Are the Pats gonna do it?

According to the incredibly scientific, jersey color test with my wife, the only afc team that could beat us are the Steelers. Just thought I'd pass that along. Cheers!

PATS16N0 said:

I wanted to be optimistic-homeristic after the annihilation of the Colts, but lately... I'm just thinking about something I said earlier in the season, after the Cinci or Detroit game, about us masking flaws in the regular season that we trick ourselves into thinking are fixed, only to see them rear their ugly heads in the post season.

Our offensive line worries me.

I do hope Denver doesn't get one and done eliminated. I want them in the AFCCG if we make it so Tom can win and be 2-2 against Manning in conference championship games.

I wish we still had Ridley. I'd be a lot more confident if we did.

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Shame on you for putting any stock in that Colts game. That's one of the softest teams in the league.

I love Ridley, but too often, guys up front are just getting beaten off the snap. Ridley wouldn't be able to do anything about that.

Every team has weaknesses. Denver has a QB that literally can't throw in the cold. Their O-line blows as well. Pittsburgh and Baltimore feasted on the NFC South this year and are both very, very weak in the secondary. Cincy has an Andy Dalton problem. Their coach is also an idiot. We shall see which team is able to gameplan the best to hide their deficiencies. My money is on Belichick and MCDONALD

Just enjoy the ride, from the igits to the homers, just enjoy what we got

letekro said:

Shame on you for putting any stock in that Colts game. That's one of the softest teams in the league.

I love Ridley, but too often, guys up front are just getting beaten off the snap. Ridley wouldn't be able to do anything about that.

Every team has weaknesses. Denver has a QB that literally can't throw in the cold. Their O-line blows as well. Pittsburgh and Baltimore feasted on the NFC South this year and are both very, very weak in the secondary. Cincy has an Andy Dalton problem. Their coach is also an idiot. We shall see which team is able to gameplan the best to hide their deficiencies. My money is on Belichick and MCDONALD

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I wasn't optimistic after the Indy game because we beat Indy. Indy and Detroit closed out a string of dominating victories over division leaders. If you weren't optimistic after that warpath I don't know what else it would take.

If we play like that the Pats will be hard to stop.

But we've said the Pats look unstoppable before, numerous times. I was positive we were going to win in 2007, positive we were going to win in 2011, and positive we were going to win in 2012.

I'm cautiously optimistic but I'm also realistic about what can happen from this point forward in single elimination.

I think it is their best chance ever, including the SB win years. In saying that both Seattle and GB would be a tough game for them, but Denver is probably still a very difficult test, regales of where it is played. Offensively Denver still has more weapons and I think probably a better defensive line.

I'm pretty sure BB. Will figure out something for the O line, I think even myself we are all getting a little too worried about this part of huge team.

But I'm going to enjoy the ride regardless of what happens it should be fun. In 1986 when they were punished in the SB I never thought I would see a 13 year run like this, getting to and wining the SB is tougher than winning any other sports championship.

Do it like they do it on discovery channel? I don't know, that sounds more up Sexy Rexy's alley.

No. Seattle and Dallas are deeper. Demarco Murray and Dez are just too much and Dallas is peaking at the right time. I see Seattle shutting down Gronk easily and Lafell/Edelman dropping a ton of key passes when left open.

I don't see NE winning it all, but they'll get to Arizona at least. Brady getting to a 6th SB would have to be a record by NFL qbs.

Nothing I can do is going to affect the outcome of the game. I prefer to sit back and enjoy the ride, a ride which hopefully culminates with another Lombardi for New England and contract extensions for key members moving forward (I'm looking at you Darrelle, Devin and Akeem).

Let's flip this around and think of it this way. how many NFC teams/Fan bases are thinking the Patriots will be the easier matchup for them? If they had to be honest, I bet there aren't too many that would prefer the Pats vs any others with the possible exception of Denver.

RelocatedPatFan said:

Let's flip this around and think of it this way. how many NFC teams/Fan bases are thinking the Patriots will be the easier matchup for them? If they had to be honest, I bet there aren't too many that would prefer the Pats vs any others with the possible exception of Denver.

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In speaking to GB, SEA and Dallas die-hards they want no part of the Pats. None.

