I know it's one game at a time, but in the big picture...

How good of a chance do you guys think we have to take it all this year and unseat guys like Denver in the playoffs? On defense I feel we have everything we need once Jones gets back and we get guys like Siligna back to improve the run D. The only thing that could be an issue is depth in the pass rush and lb's, which could be a huge issue.

But does this offense have what it takes to hold up in the playoffs? How great are guys like Lafell and Wright, will Gray step up and fill in the thumping RB role, and obviously a huge question is will the O line hold up?

There's just a lot of questions I'm anxious to have answered with this team. This team is still a big mystery to me.

That kind of stuff makes my head hurt.

It's rare for a Pats team to go this far into the season without our being able to know which team is gonna show up on Sunday. The one that humiliated the Bengals on national TV and beat down a tough Buffalo team on the road in a division game? Or the one that got blown out by the Chiefs, barely beat Oakland and made Geno Smith look like an NFL QB at home?

All I know is that "We're moving on to the Bears."

I give us as good a chance as anybody except denver. I think its denver, and then everybody else. Doesn't mean the pats can't beat them in the playoffs. Upsets happen all the time. A fumble here, interception there, and its anybody's game. I think home field could decide it. The pats need to find a way to snag it.

LightSkinSmurf said:

I give us as good a chance as anybody except denver. I think its denver, and then everybody else. Doesn't mean the pats can't beat them in the playoffs. Upsets happen all the time. A fumble here, interception there, and its anybody's game.

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Hey but remember it's still October. A lot of things change over a couple months. Don't write them down as the champs yet, there is a lot of football left to be played.

Denver barely beat the jets and refs handed them chargers game on a silver plater. They can be beat.

Froob said:

Denver barely beat the jets and refs handed them chargers game on a silver plater. They can be beat.

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I think that they are a much different team on the road. And I'm also hoping for one bitter cold winter this year, as Peyton got lucky with a warm winter last year.

Froob said:

Denver barely beat the jets and refs handed them chargers game on a silver plater. They can be beat.

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To be fair, the patriots barely beat the jets. They barely beat oakland too. I agree that they can be beat tho. There is not one NFL team that cannot be beat.

Joey007 said:

I think that they are a much different team on the road. And I'm also hoping for one bitter cold winter this year, as Peyton got lucky with a warm winter last year.

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I've heard before they get a late winter sometimes. That was ridiculous it was 70 degrees for that AFCCG. If we don't get screwed vs Panthers or Jets its in Foxborough.

Froob said:

I've heard before they get a late winter sometimes. That was ridiculous it was 70 degrees for that AFCCG. If we don't get screwed vs Panthers or Jets its in Foxborough.

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Even if it's at Denver in the playoffs, who says we can't get a weather advantage? It could be much much colder in Denver this winter, and we all remember what happened two years ago with Manning against Baltimore.

PatsFanSince74 said:

That kind of stuff makes my head hurt.

It's rare for a Pats team to go this far into the season without our being able to know which team is gonna show up on Sunday. The one that humiliated the Bengals on national TV and beat down a tough Buffalo team on the road in a division game? Or the one that got blown out by the Chiefs, barely beat Oakland and made Geno Smith look like an NFL QB at home?

All I know is that "We're moving on to the Bears."

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That offense of the first 4 weeks is long gone. The oline is finally working even missing Connolly and stork against a really good d line.

The pats become a different team every week and are improving every week. You can't look at the pats team now and say that's who they will be in December. They always improve unless struck by a rash of key injuries.

People here need to learn how to take account context into games. Some just look at the games and stats and make up stuff to make them look smart, when they make themselves look stupid.

PatsFanSince74 said:

That kind of stuff makes my head hurt.

It's rare for a Pats team to go this far into the season without our being able to know which team is gonna show up on Sunday. The one that humiliated the Bengals on national TV and beat down a tough Buffalo team on the road in a division game? Or the one that got blown out by the Chiefs, barely beat Oakland and made Geno Smith look like an NFL QB at home?

All I know is that "We're moving on to the Bears."

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I'm not sure I agree with this. NE often takes several months to get themselves figured out, they did just last year and several others seasons (2010, 2006 and 2005 jump immediately to mind).

