Which opponent in 2008 appears to have the best chance to win at Gillette?

[PATRIOT64]

I think the Jets were the last team to win at Gillette in the 2006 season IIRC.

I would say its very possible that NE drops a game at home this year,I don't think it will be more than 1 game they lose at home and with that being said,Which of the road teams most likely will beat the Pats at Gillette in the 2008 regular season?

If you have your homer glasses on and say it will be 8-0 at home then sit this one out,its not a poll for homers who think the team is unbeatable at home.


IMO I think Arizona upsets the Pats late in the season maybe catching New England on a bad day and I really like the Cards WR corps as one of the best in the NFL if Leinhart gets out of the hot tub with those girls and plays like a first rounder this year,The Cards defense though is iffy as usual.

 

[bradmahn]

You don't have to be wearing homer glasses to see that that is a pretty unimposing list of opponents.

The team with the best chance to win at Gillette? The Steelers, if only because they're probably the best team from that list. I wouldn't put money on that, though (the Steelers to be the best or the road team at Gillette).

 

[PATRIOT64]

You don't have to be wearing homer glasses to see that that is a pretty unimposing list of opponents.

The team with the best chance to win at Gillette? The Steelers, if only because they're probably the best team from that list. I wouldn't put money on that, though.

Seeing that the NFL is always week to week in upsets, I picked Arizona which appears on paper to be one of the weaker road teams as the big upset,If NE has to lose ANY at home I hope its to an NFC team.

 

[reflexblue]

I voted Denver they always play us tough.

 

[Gunnails]

I think that wins by either The Bills are the Jets is likely.

But of course I voted Jets.

The Steelers could do it, but I think an interdivision opponent is more likely.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I don't see this Pats squad dropping one at home honestly.

 

[Patjew]

I don't see this Pats squad dropping one at home honestly.

Same here. And I'm always terrified they'll lose every game.

 

[PatsFan24]

i picked denver because of the history, but the steelers should have the best team

 

[signbabybrady]

we are not losing at home. So I Abstained.

 

[pats1]

Where the option for "none?"

 

[Sting]

Clean the slate...... Pats win them all at home this upcoming season.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Same here. And I'm always terrified they'll lose every game.

Rod Rust,Zeke Mowatt and the gang say Hi...

 

[BelichickFan]

I voted for Pittsburgh but the only games I worry about are @Indy and @SD - every other game should be a win unless we just play a crap game.

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't think they'll lose any at home (their losses will come on the road), but the most likely cadidate if any is the ****tsburgh Squealers. Denver has NO SHOT of beating us this year. This isn't the '05 Pats anymore.

 

[AFPatsFan12]

I'd say Denver is the best shot for a loss at home. 1-5 during the BB era against them, and regardless of personnel, Shanahan and crew always seem to have the upperhand on BB

If I had to pick an upset, I'd go with St. Louis. The team was decimated with injuries last year, and should be able to put up some points. Enough to match the Pats? Eh....

And for whatever reason, I think Kansas City plays the Pats close in the opener. They made vast improvements through the draft, and the last couple of season openers at Gillette have been dicey (see Bills, Buffalo '06 and Raiders, Oakland '05). If the Chiefs are Herm-proof, they might sneak to 9-7 or even 10-6 this year.

Having said all that, I still think the Pats toss up a zero in the L column at home this year

 

[TB146]

No matter how bad the Jets, Bills and 'Fins are, I never write them off completely because as division rivals they know the Pats better than any other team. And add to that the coaching tree connections - Parcells/Belichick, Belichick/Mangini. That being said, those advantages cut both ways. The Pats know their division rivals just as well, and I'd count on Belichick outthinking Mangini and Parcells more often than not. So maybe they lose to one of their division rivals on the road, but I don't see it happening at home.

Of the remaining teams, I think the Steelers or the Broncos have the best shot. The Broncos always seem to give the Pats some trouble, and their CB tandem of Champ Bailey and Dre Bly can't be ignored. The Steelers have a pretty rough schedule and aren't coming to Gillette until Wk13 after having played the Chargers, Colts and Bengals in the three weeks before, so they might be a little worn down and beat up. Therefore, I'm going with the Broncos.

