Many Thoughts Watching the Pats/Dolphins Game from 2004 Tonight...

[aluminum seats]

1) First thing I thought as I watched the opening TD drive……”How did they ever lose this game?”

2) Forget last year—Brady had been throwing to so-so receivers his ENTIRE CAREER up until this year. Deion Branch? Where was he? Oh right, the Pats were 12-1 at the start of this game, as I hear Madden say “Branch has missed a lot of this season….” I had forgotten, or blacked out, how often he was out, and when he WAS in, how often he was a non-factor. Givens? I realized he played when I saw him go back to the huddle at one point. David Patten made a few plays. A sorry crop, particularly considering the fact that they had Dillon running like a wild man to free things up for them. If the Pats had that running game now? Wow.

3) On the other side of the field, man, look at that guy Welker! Tearing it up years ago. His punt return in the first half probably single-handedly kept Miami in the game. Morris looked pretty good too.

4) One guy who did perform was Kevin Faulk. Man, is that guy perpetually overlooked or what. Just makes plays—running, catching, blocking, whatever. As true now as it was then.

5) Did Belichick always keep his hands on his head like that? I didn’t remember that. His arms must have been tired at the end of the game. What was up with that?

6) The Pats secondary: Earthwind Morland, Troy Brown, etc. etc. But they got the job done (well, until the collapse at the end.) Got me to thinking: Eric Mangini was a good secondary coach. The problem these days is everybody gets rushed through the ranks. Belichick coached behind Parcells for years before he got his shot. There was Weis and Crennel still coordinating. Mangini was a good secondary coach, then was a little over his head as defensive coordinator, and is now a lot over his head as head coach. I think if he survives the controversies of this year he’ll be a good coach in this league. But I also think if he had just taken it more slowly, he would have been a lot better off.

7) It’s amazing how close the Pats were to undefeated that year—I’d like to see that Pittsburgh game they lost again, too, which I remember as a fiasco in the first 20 minutes. But thank God they lost to the Steelers! Can you imagine the insufferable myth-making that would have gone on if the Pats were undefeated going into this game? Would have been stomach-turning.

8) Having said that, wow, what a loss. Up 11 with a few minutes to go, Miami scores, and then Brady throws one of the worst picks ever. Madden mentioned, and I remembered, a pass Brady threw the week before that was incredibly ill-advised too, but he completed that one. It obviously led him to think he could do ANYTHING, so in a lot of ways this quick correction was a blessing—could have happened in a game that actually meant something. Besides that pick, Miami still had to score again, they converted on a long 4th down, Brady threw ANOTHER bad pick when the Pats were down only one with plenty of time left, etc. Yeesh.

Bottom line? Fascinating to watch. Offense is better now, linebackers younger so probably better then. This year's team beats that team.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

I saw it too, especially the last 4 minutes when Miami somehow miraculously pulled it out.

What happened? Did the Pats become complacent? On the first TD drive down 28-17, I counted twice where BAD tackling let the Miami receivers go out of bounds STOPPING THE CLOCK(If Rodney had had tackled that guy straight up, instead of trying to get too cute and going for his feet, he would have stayed inbounds, and the clock would have CHEWED UP).

That PI on Rodney in the endzone on that 1st TD-if he DIDN'T PI the guy, the ball WOULDN'T have been caught anyways. Yet another mental error.

Then on the KO return by Patten, I was surprised he quickly went out of bounds(stopping the clock at 2:03), INSTEAD of trying to dance around to at least run it down to the 2 minute warning. All it did was give Miami an extra play to increase their margin of error.

What WAS that short desperation pass by Brady, when it would have been BETTER OFF to just take a sack? Really-Feeley may have lead them to that first score, but I KIND OF doubt if they got the ball back by PUNT, he would have worked his magic yet again to go down the length of the field.

All in all-were the Pats a victim of their OWN complacency? I was shocked at how many mental errors they made over these 4 minutes.

 

[PF1996]

1) First thing I thought as I watched the opening TD drive……”How did they ever lose this game?”

I thought exactly the same thing. The efficiency of the offense on that drive was just great and largely due to the presence of Dillon. Anyone who watches that game has to agree that Maroney is a bust. I was willing to give him a break until I saw the way Dillon ran for 10 yards with the same kind of blocking from the OL while Maroney can barely gain 4 yards. Dillon took the cutback lanes while Maroney just ducks and plows ahead like a blind donkey. It's a shame because the 2007 Pats O would be unstoppable with a good running back.

