Last regular season game with so much on the line???
 

When was the last regular season game the Patriots played with so much on the line?


Throw out the Jets game from last week. but prior to that.

Last year the only one that could enter the debate would be week 16 but while that had history implications it was not as pivitol as this game. So now you have to go back to 06 and I am not sure there was a bigger game that year than this one so it might even go back to 05.


thoughts???

Re: Last Regular season game with so much on the line
 

Man I don't know but you are bang on when you say there is a lot on the line.
At 5 and 5, Buffalo is out of the playoffs with all the teams in front of them. If we lose and fall to 6-5 its pretty much the same scenario for us. This is a big gut check game for the Pats. What I want to see is less of the mental mistakes that have been so costly for 2 of the last 3 games.

Re: Last Regular season game with so much on the line
 

I agree with you that this is a pivitol game. The Dolphins come
into the game on a four game winning streak and the Patriots are
barely lukewarm having lost two of their last three games.

It will be difficult for the Patriots to regain momentum and get back
into the chase if they lose. Based upon how the Patriots have
played so far, I don't think they could put together a five game
winning streak. They need a 10-6 record to even have a shot at a
wildcat spot and they would probably lose out due to the tie
breakers.

Posts will pick up in the Patriot's Draft Talk Forum if the Pats lose.

Re: Last Regular season game with so much on the line???
 

I think Week 16 of 2006 in Jacksonville was very important, as a loss there would have given the Jets the inside track on the AFC East, and the Patriots would have been in a dogfight to win a Wild Card spot (sound familiar?). This was the game where Brady got speared, his body contorted like an "S", and we all held our breath as Cassel came in for a play.

This Sunday's game is probably a little more important, but the Jacksonville game was huge 2 years ago...

Re: Last Regular season game with so much on the line
 

What's on your mind, Jimke? ;)

Re: Last Regular season game with so much on the line???
 

Week 16 last season had more on the line.

Re: Last Regular season game with so much on the line
 

Make that wildcard. Hope we're not pulling our hair out

over the wildcat play.

Re: Last Regular season game with so much on the line
 

I dont think it will be as bad as the last time.

a few reasons for this.

Obviously we will be practicing for it this time.

One of the frustrating parts of it last time was that I felt the 3-4 is more equipped to stop it than the 4-3 as the 4-3 is more about penetration and disruption which could leave you out of position vs a trick play but the 3-4 is about discipline and staying in your lanes which should equate to falling for tricks less. It caught us off guard last time and I imagine we were evacuating our lanes and leaving open gaps. I would imagine we would be much more discipline the second time around.

another point: Cassel was just not ready to lead an offense to keep up with the scoring Miami was doing in that game. This time around if they are scoring Cassel will be able to try and keep up much better than the first time.



Squish the Tuna Fish :D

Re: Last Regular season game with so much on the line
 

The flip side being you could easily argue the Pats looked better in their last two losses than the Fish looked in their last two wins. But you are what your record says you are ...

As far as a regular season game with as much on the line, at this point, divisional game with the loser going to 6-5, pretty much the loser is all but eliminated for the division crown and is outside looking in on wild card, so it's practically lose-and-you're-out.

I'd say ironically the last regular season game with this much importance was Week 17 2002 when the Pats played Miami and needed to win to even have a chance at the playoffs. They won 27-24, but as we know ultimately lost out on the division because the stupid Packers got crushed by the Jets.

Re: Last Regular season game with so much on the line
 

The bolded is very true. Cassel looked petrified to throw over the middle. When the Pats came out to start the 3rd quarter and every pass play was designed to go no farther than 5yds past the LOS, I knew then the game was over. The last several weeks he has improved immensely in hitting guys across the middle. This is also important in opening up the screen to Welker as the Pats were starting to turn that play stale and predictable.

If the Pats take off Cassel's leash in the redzone early instead of waiting to get down 24-6, I think the team has an outside shot of running the table, let alone winning in Miami.

Regards,
Chris

P.S. I think week 17 in 2002 was the last time such a pivotal game was played; Yes, I think this week is make-or-break for the playoffs.

P.P.S. Yes, I know the Pats didn't make the playoffs then, but since Pats/Miami was the early game and Jets/Packers was the late game, the Pats had no idea NY would kill their playoff hopes when they came back vs. Miami.