2nd Year In A Row Pats Defense Can't Make The Stop

[SCPatBoy]

Forget about the what happened all game. In the end, with our team down and time running slowly out, our Offense did what a Championship offense is supposed to do. They put all the bad plays behind them and scored a TD to give our team the lead at the end of the game.

Our Defense however for the 2nd year in a row was unable to do what a Championship defense is supposed to be able to. Keep teh other team out of the end zone and preserve the win for the team. I know if it is killing me it must be really Killing BB that our defense hasn't been able to get it done in these situations for the past two years. From watching this Defense thi syear, there just isn't any consistent playmakers on this defense, outside of maybe Vrabel, and soem will argue Samuel! I am just sick.

 

[Seacoast Fan]

I disagree...you can't discard the whole rest of the game. the D held the Giants to 17 points, and with any calls from the refs, it would have been less (I still can't fathom how that Woods fumble recovery wasn't down by contact.)
With 3 minutes to go, the offense had scored a total of seven points. That is why we lost, in my humble opinion.
You are asking alot of a defense to have to go out literally every series of the game and hold the other team from scoring, in order to give your team a chance to win. And, yet, that is what the Pats D did.

 

[DaBruinz]

2nd year in a row the offense has poor clock management and gives the ball back to the opposing team with too much time on the clock. 1 running play could have either forced the Giants to use a time out or run the clock down to the 2 minute warning. If the Giants let it go to the 2 minute warning, its 55 less seconds they'd have to score. If they use a TO, they don't have one to stop the clock at 51 seconds left in the game.

 

[JoePats]

If we had the option of signing for 17 pts allowed by the defense we all would have. In a heartbeat. Sure the last drive was bad. But had Manning been sacked OR Tyree not made an unbelievable catch, I think game over.

The rest of the game counts too, and the offensive line's terrible play really limited anything that we could do offensively.

 

[marcus]

I agree with the assesment of the defense.

In spite of everything that went wrong, at the end, Brady and the offense marched down the field and scored the go-ahead touchdown with a little over 2 minutes remaining.

A championship defense has to find a way of stopping the Giants from marching 85 yards.

I can't help but think how much the Pats missed Colvin. the carzy catch to Tyree, unfortunately showed how the defense just came up short...period.

 

[SuperStang83]

This is a stupid post, our defense played awesome yesterday. If anyone is to look at it is our O-line. There is always next year and we will be back at it again.

 

[Seymour93]

2nd year in a row the offense has poor clock management and gives the ball back to the opposing team with too much time on the clock. 1 running play could have either forced the Giants to use a time out or run the clock down to the 2 minute warning. If the Giants let it go to the 2 minute warning, its 55 less seconds they'd have to score. If they use a TO, they don't have one to stop the clock at 51 seconds left in the game.

After his early 2nd qtr TD run, Maroney rushed for just 21 yards on 10 carries through the remainder of the game. Our second to last drive was our best one of the (long) night and it was all short passes. But I agree, we probably should've ran it in the endzone, just keep in mind that the running game was going nowhere at that point however.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Let's not forget that the offense had 45s and 3 TO's and only needed to gain 40 or so yards to try a FG to tie the game. They failed.

The problem in this game wasn't defense.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

If we had the option of signing for 17 pts allowed by the defense we all would have. In a heartbeat. Sure the last drive was bad. But had Manning been sacked OR Tyree not made an unbelievable catch, I think game over.

The rest of the game counts too, and the offensive line's terrible play really limited anything that we could do offensively.

I would have taken it too. They reduced the number of points the Giants scored by half, or by 10 points with the KO return the Giants had in the first game.

Clock management, many missed opps on defense, the decision to go for it on 4th and 13 are all valid issues.

But what it comes down to me is that our OL simply could not hold up and that set the tone. And I don't think it's an issue of "the OL needs to play better" it's more of a matter where they were over matched from a talent standpoint and no amount of playing better could have changed that.

 

[BelichickFan]

The defense played well overall but 2 minutes left, at their 17 you have to stop them. "Point blank" as Wilfork would say. Last year was a bit different against the Colts, the NYG offense is mediocre at best.

 

[DaBruinz]

After his early 2nd qtr TD run, Maroney rushed for just 21 yards on 10 carries through the remainder of the game. Our second to last drive was our best one of the (long) night and it was all short passes. But I agree, we probably should've ran it in the endzone, just keep in mind that the running game was going nowhere at that point however.

They didn't even need to run it into the endzone. Just run it once and either take 55 seconds off the clock or force the Giants into using one of their time outs. Either way, the Giants wouldn't have enough time to get the ball down the field.

 

[Seymour93]

They didn't even need to run it into the endzone. Just run it once and either take 55 seconds off the clock or force the Giants into using one of their time outs. Either way, the Giants wouldn't have enough time to get the ball down the field.

