Kirwan on Jags matchup

[SVN]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsess...0d5d805d4680&template=with-video&confirm=true

overall a good article ..just his comparison of the jags team with our 2001 team has me worried because the situation seems strangely similar when we faced a high profile raiders team in the div playoff game-i may be wrong -its been a log time. i guess the difference is we have BB.

 

[Seymour93]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsess...0d5d805d4680&template=with-video&confirm=true

overall a good article ..just his comparison of the jags team with our 2001 team has me worried because the situation seems strangely similar when we faced a high profile raiders team in the div playoff game-i may be wrong -its been a log time. i guess the difference is we have BB.

He didn't compare the two teams. What he did say was that both BB and Del Rio made crucial decisions at the QB position. Del Rio's choice to sack Leftwich and go with Garrard was a much easier decision to make, however, than what BB decided to do in 2001 by starting an unheralded first year player over the face of the franchise.

Yes, the Raiders at the time were high profile, but we won our division and the #2 seed that year so we got to host in the divisional round. The Jags were awful when they played the Colts at home and they also choked in the RCA Dome so that's why they're the wildcard.

 

[Bostonian1962]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsess...0d5d805d4680&template=with-video&confirm=true

overall a good article ..just his comparison of the jags team with our 2001 team has me worried because the situation seems strangely similar when we faced a high profile raiders team in the div playoff game-i may be wrong -its been a log time. i guess the difference is we have BB.

So he says Pats 35 - Jags 21. I'll take that.

 

[cstjohn17]

Kirwan knows his stuff and is one of the best writers out there. He breaks things down in football terms and using facts and NFL contacts to form opinions.

I can't think of any writer who is in his league.

 

[C'est La Vie]

He didn't compare the two teams. What he did say was that both BB and Del Rio made crucial decisions at the QB position. Del Rio's choice to sack Leftwich and go with Garrard was a much easier decision to make, however, than what BB decided to do in 2001 by starting an unheralded first year player over the face of the franchise.

Yes, the Raiders at the time were high profile, but we won our division and the #2 seed that year so we got to host in the divisional round. The Jags were awful when they played the Colts at home and they also choked in the RCA Dome so that's why they're the wildcard.

Taylor and Jones-Drew ran for a combined 150 yards. Garrard threw 2 td's, 250+ yards, and was 24/29. They outscored the Colts 18-7 in the second half. How did they choke?

 

[FrontSeven]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsess...0d5d805d4680&template=with-video&confirm=true

overall a good article ..just his comparison of the jags team with our 2001 team

Some NFL observers are easily spooked. As soon as they see parallels with anything in their data bank they immediately think "replay".

That is his fear. That's all it is.

Our 2001 team was a champion looking for a place to happen.

 

[Absurdly Metro]

Some NFL observers are easily spooked. As soon as they see parallels with anything in their data bank they immediately think "replay".

That is his fear. That's all it is.

Our 2001 team was a champion looking for a place to happen.

The comparison should be more like our 2001 team vs. the Rams in the SB that year. THAT is the kind of challenge facing the Jags. Truth is we won that day but you could line those same teams up ten times and maybe we win twice. Maybe. And that is with BB, TB, and AV. But it happened on that day. Just becauser Jax has some parallels to our '01 team doesn't mean it will all come together for them on Saturday to slay Goliath like it did for us that day in New Orleans. In fact, for every giant killer like the '01 Pats there are a dozen "wanna be's" who get crushed in the big game (see '85, '96 Pats; '77, '86, '87, '89 Broncos; '90, Raiders, '91, '92, '93 Bills; '94 Chargers, '95 Steelers, etc.) against the Juggernaut. IMO that is the much more likely outcome.

 

[kriskanos]

To compare Garrard to Brady is ludicrous.

