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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Exactly, the wins-loss projection thing is so dumb.Not sure what the OP means by these wins-losses. It's a moot point wether the Patriots will be a 9-7, 10-6, 11-5, or 12-3 teams. Knock on wood...but I doubt that the team will be suckage this year, as long as you have BB and Brady.
Belichick always for some reason have this team ready and in contention year in and year out...no matter what the situation. Even in 2008...with Cassel as a starter...we were one Brett Favre come back away from making the playoffs.
The question is...are the Patriots good enough to win the Division and elite enough to do some damage in the Playoffs this year. That's what you should be asking...and not about wins and losses...
Baltimore, NYJ, Miami, SD and Indy, are light years better than the us, wheather you like to admit or not...
This team will be one of 12 to make the playoffs, As fans, that's all we can really ask for every year, and for the most part we get it.
I have no interest in being part of a fanbase who start acting like Yankees fans - entitled and fattened, bored and predictable, acerbic and full of hubris.
The roster as constituted was already a playoff team, albeit a marginal one due to defensive weaknesses. As the D continues to grow together, with new blood and veterans sprinkled in, this team will rise again... but whether or not they will rise to the level of true SB contender remains to be seen. Enjoy the ride!
All I can say is, this run of success beats years of watching Rod Rust and **** McPherson patrol the sidelines... 3-13, 2-14 year after year.
Been a fan since 78, I guess when your team has a hall of fame Qb on your roster you should surround him with hall of fame or pro bowl talent... That would be my only frustration... I guess when you dont get excited over every pick or every FA signed or everybody that makes 2 catches a game , and think your team is a few steps behind teams that beat you once, your a anti fan on this board.. But let the chips fall where they may...
I dont care if the Pats do go 9 - 7 as long as they clinch the last AFC wildcard spot and win their last 4 games of the 2010 season.
Victory taste sweeter on the road and it would be a dream come true to b1tchslap the mouthy Jets out of the post season in their house.
And you must of had your homer pie for breakfest lunch and dinner.. The sky is not falling, but its not going to be raising any banners in 10 right now either...
OK, I'll play along. Certainly none of those teams were "light years better" than the Pats last year. The Pats have much more talent this year without losing anyone of significance. They do need some youngsters to step up, but they have a lot of options...meaning their margin for error is relatively large. What about these other teams?
Ravens - Boldin is fine but who else they got at WR? How are they better than the Pats? Reed is an injury risk and isn't even 100% certain to play again. Other than him, their secondary is weak. Brady had a horrific game in the playoffs. I wouldn't count on that happening every week.
Jets - They were 7-7 after 14 games. For all their acquisitions, the only certain upgrade is at CB (WR only after 4 games). They are a running team with a lead back 6 months younger than Maroney who only has 5 career games with 12+ carries. The DL is questionable. Their new safety is a big hit away from being fed pudding for the rest of his life. And they are breaking in a retread kicker that Dallas couldn't wait to get rid of.
Fins - They have Marshall at WR and who else? You like their OLB situation better than the Pats? The wildcat isn't a big deal anymore and their RBs are question marks.
Chargers - Have holes all over their roster. Their secondary is a heaping pile of mediocrity.
Colts - Can't run or stop the run. Even their GM hates their OL.
All of these teams are good, but they all have faults and question marks entering this season. Just like the Pats do. You are hyper-sensitive to uncertainty for the Pats but totally willing to give other teams the benefit of the doubt.
The Pats have Cincy, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Buffalo(x2) and a rebuilding Pitt team on the schedule. Most of the remaining schedule is at home. The Pats could be 9-7 or worse, but I wouldn't count on that if they stay relatively healthy.
There will be a year when the Pats don't finish with the best record in the AFC East. Keep predicting it long enough and you will be right eventually. I just wouldn't recommend taking your predictions to Vegas quite yet.
OK, I'll play along. Certainly none of those teams were "light years better" than the Pats last year. The Pats have much more talent this year without losing anyone of significance. They do need some youngsters to step up, but they have a lot of options...meaning their margin for error is relatively large. What about these other teams?
Ravens - Boldin is fine but who else they got at WR? How are they better than the Pats? Reed is an injury risk and isn't even 100% certain to play again. Other than him, their secondary is weak. Brady had a horrific game in the playoffs. I wouldn't count on that happening every week.
Jets - They were 7-7 after 14 games. For all their acquisitions, the only certain upgrade is at CB (WR only after 4 games). They are a running team with a lead back 6 months younger than Maroney who only has 5 career games with 12+ carries. The DL is questionable. Their new safety is a big hit away from being fed pudding for the rest of his life. And they are breaking in a retread kicker that Dallas couldn't wait to get rid of.
Fins - They have Marshall at WR and who else? You like their OLB situation better than the Pats? The wildcat isn't a big deal anymore and their RBs are question marks.
Chargers - Have holes all over their roster. Their secondary is a heaping pile of mediocrity.
