Idle Thoughts - The I'm glad it's over edition

too many dropped potemtial picks...

I had a couple more pet peeves, mostly because this team is so good at clock management. I wonder if anyone else notices.

First, after a penalty with about five minutes to go in the game and the Patriots in punt formation, Allen took the snap and punted with 20 seconds left on the play clock. I can think of no better time to run seconds off than that play.

Second, how in the world do you take a delay of game penalty when you're trying to run out the clock on 2nd and 4 with under four minutes to go? That made it 2nd and 9. Getting the first down would have iced the game.

I wonder what Belichick thinks of both of those plays.

The patriots led by belichick have made it a fine science in making teams beat themselves, by forcing QBs to take risks that usually take hold late in the game.

In this game, Andrew luck did not deliver that said mistake, but unlike most games, it was the coach who was taking risks all game trying to keep up.

This risks led to a huge and hilarious coaching gaffe. Unfortunately for pagano, that will be the only thing anyone remembers about the game. The truth is, he coached a heck of a game until then, and didn't trust his qb to make big plays without big mistakes.

That lead to the horrible mess we saw on special teams, but that is just how Belichicks patriots play. They wait for you to pay the price for your own mistakes. Usually it's a qb shaking their head going off the field. This time, it's a coach shaking his head, and one being lead to the guillotine.

MagicMarker said:

I had a couple more pet peeves, mostly because this team is so good at clock management. I wonder if anyone else notices.

First, after a penalty with about five minutes to go in the game and the Patriots in punt formation, Allen took the snap and punted with 20 seconds left on the play clock. I can think of no better time to run seconds off than that play.

Second, how in the world do you take a delay of game penalty when you're trying to run out the clock on 2nd and 4 with under four minutes to go? That made it 2nd and 9. Getting the first down would have iced the game.

I wonder what Belichick thinks of both of those plays.

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Yeah the delay of game penalty was bizarre. Then we wasted a time out on top of it (WTF?) then they just ran Blount straight into the line. A delay of game, a time out & that's what you come up with? The 4th quarter was not the Pats' finest hour, but the extra point block kind of redeemed it for me.

I.M. Fletcher said:

The patriots led by belichick have made it a fine science in making teams beat themselves, by forcing QBs to take risks that usually take hold late in the game.

In this game, Andrew luck did not deliver that said mistake, but unlike most games, it was the coach who was taking risks all game trying to keep up.

This risks led to a huge and hilarious coaching gaffe. Unfortunately for pagano, that will be the only thing anyone remembers about the game. The truth is, he coached a heck of a game until then, and didn't trust his qb to make big plays without big mistakes.

That lead to the horrible mess we saw on special teams, but that is just how Belichicks patriots play. They wait for you to pay the price for your own mistakes. Usually it's a qb shaking their head going off the field. This time, it's a coach shaking his head, and one being lead to the guillotine.

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I thought Luck played well until he took a big hit (forget when it was and who did it, but it was when they were driving and on the left side of the field). Then he started to sail a lot of his passes. Don't know whether he was spooked, was reinjured or a little bit of both.

I haven't watched any pregame shows in years, and ive begun to turn down the sound or even put it on mute (like i did last night) so i don't have to listen to the inane bull sht. It sounds like it was a good idea last night. As far as the game goes the offense seem a little out of sync at times. I thought that the offense relied to much on the pass (at least in the first half, i didn't get to see much of the last quarter and a half, so maybe they went back to a balanced attack) Indy did a good job of keeping the defense off balance in the first half. instead of it being all on luck, indy mixed in the run. I wanted a blowout, but many times these over hyped blowouts don't happen. The offensive line will face a stiff challange this week with the jest d line, i'm a little worried about left tackle.

Was a bit of a shame that Jules hurt his finger, dropped the crossing route and made that bad play tipping up the pick six. Until that sequence he seemed on his way to another big game. Thankfully Amendola picked up the slack.

Soooo glad this game is finally over.
It feels like Deflategate is finally in the rear view mirror and going forward we have a football season to watch.

Scary how this offense can score 34 pts have over 400 yds and not be "sharp".
They left so many plays and points on the field becauce of sloppy plays and poor play calling. Not one of Josh McDaniels' better games.

Also love the athleticism of this defense. Yeah they've got some holes but they can also make spectacular plays because of their speed and skill. Fun to watch.

