[borg]

another positive:

Thompkins really has twice as many catches as the stats show, since he catches every ball twice!

So I should have 2 fantasy points not one? Get the commissioner on the tele!!

 

[condon84]

Mayo played fantastic today. Best game I've seen him play in a long time.