2) Forget last year—Brady had been throwing to so-so receivers his ENTIRE CAREER up until this year. Deion Branch? Where was he? Oh right, the Pats were 12-1 at the start of this game, as I hear Madden say “Branch has missed a lot of this season….” I had forgotten, or blacked out, how often he was out, and when he WAS in, how often he was a non-factor. Givens? I realized he played when I saw him go back to the huddle at one point. David Patten made a few plays. A sorry crop, particularly considering the fact that they had Dillon running like a wild man to free things up for them. If the Pats had that running game now? Wow. .

Ditto. I actually forgot Patten was still on that team and I also forgot about Givens until I saw him on the bench at some point. Credit not only to Brady but also to Belichick.

3) On the other side of the field, man, look at that guy Welker! Tearing it up years ago. His punt return in the first half probably single-handedly kept Miami in the game. Morris looked pretty good too.

4) One guy who did perform was Kevin Faulk. Man, is that guy perpetually overlooked or what. Just makes plays—running, catching, blocking, whatever. As true now as it was then.

Couldn't agree more. His catch for the Pats first TD was beautiful.

5) Did Belichick always keep his hands on his head like that? I didn’t remember that. His arms must have been tired at the end of the game. What was up with that?

6) The Pats secondary: Earthwind Morland, Troy Brown, etc. etc. But they got the job done (well, until the collapse at the end.) Got me to thinking: Eric Mangini was a good secondary coach. The problem these days is everybody gets rushed through the ranks. Belichick coached behind Parcells for years before he got his shot. There was Weis and Crennel still coordinating. Mangini was a good secondary coach, then was a little over his head as defensive coordinator, and is now a lot over his head as head coach. I think if he survives the controversies of this year he’ll be a good coach in this league. But I also think if he had just taken it more slowly, he would have been a lot better off.

I was most impressed by the defense. Guys were playing up on receivers, making sure tackles. The Dline was getting pressure on the QB, LBs were getting off of blocks and pushing guys BACK. Pats would be a guranteed SB winner this year with that defense.

7) It’s amazing how close the Pats were to undefeated that year—I’d like to see that Pittsburgh game they lost again, too, which I remember as a fiasco in the first 20 minutes. But thank God they lost to the Steelers! Can you imagine the insufferable myth-making that would have gone on if the Pats were undefeated going into this game? Would have been stomach-turning.

8) Having said that, wow, what a loss. Up 11 with a few minutes to go, Miami scores, and then Brady throws one of the worst picks ever. Madden mentioned, and I remembered, a pass Brady threw the week before that was incredibly ill-advised too, but he completed that one. It obviously led him to think he could do ANYTHING, so in a lot of ways this quick correction was a blessing—could have happened in a game that actually meant something. Besides that pick, Miami still had to score again, they converted on a long 4th down, Brady threw ANOTHER bad pick when the Pats were down only one with plenty of time left, etc. Yeesh.

WORST play I've ever seen Brady make. It looks worse now that I remember it when it actually happened. That's a play you expect someone like Vick to make. Brady was the sole reason for that loss. I think the D was in prevent and the players got a bit lazy because they thought the game was wrapped up.

Bottom line? Fascinating to watch. Offense is better now, linebackers younger so probably better then. This year's team beats that team.

I say the 2004 team beats this team. A smart Brady could move the ball on this year's Pats D and this year's version of Brady wouldn't be smart enough to take the short stuff that the Pats 2004 team would give him.

 

[JoePats]

They had it on for some reason in the bar I was in...That was a rough one. Right before the 4th down pass for the GW TD, Earthwind Moreland had great coverage on a 3rd down pass to the end zone.

That was some secondary.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

18) Having said that, wow, what a loss. Up 11 with a few minutes to go, Miami scores, and then Brady throws one of the worst picks ever. Madden mentioned, and I remembered, a pass Brady threw the week before that was incredibly ill-advised too, but he completed that one. It obviously led him to think he could do ANYTHING, so in a lot of ways this quick correction was a blessing—could have happened in a game that actually meant something. Besides that pick, Miami still had to score again, they converted on a long 4th down, Brady threw ANOTHER bad pick when the Pats were down only one with plenty of time left, etc. Yeesh.