Sorry, I meant to type redzone.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

They didn't even need to run it into the endzone. Just run it once and either take 55 seconds off the clock or force the Giants into using one of their time outs. Either way, the Giants wouldn't have enough time to get the ball down the field.

The way the Pats offense had struggled all game, they had to get a TD, whatever it took. We've all see goal-line stands on all running plays from inside the five. I was very pleased to see the TD to Moss, if not ecstatic. Stop the Giants from driving 83 yards for a TD, field goal no help in 2 minutes 20 seconds? You have to think you can do that if you're the Patriots. Hindsight is always 20 - 20 anyway.

 

[PatsGuy]

This is a stupid post, our defense played awesome yesterday. If anyone is to look at it is our O-line. There is always next year and we will be back at it again.

Riddle me this Batman-If our D was "awsome, how many 3d down conversions did the Giants have? I know for their first scoring drive alone, they made at least 3

 

[DaBruinz]

The way the Pats offense had struggled all game, they had to get a TD, whatever it took. We've all see goal-line stands on all running plays from inside the five. I was very pleased to see the TD to Moss, if not ecstatic. Stop the Giants from driving 83 yards for a TD, field goal no help in 2 minutes 20 seconds? You have to think you can do that if you're the Patriots. Hindsight is always 20 - 20 anyway.

2 minutes and 20 seconds with 3 time outs and the 2 minute warning is an Eternity.

The Pats didn't have to get a TD. They could have settled on tying it up with a FG and going into OT. However, by running the ball just ONCE, they either force the Giants to use a TO OR run 55 seconds off the clock. In either case, the Pats would still have 2 downs to get into the endzone with a pass before trying for the FG.

If the Giants don't call the time out, then Giants would have gotten the ball back with less than 2 minutes on the clock and their 3 TOs. In the other case, the Giants would have gotten the ball back right around the 2 min warning, but with only 2 TOs. In either case, its unlikely they get down the field the way they did.

 

[Truck]

the greatest offense in history was left to 14 points in the biggest game they'll ever play;
and you're blaming the defense?

There was one huge problem this game, and it was the o line.

 

[Harry Yelreh]

the greatest offense in history was left to 14 points in the biggest game they'll ever play;
and you're blaming the defense?

There was one huge problem this game, and it was the o line.

I agree for the most part. The dominance of NY's defensive front was the biggest factor in the game.

That said, games like this often come down to making plays at the end, and NE's defense just couldn't get it done, even in positions when it was very advantageous for them to do so (Asante's drop, Eli's sack-that-wasn't). Say what we want about the offense doing next to nothing for the better part of 50 minutes, but it did put the team in position to win the game with under three minutes to go (It's too bad that Brady won't get credit for that drive, because, considering how the OL was playing - or wasn't playing - I think it was one of the most clutch performances I've ever seen by a QB. He and the receivers literally seemed to WILL the team to a score). The special teams also put NE's D in a very advantageous position, making the Giants have to start behind their own 20.

It's too bad, though. NINE straight quarters of not allowing a TD - and then coming up short in the Super Bowl's 4th quarter, including with 35 seconds left.

 

[abdul7]

i am hurting so much i virtualy forced myself to read something here to ease some pain. My opinion is that our D for most part did well enough to win the game, however can someone please tell me how come Plaxico on the winning touchdown was only one on one with Hobbs ?!!. I called that play with my son and i am sure most of you did also. I knew it was over once Eli avoided that sack that was never to be! Still thinking about that one play only. How in God's name did he get out of there ? Still life goes on and hopefully soon the pain will go away. We will be back. Take care to you all and just enjoy the love of your families and friends. peace. Abdul.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

2 minutes and 20 seconds with 3 time outs and the 2 minute warning is an Eternity.

The Pats didn't have to get a TD. They could have settled on tying it up with a FG and going into OT. However, by running the ball just ONCE, they either force the Giants to use a TO OR run 55 seconds off the clock. In either case, the Pats would still have 2 downs to get into the endzone with a pass before trying for the FG.

If the Giants don't call the time out, then Giants would have gotten the ball back with less than 2 minutes on the clock and their 3 TOs. In the other case, the Giants would have gotten the ball back right around the 2 min warning, but with only 2 TOs. In either case, its unlikely they get down the field the way they did.

It would have been great to run some time off the clock, but it's hard to "manage" your touchdowns unless you're Michigan vs. Appalachian state, wait, Georgia Tech vs. Cumberland. New England wasn't running the ball well, and I could easily have imagined three stuffs and a field goal. Then, overtime is a coin flip, you could lose, one drive and it's over. You have to play for the TD when you're down there, and get it however you can. The Giants played a bit better all game, and it would have been a bit of a steal if NE won, not that I wouldn't take it.