7-2 at the bye: how many more regular season losses for the Pats?

@ Chargers was the most scary game on the schedule…. But now they're looking like big time pretenders and seem to be falling apart. We'll see if they're able to bounce back.

@ Colts we are coming off a Bye Week. Otherwise it might be closer than expected, but I think the team got this. Just hope they're not riding too high and underestimate the Colts. They can be danger.

Lions in Foxboro might be tough. Though like someone said, its the Lions first cold game of the year.

@ Packers could be competitive. I don't see their defense stopping our Offense, but I could see Revis shutting down Jordy Nelson and Green Bay having a hard time. They fold against good teams (Seahawks, 49ers) in recent years.



Like I said earlier, with Gronk healthy we can beat every team in the league. If there are no significant injuries, we could run the table.

They'll drop a division game that they shouldn't and lose one more to an NFC team putting them at 12-4. That will be enough for 2nd seed at a minimum.

I don't know why you guys have so much respect for Green Bay.

Some of you are way overrating our competition and way underrating the Patriots who are a few hours away from being #1 on every credible Power Ranking on the internet.

PATS16N0 said:

Miami plays the Patriots here in the middle of December. We have to play them all, but I have no faith Miami can do it in the Razor, in the middle of winter.

I have concerns about the running game but I think we're good.

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Don't forget return of Siliga and Jones added to a then hopefully well-integrated Branch and Ayers regarding the running game (defense) and even just 2-3 ypc on offense with 15 touches is enough to keep the opposing defense honest. We don't need the 'Blount running game' of last year (although it would be oh so delicious icing on top of this cake!) to be successful.

This isn't just about beating out Denver for HFA. Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Indy have light schedules and could end up at 12-4 or even 13-3. Not likely for any one of them, but not unusual if one of them pulls it off. Only Indy has to play us.

12-4 doesn't bring the #2 seed automatically.

If Jones comes back we run the table. Him ayers and Ninko will get to the quarterback often with the way this secondary is playing. Our offense is a well oiled machine to boot.

If we have Gronk healthy nobody will beat us. Since we've caught fire over the last five games he's averaged 103 yds/game and a TD. Beyond just his numbers, the entire offense has been more productive as well. It's a shame that he won't get serious MVP consideration because he's a tight end.

Brady_to_Moss said:

If they win out with that scheudle..it will be an amazing...AMAZING feat to accomplish. They have a very tough scheudle this year...toughest coming up. Not every game will be like bears/den game. Some of these games will come down to 4th or last drive ect. Gotta win those close ones.

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Yeah, I agree. 7--0 is as improbable as 3--4.
They'll end up somewhere in between. I'm not smart enough to know where.
If someone forced me to bet next month's home payment on a number, I'd say 5--2.

PATS16N0 said:

I don't know why you guys have so much respect for Green Bay.

Some of you are way overrating our competition and way underrating the Patriots who are a few hours away from being #1 on every credible Power Ranking on the internet.

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I don't think so. I don't think anybody here is saying we can't beat any team that is left.. But playing the colts, green bay, san diego on the road? Coupled in with detriot at home and of course we have divisional play left. May I remind you that during this impressive run we came within a field goal away from losing to the jets at home? I think the pats stumbling somewhere in this stretch is a very realistic possibly. More realistic than them running the table. Not to say they can't do it, but it will be extremely difficult.

PATS16N0 said:

Green Bay doesn't have the defense to stop us for even a second. That game is going to be a well out of hand blow out that will shock the talking heads and fail to live up to Brady v Rodgers expectations.

Green Bay will have no answer for us defensively.

Andrew Luck sucks against Belichick.

Miami nor the Bills are beating us at home.

Our schedule is overrated, honestly. We probably win out. Maybe lose one to an inspired San Diego team in their house, but I doubt it.

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Couldn't agree more. SD will be our only loss.

PATS16N0 said:

Broncos have two tough division games in San Diego and in Arrowhead and I don't trust them not to drop an upset to someone.

