Official Patriots Bengals Post Game Thread

What disappoints me about this thread is that there isn't one positive comment about McDaniels and the offensive game plan that I've seen. To my mind it was the best thing about the performance: wide open receivers (on deep balls too) lots of space on the run game and great draw plays. In fact, if it wasn't for the deep ball misses, missed blocks (Gronk x 2) and drops (sorry Gronk), that would have been an even more dominant offensive performance against one of the best defenses out there.

McDaniels, the interior OL and the secondary were outstanding today. That was a great win but Deus is right, it was far from perfect.

manxman2601 said:

What disappoints me about this thread is that there isn't one positive comment about McDaniels and the offensive game plan that I've seen. To my mind it was the best thing about the performance: wide open receivers (on deep balls too) lots of space on the run game and great draw plays. In fact, if it wasn't for the deep ball misses, missed blocks (Gronk x 2) and drops (sorry Gronk), that would have been an even more dominant offensive performance against one of the best defenses out there.

McDaniels, the interior OL and the secondary were outstanding today. That was a great win but Deus is right, it was far from perfect.

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I agree manx. I've been scratching my head with the Patriots approach (on both sides of the ball) for almost every game this season but today, McDaniels in particular called a handy game. Rather than forcing a square peg into a round hole, it felt like the Patriots took the initiative and played to the strengths of the team.

It was a most welcomed performance, one which we should applaud McDaniels for. Let's hope it's a sign of things to come.

mayoclinic said:

What a fun game to watch. One of the most enjoyable in a long, long time.

A few quick thoughts:


2. The Pats have plenty of "skill players" if the OL plays well, and no amount of talent at the skill positions will matter if the line can't block.

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Unsurprisingly I disagree on this one point. I'm sure you are shocked. I'll just respond with the following:

1. Brady and Edelman can't connect on the deep ball. This team is still lacking a home run threat. (That might end up being Dobson still but it's a big 'might').

2. How many RZ visits ended up with a FG? Was it four or five? I lost count. And that's with having four receivers over 6'2".

3. The question of Ridley and Vereen's contracts are still open.

4. The play of Stork, Wendell and Connolly (plus a great offensive game plan) proves you don't need to stock your interior OL with first rounders.

That was a very good offensive performance in parts but there were some questions. We will continue to have this debate I'm sure but that game made me more convinced that this offense gets improved with better skill players.

So while there were a lot of positives, I though there were some pretty surprising negatives too.
Easley continues to be sort of invisible.
Ninkovich is invisible.
Collins did get beat on a couple plays (granted against a very good player and he had a good night over all)
Duron Harmon seemed to make a few mistakes.
Dennard with some really annoying penalties and the big TD give up.
Solder was pulled at one point (for the penalty? or an injury?).

If someone had told me that Patrick Chung, Hightower, and Chris Jones would be amongst the best players on the team, I would have laughed in their face, which just goes to show that football is such an unpredictable sport.

"We're to Buffalo." - Anonymous

I loved the aggressive secondary. Yes, it meant more penalties but it was a tone setter that befuddled the Bengals D. And on the lack of a pass rush, I wonder if they were playing to bottle in Gio Bernard rather than go all out for Dalton

That was a great win, I personally didn't expect this to be so dominant. I don't know if we were so good or Cincy so weak, I think it was combination of both, so I suppose we should not act like we have just won a Superbowl. Not as good as last night and not as bad as last Monday mantra should apply to this team. I give them a lot of credit for great game plan and play calling on offense though.

italian pat patriot said:

no slept at all but WHO CARES ???

GO PATS !!! WHAT A WIN !!!

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You are hard core. I got up at 6 am and watched the game "as live". Gamepass is perfect -- excellent streaming quality on the computer and there's no one shouting out the score on the radio.

Still, it's going to be a good day, even if you're tired.

Ciao, amico mio!

DaBruinz said:

Loved the fake bubble screen and then Brady going downfield.

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If you're thinking of the same play -- Brady looks to be throwing a short swing left, then changes his mind and goes to Wright who is open about 20 yards downfield -- I hadn't pegged that as a fake. I thought it really was TB changing his mind when he saw that the defense was all over the intended receiver. I was going to call it Brady's play of the game. OK, then it was McDaniels'...