 

[hambone1818]

What's with all the 'Pat's won't lose at home' posts? The tread title is Which opponent in 2008 appears to have the best chance to win at Gillette? Even if you consider it to be a 10% chance that some team takes down the Pats at home it's still a chance...the OP wasn't asking WHO will take down the Pats, just which team might be the most dangerous.

Anyway, onto the question: I actually voted for Pittsburg, because they're probably the best team the Pats play at home. But then I figured I'd check the schedule and I'm definitely changing my vote. Check out this stretch:

Sun, Oct. 5 - @SF
Sun, Oct. 12 - @SD
Mon, Oct 20 - Den
Sun, Oct 26 - St. Louis

With that in mind, I'm going with one of Denver or St. Louis. Denver always plays the Pats tough, and it's directly following a two-game West Coast swing where the Pats will be out in Cali for two entire weeks. Following that is St. Louis, which will not only be after said West Coast trip, but also on short rest after a Monday Nighter against a tough opponent.

I'm almost positive I'd take the Pats in both those games, but if there's a chance they lose at home I'd be inclined to think it'd be one of them.

 

[bradmahn]

What's with all the 'Pat's won't lose at home' posts? The tread title is Which opponent in 2008 appears to have the best chance to win at Gillette? Even if you consider it to be a 10% chance that some team takes down the Pats at home it's still a chance...the OP wasn't asking WHO will take down the Pats, just which team might be the most dangerous.

Anyway, onto the question: I actually voted for Pittsburg, because they're probably the best team the Pats play at home. But then I figured I'd check the schedule and I'm definitely changing my vote. Check out this stretch:

Sun, Oct. 5 - @SF
Sun, Oct. 12 - @SD
Mon, Oct 20 - Den
Sun, Oct 26 - St. Louis

With that in mind, I'm going with one of Denver or St. Louis. Denver always plays the Pats tough, and it's directly following a two-game West Coast swing where the Pats will be out in Cali for two entire weeks. Following that is St. Louis, which will not only be after said West Coast trip, but also on short rest after a Monday Nighter against a tough opponent.

I'm almost positive I'd take the Pats in both those games, but if there's a chance they lose at home I'd be inclined to think it'd be one of them.

They'll probably be in Cali for just over a week (I would imagine they'd travel on Friday or Saturday and leave the next Monday) but anyway, why would a two week stay be a harbinger of doom? I don't think they'll feel any ill effects from that trip (hell, a week in California will probably be refreshing).

Denver is not going to beat the Patriots because of what has happened between the two teams before. Last time they played, Jake Plummer was the quarterback and Tatum Bell was running the ball. That game means nothing. If Denver wins it will be because they played a better game that day. They've got a lot of question marks, though. How much better will their defensive line be? Will they be able to stop anyone from running all over them? Will Bailey and Bly bounce back from subpar seasons? Will their pass rush be improved? How good is Cutler? Will Brandon Marshall have any lingering effects from shredding his arm? Is Clady capable of stepping in immediately and playing well at LT? On top of all that, their LBs are in flux and Lynch is on the downswing of his career.

I don't doubt a healthy Rams team will be a lot better, but will that be enough to beat the Patriots? Carriker and Long will be tough competition on the line, but beyond that their defense continues to be a problem and they have lingering concerns regarding Bulger as well as being sort of shallow after Holt on the WR depth chart (do they even have the ability to win in a shoot out against the Patriots?)

I just don't see a reason why we should expect a loss from anyone in particular (let alone the Broncos). Right now, both of those teams look not only inferior to the Patriots, but much worse. At the end of the day, the opponent's travel and schedule don't win you games, it still comes down to what goes on on the field and there I think the Patriots still have a huge advantage over both of those teams while with the Steelers it is less so.

 

[signbabybrady]

What's with all the 'Pat's won't lose at home' posts? The tread title is Which opponent in 2008 appears to have the best chance to win at Gillette?

what is with it is that the percentage is zero. No chance.

 

[aztecafut]

Out of the 8 teams we play at home this season I think the Steelers are the better team. So I think they have the BETTER chance but that doesn't mean that I think that they ARE going win. Maybe I do have my homer glasses on but I honestly don't think the Pats will lose at home this year. They will probably lose a couple of games but just not at home. Sure, Anything can Happen, Any given Sunday blah blah blah. The Pats have a terrific team again this year and until something does happen or that given Sunday comes I don't see how any one of us can see them losing a game at home.