Let's see. We just beat part of the class of the NFC, and held one of the hottest QBs in the league to a respectable (but not horrible) outing... and TFB -- possibly b/c he's now mortal again, now that he's got just rookies, the semi-convalescent Amendola, and Edelman, not Moss, Welker, et al. -- seems to have just remembered that he's supposed to win games in dramatic comebacks with no time on the clock.
Yes "these injuries are bad." But this team is 5-1, not 1-5. I cannot say that often enough.
This has a very early-2000s feeling to it. They just gutted out a big win, from my POV, complete with a vintage TD-as-time-runs-out comeback.
Where was that "Brady Magic" in either of the last 2 SB appearances? Granted it's not the SB, but fighting for your life every week, as a TEAM, may be the ingredient we've been missing. After all, we don't really believe in magic, do we?
This team may be one and done in the playoffs, I dunno. But I really like watching this Patriots team fight to win.
By the way, we were all saying "hmmm, 3-3, maybe 4-2 by game six." Okay, except for the usual dum-dums saying "This year's the year we go 19-0!!!!" as a sort of reflex reaction to the Patriots taking the field on opening day.
What's it take to get into the playoffs? 10? 11? (I don't know who else ever won 11 and missed the playoffs like the 2008 Pats... but expecting that to happen twice is like the chances of getting mauled by a regular bear and a polar bear on the same day.)
I'm thinking we're halfway there, folks. That's a good thing. We may see Vince back. We'll certainly be adding Gronk back into the mix. Amendola's got his detractors, but I'm pretty sure he's better when he's on the field than when he's not. The rooks are getting open and sometimes even catching the ball. 10 more weeks to get in synch with TFB.
Anybody want to talk about the pleasant surprises? Vellano and Jones aren't a washout. Scheme is once again front and center for the Pats, not "Yay lots of talent/Boo not as much talent." Um, turns out BB is good at scheme. Obviously you need good talent... and who knew, AquaTaliban turns out to be a beast, screw "Revis Island." I'll take Sleek And Powerful Monarch of the Islamic Oceans, if we're talking 2013. Er obviously I hope we've still got him starting next week... but it's a reach to just assume before the MRI's that he's "down" for the year or somesuch.
We just beat a super bowl contender last night. There's very little here on just celebrating that, at least in the top few threads. That's weird to me.