Game Thought: The Pats De-Horse Shoed Them Edition

[Rob0729]

Here we go:

• First and foremost, it is great that the Pats can win a game convincingly when Brady has far from his best game. Although Brady was great in the second half, this game goes to Jonas Gray, the o-line, and the defense.

• Speaking of Gray, I know a lot of people will put a lot of his production on the crappy Colts' defense, but this guy was hitting the hole fast and hard, changing directions on a dime, and making moves to make people miss him. That is on him. If this is a sign of things to come, he is going to make people easily forget Ridley.

• Gotta give it up to the coordinators again. Another game, another great set of game plans. The Pats took away Hilton and Wayne (other than one big play by Wayne where it looked like a miscommunication between McCourty and Revis) and the running game .

• I think the best part of this game is how the Pats just kept punching the Colts in the mouth and they really had no answer. This game probably wasn't even as close as the score indicated because the Pats gifted them a TD at the end of the first half.

• After a slow start, Revis is being Revis. Easily the best CB in the NFL. Give him an extension now. He is the best and I don't know if the second guy is all that close.

• The Colts are going to make an early exit in the playoffs. They are like the same Colts that was there under Manning and not built for the post season. No running game, soft defense, finesse offense. They can and will be beaten up in the playoffs. If they come to Gillette, Luck will be blown out yet again. Change the QB, change the coach, change the GM and yet they are the same team.

• I don't know what Brady was doing in the first half. I am starting to think the audible call on the INT wasn't as bad as I thought as my initial reaction, but throwing the ball up there with a defender in his face was inexcusable.

• Gronk is just a big kid playing football in the school yard. Not only is he an unstoppable force, but his enthusiasm is infectious. He is also the best all around TE to ever play the game.

• Very disappointed in Browner. Fleener ate him for lunch tonight. Ultimately, he didn't kill us, but if it was a close game it could have killed this team.

 

[Rob0729]

BTW, I can't wait for Felger and Mazz to act like idiots tomorrow after spending the first half of the season how the Broncos are better, more talented, and tougher than the Pats. I am sure Felger will be a douche in that it is too early to determine anything.

 

[mayoclinic]

I agree with most of this, though I think the criticism of Browner is a bit harsh. Fleener played a good game and was able to stay physical with Browner, but I don't think Browner was that bad.

A few thoughts:

1. Loved the physicality in both sides of the ball. If the Pats can keep this up, it will bode well for the post-season.

2. The OL is playing very well, especially in the run game. Cam Fleming is a beast.

3. The Colts and Broncos are flashy finesse teams. KC is the scariest team in the AFC outside of NE.

4. Gronk and JJ Watt are in a class by themselves in the NFL. They are men playing among boys.

5. The run defense is progressing nicely.

Very happy with the way this team is evolving.

 

[manxman2601]

3. KC is the scariest team in the AFC outside of NE.

KC haven't allowed a rushing TD. I'd like to give Gray the opportunity of a re-match.

 

[Guts]

No lovr for Collins? I see him improving week to week

 

[Rob0729]

I agree with most of this, though I think the criticism of Browner is a bit harsh. Fleener played a good game and was able to stay physical with Browner, but I don't think Browner was that bad.

A few thoughts:

1. Loved the physicality in both sides of the ball. If the Pats can keep this up, it will bode well for the post-season.

2. The OL is playing very well, especially in the run game. Cam Fleming is a beast.

3. The Colts and Broncos are flashy finesse teams. KC is the scariest team in the AFC outside of NE.

4. Gronk and JJ Watt are in a class by themselves in the NFL. They are men playing among boys.

5. The run defense is progressing nicely.

Very happy with the way this team is evolving.

Well, I might be too harsh on Browner, but I have to throw in a negative somehow.

I have been saying for a week or two that I was more worried about the Chiefs sweeping the rest of their games than the Broncos. I still think KC may win the AFC West. I don't want the Pats to have to go into KC.

 

[Rob0729]

No lovr for Collins? I see him improving week to week

Collins is turning into everything we hoped he would be. He is a solid LB.

 

[mayoclinic]

No lovr for Collins? I see him improving week to week

I have been consistently pleased with Collins' progress. But I hear he's strictly a sub rusher who sucks against the run and who can't tackle.

 

[nabwong]

I wonder if a reporter will ask BB, "did you strip Brady of his audible rights in the 2nd half?" Lol.

 

[Rob0729]

I have been consistently pleased with Collins' progress. But I hear he's strictly a sub rusher who sucks against the run and who can't tackle.

