Help! I'm Severely Disillusioned

[the Patriot]

One thing I understand is that the Giants were better than us. I even think that if we played this game again they'd still win. One thing I don't understand is why they were better than us. I'm really at a loss.
A month ago I watched this team struggle to beat a lousy Bills team that we had destroyed a month earlier. Have we declined or have they improved? Something didn't feel right this past month but I never once thought that we weren't going to win the Superbowl.
I guess if I was completely honest with myself I might have fallen victim to the hype of being unbeaten. But how does that explain the Patriots?

In shorter terms, How are you guys explaining this?

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

For the 1st time all year the pressure of "making history" got to them. It worried me that team "one play at a time, one series at a time, one game at a time, starting talking about

"the biggest game of our lives"

I think that they would have played better last night if Baltimore or Philadelphia has beaten them in the regular season.

Not to take anything away from the Giants, who were BETTER, STRONGER, and well prepared. The Giants played the better game, period, but...

There was something missing last night from the Patriots that could be interpreted as "fear of failure" and I think it stems not from more spygate talk or anything else than being 18-0 and attaching a level of importance to the game that in essence took away from their focus. Did you ever want something TOO MUCH for your own good?

They might be better by the end of the season next year. I don't think the Patriots will be 16-0 again, but they might be 12-4 next year and playing significantly better by the end of the season than they were last night.

 

[lander]

There was something missing last night from the Patriots that could be interpreted as "fear of failure" and I think it stems not from more spygate talk or anything else than being 18-0 and attaching a level of importance to the game that in essence took away from their focus. Did you ever want something TOO MUCH for your own good?

Fear of Failure? Attaching a level of importance bigger than the World Championship game? I don't buy it for a second.

You lost because you couldn't stop the Giant defensive line. That's really all there is too it. Give Brady time to throw, like he had all year, and you guys win easily, despite the missed calls.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

For the 1st time all year the pressure of "making history" got to them. It worried me that team "one play at a time, one series at a time, one game at a time, starting talking about

"the biggest game of our lives"

I think that they would have played better last night if Baltimore or Philadelphia has beaten them in the regular season.

Not to take anything away from the Giants, who were BETTER, STRONGER, and well prepared. The Giants played the better game, period, but...

There was something missing last night from the Patriots that could be interpreted as "fear of failure" and I think it stems not from more spygate talk or anything else than being 18-0 and attaching a level of importance to the game that in essence took away from their focus. Did you ever want something TOO MUCH for your own good?

They might be better by the end of the season next year. I don't think the Patriots will be 16-0 again, but they might be 12-4 next year and playing significantly better by the end of the season than they were last night.

I agree to an extent.

Fear of Failure? Attaching a level of importance bigger than the World Championship game? I don't buy it for a second.

You lost because you couldn't stop the Giant defensive line. That's really all there is too it. Give Brady time to throw, like he had all year, and you guys win easily, despite the missed calls.

I don't by that for a second. Brady's had pressure the last 7-8 weeks. We always make adjustments, and it works out for us. We almost seemed to be playing NOT TO LOSE. That type of ball doesn't suit us. It's very unpatriot like, and there has to be a reason for it.

That doesn't take anything from the Giants O-Line, who played "lights out" as some people say

 

[eom]

There was something missing last night from the Patriots that could be interpreted as "fear of failure"

hahahahahahahahaha........
you left out the by me.

 

[jamin3204]

One thing I understand is that the Giants were better than us. I even think that if we played this game again they'd still win. One thing I don't understand is why they were better than us. I'm really at a loss.
A month ago I watched this team struggle to beat a lousy Bills team that we had destroyed a month earlier. Have we declined or have they improved? Something didn't feel right this past month but I never once thought that we weren't going to win the Superbowl.
I guess if I was completely honest with myself I might have fallen victim to the hype of being unbeaten. But how does that explain the Patriots?

In shorter terms, How are you guys explaining this?

