ESPN Article (Q&A about Pats running up the score)

[Patsguy05]

Sorry if this has been posted already. Good read.

" From Ryan C. in Charlotte, N.C.: "I noticed Brady threw a TD bomb to Moss in the fourth quarter with a 24-point lead on the Bills. Was he running up the score or padding his stats? You were all about criticizing these moves by Peyton Manning in 2004 when he broke the TD record, so I am just wondering if we can expect these same comments now about Brady?"

My answer: In case you didn't notice, the Patriots have been in Screws-You Mode ever since the Mangini thing happened. In Week 2, they went for it on fourth-and-goal in the last few minutes of the Chargers game, leading by 17 (and scored). In Week 3, they threw the bomb to Moss (and scored). Those are two plays that NEVER would have happened with this team in any other Belichick season. Manning was running up the score to break the TD record; the Pats are running up the score because it's the most effective way to wave both middle fingers at the rest of the league and prove that they didn't need to cheat to win three Super Bowls. I don't support either tactic, but as a Pats fan, it's been strangely enjoyable to watch them embrace a more villainous role. They have a nasty edge to them that they've never had before. It's like watching David Hasselhoff's evil twin brother show up on an old episode of "Knight Rider" or something.

So yeah, it's wrong to run up the score. I'd be the first one to admit it. But it's a natural reaction to the way they were vilified for two straight weeks. The rest of the nation turned them into a mutant cross between Cobra Kai and the Yankees, so screw it, they're acting like the Cobra Kai Yankees. Can you blame them? I can't answer that one objectively, so I won't try. But if you don't think they'll be running up the score in Cincinnati on Monday night, you're crazy. "


[Mod edit: Please identify the author and provide a link back to the source! I searched ESPN.com and cannot find the piece. If it stays as a random unattributed quote, it may be deleted. Thanks!]

 

[Bertil]

I don't buy this argument.

There were still NINE minutes left in the game at that point. In the NFL, that's still a long time, even if it was the Bills. The Pats basically called off the passing game after that, running on every subsequent play. I doubt that **** Jauron thinks that they were running it up.

 

[Michigan Dave]

I saw that in the Simmons article. Meh. I have no problem with running your offense. The only thing Indy ever did that I had qualms with was the amateur fake-spike, fake-kneel, plays trying to trick teams when they were way up.

 

[Oswlek]

I will post what I did earlier with regard to that SD TD.

In the NFL, it is more "honorable" to just call an obvious run play in that situation; teams do it all the time. Bringing in the FG unit is "running up the score" and a QB kneel is a slap in the face. Running the ball is the "classy" thing to do.

Fast forward to Buffalo and you see the same thing, but with a longer distance to go. The Sports Guy was offbase on this one.

 

[StevePatsFan]

Gimme a break, Colts ran it up so bad on the Saints on Thursday night and no one says anything about it. I hope they blow out everyone in their way this year.

 

[Keegs]

I saw that in the Simmons article. Meh. I have no problem with running your offense. The only thing Indy ever did that I had qualms with was the amateur fake-spike, fake-kneel, plays trying to trick teams when they were way up.

wow i don't remember that, did they really do this?

I do recall the plethora of 1 yard td passes though.

 

[Pats726]

Running up the score?? They could have..EASILY scored...again and again at the end...running Evans into the middle on a 4th and 6 is running up teh score,..right????
until someone is critical of Manning padding his stats passing liek crazy late in a game..I have no problem at all...

 

[StevePatsFan]

Saints (0-1-0) 0 10 0 0 10
Colts (1-0-0) 7 3 14 17 41

FG Adam Vinatieri, 33 yd field goal , 14:16. Drive: 5 plays, 32 yards in 1:18

TD Reggie Wayne, 45 yd pass from Peyton Manning (Adam Vinatieri kick is good), 10:11. Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards in 2:45

TD Matt Giordano, 83 yd interception return (Adam Vinatieri kick is good), 01:11.

 

[Caspir]

I don't ever recall Peyton Manning sitting out the fourth quarter before, which Brady has already done, what, twice this year?

Also, I don't care about any team running up the score. The way I always felt was, when you stop trying to score on us, we'll stop trying to score on you. You don't get to soldier on and try to score while we run the ball up the middle three times in a row then punt.

 

[SVN]

pats didnt run up the score...here is big pats hater gregg easterbrook on what the pats did

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/070925#new

Warning -- Praise of New England: Notwithstanding the relentless anti-Belichick tone of the previous two columns, TMQ lauds the New England coach for showing good sportsmanship. Leading Buffalo 38-7 with 4 minutes remaining, the Flying Elvii faced fourth-and-6 on the Bills' 8. Belichick simply had the fullback dive up the middle, Buffalo ball, to hold down the final score.

hitting the FG would be running up the score.

 

[mojocaster.com]

Jealousy sure is ugly, ain't it?

 

[captain stone]

What about the stunt that Culpepper pulled yesterday? 30 seconds left, Oakland ahead 28-17, 4th and goal at the Miami 3. Instead of handing the ball to a RB, he rumbles around right end for a TD. Classy. I hope his team beats SD, Denver and Indy, and loses the rest.

 

[upstater1]

I will post what I did earlier with regard to that SD TD.