A very good win!!!

While a 60 pt blowout would have had us all laughing and smiling it's games like last night that will make the Patriots a better team going forward.

This game was just like the Jets game in 2007. I was hoping for so much more but a win is a win. It is over. If there is a next time, hopefully it will be in Foxboro.

The one thing I will say is that Luck is no Manning or Rodgers. I think if Hasselback played last night, the outcome may have been different.

Jackson 2 said:

I hate Sunday night games. I hate NBC, I hate Dan Patrick, I hate Dungy, I hate Collinsworth, I hate Michaels, I hate Michelle Tafoya. Rodney is the only one I don't hate.

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Lot of wasted emotional energy on folks and things you don't know. I don't like Sunday night games either, but hate? I save that for really important occasions and things.

The trend for any announcer of a PAts game is to root against the Pats as long as humanly possible to try and keep interest. Then start slurping us when it gets out of hand 3rd and 4th quarter.

Agree on Blount he is running hard and surprise he can catch. I wanted more running earlier in the game and on earlier downs (we NEVER run on 1st down). I also like having in more for the play action we really got away from that this year.

Sorry but Mayo looks toast.

Also suprised we didnt screen more to Lewis. They did try a few swing passes but I feel like 2 or 3 were blocked at the LOS. If one or 2 plays went differently (the pick 6 and more aggressive play calling late) this could have looked alot like the other games 4X-1X.

Also a James White sighting!

The Patriots went 3-out on four of their last five drives. That's not good.

Good posts Ken. I do think you might be dismissing the reshuffled o-line at the end of the game. I don't think it hurt the Pats in pass protection (hence why the Pats rarely punted until they were trying to run down the clock). The problems came in run blocking. I think if the Pats continued to pass consistently in the 4th quarter, the Pats would have scored 40 plus points.

A lot of great material, as always.
I too was puzzled about how Lewis was used, but in BB (and JMcD) I trust.
And, yes, I'm also thinking more about how tough the Broncos had to be to win some of their games, not how "lucky" they might be called.
The only thing you left out is the Dolphins. Maybe a one hit/day wonder, but I don't like it when a team in the division shows that much life, especially with the Jets at 4--1 and chomping at the bit to play one of their two SB's next week.
Thanks.

Actually the 2 and 3rd worst QB's in the NFL right now (based upon QB rating- not QBR) are Andrew Luck with a 75 and Peyton Manning with a 72.5. Guess who is leading the NFL?

aluminum seats said:

Oh, and I wish people would stop whining about announcers...Collingsworth, Simms, whoever. Visit any opposing fan board and you'll see all these yahoos crying that this guy or that guy "always roots against us." It just sounds pathetic. The game thread (which can be a scary, reactionary place anyway) is rife with it. Not a good look for us.

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Did you listen last night? If they are sh|tting on Brady and the Patriots, I'm gonna say something.

neuronet said:

Did you listen last night? If they are sh|tting on Brady and the Patriots, I'm gonna say something.

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And I'm saying if you go to ANY other fan board, you'll hear the same thing. "The announcers hate us, they're rooting against us!" To me it sounds pathetic.

aluminum seats said:

And I'm saying if you go to ANY other fan board, you'll hear the same thing. "The announcers hate us, they're rooting against us!" To me it sounds pathetic.

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They don't have announcers trash talking the team for hours on end. I think we have earned the chip on our shoulders. It's really not comparable. They have nothing comparable to deflategate BS.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

The Patriots went 3-out on four of their last five drives. That's not good.

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And they'll go back and look at those series and see where they went wrong. One thing they can change is 99% of the time when Brady is over center they run the ball. Too predictable. Do that against the Jets and they'll stuff it 98% of the time.
Not enough screens.
Too many attempts to Julien in a crossing route.
Too predictable!!
Need to mix it up.
Jets D is going to be a great test for this offense. Looking forward to it.

aluminum seats said:

And I'm saying if you go to ANY other fan board, you'll hear the same thing. "The announcers hate us, they're rooting against us!" To me it sounds pathetic.

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Agreed!! I have not heard any blatant anti-Patriot rooting from the national announcers. Too many fans are overly sensitive and go overboard in taking any commentary as anti-Patriot.
Hometown announcers are a different story.....and should be.