1 game away from the Super Bowl

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Crazy to think with all the talk of losing Welker/Hernandez/Lloyd/Woodhead and how it will destroy us, we are not only going to make it at least as far this season as we did with them last year, but we just scored 43 on the way to it and most likely will have a higher PPG in this year's playoffs. AND doing it without Vollmer/Mayo/Wilfork

 

[102 Pat]

It awesome to think that all has happened this season that they are going to their 3rd AFC championship game in a row.

 

[CharlieWeis]

Some Injuries forced the Pats back to what they were

As weird as this sounds, some of the injuries sustained (wide receivers, etc) have "forced" the Patriots to become what they used to be in 2001 (Antowain Smith, 2004 , etc Corey Dilon), a smash mouth football team. They were looking too much like Payton Manning and the Colts the past 5-6 years, pass oriented, and yes maybe a little too much "finesse". So just like Payton, not the best SuperBowl Success. If you combine a great running game with solid defense , you win Superbowls. I like this approach a little better than spread them out , throwing the ball around.

 

[reflexblue]

Re: Some Injuries forced the Pats back to what they were

As weird as this sounds, some of the injuries sustained (wide receivers, etc) have "forced" the Patriots to become what they used to be in 2001 (Antowain Smith, 2004 , etc Corey Dilon), a smash mouth football team. They were looking too much like Payton Manning and the Colts the past 5-6 years, pass oriented, and yes maybe a little too much "finesse". So just like Payton, not the best SuperBowl Success. If you combine a great running game with solid defense , you win Superbowls. I like this approach a little better than spread them out , throwing the ball around.

Nice first post :rocker:

 

[PatriotSeven]

Re: Some Injuries forced the Pats back to what they were

I have to agree that this feels a lot more like the earlier Pats teams of the early 2000's thought I still say our D at this point is nowhere as dominant.

As far as offensive playmakers, I can name just about every single one of them. We don't have a lot of standout players, but then again, that's kind of how it all started. By getting a little bit from everyone involved instead of a lot from just a couple.

And let's give Edelman some credit. He has been our main weapon this year. It's kind of hard maybe for even some of the fans to give him that credit, but he is the rag doll that takes the hit, doesn't quit, and is out Wes Welkering Welker this year.

It's amazing when you think of it in the context of injuries, if you watch this guy get constantly swallowed up, and the hits and punishment he takes, and he looks about as athletic as I do sitting on my couch watching the game. I hold my breath every time, yet he always bounces right up. Glad his hand is ok after yesterday.

And to make things even more interesting, knowing he's pretty much our guy right now, I still see Bill making him be our guy in the return game during a year when we really don't have anyone else we can depend on in our passing game.

Crazy. Go Pats!

 

[zoostation]

Mankins ............ playing in beast mode.

Exactly ! Logan is the man ! :rocker:

 

[reflexblue]

Speak for yourself. I've believed in this team all year long. But what a year. It's a marvel they've made getting this far so routine.

Sure kid what ever you say. After the hernandez distraction, replacing the receiving corp with rookies, having half the defensive front seven go down, then gronk going down, then spikes going down etc etc etc, You had faith all along they'ed be playing in the AFCCG I think what you may have is naivete

As all that was happening i had more hope than faith. I hoped the AH situation wouldn't be a distraction, i hoped the rookies could play, i hoped that the next man up could come through etc. I have never seen a team have so many injuries and major distractions. And ive been around awhile.