Next 3 games are winnable

Don't want to jump the gun, but they should be able to beat the bills (in buffalo), the jets (home) and the bears (home). That would take us to 6-2 heading into the all important broncos game. Suddenly things don't look so bad anymore. A week ago the pats supposedly didn't have a prayer at getting into the playoffs...after the next 3 games they could very much be in contention for a bye.

Umm, after last night, I'd say every game the Pats have this year is winnable.

Doesn't mean they will, just that they can.

ctpatsfan77 said:

Umm, after last night, I'd say every game the Pats have this year is winnable.

Doesn't mean they will, just that they can.

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I'll go a step further and say that when Tom F. Brady is the QB and Bill Belichick the coach, every game in any year is winnable. I have felt this way for nearly 15 years.

Every game has always been winnable.

They will beat buff. They are overrated right now IMO. I wish EJ was playing however

We will beat the jets and I agree bears.

I'm hoping we go 3-1 over the next 4 games. Ideally the loss is to somebody besides the Broncos. All 4 will be a challenge. Jets (and especially Gino) suck but you know they will be playing their annual October Superbowl against us.

*Ahem* we are on to Buffalo!

Pats-Phan said:

I'm hoping we go 3-1 over the next 4 games. Ideally the loss is to somebody besides the Broncos. All 4 will be a challenge. Jets (and especially Gino) suck but you know they will be playing their annual October Superbowl against us.

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Still have very good DL

Brady_to_Moss said:

They will beat buff. They are overrated right now IMO. I wish EJ was playing however

We will beat the jets and I agree bears.

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Yeah, I don't get the hype over the Bills. I heard the pregame shows on the radio yesterday pump up their win over the Lions who were without Megatron for most of the game and their kicker missed four field goals (only one was 50 yards or more).

Brady_to_Moss said:

Still have very good DL

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So did the 2006 Vikings, and look how that turned out for them.

Well, what a difference a week makes. After the KC game, the Buffalo radio media were all over the Pats, saying their dominance of the AFC east was over, The Bills were now a serious threat to take the crown away, and how next Sunday would be a statement game, marking the changing of the guard. Brady was done, and so were the Patriots. A Bills win was a done deal.

Seems to be lot of back peddling on the Buffalo airwaves this morning.

Rob0729 said:

Yeah, I don't get the hype over the Bills. I heard the pregame shows on the radio yesterday pump up their win over the Lions who were without Megatron for most of the game and their kicker missed four field goals (only one was 50 yards or more).

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It was actually three, from 44, 47, and 50. For the record, given current NFL kicker stats, there's about a 1 in 100ish chance that a kicker would miss all three of those, and about a 40% chance he'd make all three.

In any case, I know one Lions fan who basically said "Dollar signs must be flashing in Matt Prater's eyes."

GaryfromTO said:

Well, what a difference a week makes. After the KC game, the Buffalo radio media were all over the Pats, saying their dominance of the AFC east was over, The Bills were now a serious threat to take the crown away, and how next Sunday would be a statement game, marking the changing of the guard. Brady was done, and so were the Patriots. A Bills win was a done deal.

Seems to be lot of back peddling on the Buffalo airwaves this morning.

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Oh hell, look what people in New England were saying last week about Cincinnati:
When Cincinnati Bengals visit New England Patriots, their roles may be reversed -- for good

http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2014/09/when_cincinnati_bengals_visit.html

ctpatsfan77 said:

It was actually three, from 44, 47, and 50. For the record, given current NFL kicker stats, there's about a 1 in 100ish chance that a kicker would miss all three of those, and about a 40% chance he'd make all three.

In any case, I know one Lions fan who basically said "Dollar signs must be flashing in Matt Prater's eyes."

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Sorry, I got it wrong. But since it was in a dome, I am counting it as four and consider them chip shots.

Bills game is going to be tough. I don't expect the Jets to roll over either. This game in Buffalo is a must win, though, to put an early season strangle hold on the division. After these next three, the team is in for an absolute gauntlet.

KontradictioN said:

Bills game is going to be tough. I don't expect the Jets to roll over either. This game in Buffalo is a must win, though, to put an early season strangle hold on the division. After these next three, the team is in for an absolute gauntlet.

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Absolute gauntlet is a bit of an overstatement. Chicago is mediocre. Detriot will come down to if Megatron's ankle is healthy. The Packers' defense sucks and if the Pats can slow down Rodgers and Lacy they are not that bad. I am not sold on Indy. The only top teams the Pats face are Denver and San Diego.

Don't get me wrong. They aren't easy games by any stretch of the imagination and unless the offense continues to play like they did last night, the Pats may not be a favorite to win any of them. But I don't think the NFC North is all that good (better than the AFC East, but what division other than the NFC South isn't?). I think Indy is very beatable. San Diego scares me the most. If Denver plays like they did yesterday, they scare me too. If they play like the first three games, I think they are definitely beatable too.

*Next 11

Huh?
Every game is "winnable." For the Patriots. For every team.
Let's just move "on to Buffalo."

I basically agree with the OP, but it took an ass-kicking to get this team (and the coaching staff) focused. There is a lot riding on the next game.

The Bills in Buffalo game is a huge deal for the Division. The Patriots are 1 game back in the loss column to the Bills because they got schooled in Miami. The Bills defense is not to be overlooked, especially at home in a game that could separate the Bills from the Patriots for the AFC East lead in a meaningful way.

The Bills offense is loaded with weapons except at quarterback. If Kyle Orton can keep from turning the ball over, this could be a real battle. Their defense was built to get to Brady, so the offensive line needs to go in there ready for a real fight. They looked pretty good with Stork in the middle with veterans at Tackle and Guard. Help from Hooman, Wright and Gronk was essential to keeping Brady upright.

Brady's worst game ever (4 interceptions) came in Buffalo. He doesn't exactly own the place.

I'm optimistic, but not confident about next week.

Rob0729 said:

Absolute gauntlet is a bit of an overstatement. Chicago is mediocre. Detriot will come down to if Megatron's ankle is healthy. The Packers' defense sucks and if the Pats can slow down Rodgers and Lacy they are not that bad. I am not sold on Indy. The only top teams the Pats face are Denver and San Diego.

Don't get me wrong. They aren't easy games by any stretch of the imagination and unless the offense continues to play like they did last night, the Pats may not be a favorite to win any of them. But I don't think the NFC North is all that good (better than the AFC East, but what division other than the NFC South isn't?). I think Indy is very beatable. San Diego scares me the most. If Denver plays like they did yesterday, they scare me too. If they play like the first three games, I think they are definitely beatable too.

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I was actually including the Bears since they're the third game of the next three. After that, we have...

vs. Broncos (3-1)
@ Colts (3-2)
vs. Lions (3-2)
@ Packers (3-2)
@ Chargers (4-1)

3 of 5 are on the road (with at least two being very tough places to play) and the record of our opponents are 16-8 thus far. 4 out of 5 opponents either have elite or second tier quarterbacks. 3 out of 5 have pretty good defenses. Compared with our schedule other years, that's a gauntlet. I would be surprised if the Pats didn't come out of that with at least 1-2 losses.