I'm worried

[NE_PATS_FAN_54]

I'm a bit worried about this team going into the last week. yes, they are 15-0. but that doesnt mean you can just give them a free pass. we still have to be analytical. these past few weeks, going all the way back to the eagles game, they havent looked like the same team we saw early in the year. the past 2 weeks in particular, have gotten me the most concerned. they barely came out on top against the jets, a very weak team. and right when you think they gonna come out here and destroy the dolphins, they only play 30 minutes of good football against the worst team in football. in the 2nd half, they were simply chasing records. now, you'll probably say "o, but the game was already rapped up" and all that crap. but is that patriot football? is that what has brought the patriots to become the premier football franchise in the NFL? not at all. throwing to moss in double and mostly triple coverage wont get the patriots ANYWHERE in the playoffs.
now, i am really hoping that they were struggling against the jets and dolphins because they are tough divisional foes.
this game saturday, they should DESTROY the giants. the giants are awful. plainly put. once trouble strikes, they roll up in a ball. that said, i really hope they come out and blow the giants away. they need to be playing their best football going into the playoffs. of late, they havent being doing that.
sure, records are great. but im just putting this out there, if they go 16-0, and LOSE in the playoffs, those records will mean NOTHING. so, sure its nice to stick it to don shula and company, but all that matters is the super bowl.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

The Pats have been in cruise control since the Colts game. Nothing fancy, just get the win and move on.

 

[Ethan 55]

My opinion/theory is that they were just selling out for the Brady/Moss record in the 2nd half because the game was well in hand. I think they'll treat the next game as more of a tune-up and play like we're used to them playing. And if that was the plan, it made sense to try and snag those records this past week, because next week will be about getting sharp, so there's a chance the opportunity might not come up.

 

[NE_PATS_FAN_54]

My opinion/theory is that they were just selling out for the Brady/Moss record in the 2nd half because the game was well in hand. I think they'll treat the next game as more of a tune-up and play like we're used to them playing. And if that was the plan, it made sense to try and snag those records this past week, because next week will be about getting sharp, so there's a chance the opportunity might not come up.

thats what i am hoping.

 

[aluminum seats]

As fans I suppose we always worry, but I'm very confident that the team we see in the playoffs will be an absolutely ferocious monster.

 

[D-cleater]

Ofcourse they are just chasing records. If you are worried about anything, it should be that someone gets injured before the playoffs . Besides, other teams look at tape. If there wasn't a record on the line with Moss I'm sure Brady would be picking apart defenses.

But with home field throughout, I'm just enjoying them go for records, and if anyone should be pissed, its me....Brady and Welker cost me my fantasy championship yesterday!

 

[Joker]

2nd half...

no audibles

Brady throwing into triple coverage to the point of being a joke

no screens, no RB dumpoffs, delays etc.

defense playing vanilla for the most part

oh...almost forgot....A TON OF SCOUTS from Jax, Indy, Pitt, SD and others...they got next to NOTHING to prepare for the post season Patriot game plans.

Some people think we should have emptied the playbook in the 2nd half in a game that was over in the first quarter. Not me. I'll take the 28-7 and wait for the post season to see what BB has devised.

 

[Bella*chick]

I thought it was fairly obvious that Brady wants to break the TD record and have Moss break Rice's record at the same time if they can. As it turned out, they didn't, but what better time to try and do it than with the hapless Dolphins and in front of a home crowd. I wish they had looked better and I REALLY wish these stupid records were behind us, but what are you going to do. The defense looked great, ST was solid and Maroney had a great day. There were things to be pleased with, despite the general mood around here.

Here's to an injury free rest of the season.

 

[NE_PATS_FAN_54]

Here's to an injury free rest of the season.

amen.....................

 

[Real World]

I'm a little concerned myself admittedly. I think the Pats are the best team in football, but they've seamed to come down a to earth a little bit over the last few weeks. Hey, it's hard to argue with 15-0, and maybe some of our concerns come with winning by 20, instead of by 40, like they were doing at the beginning of the year. One's thing's for sure though, while the results have been the same, the manner with which they get there has shown some signs of being human. 5 weeks ago I never thought they'd loose a game, period. Whereas now, while I think they'll win it all, it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't. I don't think I'm the only one that feels that way either.

 

[DefenseRules]

2nd half...

no audibles

Brady throwing into triple coverage to the point of being a joke

no screens, no RB dumpoffs, delays etc.

defense playing vanilla for the most part

oh...almost forgot....A TON OF SCOUTS from Jax, Indy, Pitt, SD and others...they got next to NOTHING to prepare for the post season Patriot game plans.

Some people think we should have emptied the playbook in the 2nd half in a game that was over in the first quarter. Not me. I'll take the 28-7 and wait for the post season to see what BB has devised.

Damn I didn't realize that all of those scouts were at our game. Wow. I'm glad we did go with a vanilla game plan if that's the case.

 

[Bella*chick]

I'm a little concerned myself admittedly. I think the Pats are the best team in football, but they've seamed to come down a to earth a little bit over the last few weeks. Hey, it's hard to argue with 15-0, and maybe some of our concerns come with winning by 20, instead of by 40, like they were doing at the beginning of the year. One's thing's for sure though, while the results have been the same, the manner with which they get there has shown some signs of being human. 5 weeks ago I never thought they'd loose a game, period. Whereas now, while I think they'll win it all, it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't. I don't think I'm the only one that feels that way either.

