Getting Healthy for the Playoffs

I'm going to go the other way and say that I'm more concerned about HFA than I am about Kyle Arrington and Dan Connolly being 100% vs. 90% (or whatever they would be). IMO, the next two games should be played with playoff-type intensity, and if they're won, then a first-round bye and HFA throughout gives you plenty of time to rest.

Particularly with the OL, whoever is best is who should be playing the next two weeks. Playing backups against the Jets' and Bills' front sevens sounds like a great plan for exposing Brady unnecessarily to injury, all in the name of preventing injury.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Read elsewhere that the latest Manning poor performance excuse is that he has the flu

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How convenient. I guess throwing the team under the bus was getting old

Pats with a perfect practice attendance today:

http://www.providencejournal.com/sp...patriots-have-perfect-practice-attendance.ece

mayoclinic said:

Pats with a perfect practice attendance today:

http://www.providencejournal.com/sp...patriots-have-perfect-practice-attendance.ece

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Didn't they have perfect attendance yesterday?

Injuries scare the crap out of me, too. Our season - as it does for any team - relies so heavily on health, but in particular the health of our 3 great players. I think we can weather any other storms, honestly. Don't get me wrong, its great to get Hightower & Jones back this past week, but if we lose one of our blue-chippers, we can't make it to or win the SB.

And I second @BradyFTW! that HFA is more important than Connolly or Arrington, at this point. Not to diminish what those guys bring, but we are a lot tougher to beat at home.

I think a shout-out to Big Vince is in order. Astonishing level of play for a guy that big from a serious Achilles tendon tear. We all love ya, Vince!!

I am hoping that Connolly can rest up a bit. One reason is to see if someone on the roster can fill his position in case he is let go this off-season. Kline played pretty well when Connolly left against the Dolphins. It would be beneficial for us if he can be as close to healthy against the Bills and into the playoffs.

this weekend is a no-brainer. The history of the Pats-Jets is one close game a year with one blow-out. I can't imagine the Jets staying with this team. Buffalo, on the other hand, is a completely different story. They are a qb short of a really good team, and defensively are in the conversation with the leagues' best. Rest people this week so they are prepared for next.

mosi's man said:

this weekend is a no-brainer. The history of the Pats-Jets is one close game a year with one blow-out. I can't imagine the Jets staying with this team. Buffalo, on the other hand, is a completely different story. They are a qb short of a really good team, and defensively are in the conversation with the leagues' best. Rest people this week so they are prepared for next.

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I agree, right up to the point that I felt the same way last year when they beat us. We should destroy the Jets this weekend, but there have been a lot of times in the past where things looked just as clear, and then didn't work out the way that they were supposed to. At this point, I think that all Jets games should be treated with the assumption that they're a much bigger threat than they appear to be.

BradyManny said:

And I second @BradyFTW! that HFA is more important than Connolly or Arrington, at this point. Not to diminish what those guys bring, but we are a lot tougher to beat at home.

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I disagree about Arrington. He is a piece cog of our coverage and one of the best CBs in the slot.

Unless you play a very limited offense (Hello Jets and Bills) it is important for us to have him healthy. Especially in the playoffs against mobile qbs when we play more contain than pressure.

Hope he gets enough time off against Jets and Bills to not additionally worsen his hamstring situation.

NewFeep said:

I think a shout-out to Big Vince is in order. Astonishing level of play for a guy that big from a serious Achilles tendon tear. We all love ya, Vince!!

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For some reason, it doesn't seem like this hasn't been appreciated enough. I've actually read some comments where people think that his play has dropped dramatically this year--which seems very odd to me.

If there was anyone who had the heart, talent level, and work ethic to come back from such a serious injury at his size, it was V.Wilfork. That said, I believe that it's time to address the DL with a couple of picks in the high/middle rounds to prepare for his replacement.

I believe that if the players are healthy enough to play, they definitely will. Belichick certainly isn't going to take this game lightly.

We are lucky to have a coach who has a ton of experience in making these calls with injuries, particularly at this time of the year. The first round bye with 2 weeks to prepare and rest is important as well.

Is there any way the Bills are eliminated this weekend even with a win?

BingoBrown said:

Is there any way the Bills are eliminated this weekend even with a win?

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Yes. If all 3 AFC North teams win this week then they are all in.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news...cenarios/3f2fe45a-25ca-4572-92d7-9182952df0fc

mayoclinic said:

Yes. If all 3 AFC North teams win this week then they are all in.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news...cenarios/3f2fe45a-25ca-4572-92d7-9182952df0fc

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Then this is the first time in my life I'll be rooting for that to happen, that I can recall anyway.

betterthanthealternative said:

Then this is the first time in my life I'll be rooting for that to happen, that I can recall anyway.

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I'd much rather just root for Cincy and make the Buffalo game meaningless for NE even if Buffalo still has something to play for.

Although Jeremy Kerley is a very good slot receiver, I wouldn't be upset if they rested Arrington this weekend. It is still Geno Smith throwing the ball. Put Revis on Harvin (who is already hobbled) and Browner on Decker. And they can mix and match on Kerley.

If the Pats clinch HFA this week, I don't want to see Gronk or Revis at all in week 17. Brady, as a QB, can more easily avoid injury (in a meaningless game) but even he should only play a half at most. Others who should see most of the day off are Wilfork, Edelman..and you could make a good case for Chandler jones, McCourty, Hightower....heck, take them all off the field in the second half.

Oswlek said:

I'd much rather just root for Cincy and make the Buffalo game meaningless for NE even if Buffalo still has something to play for.

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Agree, I want the Bills to come into Foxboro still in the hunt. Lets once again crush their newly found hope. If we have clinched HFA already, then even better.

luuked said:

Agree, I want the Bills to come into Foxboro still in the hunt. Lets once again crush their newly found hope. If we have clinched HFA already, then even better.

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That's my preferred scenario. Clinch HFA, then use the Buffalo game as a playoff tuneup, with a bye week afterwards to get healthy.