I completely agree with this. On 4th down in field goal range, you do not kick a field goal. You run it. That's why Norv had a friendly chat with Belichick after the game.

On the pass to Mos, that can qualify as running it up, IMO. On the other hand, Brady and Moss have not played together too much, and that was only the second bomb of the season to Moss. So, it may be argued that in game testing of the plays is needed so early in the season.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

It's just another instance of Simmons being an ill-informed Boston fan. He has done this regularly since moving to LA and will continue doing so.

 

[emoney_33]

pats didnt run up the score...here is big pats hater gregg easterbrook on what the pats did

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/070925#new


hitting the FG would be running up the score.

Reporters like to judge things based on the outcome. Had that play gone for a TD it would be a different story to these guys. As for Simmons and the 4th and goal run on SD, that is not running up the score, that is keeping yourself in best position to win. You have a lead in the 4th and it's 4th and goal, you dont need the 3 points that badly. You run the ball and even if you dont get the TD you give the ball to the opponent in bad field position, with the "nothing deep" defensive philosophy and the clock is just gonna keep winding down protecting your lead. And of course no matter what play you do call, the players on the field are ALWAYS gonna try to score.

 

[emoney_33]

Also, why does the media want to turn "running up the score" into a sportsmanship thing. It's 100% clear in my mind that not running up the score has more to do with clock-eating, protecting the lead, least risk, get the win and get out, BB philosophy. What is the easiest way to give up a lead? TURNOVERS. What's the easiest way to turn it over? PASSING. Good sportsmanship or not, it's smart football.

 

[Vataha1962]

Against Buffalo, didn't they pull Brady in the 4th quarter? I don't buy that they ran up the score, I thought they showed a lot of class by doing just the opposite with their play selection....

 

[PatSunday]

Never mind camera gate. The Patriots were able to run up the score 21 points against the Colts, with poor and new WR's, to boot. It proved this wasn't good enough.

The Patriots now have good WR's, where any of the 4 of Moss, Welker, Daunte, and Gaffney of this year are better than ANY WR from last year. So, of course they'll be capable of getting higher scores (because of more completed passes and more ready targets) than the Patriots had early last season.

So, with the same plays, Patriots score 2 extra TD per game. That's not running up the score, that's just a side-effect of putting good WR into a bend-but-don't-break system used to having poor ones.

In fact, if the Patriots start winning by a TD or less, it will show that the defense or the offense is slouching. Everybody must continue to play and practice like we're one Caldwell drop from losing. Obviously, the coaching is still there to beat SD and Jets with bad receivers. But it doesn't mean Moss or Welker should drop passes just because of that. And that's why we have a good score.

I bet Brady has sat out in the 4th quarter sooner than Manning ever has.

 

[emoney_33]

Look at the hypocrites in this thread and on this board in general. Lol!

hi troll, eat breakfast yet? get back under your bridge!

 

[JoeSixPat]

Sorry if this has been posted already. Good read.

" From Ryan C. in Charlotte, N.C.: "I noticed Brady threw a TD bomb to Moss in the fourth quarter with a 24-point lead on the Bills. Was he running up the score or padding his stats? You were all about criticizing these moves by Peyton Manning in 2004 when he broke the TD record, so I am just wondering if we can expect these same comments now about Brady?"

My answer: In case you didn't notice, the Patriots have been in Screws-You Mode ever since the Mangini thing happened. In Week 2, they went for it on fourth-and-goal in the last few minutes of the Chargers game, leading by 17 (and scored). In Week 3, they threw the bomb to Moss (and scored). Those are two plays that NEVER would have happened with this team in any other Belichick season. Manning was running up the score to break the TD record; the Pats are running up the score because it's the most effective way to wave both middle fingers at the rest of the league and prove that they didn't need to cheat to win three Super Bowls. I don't support either tactic, but as a Pats fan, it's been strangely enjoyable to watch them embrace a more villainous role. They have a nasty edge to them that they've never had before. It's like watching David Hasselhoff's evil twin brother show up on an old episode of "Knight Rider" or something.

So yeah, it's wrong to run up the score. I'd be the first one to admit it. But it's a natural reaction to the way they were vilified for two straight weeks. The rest of the nation turned them into a mutant cross between Cobra Kai and the Yankees, so screw it, they're acting like the Cobra Kai Yankees. Can you blame them? I can't answer that one objectively, so I won't try. But if you don't think they'll be running up the score in Cincinnati on Monday night, you're crazy. "


[Mod edit: Please identify the author and provide a link back to the source! I searched ESPN.com and cannot find the piece. If it stays as a random unattributed quote, it may be deleted. Thanks!]

Actually I DO support the team if they want to say FU and show how incredibly dominant they are on offense and defense following the childish and ignorant "cheating" charges.

But I don't think they've actually done that yet - I've seen too many games where touchdowns can be scored in rapid succession. A TD here - an interception there, followed by an onside kick recovery... before you know it 21 points can be racked up in just a matter of minutes.

You play to your full ability for 60 minutes. If you don't some pathetic fan might file a class action lawsuit for fraud!

And if a team doesn't like the fact that the Patriots are scoring touchdowns in the 4th quarter, they have no one to blame but themselves for letting them.