OFFICIAL POST-GAME THREAD - PATS v. Ravens

TheBostonStraggler said:

Aus, from down under, with the absolute spot on point.
I thought the Pats would win handily. The problem with that is I never suspected the run D would be that soft, I never suspected the Patriots would execute on D brutally badly at times (the simple blown coverage multiple times was hard to swallow). The Run D softness made Flacco's passing game be too down hill multiple times (repeated favorble down-distance scenarios).
I tell you what, that better be an aberration. This D front is not a pass rushing one. If they aren't a run stopping one too they are a glaring liability. I am going to chalk it up to it being limited to this game, hopefully.

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One thing is for sure @TheBostonStraggler, in season 2015, the Patriots need more impact players on the Defensive Line. They are not fast nor athletic enough right now. I realize there is a happy medium between defending the run and the pass but geez, scheme a little, unleash something, play stunts etc.

As you've pointed out, let's hope it was an aberration against a terrible match up for the Patriots.

Joker said:

4 runs in the 2nd half...one a Brady sneak and 3 kneel downs. Our game plan was to pass, pass ,pass against the Ravens green secondary. It got enough points to win the game. The rest of the stuff is going to make for tremendous gnashing of teeth and wailing all week but it's the PLAYOFFS. Just win baby.

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I don't think there's any other QB past or present that could win a game without even a semblance of a running game like that. Tom Brady is so good it's scary.

i'm just baffled by our play selection. why couldn't we try to establish a run? of course, it's friggin mcdaniels. when push comes to shove, it's all on brady's shoulder. we were supposed to be a balanced team this year!

Julian Edelman was micd for the game. Can't wait to hear the footage.

Whether it's injury or whatever, I would play anyone but Jones at this point--you couldn't find as ineffective an edge rusher at this point if you tried. Ayers should be in and Chandler sitting.

Defense worries me--Vince is totally worn down, Siliga and Jones were totally over matched, Ninko had one of his horrible games, Browner will get flagged or burned 17 times if we play Peyton. Hopefully they all have better games next week.

Finally, I agree with the poster who said they need to wake the F up, especially in the first half.
Seen it all too frequently in PO's over last several years. Sleepwalking through a playoff game unacceptable for a NE team that needs another lombardi possibly more than anyone ever has. Mayo loss huge, and yes I'm gonna say it--Mankins wouldn't allow this getting manhandled sh!t. Glad we won. woohoo.

ausbacker said:

One thing is for sure @TheBostonStraggler, in season 2015, the Patriots need more impact players on the Defensive Line. They are not fast nor athletic enough right now. I realize there is a happy medium between defending the run and the pass but geez, scheme a little, unleash something, play stunts etc.

As you've pointed out, let's hope it was an aberration against a terrible match up for the Patriots.

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I agree that the Patriots need more athleticism in the trenches.

I also think that it was somewhat of an aberration as a rusty Patriots front seven had to go against a top notch Ravens offensive line that mixed run/pass extremely well, and kept the Patriots guessing most of the time.

Those Ravens edge runs were impressive, getting the running back to the edge and cutting off pursuit from the defensive lineman with chop blocks.

sevengables_2207 said:

I agree that the Patriots need more athleticism in the trenches.

I also think that it was somewhat of an aberration as a rusty Patriots front seven had to go against a top notch Ravens offensive line that mixed run/pass extremely well, and kept the Patriots guessing most of the time.

Those Ravens edge runs were impressive, getting the running back to the edge and cutting off pursuit from the defensive lineman with chop blocks.

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The bolded comment is why I was vehemently against resting players in week 17. That said they won so what do I know?

You're right regarding the edge. The Patriots DL simply wasn't good enough and frankly, I'm not too fond of Chandler Jones in run support. Too often (to me), it looks like he loses edge contain. That's an area for improvement in the coming weeks and next season.

wolverinejoe80 said:

i'm just baffled by our play selection. why couldn't we try to establish a run? of course, it's friggin mcdaniels. when push comes to shove, it's all on brady's shoulder. we were supposed to be a balanced team this year!

