Edelman doesn't make trip to Miami

Hightower, Jones not playing either. Sigh... May be difficult to win tomorrow but then again it's Miami.

He's fine. He just wanted to watch the Bruins game. Calm down.

supafly said:

What do you mean by "failed?"

One could argue that they failed with the top seed in 2007 as well as 2011 by losing in the postseason. As you mentioned, it also happened in 2010. The loss in the AFCCG to Baltimore in 2012 is certainly considered as a failure as well, so there are 4 examples.

All 4 happened at different levels:

2010--divisional round
2012--conference championship
2011--super bowl
2007--super bowl

That's 4 times in 5 years. Having the #1 seed helps, but it's far from a sure thing.

Click to expand...

Well i don't see it like that. 2010 was the first time i believe they where a one and doned as the top overral seed. Now i remember the 2013-14 season when they where the second seed and had to travel once again to denver. At home is where they make a run usually. Alot of funny things happen in denver.

Concussion Protocol said:

They've only played one road playoff game since 2006, so it's been tough to beef up that win column

Click to expand...

We played in Denver in 2013.

PatsFanSince74 said:

Any word on Amendola, Chung and McCourty?

Click to expand...

All three questionable. Chandler Jones, Vollmer, Edelman and Hightower are out.
Patriots - Dolphins Injury Report

I'm more relieved than anything. With Jones and High also not making the trip I'm guessing this is BB deciding that health for the POs is much more important than the win in Miami. I'm guessing(hoping) that anyone who can use extra recuperation was told to stay in Foxboro. This, also hopefully, means DA and McCourty making the trip is a sign they are more than sufficiently healthy. I'd expect they will play with their snap count directly affected by how the game progresses.

TheBostonStraggler said:

I'm more relieved than anything. With Jones and High also not making the trip I'm guessing this is BB deciding that health for the POs is much more important than the win in Miami. I'm guessing(hoping) that anyone who can use extra recuperation was told to stay in Foxboro. This, also hopefully, means DA and McCourty making the trip is a sign they are more than sufficiently healthy. I'd expect they will play with their snap count directly affected by how the game progresses.

Click to expand...

It's important but does BB wanna make another trip to denver? I don't think denver plays that well on the road. Assuming we win our divisional game. Denver's defense plays alot better at home.

Oh FFS this is not BB deciding that health is more important than beating Miami. This is BB rightly recognizing that he doesn't need to risk the health of injured players to beat Miami anyway. We are going to have our cake and eat it too.

so many players out.

dolphins should roll over for us

VrabelJr said:

We played in Denver in 2013.

Click to expand...

And that would be the one road playoff game since 2006 that I'm referring to

Gronkowski123 said:

so many players out.

dolphins should roll over for us

Click to expand...

I read this as "dolphins should roll over us" at first and was about to flip out

It is just going to be a meaningless game but the Pats will win!

PatriotsPimp136 said:

Well i don't see it like that. 2010 was the first time i believe they where a one and doned as the top overral seed. Now i remember the 2013-14 season when they where the second seed and had to travel once again to denver. At home is where they make a run usually. Alot of funny things happen in denver.

Click to expand...

I don't blame you for fearing Mile High stadium, due to some of the factors they'd have to face. I'd have to admit that this year may be the least amount of concern that I'd have going to DEN, but there would definitely be concern nonetheless. That said, DEN could get upset in the divisional round as well, so it's possible that even if we lose to Miami, it never comes to that.

If you're speaking only of #1 seed one and dones, then yes--2010 was it, but they lost in the next round as a #1 seed in 2012 too in the AFC Championship to Baltimore. That was the game they had the ball inside of the Baltimore 35 a total of 7 times, but could only muster a total of 13 points due to the wind/turnovers.

goheels22002 said:

All three questionable. Chandler Jones, Vollmer, Edelman and Hightower are out.
Patriots - Dolphins Injury Report

Click to expand...

Ninkovich did not travel with the team either, so he's obviously out as well.

I'm hoping that Amendola can at least play sparingly in the first half, and we can score a couple of TDs to go into the half 17-10, or 20-10. Hopefully, the running game gets going and carries us.

I'd like to see some of Chung, but I think they'll take things more cautiously with McCourty. Just a hunch, however.

VectorPrime said:

Oh FFS this is not BB deciding that health is more important than beating Miami. This is BB rightly recognizing that he doesn't need to risk the health of injured players to beat Miami anyway. We are going to have our cake and eat it too.

Click to expand...

Hopefully you're right. I think this may have been the thinking at NY last week as well, though. I do agree that we should beat Miami, although this current injured team is obviously much different than the normal one we're used to.

While we're hoping that it's just Belichick being cautious with certain players, there's also reason to believe that some wouldn't be able to go if it were a postseason game as well. Either way, that will give them 3 weeks to heal up between last week's game and the middle of January.

Relax, people

Team playoff run endings since 2007:

2008 - No playoffs
2009 - Baltimore (home game)
2010 - Jets (home game)
2011 - Super Bowl loss
2012 - Baltimore (home game)
2013 - Denver (road game)
2014 - Super Bowl win

Home record: 6-4, 4-4 outside the SB year
Road record: 0-1

Hell, Brady's overall road record is 3-3

I hope we can score TDs and high five Miami fans like Gore last week, Gronk could even jump in the seats, do a little dance and hug some chicks

supafly said:

Ninkovich did not travel with the team either, so he's obviously out as well.

I'm hoping that Amendola can at least play sparingly in the first half, and we can score a couple of TDs to go into the half 17-10, or 20-10. Hopefully, the running game gets going and carries us.

I'd like to see some of Chung, but I think they'll take things more cautiously with McCourty. Just a hunch, however.

Click to expand...

The Dolphins are 30th against the rush, dead last in rushing attempts allowed.

If the Patriots can't run on them, they may as well not even line up running backs anymore this season.

supafly said:

Ninkovich did not travel with the team either, so he's obviously out as well.

I'm hoping that Amendola can at least play sparingly in the first half, and we can score a couple of TDs to go into the half 17-10, or 20-10. Hopefully, the running game gets going and carries us.

I'd like to see some of Chung, but I think they'll take things more cautiously with McCourty. Just a hunch, however.

Click to expand...

Wow. Both starting DEs out. Both starting safeties questionable. Hightower out at LB. The Dolphins have a genuine opportunity to end their season on an up note and mess with the Patriots' playoff position.

A game that I was thinking about taking a pass on looks to me like much more of a brawl than it should be. On the other hand, I like that the Patriots are getting the players ready for a three-game stretch run in the playoffs.

The other thing is that home field in the AFCC may fall into the Patriots' lap. I like the Jets and the Chiefs to get past Cincinnati and Houston in the WC round, and either one to beat the Broncos in the Divisional round. The Broncos looked awful last week.

goheels22002 said:

Wow. Both starting DEs out. Both starting safeties questionable. Hightower out at LB. The Dolphins have a genuine opportunity to end their season on an up note and mess with the Patriots' playoff position.

A game that I was thinking about taking a pass on looks to me like much more of a brawl than it should be. On the other hand, I like that the Patriots are getting the players ready for a three-game stretch run in the playoffs.

Click to expand...

I think you're seriously overrating Miami.