I hear....
SEA
-How is Lynch going to run vs that D? Wilfork, Hightower shut people down..and that Collins kid? Hes everywhere.
-Balwin will not sniff the ball vs Revis.
-If we allow more than 21 point we lose.

DAL
-Romo will screw up vs Belichick. Sooner or later it will happen.
-Garrett will not outcoach Belichick
-Our D has no chance vs Gronk.

GB
-We were very lucky to win.
-Revis makes that play on Nelson 9 times out of 10
-Neutral field? Hmmm
-Why the hell didn't you guys throw to Gronk more? He was open all day..

There gonna take it 1 week at a time. But I think we have a good shot.

Minus a turnover meltdown or the injury bug hitting hard I simply do not see the Pats losing in the AFC. The SB comes down to matchups. I think we matchup well with GB and Dallas.

Bill will have answers for some of the schemes McCarthy threw and them the first time and give him full credit that was a great game plan. Couple that with a neutral field and the Pats win.

Dallas they'll stack the box, put Reivs on Bryant and use a combination on Whitten. Dallas's defense won't be able to handle getting spread out.

Seattle is the toughest matchup. I see that being a low scoring game where it comes down to the past possession. People seem so divided on this matchup. Some believe we don't have a shot while others feel they're overrated. The truth is in the middle.

Seattle would be a HUGE challenge for the OL. I'm rooting for anyone else in the NFC.

Re: Pittsburgh or Baltimore? NO. Sorry. Each played 8 games against the NFC South and AFC South this year.

Anyone who can't go 12-4 or better with that cupcake schedule shouldn't scare the Patriots any.

The defense will be consistent. They'll give up some points and more yards than we'd like, but they will adjust in the 2nd half, make big plays, get the other team off the field when it counts and keep the points down. They haven't given up more than 26 points since September, and no more than 17 since November.

The offense depends on execution and protection. When on, they are as good as anyone in the league. When not ... it's not so pretty. They've scored more than 23 points only once since Thanksgiving, and even that was after a lethargic first half against Miami. It mostly comes down to whether the OL can give Brady a clean pocket and limit the amount of pressure he is under. No one knows how that will turn out. Better Pats' OLs have failed the team in the past.

mayoclinic said:

It mostly comes down to whether the OL can give Brady a clean pocket and limit the amount of pressure he is under. No one knows how that will turn out. Better Pats' OLs have failed the team in the past.

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Indeed. This is my concern as well. But if there's one positive about this year, it's that (for the first time in what feels like forever) they finally assembled a defense that is capable of picking up some slack if the offense falters.

Maybe they will. Maybe they won't. This is as good a chance as they've had since 2011.

JMC00 said:

That's odd. Because I recall Brady had them in the lead both times and it was the defense that couldn't finish the job.

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Playing devil's advocate, if the offense scored just one more touch down in each SB, they would have won and wouldn't matter about the defense. Allowing 17 points to the giants in SB 42 - and 21 points in SB 46 when the D was atrocious all season long.... hard to complain about the D in those games.

If the OL shapes up, they have as good an opportunity as any. If not, no. They may still get there because of how weak the AFC is, but they would get smoked by the likes of Seattle if the two teams meet.

I'm going to go out on a limb here. I predict that IF the Patriots make it to Arizona, and have outscored their

opponent by the time the clock expires - they will the Superbowl. I have many other brilliant insights

like this one - just ask.

The principle apparently being beaten into the Patriots right now (as evidenced by Blount's 'shocking' statement) is execution - only the Pats can beat the Pats. If the O-line that goes into the playoffs (the healthiest version possible in 12 days) does its job, then the Pats can beat anybody in the field. If they fail, then they can be one and done like any other team. The defense is good enough to keep the games in reach in case the offense sputters a bit, but it won't score 21 points itself. Nor will special teams.

The Seahawks are not unbeatable. The team that monkey-stomped the Donkeys last year did not roll through the prior two playoff games, and was a catch away from watching the Niners play the Donkeys. I would not be surprised to see another team knock them out before that is an issue. The Pats, without Chandler Jones, were driving for the winning score in Green Bay and stalled. Anyone suffering through delusions that a now limited Rodgers (reports are his calf will not heal and may get worse with continued play time) on a neutral field rather than home field represents an unbeatable foe must not have watched that prior game.

I look forward to the ride, and hope the Pats play to the level they are capable. If so, then the sky's the limit.