You are asking your question based on the assumption that the Pats are the best and everybody else is not as good as the Pats are. Thats your problem. Record wise you are correct. Nobody was better. But there were a lot of games that the Pats just as well could have lost instead of win. There were some games that they were outplayed more than not in the course of the game, yet still won the game. The rest of the country admire the Pats and consider them a great team, however, most haven't went ga ga over them like you and most Pats fans have. You thought they were invinsible. Thats were you were disillunioned.

 

[pwes]

For the 1st time all year the pressure of "making history" got to them. It worried me that team "one play at a time, one series at a time, one game at a time, starting talking about

"the biggest game of our lives"

I agree with this. When every player began talking about it being the biggest game of their lives I felt uneasy. Though it may have been the truth they never say it. But last week all of them were saying it. There was no more It's jsut a game like every other one we played.

But I can't blame it on that. Our o-line went to hell last night. It's The #1 reason we lost accompanied by the Giants excellent defense.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

hahahahahahahahaha........

Leading up to the Super Bowls following the 2001, 2003, and 2004 seasons, did you ever hear a single Patriot player refer to the upcoming Super Bowl as "the biggest game of our lives"

if not, why not?

This one game got a lot of added significance due to 18-0, and added pressure too.

I heard an interview with John Elway last week marveling on how the Patriots had dealt with it to that point. When his team had been 13-0, they Bronchos lost and Elway said he almost felt relieved. Then they lost again and got a huge wakeup call. Then they went on to win the Super Bowl.

Humble Pie can only get you so far.

I'm not saying this was the only thing. Having a relatively inexperienced but brilliant offensive coordinator prove unable to scheme to get the Heat off Brady didn't help,and I focused on the #1 reason: The team that executes best wins, and the Giants did that a lot better.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

It worried me that team "one play at a time, one series at a time, one game at a time, starting talking about

"the biggest game of our lives"

I see that you are a new poster, but that is a very perceptive comment. i never put it as well as you did in your first sentence there, but i was having that feeling all last week.

 

[pheenix11]

Lets be honest, they haven't been the same team since the 2nd Bills game. I think the pressure wore them down. Its tough when everyone is gunning for you.

And BB was not himself yesterday, he made some bad decisions like not going for that FG. All I can think of is that he is worried about the resurrection of Spygate and a possible suspension. And that worries me because he wouldn't be worried unless that meant there was more to it.

Personally it just seemed like his mind was not completely in the game or if it was it was not working like it usually does. Brady was not his usual accurate self either. Part of it was lack of time, but part of it was him too. The OL completely played like crap. The defense played pretty well I thought.

So the question is, WTF happened? Why were BB, Brady and the OL off?

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I see that you are a new poster, but that is a very perceptive comment. i never put it as well as you did in your first sentence there, but i was having that feeling all last week.

Thanks-- I've been a fan for 20 years and a lurker here on and off for years, but finally took the plunge to register.

That was a nagging feeling.

The Patriots just don't talk like that- "making history, game for the ages, biggest game of our lives"

That sounds like something **** MacPherson would say, frankly.

We've won by acting kind of robotic. The players aren't robots, but that focused "do your job" mindset is helpful and and may have been diminished. Just my opinion, of course.

 

[the Patriot]

You are asking your question based on the assumption that the Pats are the best and everybody else is not as good as the Pats are. Thats your problem. Record wise you are correct. Nobody was better. But there were a lot of games that the Pats just as well could have lost instead of win. There were some games that they were outplayed more than not in the course of the game, yet still won the game. The rest of the country admire the Pats and consider them a great team, however, most haven't went ga ga over them like you and most Pats fans have. You thought they were invinsible. Thats were you were disillunioned.

That's why I'm so disillusioned. Because I thought we were the best team atleast this year but apparently we weren't and now I feel like I've been played.

 

[Satchboogie3]

We are the best team, the best team just doesn't always win. The Giants were the better team YESTERDAY, no question. Were they the better team overall? No. But all that matters is who plays better on Sunday, and the Giants out played us. It sucks.

