Opportunities missed, mistakes made

Deus Irae said:

Seems like a simplistic approach. All phases had issues that contributed:

Coaching
Offense
Defense
Special teams

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How did Special teams play contribute to the loss?

condon84 said:

Same here. When we couldn't convert, I knew we were done for. I hate that helpless feeling. I was hoping for a miracle f*ck up like the Ravens did on their last drive, but I knew that our defense wouldn't be able to stop them.

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I was sure that the giants were not going to mess up. At the end of the day the though it really came down to the defense though. This is the 3rd time in a row these teams have faced and the defense could not hold. It happened in 08, it happened in November when Manning marched the team down for a FG in about 1:30 and it happened again tonight.

The Giants had the ball on the 20 yard line and the D just could not get a stop. Giants simply have the pats number. Truth be told I am not all that upset because I knew when the Giants beat the 49ers the pats were not going to win.

upstater1 said:

The play that bugs the crap out of me is the running play on the series when Welker dropped the ball. The Patriots drove down into Giants territory, showed a jumbo set, announced they were running, Mankins whiffed and BJGE lost 2 yards. 2nd and 12. Incomplete pass. Then the throw to Welker.

I am glad BOB is gone.

They got down there by mixing run with pass and keeping the Giants guessing, and mostly the Giants guessed wrong. They couldn't get pressure on Brady, they did passingly on the runs, but they let the Patriots drive.

Then BOB shows run, and runs. STOOPID.

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that 2 year loss was killer. Love the reverse a few plays earlier.

Yep, that sums it up.

The defense basically did its job. It gave up 19 points to a good offense. That should be enough to win.

The Pats offense had two great drives wedged around halftime and that was about it. That's not enough.

ensoul said:

I was sure that the giants were not going to mess up. At the end of the day the though it really came down to the defense though. This is the 3rd time in a row these teams have faced and the defense could not hold. It happened in 08, it happened in November when Manning marched the team down for a FG in about 1:30 and it happened again tonight.

The Giants had the ball on the 20 yard line and the D just could not get a stop. Giants simply have the pats number. Truth be told I am not all that upset because I knew when the Giants beat the 49ers the pats were not going to win.

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Way to stick by your team. That's b.s. Pats played their a@@es off.

The greatest need on this team is for a competent outside receiver. What we've got ain't getting it done. And that's being charitable.

upstater1 said:

The play that bugs the crap out of me is the running play on the series when Welker dropped the ball. The Patriots drove down into Giants territory, showed a jumbo set, announced they were running, Mankins whiffed and BJGE lost 2 yards. 2nd and 12. Incomplete pass. Then the throw to Welker.

I am glad BOB is gone.

They got down there by mixing run with pass and keeping the Giants guessing, and mostly the Giants guessed wrong. They couldn't get pressure on Brady, they did passingly on the runs, but they let the Patriots drive.

Then BOB shows run, and runs. STOOPID.

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Exactly. BOB can kiss my ***. Don't let the door hit you blahblah

ensoul said:

I was sure that the giants were not going to mess up. At the end of the day the though it really came down to the defense though. This is the 3rd time in a row these teams have faced and the defense could not hold. It happened in 08, it happened in November when Manning marched the team down for a FG in about 1:30 and it happened again tonight.

The Giants had the ball on the 20 yard line and the D just could not get a stop. Giants simply have the pats number. Truth be told I am not all that upset because I knew when the Giants beat the 49ers the pats were not going to win.

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I disagree. In 08, the offense scored 14 points. Tonight they scored 17 points. It really doesn't matter when the opposing team scored their last score. The offense choked in both games.

OP - the thread title does sum it up.

I look back at the game and also wonder where we lost it. I do not believe it was because our gameplan was bad (we nullified Cruz, pass rush was limited to 2 sacks), or because we did not systematically stop the Giants (their run game was mostly limited in the 2nd half).

It was simply missed opportunities and mistakes made. And that is the fickle nature of pro sports. A few things go your way and we don't discuss the what ifs.

On an aside, I think it is shameful for any person to say, "this player cost us the game" or "trade this guy" etc. If the Patriots of SB36 taught us anything it is that football is a team sport, and you win and lose as a team.

When people call for new players, or trade away old players consider this. A lot of those players got us to the SB. That is a fact. Evaluate what we need NOT on a few moments in a SB, but on the 18 games that preceded it.

- NB

upstater1 said:

The play that bugs the crap out of me is the running play on the series when Welker dropped the ball. The Patriots drove down into Giants territory, showed a jumbo set, announced they were running, Mankins whiffed and BJGE lost 2 yards. 2nd and 12. Incomplete pass. Then the throw to Welker.

I am glad BOB is gone.

They got down there by mixing run with pass and keeping the Giants guessing, and mostly the Giants guessed wrong. They couldn't get pressure on Brady, they did passingly on the runs, but they let the Patriots drive.

Then BOB shows run, and runs. STOOPID.

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I thought that was the biggest tactical error in the game. It was way too early to go into smashmouth mode. They keep running their offense and I think they kick a FG with around a minute to go to effectively clinch it.

zoostation said:

Way to stick by your team. That's b.s. Pats played their a@@es off.

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Not sure what you mean by sticking by your team. Giants punted once or twice in the second half. Beside that they kept getting FGs. Defense was a mixed bag all season so you have to forgive me if I had no confidence that this D could hold onto a 2 point lead.

BOB can't make them make plays. Mankins **** himself again. Something about him and super bowls...

The Gronk injury hurt a lot. This offense wasn't built to compensate. We need an outside WR and preferably one who routinely makes the really tough catches. We need a thumper who can run over or through obstacles and move the pile when you have to have 3-4 yards. Pass to score, run to win. We can't and once again it put too much pressure on the passing game and guys just didn't step up and they needed to because of Gronk's limitations.

Too much dead wood on this offense this season. Vereen, Ridley, Ocho - if you can't trust 'em and/or they can't get on the field, they're dead weight. Too much marginal talent asked to do too much on defense. That they competed is a testament to their determination and the coaching staff. They fought and made some plays, just not enough at a few critical junctures. Mistakes kill you and the Ninkovitch penalty was killer. They also forced mistakes but just couldn't capitalize.

This team overachieved this season based largely on Brady and the offense. That bought them time for the defense to be coached up to overachieve. They caught a break in the AFCC. Tonight they couldn't. They made some plays, just not enough and just not the one or two they really needed.

Welker sounds like his dog died. I hope Mankins acknowledges his performance.

Tommy just said he'd rather come to this game and lose than not make it. He's right. There was an expectation in 2008. This year it was more a hope. They battled, it's not the ideal team talent wise. Hope Bill really works the draft and FA to help fix that because he has a core that can win it all. They actually had a shot on the last play of the game, just came up a little short by seconds and by inches.