And if you lose this Sunday...

[FlyingElvis75]

Just curious as to what you guys think the mindset will be if you guys drop this game. I'm not referring to the rest of the regular season, because I think you will steamroll through most everyone. I'm talking about the rematch in the postseason. All of the offseason moves you guys have made have been to address concerns of other teams. Specifically, us and San Diego. Adalius brought in to slowdown Clark and Gates. Welker and Moss to provide the necessary weapons to compete in a shootout game scenario. Merriweather drafted for additional depth at safety for R. Harrison's aging and injury. I just think that there will be some 2nd guessing of your core players if you guys go down and ultimately lose HFA. You added all this talent and would still have lost to the Colts. That would have to creep up in the back of some players' minds come January if we were to play again in Indy. Just curious as to what you guys think? And please try to have somewhat of an open mind.

I'm not sure about "psychologically" or whatever, but factually speaking: The last three times they've met in both the regular season and postseason, the regular-season winner has won the postseason game.

 

[FlyingElvis75]

Were the unlikely to happen I would be of course deeply disappointed but upon reflection I would take the Belichick Patriot approach that the team needed to work harder to improve. Make less mistakes, play better defense, better communication between Brady and the receivers, tighten up on STs, whatever is relevant to what happened.

I think that the Colts would think the same way. Whoever loses most likely will have another shot at redemption.

They will get a shot, but history says they won't win. Of course, the Pats are kind of trampling over history so far this year...

 

[Amnorix]

Honestly, this game doesn't much matter. Just bragging rights until the inevitable AFCCG showdown.

 

[FlyingElvis75]

Honestly, this game doesn't much matter. Just bragging rights until the inevitable AFCCG showdown.

On the contrary, it does matter. It will determine who the last undefeated team is; it has a good chance of determining home-field advantage in the playoffs; and whoever wins this game is likely to be considered the favorite if they meet in the playoffs. Losing to the Colts in the regular season and beating them in the playoffs has not be done by the Patriots, at least this century.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Just curious as to what you guys think the mindset will be if you guys drop this game. I'm not referring to the rest of the regular season, because I think you will steamroll through most everyone. I'm talking about the rematch in the postseason. All of the offseason moves you guys have made have been to address concerns of other teams. Specifically, us and San Diego. Adalius brought in to slowdown Clark and Gates. Welker and Moss to provide the necessary weapons to compete in a shootout game scenario. Merriweather drafted for additional depth at safety for R. Harrison's aging and injury. I just think that there will be some 2nd guessing of your core players if you guys go down and ultimately lose HFA. You added all this talent and would still have lost to the Colts. That would have to creep up in the back of some players' minds come January if we were to play again in Indy. Just curious as to what you guys think? And please try to have somewhat of an open mind.

I think the Colts players have already expressed that they're prepared to lose this game - noting (correctly) that one loss in the regular season means nothing in terms of a drive to a Super Bowl.

However that mindset of coming in with the notion of losing is not something any coach wants to see

Seems like the fans are adopting this mindset as well

I don't think you'll find many Pats players or fans thinking this way right now...

My expectation however (or rather hope) is that should the Patriots lose, there will be no excuses, no whining (even if there's just cause) and that we'll move on with the goal of the Super Bowl in mind.

The winner of this game is going to be very much favored to have a perfect season however and that's going to bring a ton of pressure with it - which is a burden and a challenge not every team will be up to.

 

[godef]

I think people will be more bummed about losing the chance at an undefeated season than they would be over the concern of having to go through Indy again to get to the Super Bowl.

The Pats have a history of coming up short in the regular season and overcoming it as the playoffs loomed...

• 2001 we lost at home to the Rams, but then beat them in the Super Bowl, a neutral site favorable to the Rams style.
• 2003 got blasted by the Bills 31-0 in the season opener but turned that around and beat them 31-0 in the season finale.
• 2004 barely beat the Colts and thanks only to a missed field goal that would have sent it to OT, but we all but shut them down in the AFC divisionals.
• 2004 the Steelers pummeled us on Halloween and ended our historic win steak, but we smoked them in the AFC championship.

This kind of falls apart last season when we could not win in Indy after losing to them at home in the regular season, but unlike that first match, we did take it down to the wire, but are foiled by exhaustion. But this year, we view the Pats as vastly improved as per the historic numbers for the first half of the season, even more so than the Colts, enough to offset that slim margin of difference. So if somehow we don't manage to win this Sunday, I think they'll still be a lot of confidence that this team will figure out how to do it come January.

Of course, that's presuming we aren't blown out on Sunday which, while not necessarily the end of the world, would undoubtedly throw a lot of us for a loop. But a lot of us are confident that any blow out that does occur would be by the Patriots.

 

[FlyingElvis75]

I think people will be more bummed about losing the chance at an undefeated season than they would be over the concern of having to go through Indy again to get to the Super Bowl.

The Pats have a history of coming up short in the regular season and overcoming it as the playoffs loomed...

