I won't panic if the Pats lose this game... it will definitely be one of the tougher games of the year. That said, we stand a better chance of winning if the offense can quickly put points on the board and get an early lead.
And say what you want about Buffalo's defense, the Bills are gonna have a tougher time scoring against us than we will against them. They are led by an inexperienced QB who is, for all intents and purposes, still a rookie. And even without Revis, Wilfork, and Browner, our defense will do a better job of preventing Taylor from using his legs and pressuring him to make throws he doesn't want to make.
I agree that we can't panic if this game is lost, because if it happens it will be for correctable reasons.
I just can't forget those two loses in Miami and KC last year, where an OL in flux faced a good DL. TB was running for his life, and there were all of those articles about how he was done, etc. (of course once the OL got stabilized he was better than ever and we were well on our way to another ring).
Now, as was the case last year against KC, we are playing a top DL with an unsettled OL, all rookies in the interior. The Center is a rookie UDFA. Shaq Mason hardly pass protected at Georgia Tech. Jackson is a rookie, and would doubtlessly be more comfortable playing next to his old colleague Stork. To their credit, all three played well at Pittsburg, but the Steeler DL not one of the better ones in the league.
Now these three rookies are playing one of the top 2 or three defensive lines in the league, with a coach who is likely to have some innovative stunts and blitzes designed to confuse the OL rookies, whose heads will likely be spinning. I just have a bad feeling about this upcoming game.
However, as you say, perhaps Taylor will self-combust. And, any issues in the offensive line will probably rapidly improve as the rookies get more experience and with the hopeful future return of Wendell and Stork. By the end of the year with no injuries we could really have a fine OL.
