Patriots vs. Colts Post-Game Thread

Ivan said:

The thing I am most impressed with is the versatility. Even though Gronk is all world they have a variety of options and can put up points many ways. They aren't focused on two guys the way the 2007 team was and that should really help in the Playoffs.

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Agree completely. And that applies to defence too. This team is no longer built to play one way but are built to play any scheme, on either aside of the ball, to outsmart any opponent put in front of them.

Did anyone hear the REF actually announce Costanzo as an eligible receiver? I know I didn't and I went back and listened for it..

Based on the picture that Volin just posted, Wayne wasn't on the line of scrimmage, so from that aspect, Costanzo was ok..

DaBruinz said:

Did anyone hear the REF actually announce Costanzo as an eligible receiver? I know I didn't and I went back and listened for it..

Based on the picture that Volin just posted, Wayne wasn't on the line of scrimmage, so from that aspect, Costanzo was ok..

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NBC showed a replay of Costanzo telling the ref and then the ref turning his mic on so I assume he was announced, didn't hear anything though and it's usually picked up in the background on TV.

"Last night, these guys played their hearts out and took the heart out of the Colts and it's still laying there on the field where that camera was."

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/boston/chat/_/id/51357

'nuff said!

pencilneckgeek said:

Tom's going to be embarrassed today when Bill shows him that over and over again. He knows it was a mistake, but watching it will be painful. That could be the worst play I've ever seen from Brady - bad audible, bad response to pressure, horrendously bad judgment, and pathetically bad throw. Good thing he has bad short-term memory, too.

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All things considered, I'd rather have an "old" Brady protecting himself, but "young" Brady, having made the decision to audible into a Brett Favre gunslinger play, would have stepped into the throw, taken a viscious hit, and put 7 on the board.

I'd like to see Brady play like bit more of a "game manager" rather than trying to push the ball downfield as much as he has been. That situation before the half just screamed for a long sustained ball control drive. Even a field goal would have blown the game wide open.

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The miracle completion on the back shoulder fade to LaFell was another bad decision. He had Gronk WIDE OPEN crossing the middle of the field right at the first down marker. Could have moved the chains, and potentially much much more, with a MUCH easier, lower risk throw.

Big-T said:

NBC showed a replay of Costanzo telling the ref and then the ref turning his mic on so I assume he was announced, didn't hear anything though and it's usually picked up in the background on TV.

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I saw the ref turn away, but never heard him announce anything..

ensoul said:

Well beside Brady not playing all that well there is not much to complain about. Gray was an absolute beast, defense was good and Brady was spreading the ball around.

Right now the pats appear to be the best team in the AFC. Tough three games coming up as well.

Here is the pats next few games

Lions
@Packers
@Chargers.

Broncos have:
Dolphins
@chiefs
Bills


Broncos have a much easier schedule so it is great they lost against the Rams yesterday. Its critical that the pats have home field this playoffs.

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I don't think that schedule is all /that/ much easier. The Dolphins could easily give Denver a tougher game than Detroit gives the Pats. Packers at home is probably maginally tougher than the Chiefs at Arrowhead, Bills who knows, but the Chargers are fading fast.

DaBruinz said:

They had 5 Penalties and 2 turnovers.. The Illegal block in the back on Tavon Wilson wasn't. The call on Butler was marginal at best.

The call on Gronk was a result of Brown punching him in the face to start the play. So Gronk drove him to the ground out of bounds. I have no issue with that.

The two turnovers by Brady, only one was Brady's fault, the 2nd one. He should have taken the sack..

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How was the first not his fault? He threw into what was basically triple coverage and was pretty inaccurate with his throw. Not a great first half. He rebounded well though.

chasa said:

Good luck punters trying to pint people inside of the ten, players are just going to start punching/kicking the ball backwards.

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Pretty risky strategy. It's a live ball in the end zone. Hard to know which team will end up with a live ball when it's bouncing around.

PatsBoy12 said:

Yes, they do. They're good in certain areas statistically, but they are not a good defensive team overall. They allowed 50+ points just a few weeks ago for crying out loud. I bow out. I can't have a healthy debate with someone who will say anything to be right.

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Yeah I watched the game against the Steelers and they got completely exposed by Big Ben, they simply had no answer, I was very confident yesterday and if not by a bad first half by Brady that game should be out of hands in halftime.

varjao said:

Yeah I watched the game against the Steelers and they got completely exposed by Big Ben, they simply had no answer, I was very confident yesterday and if not by a bad first half by Brady that game should be out of hands in halftime.