Not against Indy, though.

Pats will not be in a good situation if they lose on Sunday. It would mean:

A) We have a hard time beating them at IND
B) We will likely lose home-field for the playoffs
C) We don't have a good chance to win if we meet them in the playoffs (see A)

 

[TruthSeeker]

I agree, it should be JUST a regular season game, but I think if our Pats lose, that's 4 straight against the Colts. I think it could psychologically seep into their heads, just like I'm sure the Colts were a little psyched out after they couldn't beat us for a while. That being said, if healthy, the Pats would be more focused and prepared if there was a playoff rematch (In my opinion). I can't wait for this game.....should be a classic. My guess, 27-24 Pats win. Either way, I think it will be close.

 

[godef]

Not against Indy, though.

Pats will not be in a good situation if they lose on Sunday. It would mean:

A) We have a hard time beating them at IND

This is false. We have played 3 games in Indy in the Brady/Belichick era, winning the first by 38-17, and splitting the other two by identical 38-34 scores. If we lose Sunday, that would only make it a split.

 

[FlyingElvis75]

This is false. We have played 3 games in Indy in the Brady/Belichick era, winning the first by 38-17, and splitting the other two by identical 38-34 scores. If we lose Sunday, that would only make it a split.

That's true...wasn't the last time, like, four years ago or something, though?

 

[eric5280]

The Patriots won't be too concerned but I, personally would be crushed.

 

[solman]

Just curious as to what you guys think the mindset will be if you guys drop this game. I'm not referring to the rest of the regular season, because I think you will steamroll through most everyone. I'm talking about the rematch in the postseason. All of the offseason moves you guys have made have been to address concerns of other teams. Specifically, us and San Diego. Adalius brought in to slowdown Clark and Gates. Welker and Moss to provide the necessary weapons to compete in a shootout game scenario. Merriweather drafted for additional depth at safety for R. Harrison's aging and injury. I just think that there will be some 2nd guessing of your core players if you guys go down and ultimately lose HFA. You added all this talent and would still have lost to the Colts. That would have to creep up in the back of some players' minds come January if we were to play again in Indy. Just curious as to what you guys think? And please try to have somewhat of an open mind.

Its just a game. The team will still expect to win the Superbowl even if they lose.

 

[godef]

That's true...wasn't the last time, like, four years ago or something, though?

OK, you really minimize your sample then, to one actual and one theoretical game. Bottom line is, I don't think the Pats will get spooked if they lose the game on Sunday. It's simply not in their DNA.

 

[Airkuhl]

It's a fair question. Looking at previous years on the forums, I think that Pats fans would be disappointed, but would stick by the team and the players, discuss what the Pats should do differently next time they meet, and refocus from looking at a perfect season to looking at a SB win.

So how do you think the Colts fans will react if the Colts lose? Blaming the officials? Weaving elaborate cheating conspiracies? Calling Manning a choker that needs to be replaced, just like we've seen every other time on the Colts boards when the Colts have lost a big game over the past several years?

 

[lobills]

Depends on the circumstances. But, myself and most of the people I know will respond with, "**** they're going to roll the rest of the way. And. I can't wait to play them again in Foxboro." Something like that. I could care less about the camera story or Polian complaining a couple years back. I care about what goes down on the field. Colts 41 Pats 34.

 

[NEPatriot]

As for me, of course there will be disappointment. However, the sun will come up in the morning and the season will continue. I do believe that the Colts are the favorite coming into the game with the dome field advantage. The keys for me are the offense continuing to click and the continued improvement on defense. And there is no better test for our defense than Indy.

 

[Hollywood_Brady]

The Patriots won't be too concerned but I, personally would be crushed.

i would be crushed too but just for that day only... we learn from it and move forward...

but this season is special, i feel like we can go to any game and win by a big margin even if its the colts... its that "air of invincibility" that im feeling that i never felt a seasons back when we are winning superbowls...

i watch every game this season thinking about who is gonna mor ball moss, welker or stall... who will have more sacks vrable or rosie... what are the highlights gonna be... watching the games, losing never entered my mind...

go pats , crush the colts...

 

[TruthSeeker]

Depends on the circumstances. But, myself and most of the people I know will respond with, "**** they're going to roll the rest of the way. And. I can't wait to play them again in Foxboro." Something like that. I could care less about the camera story or Polian complaining a couple years back. I care about what goes down on the field. Colts 41 Pats 34.

Wow ! 75 points ! That's a lot of points. I guess you feel the offenses are superior to two pretty darned good defenses. I'm guessing 27-24 final. It could go either way.

 

[COLT FAN]

And you say Patriots fans get too ahead of themselves.

Rematch? I don't think the Colts are a lock for the AFCCG by any means.

By the same token Pats are not a lock either.

 

[Sivy]

By the same token Pats are not a lock either.

you're right, I hear that come playoff time, they are just gonna forfit the superbowl championship to the patriots.