How the three units did

[Fencer]

Offense

Scored 48 points
Gave up 7 points
Didn't give up any TOs otherwise
Was handed great field position on one TO and good field position on a couple of three-and-outs, but even so accomplished the results mainly on its own

Overall: Outstanding

Defense

Gave up 20 points
Handed the offense great field position once
Was handed lousy field position once by STs

Overall: Mediocre, despite the great start. Of course, a "mediocre" result isn't all that bad vs. an otherwise highly successful offense.

Special teams

Gave up a long return
Didn't do all that much returning the booming punts or kickoffs
Was perfect in placekicking, including a long FG

Overall: Mediocre at best, but not ghastly.

 

[jct]

Actually special teams was good or decent.
Dallas average start was like 15 yd line at one point in the game.
We had a nice return as well and a FG.

 

[Real World]

As crazy as this sounds, I actually felt that the offense left some plays on the field, particulary Brady on those two long throws to Moss. TB badly missed a wide open Moss on the 1st play of the game, and then again on that flea flicker (I think it was the flea deep to Moss). What's amazing though is that we didn't run particulary well with Morris, made a couple of bad throws on big plays, and still put up 48.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Yeah, Brady has overthrown Moss a few times in the last couple weeks. Otherwise though, the O was pretty solid.

Defense was the weakest unit out there IMO. Gave up lots of yards and only had one turnover. I will say, they did give good pressure, based solely on the fact that Dallas had to resport to flagrant holding on every offensive snap.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I think the use of the term mediocre is overstating rather dramatically. For most of the first half the 'Boys couldn't make a first down. Rodney ended one of their drives with a sack. But what have you done for me lately crowd wants to focus on an out of character quarter and inability to capitalize on a chinese fire drill in the EZ that Marion Barber literally willed himself out of, though ultimately all that play saved them was the safety. Something clearly was afoot at the end of the half and early in the third quarter that was likely not entirely of the players making. When they finally abandoned an approach that was failing miserably, things improved pretty dramatically again down the stretch. While Barber at times appeared to be a one man wrecking crew, he and Jones didn't put up a C note between them. Nor did they score. We have up some receiving yards, but no Dallas WR got within sniffing distance of a C note either. Including Witten who BB says is the most complete TE in the league.

We are, as a group, the nitpickingest fanbase on the planet. I'm not sure why but I think it has something to do with years of being influenced by a down in the mouth media who confused hypercritical with objective, combined with some delusional idea that such hypercritical assessments stamp us as superior to other fan bases, immune as we are to expressing silly homerism for a 6-0 team and more like our seldom outwardly satisfied genius HC (who at least has the benefit of coaches tape and knowing who was supposed to be doing what to whom, sprinkles lots of acknowledgement of good along with the caveat things could have been done better, and never singles out a player or unit for public dressing down.

It's a short season folks. And a short window - like maybe a decade and a bit. Try enjoying it.

 

[Fencer]

As crazy as this sounds, I actually felt that the offense left some plays on the field, particulary Brady on those two long throws to Moss.

I'm forgetting which it was, but besides the two gimmick plays there was a third miss of an open deep Moss.

I think only the first of the three was erased by a successful drive.

Luck (referees, big plays) wasn't really with the Pats. They earned their big margin.

 

[Fencer]

When they finally abandoned an approach that was failing miserably, things improved pretty dramatically again down the stretch.

The other side is paid too, and that includes the coaches.

20 points given up and one takeaway is simply a mediocre result, unless the other units were putting you into one deep field position hole after another all day.

As I suggested in the original post, however, a mediocre result against an excellent opponent is still a good day.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

The other side is paid too, and that includes the coaches.

20 points given up and one takeaway is simply a mediocre result, unless the other units were putting you into one deep field position hole after another all day.

As I suggested in the original post, however, a mediocre result against an excellent opponent is still a good day.

How can a result be mediocre when you hold an excellent opponent to 20 in their house while dominating TOP and holding a 2nd half powerhouse offense to 10 points.