 

[kriskanos]

The comparison should be more like our 2001 team vs. the Rams in the SB that year. THAT is the kind of challenge facing the Jags. Truth is we won that day but you could line those same teams up ten times and maybe we win twice. Maybe. And that is with BB, TB, and AV. But it happened on that day. Just becauser Jax has some parallels to our '01 team doesn't mean it will all come together for them on Saturday to slay Goliath like it did for us that day in New Orleans. In fact, for every giant killer like the '01 Pats there are a dozen "wanna be's" who get crushed in the big game (see '85, '96 Pats; '77, '86, '87, '89 Broncos; '90, Raiders, '91, '92, '93 Bills; '94 Chargers, '95 Steelers, etc.) against the Juggernaut. IMO that is the much more likely outcome.

So who do you root for? And dont say the Pats cause thats a lie.

 

[BelichickFan]

because the situation seems strangely similar when we faced a high profile raiders team in the div playoff game-i may be wrong -its been a log time. i guess the difference is we have BB.

Well we're a lot better than that Raider team IMO. Not to mention we were at home in 2001 and again in 2008.

Reading the article - Reggie Nelson against Wes Welker :singing:

 

[PantsB]

Well we're a lot better than that Raider team IMO. Not to mention we were at home in 2001 and again in 2008.

Reading the article - Reggie Nelson against Wes Welker :singing:

And we had a bye. People tend to forget we were the 2 seed in 2001.

 

[PatriotsReign]

Taylor and Jones-Drew ran for a combined 150 yards. Garrard threw 2 td's, 250+ yards, and was 24/29. They outscored the Colts 18-7 in the second half. How did they choke?

Garrard is still an unproven entity. With the emphasis on the running game, it makes it much easier to successfully complete a high percentage of passes (when you're only throwing 20 times/game).

The true test will be when the Jags running game isn't working, can Garrard carry the load and lead his team to victory. We may find out this Saturday night!

 

[Mark_Brunell1]

I can agree with you Pats fans that Garrard is still young and not like Brady. But this team is not like your 2001 Patriots... who was your running threat? Antwaan Smith or someone like that? we are different and if you are not worrying about your AARP line backers, fine with me...

 

[Tommysgirl]

I can agree with you Pats fans that Garrard is still young and not like Brady. But this team is not like your 2001 Patriots... who was your running threat? Antwaan Smith or someone like that? we are different and if you are not worrying about your AARP line backers, fine with me...

Someone asked in another thread and I think it bears repeating..which one of Garrard's 5 completions in the 2nd half Saturday impressed you most?

 

[JoePats]

I like that PK espects a big postseason from Seymour.

 

[JoePats]

And we had a bye. People tend to forget we were the 2 seed in 2001.

Thanks to the Jets beating the Raiders on a 53 yard FG by John Hall. Got a break there.

 

[Truck]

The comparison should be more like our 2001 team vs. the Rams in the SB that year. THAT is the kind of challenge facing the Jags. .

There's 2 huge differences between this Patriots team and that Rams team
1. MM was incapable of making half time adjustments. BB knows what changes need to be made mid game.
2. The Rams players took winning for granted. Warner came out before the game stating how his goal was to win 5 superbowls; basically they all assummed they had that one in the bag and I bet it took away from their mental focus. The Patriots aren't going to take anything for granted and I bet they worked their asses of this week. They will play this game like their lives counted on it.

 

[Mark_Brunell1]

Someone asked in another thread and I think it bears repeating..which one of Garrard's 5 completions in the 2nd half Saturday impressed you most?

not an excuse but Garrard had a bad day... too much butterfly in stomach I think. What Brady's completion in the Jets game is most impressive?

 

[ALP]

not an excuse but Garrard had a bad day... too much butterfly in stomach I think. What Brady's completion in the Jets game is most impressive?

too many to go over them...it would take too long, however 5 istn too hard to review is it?

 

[Mark_Brunell1]

too many to go over them...it would take too long, however 5 istn too hard to review is it?

I meant Brady in the second Jets game in December...