 

[Rocky]

One thing I understand is that the Giants were better than us. I even think that if we played this game again they'd still win. One thing I don't understand is why they were better than us. I'm really at a loss.
A month ago I watched this team struggle to beat a lousy Bills team that we had destroyed a month earlier. Have we declined or have they improved? Something didn't feel right this past month but I never once thought that we weren't going to win the Superbowl.
I guess if I was completely honest with myself I might have fallen victim to the hype of being unbeaten. But how does that explain the Patriots?

In shorter terms, How are you guys explaining this?

They peaked at the right time. The Pats peaked in October. Talent-wise, the Pats are better, but the Giants played better in this particular game, unfortunately.

 

[TheSparks1]

I think it's simple. No reason to over-think things. Man on man, play for play, the Giants won more of the key matchups than the Patriots.

These key matchups would include:
Umenyiora vs. Light
Strahan vs. Kaczur
Robbins vs. Neal/Hochstein
Samuel vs. Burress
Moss vs. Webster & Company
Welker vs. Giants LBs
Manning vs. Patriots' Pass Rush
Brady vs. Giants' Pass Rush
Patriots' Blitz vs. Giants Blitz Protection

There are others too. The Giants didn't win all of these. They just won more of them. Even if the Patriots won, I would say that the Giants won more of the key matchups.

 

[Satchboogie3]

The only thing the Giant's really won was getting by the O-line. The WR actually got open fairly easily, Brady just never had any time to let the routes develop.

I don't really think they "won" the Hobbs/Plax match up either. Yes, Plax did have the winning TD, but Hobbs should have had help. Its absurd to have him in single coverage. He only had 2 receptions.

It all came down to the pass rush. Thats all they needed to do to win the game, and they did it.

 

[Bella*chick]

And BB was not himself yesterday, he made some bad decisions like not going for that FG. All I can think of is that he is worried about the resurrection of Spygate and a possible suspension. And that worries me because he wouldn't be worried unless that meant there was more to it.

Oh, man. This is real speculation here...I mean, BB is susceptible to pressure too.

 

[upstater1]

You are asking your question based on the assumption that the Pats are the best and everybody else is not as good as the Pats are. Thats your problem. Record wise you are correct. Nobody was better. But there were a lot of games that the Pats just as well could have lost instead of win. There were some games that they were outplayed more than not in the course of the game, yet still won the game. The rest of the country admire the Pats and consider them a great team, however, most haven't went ga ga over them like you and most Pats fans have. You thought they were invinsible. Thats were you were disillunioned.

This is patently ridiculous. Every good team has to win close games. That's how you get to 16-0. This is the NFL. Not college. Please.

 

[TheSparks1]

The only thing the Giant's really won was getting by the O-line. The WR actually got open fairly easily, Brady just never had any time to let the routes develop.

I don't really think they "won" the Hobbs/Plax match up either. Yes, Plax did have the winning TD, but Hobbs should have had help. Its absurd to have him in single coverage. He only had 2 receptions.

It all came down to the pass rush. Thats all they needed to do to win the game, and they did it.

Getting by the O-Line doesn't put any points on the board. Brady didn't get great protection at all, but some of those have to be considered coverage sacks. I can't give an example, but the Giants secondary did a good job preventing the 15+ yd pass.

I agree about Plax vs. Patriots Secondary.

 

[karran_s]

Oh, man. This is real speculation here...I mean, BB is susceptible to pressure too.

I think BB didn't go for the FG because he had no confidence in Stephen G after he shanked the previous kick out of bounds giving the GMen great field position...

Ultimately, it was our O-line which cost us the game.. Brady didn't have any time or he would have killed them and scored 2 or more TDs in the scoreless quarters.

We got an interception and did we score ? No ... zero points. Too many missed opportunities.. Asante should have made the interception.. Rodney should have knocked the ball out of Tyree's hands... they could have sacked Manning or even stopped them on 4th and 1...etc. etc.. Ultimately, even one play didn't work and for the Giants, everything worked.. It was as if fate was conspiring to deny the Pats the perfection that everyone desired.

If anyone had predicted that the Pats would score only 14 points and lose.. they would have been laughed off the face of this earth.