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Exactly. People will overlook this b/c we got thewin. Problem is, we were damn lucky to get the W. McD put us in a position of easily being one and done had a play or two fallen the wrong way. Brady saved his ass, but just barely.

In case anyone cares. NFLN is replaying the game at 1 am EST. So you can rewatch or record it (if you didn't already) without having a heart attack.

We are going to the super bowl

ausbacker said:

The bolded comment is why I was vehemently against resting players in week 17. That said they won so what do I know?

You're right regarding the edge. The Patriots DL simply wasn't good enough and frankly, I'm not to fond of Chandler Jones in run support. Too often (to me), it looks like he loses edge contain. That's an area for improvement in the coming weeks and next season.

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Agree twofold.

I was leery of them resting players in the season finale. With the limits imposed on contact in practices, I felt it could cause the team to come out rusty. The Ravens were absolutely the worst draw out of the AFC field for the Patriots off their bye.

Chandler is still a bit inconsistent IMO. Sometimes he sets the edge beautifully; sometimes it leaves a lot to be desired (like tonight in certain situations). The optimist in me thinks that he is till working his way back from the injury and hopefully it will be fine-tuned for next weekend (and beyond).

wolverinejoe80 said:

i'm just baffled by our play selection. why couldn't we try to establish a run? of course, it's friggin mcdaniels. when push comes to shove, it's all on brady's shoulder. we were supposed to be a balanced team this year!

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I was one of McDaniels biggest bashers. I even put him down as #3 on a list of who scares me in the AFC playoffs. I was dead wrong. Afetr I went back and checked more closely, I noticed that the team's poor offensive performances in the past were mostly under the leadership of someone other than JM. With him the Pats offense has scored plenty.

Amendola picked the right game to show up. HUGE game from Amendola. HUGE 3rd down with extra effort to stretch his arms out with the ball.

My thoughts during the game;
- I hope Goody the Jet froze his b***s off while he was outside posing for the cameras.
- Chung shook off a poor start and bounced back nicely.
- YAC YAC YAC
- Beside being the only QB I know who could win a game without any running game at all, Tom Brady sure can take a hit. Some of those were pretty late too.
- How can a hold like that on Gronk not be called? It was smack dab in the middle of the field.
- Hooman has zero offensive moves but he can catch the ball. He was big today.
- What is it with the Harbaughs and whining?
- It looked like there was a fumble on the kickoff after the flea-flicker.
- The cold field worked better for us. The Ravens were sliding more than the Pats.
- Collingsworth has a man crush on Jaimie Collins. That's ok, so do I.
- I've seen ugly, but I think we need to create and even deeper ugly. Call it suggsly.
- My apologies to Josh

Hey Harbaugh, Golf Up Son!

i wont say what has been said a thousand times, but I will say Vollmer had a Hell of of a game tonight. Lots will be made of the lack of protection at times on the line, but Seabass was doing everything in his power against a top rusher.

Not bad for a guy some thought might never be the same again.

Pats fumbled the ball a zillion times and recovered all of them. We totally dodged several points right there


Can the pats ever stop a 4th down conversion? This defense is anything but clutch. On paper they look awesome, but they seem to have the same style as the 2012 Super bowl defense and wait for you to make the mistake instead of initiating it.

How about Amendola pulling a "JD Drew" tonight! Amendola played the game of his life...I'm not sure you can forgive this guy for all the failures he has had in NE, but who saw this game coming

I thought that Flacco hail mary was going to hit. I even thought Ryan allen would get that last punt blocked.

Chandler Jones needs to contribute in a big moment. He gets like 4 sacks against lousy teams like the Jets and everyone talks about this guy like he's going to be LT. The guy has come up short in almost every playoff game

What's up with Gostkowski's kicks. Special teams did an amazing job of covering Jacoby Jones.

Brady played one of the best games he's ever had in the playoffs, I think the tuck game was his best game ever, this might be no. 2--it obviously wasn't the stats that made it so special, it was his resilience. He took so many hits and mad so many poor throws, but kept battling and never lost focus against a great team. The throw to Lafell was a thing of beauty.

great win amazing and fun game to watch in a perfect world I would like to see the defense play better but a win is a win