Great win after (much deserved) criticism. Loved the OL and Wright's performance. Would like to see more of those red zone trips converted though.

What a fun game. I loved seeing how agressive they where at both sides of the ball. Brady looked angry, and an angry Brady with time in the pocket is not good for the defense. The OL seemed to hold up pretty well. Atleast better than what we have had before. I think we should go forward with this line now.

I just don't like the QB sneak down at the goal line. Too much of a chance for Brady to get dinged up.

See what happens when they run the ball? Even if it isn't as effective as it was last night, it still helps the passing game.

The officiating in all games makes them almost unbearable to watch at times. I've turned games off because of them, but not Pats games... yet. The NFL needs to clean that up

Did Cincy go on vacation during their bye week?

DeFENSE! DeFENSE! DeFENSE!

I guess Bill Belichick knows what he's doing after all.

It was great seeing the Pats OL on the attack instead of being back on their heels.

Is everyone ok again?

I forgive the doubters this time, but don't let it happen again.

manxman2601 said:

Unsurprisingly I disagree on this one point. I'm sure you are shocked. I'll just respond with the following:

1. Brady and Edelman can't connect on the deep ball. This team is still lacking a home run threat. (That might end up being Dobson still but it's a big 'might').

2. How many RZ visits ended up with a FG? Was it four or five? I lost count. And that's with having four receivers over 6'2".

3. The question of Ridley and Vereen's contracts are still open.

4. The play of Stork, Wendell and Connolly (plus a great offensive game plan) proves you don't need to stock your interior OL with first rounders.

That was a very good offensive performance in parts but there were some questions. We will continue to have this debate I'm sure but that game made me more convinced that this offense gets improved with better skill players.

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As usual, you make good points. A couple of rejoinders:

- First, I'm talking only about 2014, so I'm not discussing issues such as who is under contract going into 2015, but that is certainly a valid issue down the road.

- I agree that you don't need to stock your interior OL with 1st rounder, though a true stud is definitely worth a 1st round pick in my book.

I agree that there are still questions, and that there were flaws. But the offense moved the ball at will, and would have put up far more points if not for some ridiculous penalties. Those killed drives as much as anything. And some of the FGs instead of TDs were cases of BB protecting a big lead, in situations where he might otherwise have gone for it.

I'm not going to get into the discussion as to whether an offensive skill player is worth a 1st round pick. That wasn't my intent. But if the OL can't protect Brady to give him time to throw, or give time for a deep threat to get downfield, or open a hole for a stud RB, then it doesn't matter very much who we have back there.

I play several pools and the contest here every week

I never pick against the Pats - maybe once every 3-4 years - and they always burn me


I knew they needed a turn around, so I picked against them this week, hoping history would repeat itself


I only had one other loss in my pool, but there's also 70-80 people in it, so two losses will probably be enough to kill me


you're welcome

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/10/06/nfl-w...g-quarterback/?utm_source=fantasyleaguegm.com

"Look: Tom’s the best quarterback in the game,” Wilfork said. “You can have your opinion, everyone can have their opinion about how he’s washed up, whatever. I knew he would come through and play like this."

SVN said:

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/10/06/nfl-w...g-quarterback/?utm_source=fantasyleaguegm.com

"Look: Tom’s the best quarterback in the game,” Wilfork said. “You can have your opinion, everyone can have their opinion about how he’s washed up, whatever. I knew he would come through and play like this."

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Did Wilfork say that he went to school at Burger King in the pre game intros?

Brady6 said:

Stevan Ridley has not fumbled since the Denver game last season when he was inactive the week after and went to work with Kevin Faulk. That is a span of 11 games and 150 touches (146 carries, 4 catches). More importantly, I no longer hold my breath when he has the football.

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Ridley, Vereen and Devlin were beasts last night.

I love the return to 2 Tight End sets. Hopefully this was the start for tim wright and we start to see him/gronk terrorizing opposing secondaries every week.

james87654 said:

well, let this be a little lesson, boys and girls…...don’t ever underestimate the big dog (BB)


he just needed a little time to sort things out


it blows my mind how lucky we are to have Belichick…….GOAT…….respect

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You are all over the place.