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the broncos are vulnerable on the road..........so far they have only beaten the jets, and that was no cakewalk for them

their defense has been exposed and the loss of Irving is a big problem for them

PATS16N0 said:

Just can't picture Green Bay's defense having any answer at all for us. I just can't see it, and think our defensive strengths match up favorably against Rodgers offense.

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agree. GB really has two play makers - Nelson & Cobb

Put Browner on Nelson to take away size, put Revis on Cobb and our LB's can take away the dump off...game over

farn said:

Two more losses. One of the divisional games as a WTF, and either Detroit or GB. I predict Detroit.

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i dont think we're losing at home. id say one loss - one of the road games. take your pick

Gronkandez said:

Road games against mobile QBs and good running games scare me.

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Yup!! I can see Indy and SD beating the Patriots.

fnordcircle said:

They'll drop a division game that they shouldn't and lose one more to an NFC team putting them at 12-4. That will be enough for 2nd seed at a minimum.

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Better not lose to Indy. If so they'll have the same record and Indy will have the tiebreaker and an easier schedule. Everyone is focusing on the Broncos. Don't sleep on the Colts.

KA- said:

I think SD are a pretty good team. I live in California and travel back to the east coast frequently to visit my family ... it really does mess you up. Whenever a team travels from the west to the east, they always seem to play awful. I also do think it's harder to go from West to East compared to East to West, don't write SD off, they will be tough to beat.

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Not sure if this has been addressed but NE will be spending the entire week in San Diego, going there straight from Green Bay. I think it's reasonable to expect NE to not have any travel lag or heat issues against the Chargers.

RhodyPatriot said:

Yup!! I can see Indy and SD beating the Patriots.

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You also see every team on the schedule beating the Patriots.

MrNathanDrake said:

@ Chargers was the most scary game on the schedule…. But now they're looking like big time pretenders and seem to be falling apart. We'll see if they're able to bounce back.

@ Colts we are coming off a Bye Week. Otherwise it might be closer than expected, but I think the team got this. Just hope they're not riding too high and underestimate the Colts. They can be danger.

Lions in Foxboro might be tough. Though like someone said, its the Lions first cold game of the year.

@ Packers could be competitive. I don't see their defense stopping our Offense, but I could see Revis shutting down Jordy Nelson and Green Bay having a hard time. They fold against good teams (Seahawks, 49ers) in recent years.



Like I said earlier, with Gronk healthy we can beat every team in the league. If there are no significant injuries, we could run the table.

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I think the Colts game is a major test. Luck has been playing at a very high level, and if they get a couple deep balls / PI calls, it could be a real shootout - which I don't like the idea of, having to do it on the road. I think our hope there is that we show up with a running game against Indy and mitigate the big play ability of the Colts' Offense. Also, beating them would be a big step up in the tiebreaker department.

I think the Lions are also a tough big play offense, especially if Calvin Johnson is healthy and playing. I think Luck is a superior QB to Stafford (who I think our defense can force TO's off of) and the Lions D could pose a real problem for the Patriots, if the front 7 disrupts our OL. That being said, I wonder if the Lions game could end up like the Texans game of a couple years ago, where they came to Foxboro with a good record looking to prove they're on the next level, and just end up being totally exposed and basically having their season ruined (ok, maybe that's wishful thinking...)

What I hope for:

1) No major injuries... this team can win any game if they're healthy and inspired.

Miami is playing very well and that being a division game scares me the most. Rest are kind of unknown .
But maybe want to check with iapatsfan.

JMC00 said:

You also see every team on the schedule beating the Patriots.

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Nah, I'm just a REAL football fan. I don't suffer from these wild mood swings so many of you suffer from.
Loved the win against Denver. That was such a fun game. Loved seeing the "Manning Face". That was great!! But now suddenly this team is unbeatable and going to the Super Bowl?? Really?? How about we take one game at a time and see how things play out. Sorry but I'm not sold on this Patriot defense at all. I saw the Patriots struggle even when blitzing to lay a hand on a 37 yr old statue named Peyton Manning. What do you think Andrew Luck will do to that defense??
Mark my words, Brandon Browner will make a mistake (blown coverage or a flag) that will KILL this team at some point this season. Love his swagger but Browner plays a dangerously loose game that will come back to bite this team at a critical time.