I don't know about that. I think with the weather it's hard to rate the Jets game at all, and we played well against the Steelers which was the week before. Not to mention, the first half of yesterday's game was very well-executed.

You can argue about the Ravens and the Eagles, but I think the Eagles are playing very good football now and as for the Ravens, well, that would be the one game that was just poorly played (except we won) and that was at the end of a long stretch of annoying night games.

Look, it's hard to go 16-0. That's why no one has ever done it. Except usually, those poor performances turn into a loss here and there. This is uncharted territory and I think we are all a little unsure what to think. Let's take a page from the team and take it one week at a time.

 

[jcdavey]

since all the running up the score talk came to a head to the point of espn people talking about openly injuring brady, it seems like the pats have made it a point to not cover spreads (cept the pitt game which anthony smith pissed them off for)

 

[fnordcircle]

They barely won by 10 over the Jets but the offense, special teams and running game all finally started showing up and you are worried based on the Jets game?

It's not like the passing offense is a problem on the team.

Yeah they didn't play perfectly but I really think it is pretty funny to read fans (of this team and other teams) suddenly decide the Patriots are this mega-vulnerable finesse team because they beat two division opponents by only nearly 30 points.

Personally I was encouraged by the Jets game because the other units other than the passing game won which is exactly what we may need in the playoffs if the weather is significantly bad.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

2nd half...

no audibles

Brady throwing into triple coverage to the point of being a joke

no screens, no RB dumpoffs, delays etc.

defense playing vanilla for the most part

oh...almost forgot....A TON OF SCOUTS from Jax, Indy, Pitt, SD and others...they got next to NOTHING to prepare for the post season Patriot game plans.

Some people think we should have emptied the playbook in the 2nd half in a game that was over in the first quarter. Not me. I'll take the 28-7 and wait for the post season to see what BB has devised.

Plus, no TEs at all, right?

Excellent point on the scouts! agree with you that it is better to be plain vanilla and get the W.

 

[NE_PATS_FAN_54]

Plus, no TEs at all, right?

Excellent point on the scouts! agree with you that it is better to be plain vanilla and get the W.

o please, in this day and age, the NFL doesnt need scouts for opposing teams. thats nonsense. all teams need in todays game is video.

 

[Bella*chick]

They barely won by 10 over the Jets but the offense, special teams and running game all finally started showing up and you are worried based on the Jets game?

It's not like the passing offense is a problem on the team.

Yeah they didn't play perfectly but I really think it is pretty funny to read fans (of this team and other teams) suddenly decide the Patriots are this mega-vulnerable finesse team because they beat two division opponents by only nearly 30 points.

Personally I was encouraged by the Jets game because the other units other than the passing game won which is exactly what we may need in the playoffs if the weather is significantly bad.

Also, let's not forget that the Jets know us very, very well and probably tried to learn from their awful performance in the first game. And of course, the Great Equalizing Weather front didn't help matters any. I really wish Brady could have gotten one or two TDs that day so the record would be over with by now.

Also, great point about the no TEs. That will definitely negatively impact any offense.

 

[DarrylS]

I don't know about that. I think with the weather it's hard to rate the Jets game at all, and we played well against the Steelers which was the week before. Not to mention, the first half of yesterday's game was very well-executed.

You can argue about the Ravens and the Eagles, but I think the Eagles are playing very good football now and as for the Ravens, well, that would be the one game that was just poorly played (except we won) and that was at the end of a long stretch of annoying night games.

Look, it's hard to go 16-0. That's why no one has ever done it. Except usually, those poor performances turn into a loss here and there. This is uncharted territory and I think we are all a little unsure what to think. Let's take a page from the team and take it one week at a time.

I agree lets go back.. Philadelphia.. mediocre game, Baltimore.. mediocre game, Pitt.. kickass outstanding game.. Jets Mediocre and now the dolphins mediocre game...

The issue here is that they play to the level of competition, not sure why, that will have to be answered by people brighter than I.. do not worry folks, if San Diego or the Colts roll in we will be ready..

This is a tough run, could they play better in some of the games, yes.. but they are 15-0.. this has never been done before. Look at the past couple of weeks, Favre sucked yesterday.. Romo pooped the bed last sunday.. there are down days in the NFL. The pats have it wrapped up.. everybody do a big calm down.

 

[Bella*chick]

I agree lets go back.. Philadelphia.. mediocre game, Baltimore.. mediocre game, Pitt.. kickass outstanding game.. Jets Mediocre and now the dolphins mediocre game...

The issue here is that they play to the level of competition, not sure why, that will have to be answered by people brighter than I.. do not worry folks, if San Diego or the Colts roll in we will be ready..

This is a tough run, could they play better in some of the games, yes.. but they are 15-0.. this has never been done before. Look at the past couple of weeks, Favre sucked yesterday.. Romo pooped the bed last sunday.. there are down days in the NFL. The pats have it wrapped up.. everybody do a big calm down.

Philly was a mediocre game defensively, but didn't the offense put up something like 400 yards?

 

[SaCaCh]

o please, in this day and age, the NFL doesnt need scouts for opposing teams. thats nonsense. all teams need in todays game is video.

Um huh? Know of what you speak before pressing fingers to the keyboard.