Game Thoughts - Pats crash in Jetsland Edition

jsull87 said:

Everyone's critism here is valid and you are allowed to feel how you want.

Brady had a poor game, The OL played Poorly, Arrington had his worst game in a while.

But the reality is this, last week we had a game winning drive with time winding down and won the game. This week we did the same thing but instead of a winning TD, Gronk couldn't make the catch and we settled for a field goal. It's honestly that simple. Gronk catches that ball that basically hits him in the head and the pats win today.

It's a Game of inches and last week we made the great comeback play this week we didn't.

Last week we had the fans that blow which ever way the wind does tell us we are ready for SB glory. This week we suck and can't beat anyone and the jets may overtake us for the Playoffs.

Reality is ATM we are 5-2 lead the Div and have a bye week coming up. I still can't believe our run D did the job again this game and it came up again holding it the field goal attempt to a 56 yarder.

This team IMO is playoff bound. it's where we are as a team once we get there that is the question. I do agree with some posters here though. Brady definately was looking for Gronk all day today.

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I'm not writing the Pats off. I still think they win the division and fix a lot of their problems by the playoffs.

I just call it like I see it and this was a miserable game (or second half) for the offense.

I thought Brady was horrible yesterday

I lost count of him locking on to his first read when he had open targets elsewhere. Dobson and Thompkins were getting separation downfield and the ball either wasn't thrown or was high or behind

Perhaps we expect too much but i dont put that offensive performance on the recievers its on poor QB execution

People are making excuses for Brady yes the OL have their problems but for him to make those Horrific throws that Mark Sanchez can make in his sleep to wide Open WR's just makes me sick. Bady have been INACCURATE ALL YEAR! We have to wonder if this is the begining of the end? If a QB is holding their Team back it doesn't matter how the rest of the team plays...they are not going anywhere. Brady is now a Bottom of the barrel average QB. Geno Smith outplayed Tom Brady unreal!

BennyBledsoe said:

Speaking of linebackers, I wonder if anyone else thinks that our current linebacking corps is largely outdated. IE: big and slow. With the drafting of the aforementioned Collins/Cunningham/Crable, however, I wonder if Belichick has a good read on these modern pass rushing style linebackers.

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Have to agree on this one. Seems BB is still drafting 3-4 linebackers when we maybe should have needed moore 4-3 ones, since thats what we are playing.
They are, like you say, a bit bigger since BB always favours the run first which might be good but in a pass heavy league I cant help shake the feeling that the defence is a bit outdated.

Maybe Lavonte David would have been nice but I still dont get why they traded upp for Hightower. I m hoping he is gonna turn out and he isnt bad its just that the could have gotten Vontace Burfict for free who everyone him play in college knew one bad season wasnt the whole world.

I was thinking they should have let Hightower go, draft DeCastro and then draft Burfict seeing the age and apparent decline of the O-line. I guess its always to easy to say afterwards.

But watching the smaller, faster LDE approach and Collins coming in as a faster player I am hoping BB is changing his philosophy.

Can you guys sit here and say you are confident they can fix their issues for another SB run? I know they will make playoffs...but a SB run with their injuries and what they have on O..i just don't see it right now

Well I had some hope after the Falcons game but seems they werent really contenders anyway so lets hope for the best. And playoffs, everything can happen.

BennyBledsoe said:

That interior line is getting chewed up. Starting two years ago, they should have started drafting replacements especially given the generally slow learning curve of the offensive line.

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Didn't they draft Solder two years ago with their first round pick?

Brady_to_Moss said:

can't drop 2 division games in a row...next week I expect the pats to come out on fire at home

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I suspect one would have to look deep into the archives to find the last time the Pats lost to two Division rivals in a row during the regular season. Not in recent memory, fer shure.

Brady_to_Moss said:

Can you guys sit here and say you are confident they can fix their issues for another SB run? I know they will make playoffs...but a SB run with their injuries and what they have on O..i just don't see it right now

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That's way way way way way too much truth for the day after a ****ed up loss.

Some of us need to go into "Don't Worry, Be Happy" mode for a little while before we will be able to poke our heads out from under the covers and contemplate reality.

All I can say for now is, "Stranger things have happened" and I'm not counting them out of a February date in the Meadowlands just yet.

Now that I've had time to think with perspective...

On offense, everyone had a down day. Brady was off, the offensive line was off, the receivers, while getting open, were inconsistent in doing so, the running game seemed up and down at times, and was dictated by the flow of the game, and it was Gronkowski's first game back.

The list of worry can go on and on and on, but the fact is this team is 5-2, only 1 game worse than the Denver Broncos, and should get a lot better on offense in the next few weeks.

Let's start with the Offensive Line. I REFUSE to believe that a Dante Scarnecchia coached unit will be bad all season. Give him time and they'll be whipped into shape.

The Offensive Line will also be helped as Brady grows more comfortable with his weapons. Gronkowski is back. That should be HUGE. Give him a few weeks though before he starts to look like "Gronk" again, but even if he isn't fully comfortable with his arm or back his size and athleticism will only help. Edelman has filled in admirably in the slot, and Collie has made a few plays as well. However, if Amendola can get healthy (again), the job is his (until he is injured again). Ridley is starting to come on strong, and Vereen will be back in week 11. The rookies are improving and will serve in a complimentary role.

If we can get to the bye without any other major injuries, I think with time to rest and restructure, and offense headed by Brady, with Amendola, Gronkowski, and Vereen as his top passing options, with Edelman/Thompkins/Dobson serving as role players and with Ridley/Blount grinding it out on the ground, they can get things done.

On defense, Talib and Kelly will be back. That's huge. Losing Mayo and Wilfork sucks, but I have faith Bill will figure something out.


This season isn't about breaking records or going 13-3. This season is about developing young players/new Patriots, winning the division, and managing health.

If the Patriots can win the division, and make the playoffs with a healthy Amendola, Gronkowski and Vereen on offense, and a healthy Talib and Kelly on defense, with no other major injuries, I give them as good of a chance as anyone.

Rob0729 said:

I'm not writing the Pats off. I still think they win the division and fix a lot of their problems by the playoffs.

I just call it like I see it and this was a miserable game (or second half) for the offense.

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Yep and i'm agreeing with you. I personally think it was a whole lot of things.. it was just a bad game all round.

TB missed throws
WR's dropped throws
Gronk missed a TD that almost hit him in the head.
OL had a very poor pass pro game.
Wendel couldn't get the down linemen calls right
Ninkovich was non existant
Hightower got killed in coverage
Spikes killed it in the run... was slow against the pass
Arrington got abused by kerley

Yet lets face it, we were a bad call and 20-30 yards away from ghost kicking a field goal and us walking out of there with a win.

I have no idea how we keep playing this bad but having shots to beat teams.

jsull87 said:

I have no idea how we keep playing this bad but having shots to beat teams.

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Which may actually be a GOOD thing.

Most teams who would go 1/12 on third down, lose the TOP battle 46 to 23 minutes, and allow 177 rushing yards would have been absolutely creamed yesterday.

We're going to be competitive in every single game, whether that means a win or a loss within a score. While that may not mean anything if/when we lose in the playoffs again, it is quite an accomplishment for a team and fanbase to know that they are going to be "IN" every single game that is played no matter what the circumstances or conditions are.