What is rare is for them to go a full month into the season playing as poorly as they did, but that seems to be far off in the rear view mirror. I see no reason whatsoever to worry about any carryover from the Chief and Raider games.

Archeryaddict12 said:

That offense of the first 4 weeks is long gone. The oline is finally working even missing Connolly and stork against a really good d line.

The pats become a different team every week and are improving every week. You can't look at the pats team now and say that's who they will be in December. They always improve unless struck by a rash of key injuries.

People here need to learn how to take account context into games. Some just look at the games and stats and make up stuff to make them look smart, when they make themselves look stupid.

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Nothing to disagree with there. But, I do admit that I'm not smart enough to be able to figure out which team is gonna show up tomorrow.

One game at a time applies to the players, not the fans. We can look ahead all we want, the teams performance will not be affected by fans overlooking opponents.

Oswlek said:

I'm not sure I agree with this. NE often takes several months to get themselves figured out, they did just last year and several others seasons (2010, 2006 and 2005 jump immediately to mind).

What is rare is for them to go a full month into the season playing as poorly as they did, but that seems to be far off in the rear view mirror. I see no reason whatsoever to worry about any carryover from the Chief and Raider games.

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"Far off in the rear view mirror?" The Jets game was ten days ago. The Pats ceded 40 minutes of possession time to Geno and crew, gave up a total of 423 yards of which 218 were on the ground and might have lost the game if Special Teams hadn't made a play with no time left on the clock. I'm NOT saying that that is what the Pats are, just that I am not smart enough to know what they are at this point in this season.

I also disagree that the really good Pats teams of the last 14 seasons took "several months to get themselves figured out." Several weeks, sure. But we're heading into week eight now. That's half the season. The only team that took several months to figure it out and go on to win it all has been the Giants in both of their SB-winning seasons under Coughlin. So, there's hope, but it's not the pattern of the Pats in 03, 04, 07 and 11.

Archeryaddict12 said:

That offense of the first 4 weeks is long gone. The oline is finally working even missing Connolly and stork against a really good d line.

The pats become a different team every week and are improving every week. You can't look at the pats team now and say that's who they will be in December. They always improve unless struck by a rash of key injuries.

People here need to learn how to take account context into games. Some just look at the games and stats and make up stuff to make them look smart, when they make themselves look stupid.

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This is an important game. It is the weakest rated team still on the schedule (other than the jets). A win would be sweet. A win would also put is a driver's seat for the division with 6 wins and 3 division games to go. Even 9-7 would likely be enough if we win the last three games.
==========
After the bears, we face FIVE top 10 teams in a row, all likely playoff teams.

Archeryaddict12 said:

That offense of the first 4 weeks is long gone. The oline is finally working even missing Connolly and stork against a really good d line.

The pats become a different team every week and are improving every week. You can't look at the pats team now and say that's who they will be in December. They always improve unless struck by a rash of key injuries.

People here need to learn how to take account context into games. Some just look at the games and stats and make up stuff to make them look smart, when they make themselves look stupid.

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I'm not ready to say that yet. I'm getting there tho. Need a little bit more convincing.

we can look ahead..we don't play the games.

If we lose vs bears..we need that DEN game. because after the bye..it gets tough and tough on the road.

Just w vs bears and I like where we are at....lose and man...does it get tough...especially with no Jones

mgteich said:

After the bears, we face FIVE top 10 teams in a row, all likely playoff teams.

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This is why we NEED the bears game IMO because we are in for some tough games with no jones or pass rush with those QBs.

But pats are always good after bye..i think they beat INDY. SD and GB are tough road games

And looking at long range weather....next weekend is unsettled. cold and cooler with rain showers as of now for sunday...uh oh manning

chicago are good on the road but i don't give a ****. we didn't force a turnover last week. cutler is prone to mistakes. just worried about forte. not only can he run well but he's a terrific pass catcher.
just get the **** out off the field on third down please!!

Gronkowski123 said:

chicago are good on the road but i don't give a ****. we didn't force a turnover last week. cutler is prone to mistakes. just worried about forte. not only can he run well but he's a terrific pass catcher.
just get the **** out off the field on third down please!!

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One thing that gets me...we didn't cause a TO last week and we are good at that. Expect a couple tomorrow