I hope the Pats enjoy the bye because the next 4 games define the season
 

People say its what you do in December that counts and while that is somewhat true,for this season its what the Patriots do in November thats REALLY going to define thier season for them.

I think if the team can win 3 games in November it will put them in the thick of the AFC title race going into december and probably where they can control their destiny unlike last season where we had to hope things happen here and there.

Of course they have to play rivals Miami and the Jets at Gillette and on the road against the NFL's 2 best teams,the Colts and the Saints all in november and thats quite a tough road to go through but I think the team is certainly capable of beating at least 3 of these teams if Brady continues to progress towards his normal routine.

Just 2 or 3 wins will put us in contention,we cannot afford to lose more than 2 and I don't think we should have a problem with that.

I think we will win the 2 games at home and upset the Colts but lose to the Saints although the Saints actually are the least important game of this stretch since they are an NFC team.

If we can handle the games at home against division rivals and beat the Colts at Indy,this team will be looking prime for at least a #3 seed no matter even if they have a so so december.

I think we shall see a record of 8-3 or 7-4 come December 1st

How do you see the Pats in the month of November?

Re: I hope the Pats enjoy the bye because the next 4 games define the season
 

if the patswin their 3 div games and lose to the colts and saints i will take it. its very tough stretch especially @saints on MNF and then @miami on SNF.
personally the miami games with their physical running game worry me.
i think the home games with miami and jets are must wins .

Re: I hope the Pats enjoy the bye because the next 4 games define the season
 

All things being equal I think the Colts & Saints games are the only two we won't look good for going in. Sure we could play a really bad game and lose to Miami, Houston or whoever but I think it's smooth sailing from here. Absolute worst case we lose to N.O., Indy and one more for 11-5. Realistic worst case we win out except for Indy and N.O. for 12-4. I just think we're better than the other teams on the schedule and should be putting things together to prevent more "bad game" hiccups like the ones that have cost us two wins already.

Re: I hope the Pats enjoy the bye because the next 4 games define the season
 

Couldn' agree more, Patriotsfaninpa. I'm not sure how the wins & losses with shake out but I like 2 home wins vs the Jets and Fins for sure.

MIA away scares me. The fact of the matter is that MIA may just be a typical year 2 of the Parcells regime and take a step back before going forward in year 3. Pats should eek that one out.

Indy is a good team no question. I think the Pats are better.

The Saints are the class of the NFC. We may be catching them at the wrong time..

3-2 is likely. 4-1 would be el primo.

Re: I hope the Pats enjoy the bye because the next 4 games define the season
 

we will be favorites for both home games and dogs for both road games...I would expect 2-2 through this stretch though 3-1 (or sadly 1-3) wouldn't really shock me

In one of the recent "non-Lombardi" years--don't remember if it was '02, '05, or '06--the Pats had one of those seasons where they looked better than they really were, as they ended up beating all the bad teams and losing to all the good teams. While I don't think this year's team is a clone of that one, I do think that this team is not a complete team yet. The D is learning and progressing, but the O still worries me. The running game is iffy with the injuries, Brady's still not 100% back to form (IMO he regressed a bit this past weekend), the O line is in flux a bit with Light and Vollmer, Welker's working back to 100% but Moss is now dinged up, there's no clear #3 wideout...

So, it would not surprise me in the least if they beat the Fins and Jets at home but lost both road games. No shame in that because, frankly, right now, the Colts and Saints might be better teams, and they ARE on the road. Still, even going .500 would put them at 7-4.

IMO it's actually those final five games that will be most telling. By that point, the team should be pretty well in a groove, and what we see will be what we get. If Brady's still off-target, and Maroney is the only running threat and he's falling forward for 2 yards every time... The last five games are, in order, at Miami, Carolina at Gillette, at Buffalo, the Jags at Gillette, and at Houston. If the Pats aren't playing their best, they can easily lose at Miami and at Houston (who is looking pretty decent). Which means even if they beat the woeful Panthers, Bills on the road (which is never easy), and Jags at home, they might still finish 10-6 and out of the running.

Long story short, I don't think the Colts and Saints games are nearly as important as the two Miami games, the Jets game (especially since they're right behind the Pats in the standings, and have a win in hand), and, surprisingly enough, that final game in Houston.

Re: I hope the Pats enjoy the bye because the next 4 games define the season
 

1-3 would put the team in serious jeopardy of the playoffs but its been quite some time since the team lost 2 games in a row which means the team would have to lose 2 games in a row to do that, so 1-3 is a longshot at best.

Re: I hope the Pats enjoy the bye because the next 4 games define the season
 

2-2 with losses @ Indy and NO. Not a critique on the Pats as much as it's what I think of those teams, especially in their (very loud) domes. I just hope the Pats don't go completely to the shotgun in those games because in the noisy environment the Pats will defer to Brady's comfort zone. Indy and NO have the pass rush to tee off on a one-dimensional offense. If the Pats can execute a well-crafted gameplan, yet still lose, I can accept that.

Regards,
Chris

Re: I hope the Pats enjoy the bye because the next 4 games define the season
 

I don't see us losing to Indy. They might have a spiffy record, but it's not like they've been playing upper-echelon teams so far.

respects,

Re: I hope the Pats enjoy the bye because the next 4 games define the season
 

Anyone know what Brady's record is right now playing inside of Domes?

I remember he was once undefeated at 10-0 inside,but what is it now?