Well, remember he is already a bust pick because the Pats drafted Tavon Wilson the year before.

 

[Ring 6]

The audible was a great call. Gronk had a td if Brady got anything on the ball. Heaving it up like that was a bad decision though.

 

[strngplyr]

The audible was a great call. Gronk had a td if Brady got anything on the ball. Heaving it up like that was a bad decision though.

This ^.

Gronk was behind the defense by several yards, Brady made an awful throw. Correct decision, atrocious execution.

 

[luuked]

The audible was a great call. Gronk had a td if Brady got anything on the ball. Heaving it up like that was a bad decision though.

I thought that after looking at that INT a few times that Brady won't get a lot of grief in meetings this week for it but given the situation (almost HT, up 11, deep own half) he should have just had a better exit strategy on the first sign of trouble (e.g. throw it to the ground, take sack).

I hope it proves to be a good (and cheap) lesson in situational football for our team.

 

[heavyde050]

This ^.

Gronk was behind the defense by several yards, Brady made an awful throw. Correct decision, atrocious execution.

The throw was awful, but mostly because had immediate and direct pressure right up the middle.

The throw was brutal.

 

[TomPatriot]

KC is still the best team in the AFC. They beat the Pats and the Seahawks and were a play away from beating the Donkeys on the road. They are the best at least until they get sliced and diced at the Razor.

 

[luuked]

KC is still the best team in the AFC. They beat the Pats and the Seahawks and were a play away from beating the Donkeys on the road. They are the best at least until they get sliced and diced at the Razor.

They beat the Pats in Week 4. Then last week they barely got out of Buffalo with a W.

I am not saying that they are a bad team but lets forget those transitive who beats who comparisons. I don't think that they have a higher chance to run the table than we do. I am less worried about any opponent at Foxboro than on the road, especially KC..

 

[RobertWeathers]

KC haven't allowed a rushing TD. I'd like to give Gray the opportunity of a re-match.

Calling it early....If the Pats play KC again they are going to absolutely destroy them. I don't care where the game is.

 

[RobertWeathers]

KC is still the best team in the AFC. They beat the Pats and the Seahawks and were a play away from beating the Donkeys on the road. They are the best at least until they get sliced and diced at the Razor.

I think KC is a good team as well. They have DEN @ AZ and @Pitt coming up. They could win all 3 and finish 13-3.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I agree with most of this, though I think the criticism of Browner is a bit harsh. Fleener played a good game and was able to stay physical with Browner, but I don't think Browner was that bad.

A few thoughts:

1. Loved the physicality in both sides of the ball. If the Pats can keep this up, it will bode well for the post-season.

2. The OL is playing very well, especially in the run game. Cam Fleming is a beast.

3. The Colts and Broncos are flashy finesse teams. KC is the scariest team in the AFC outside of NE.

4. Gronk and JJ Watt are in a class by themselves in the NFL. They are men playing among boys.

5. The run defense is progressing nicely.

Very happy with the way this team is evolving.

1. Jamie Collins, in particular, stood out to me as far as physicality. He was making strong, wrap-up tackles and you heard the pads when he made the hit. I wonder what that sounds like field-level.

2. Yes, they absolutely are playing well. It amazes me how fast they fixed it. Just wow.

3. What scares me about KC is that their offense is so versatile and they hit you with so many formations and varied play-calling. That's one of the things for which NE has been known for years now. It frustrates defenses and keeps them off-balance. That's precisely what happened to NE's defense in the first meeting. That's what I saw yesterday in the game against Seattle. They run the ball so well.

They are scary. I definitely want them at Foxboro should we have to meet them in January. Denver still scares me. I know we beat them convincingly and they lost yesterday, but they are still an extremely tough team when completely healthy.

People were in a hurry to anoint the Colts, but I was never really buying it completely. I think last night proves that they're a B team knocking on the door for top tier. They'r e not there yet, though.

4. Enough said.

5. Enough said. I said the same thing in a thread yesterday, might have been the game thread.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I thought that after looking at that INT a few times that Brady won't get a lot of grief in meetings this week for it but given the situation (almost HT, up 11, deep own half) he should have just had a better exit strategy on the first sign of trouble (e.g. throw it to the ground, take sack).

I hope it proves to be a good (and cheap) lesson in situational football for our team.

I said in the game thread after it happened that I see what Brady was trying to do there. He got the look he wanted and audibled into the right play to beat it. In fact, Gronk was open. Brady didn't count on having the pressure in his face as quickly as he got it. Still, a legendary QB should know better, as you stated.