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I missed the game as i was on a flight with no tv or wifi, but was able to watch it today. Patriots dominated the entire game, and you're right in that if Brady doesn't toss both picks NE holds the Colts to under 14 points while putting up 50+.

http://forums.colts.com/topic/32944-officiating/

Hey look, more salty sore losers.

Big-T said:

http://forums.colts.com/topic/32944-officiating/

Hey look, more salty sore losers.

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What game were they watching? I'm not above a little ref bashing, but I must have missed the plays in question.

The thing I love about this team right now is how balanced it is. I was talking with my uncle about it today (some of you know Zip) and he brought up 2004 with Dillon as the more balanced. While I agree with the premise that Gray is no where near Dillon yet, especially that year, that year had no receiving threat even close to a GRONK.
Think about what a DC has to consider when gameplanning this year, or a more interesting excersise, what would Bill do? Problem one has to be to take away the number one weapon which is clearly GRONK, so you double him and pray. Then there is Eldeman, also in the middle of the field so we can flood that and still be ok. If you put Lafell 1 on 1 against the 2nd CB, or Vareen against your second best coverage LB, they are going to win most of the time but you are ok with that because it might at least slow the bleeding. Now you add a power running game that takes extra men in the box? Forget it there is no one way to stop this offense.
What is there to not love about the defense? They have probowl caliber playmakers on every level in Wilfork, Hightower, Revis, and McCourty. They can take away your number one weapon week in and week out making you do things you are not comfortable doing which leads to mistakes and turnovers. I am still not 100% sold on their ability to stuff the run consistently but the depth in the secondary (to the point that dennard is sitting) makes up for it in this pass happy league. Back in 2011 it would have been a good bet that Megatron would have 200 yards and Brady would have to be perfect to win a shootout. Now I bet Megatron gets held to 3 catches for 40ish yards. Just amazing the turnaround and I am quite excited to see how the rest of the year goes

Watching ESPN now and Ditka, when describing the Pats used the phrase: "you don't spit in the face of superman and you don't bet against Brady and Belichick"!

NFL Replay on @nflnetwork at 2 pm tomorrow (11/18/14).
Patriots v. Colts

BB the GM, take a bow.

I believe what we could be seeing now is the ultimate team Belichick always wanted. This is operation shapeshifter. What we see on all 3 phases of the game, any single one player capable of making a play in a variety of ways. It doesn't matter who is playing at the moment, the talent level OVERALL is on a much higher level than any other team in the league.

On D
1. All our DEs, LBs & DBs can cover - includes Chung and Easley
2. Everyone can rush - outside, inside, stuns
3. Everyone is physical
4. Everyone has good hands

On O
1. All WRs and TEs can run routes and have run after catch ability
2. If not catching, they love to block and hit
3. Assorted skillset from RBs
4. FB that can rush, block and catch
5. QB with low ego who continues to reinvent himself

On ST
1. All pro players that also add depth in various positions
2. Top 3 kicker in the league
3. Above average punter
4. Only downer is long snapper but a reserve one in ninko

Oswlek said:

What game were they watching? I'm not above a little ref bashing, but I must have missed the plays in question.

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The one Irsay and Co have been describing to them for over a decade.

Gray, Gray, Gray...I don't know why we are praising Jonas Gray so much. With two TEs and an extra OL even I can run for -3 yards and two unforced fumbles.

pencilneckgeek said:

I think saying that the Colts have a good defense, when they rely on what was until last night the highest scoring offense in the league and have given up big points twice when not playing from ahead, is a bit of a reach. The NFL is a league of adjustments. Teams are going to be looking to pound the ball against the Colts, while the Colts try to fix their run defense. Fortunately for them, the Colts have games against Jacksonville and Washington coming-up, who won't be able to stop Luck and will be forced into a 1-dimensional offense, but when the going gets tough in the playoffs, I would not be surprised to see them embarrassed again against a team with a decent defense that can move the ball on the ground.

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Listen, I just go off what I see. Their pass D in a pass happy league hasn't been that bad this year, they had a bad game vs the Steelers, it happens .... the Pats had an awful game vs the Chiefs, if both teams were to play those teams again it wouldn't be that way. Their 2 losses are vs the Steelers (already went over that) and the Pats where the Pats obviously wanted to run the ball, why? because their pass D isn't bad. I never said they were a top 5 defense, but they have proved they can be pretty stingy vs the pass this season. I never said anything about the playoffs, but if they can't fix their run D then yeah, they will be probably be embarrassed again. They have half of the equation right though.