I'm an original Brady's Lady but his play lately has a bit too much of this fling it attitude to it. He knows better than we do how Moss can catch in traffic but even given that incredible ability he's gone to Moss too often when shorter chain moving wideout options were available. I really hope that the coaches and he review and address this tendency before the playoffs when we play the better teams in a one loss and done scenario.

Ps. S. Great observations! Enjoyed reading them.

 

[richpats]

I say the 2004 team beats this team. A smart Brady could move the ball on this year's Pats D and this year's version of Brady wouldn't be smart enough to take the short stuff that the Pats 2004 team would give him.

So 3 years of football makes a QB "less" smart? Take your meds. I guess Welker's 96 catches is no indication that Brady is smart enough to take the short stuff.

 

[strongside]

It was surreal to watch. My initial reaction is that 07 Pats win big over 04 because they would take advantage of a depleated secondary. However, that year they played a Colts team with the same type of prolific offense and we all know how that worked out.

04 - 24
07 - 17

O4 pats D picks off Brady 2 times and controls the clock in the win.

Was the 04 D good enough to hold 07 to 17 points?

 

[ligermark]

Don't be fooled by that game. The 2004 Patriots were one of greatest teams in history, they were just got caught being bored against an inferior team. I remember thinking that after the game, and all the concern in the ensuing week was hilarious. The Patriots promtly destroyed a good Jets team the very next week, then went to have one of the most impressive playoff runs in history. The 2007 team is better, but the 2004 team is still one of ten best SB champions ever.

 

[alamo]

Don't be fooled by that game. The 2004 Patriots were one of greatest teams in history, they were just got caught being bored against an inferior team.

I think Belichick decided before the season that his team's biggest opponment would be boredom, and acted to make sure that wasn't as likely to happen. (Not saying he deliberately caused spygate, no of course not, but he did then seize upon it and the running-up-the-score stuff as motivation).

 

[captain stone]

1) That PI on Rodney in the endzone on that 1st TD-if he DIDN'T PI the guy, the ball WOULDN'T have been caught anyways. Yet another mental error.

2) Then on the KO return by Patten, I was surprised he quickly went out of bounds(stopping the clock at 2:03), INSTEAD of trying to dance around to at least run it down to the 2 minute warning. All it did was give Miami an extra play to increase their margin of error.

3) What WAS that short desperation pass by Brady, when it would have been BETTER OFF to just take a sack? Really-Feeley may have lead them to that first score, but I KIND OF doubt if they got the ball back by PUNT, he would have worked his magic yet again to go down the length of the field.

All in all-were the Pats a victim of their OWN complacency? I was shocked at how many mental errors they made over these 4 minutes.

1) All Rodney had to do was turn around, and he would have had an easy INT. Instead, he keeps his back to the QB, even when he is standing in the back of the end zone. Then he has the nerve to complain to the zebras, when he should have been complaining to himself for forgetting his technique. What was doubly frustrating was that McGinest had just missed sacking Feeley before he was able to throw the ball.

2) Before the KO, I tried to telepathically remind Patten to count off 7 seconds before he went down. I guess it didn't work. Perhaps a hand-off/end-around would have taken away enough time.

3) Because he had completed a seat-of-his-pants pass the previous week vs. the Bungles, TB thought he could get away with another one, while he was being sacked. Not a well-planned series of downs at all.

This game remains, I believe, one of only two defeats since 2001 when leading after 3 quarters.

 

[aluminum seats]

I'm an original Brady's Lady but his play lately has a bit too much of this fling it attitude to it. He knows better than we do how Moss can catch in traffic but even given that incredible ability he's gone to Moss too often when shorter chain moving wideout options were available. I really hope that the coaches and he review and address this tendency before the playoffs when we play the better teams in a one loss and done scenario.

Ps. S. Great observations! Enjoyed reading them.

I'm sure he will--Brady and the coaches are so smart, and it's really a minor correction/adjustment. He's at such a high level right now, that this is what passes for a complaint.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I'm sure he will--Brady and the coaches are so smart, and it's really a minor correction/adjustment. He's at such a high level right now, that this is what passes for a complaint.

Yes, I fully expect Brady will address any marked tendencies and minor deficiencies. I feel slightly foolish saying anything critical about a guy who has had a career and particularly a season like this one. We will never see anyone like this again unless we're very young fans and there's no guarantee that even they will.