You heard it here first
 

The last five minutes of Sunday's game was an abomination and I'm among the most pissed off fans on this forum.

That said, I mentioned this in another thread and I'm a big enough attention leech to make another thread devoted to it.

If the Patriots beat the Jets by a convincing margin (two touchdowns would be the standard, but it depends on overall quality of play as the scoreboard can make a game look closer than it really is, etc., etc.), I'm calling that they win at New Orleans and run the tables for a 13–3 regular season record, the #2 seed, and a AFC Championship Game berth, minimum.

With 20/20 hindsight, I have no idea what we, myself included, were thinking expecting an automatically stellar team the first half of this season. Sports fans tend not to understand the concept that some seasons simply must be devoted to rebuilding, and that's what happened during the offseason to New England's defense. At Indy, the team as a whole pretty much proved that the Titans and Bucs routs were not a case of the Decent Team Ruins Awful Team scenario. I maintain my stance that the coaching staff (and, moreover, the officiating crew) tanked at the end of the game, but holistically you can chalk up last night's game as a win. 6–3 is a damn good record for a rebuilding season.

Long story short: If you ask me, one tightrope regular season game against the top-ranked team in the league is a bit of a red herring.

(Buckles on flameproof vest.) You heard it here first.

/rant

Re: You heard it here first
 

The 1 seed is better but the pats proved they can go into a hostile environment in Indy and win on primetime. Of course, it's better if it's snowing out there but hey...

Re: You heard it here first
 

This team won't run any tables as long as it keep imploding on the road.

Re: You heard it here first
 

crypto, didn't you get the memo?

The sky is falling and the season is over.

Re: You heard it here first
 

rofl............... i am beginning to wonder when ppl will post threads for bb and tb etc to retire.......rofl................it was just a game, a gamble which could have gone wither way..........i say we still win the devision and God willing 'THE SUPERBOWL'..............

Re: You heard it here first
 

I wish but 12-4 and another heartbreaking playoff loss is more like it.

Re: You heard it here first
 

I would tend to agree. If the Pats had lost this game 35-20, then what would we be saying today? Bad game, but we'll see you again in the playoffs? Since it was such a crusher of a loss, we tend to overstate its importance.

I was thoroughly impressed with the way both sides of the ball played for most of the game last night. The defense, especially, held the Colts to a record number of punts and a few turnovers too. At one point in the game, I could imagine a Colts fan saying "Who are these guys and when did the Pats' defense suddenly get so good?" I really do think this up-and-coming young group of Mayo, Meriweather, Wilfork, Warren, McGowan, Guyton, Wright, Chung, Pryor, Butler, Wilhite, et al is really starting to come together. And that's even without Warren, Green, TBC, and Springs for most of last night's game.

I wouldn't put it past this defense to turn in some dominant performances in the playoffs. As far as the offense goes, just keep in mind that Morris almost returned this week and Taylor isn't very far behind. They should give the Pats a solid running game to carry them into the bad weather portion of the season. It's good to have Edelman back too.

If you look at the big picture, this loss wasn't as bad as it may have looked. The worst thing the Pats lost was the potential for HFA/#1 seed, the opportunity to stop the Colts' perfect regular season (tying Pats' record), and an opportunity to stop the Colts' 17-game regular season winning streak (2006-08 Pats have the record of 21).

But come January and hopefully February, this loss won't mean very much. Which makes it a whole lot more palatable than the Colts' AFCC loss or the Giants SB loss. If anything, it gives me confidence the Pats can beat the Colts on the road when everything is on the line.

Re: You heard it here first
 

I disagree. If that were the Broncos or Jets, We would have smoked them.

Manning's horseshoe up his butt will slip out some day.

Re: You heard it here first
 

Your sarcasm radar seems to be malfunctioning.

Denver and Indianapolis are the two hardest stadiums to win in as the visiting team in the league. Get a grip.

Re: You heard it here first
 

I like how you conveniently failed to mention the Jets game.

And I already have a grip.