Colts - Can't run or stop the run. Even their GM hates their OL.
All of these teams are good, but they all have faults and question marks entering this season. Just like the Pats do. You are hyper-sensitive to uncertainty for the Pats but totally willing to give other teams the benefit of the doubt.
The Pats have Cincy, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Buffalo(x2) and a rebuilding Pitt team on the schedule. Most of the remaining schedule is at home. The Pats could be 9-7 or worse, but I wouldn't count on that if they stay relatively healthy.
There will be a year when the Pats don't finish with the best record in the AFC East. Keep predicting it long enough and you will be right eventually. I just wouldn't recommend taking your predictions to Vegas quite yet.
The future looks bright, but the team is still lacking some weapons to be a threat in the AFC in 2010...
The future looks bright, but the team is still lacking some weapons to be a threat in the AFC in 2010...
Right now we might be the 5th or 6th best team..
Baltimore, NYJ, Miami, SD and Indy, are light years better than the us, wheather you like to admit or not...
Yes we have Brady, and Belichick but there are still some questions...
OLB- is a huge question mark... , RB who is the back??? and yes WR is a issue..
Why is WR a issue - what will Randy Moss be??? how long is Welker out?? is Holt the next Gaffney or Galloway???, Edleman and Tate ,espically Tate is a huge question mark at best... Cant expect Pryce or Patten to be the awnser...
OLB starters right now are TBC, Nikovitch and Woods... Dont tell me Cunningham will be the starting OLB week 1... He is a year away yet...
I couldt agree more with most of what u say here...great post.....however, disagree that Baltimore will be favorite in afc.....feel that early honor goes to the hated jets.
We have done nothing to bolster our questionable running game, and our weak off line issues.....light and kaczur are turnstiles and almost got Brady killed last year.....lastly, WR position is far from settled......well not back until end of season........moss lost step last year and seems to have a half ASSED approach and takes downs off
The future looks bright, but the team is still lacking some weapons to be a threat in the AFC in 2010...
Right now we might be the 5th or 6th best team..
Baltimore, NYJ, Miami, SD and Indy, are light years better than the us, wheather you like to admit or not...
Yes we have Brady, and Belichick but there are still some questions...
OLB- is a huge question mark... , RB who is the back??? and yes WR is a issue..
Why is WR a issue - what will Randy Moss be??? how long is Welker out?? is Holt the next Gaffney or Galloway???, Edleman and Tate ,espically Tate is a huge question mark at best... Cant expect Pryce or Patten to be the awnser...
OLB starters right now are TBC, Nikovitch and Woods... Dont tell me Cunningham will be the starting OLB week 1... He is a year away yet...
As a AFC fav, its the ravens, and we have a chance in the divison, but there are too many questions and key spots to say we are a super bowl or even a playoff team right now...
I figured the relative quiet here this afternoon was like the lull before the storm of whiners got their second wind. No surprise who is leading the charge. The executive VP of the sky is falling contingent...Sean is off his anxiety meds again. And as is always the case, misery loves company...
The future looks bright, but the team is still lacking some weapons to be a threat in the AFC in 2010...
Right now we might be the 5th or 6th best team..
Baltimore, NYJ, Miami, SD and Indy, are light years better than the us, wheather you like to admit or not...
Yes we have Brady, and Belichick but there are still some questions...
OLB- is a huge question mark... , RB who is the back??? and yes WR is a issue..
Why is WR a issue - what will Randy Moss be??? how long is Welker out?? is Holt the next Gaffney or Galloway???, Edleman and Tate ,espically Tate is a huge question mark at best... Cant expect Pryce or Patten to be the awnser...
OLB starters right now are TBC, Nikovitch and Woods... Dont tell me Cunningham will be the starting OLB week 1... He is a year away yet...
As a AFC fav, its the ravens, and we have a chance in the divison, but there are too many questions and key spots to say we are a super bowl or even a playoff team right now...
I can't believe how many people are jumping on the Baltimore, Miami, and NYJ bandwagons saying that they are far and away better than the Pats because of a few big name signings and trades. These teams have just as many problems or questions that the Pats have right now. The only AFC teams that I feel may be ahead of the Pats AT THIS MOMENT are Indy and SD. NY, Balt, Miami, Cincy, Pitt, and Houston are AT BEST even with the Pats.
Baltimore traded for Boldin to improve their WR corps, but they also have huge questions at CB and S (aside from Ed Reed) especially after not addressing either position at the draft. They'll most likely have problems with any team that spreads them out similar to what the Pats did to Minnesota a few years ago. Plus I'm still not sold on Flacco being a top flight QB. People overrate his ability to throw deep (since he usually under throws the ball but has receivers that can adjust to the poorly thrown ball) and he also seemed to regress as the season went along last year. Add in the fact that he has been miserable in the playoffs (5 games / 57 for 120 / 660 yds / 1 TD / 6 INT).
NYJ made a few big name moves by acquiring Cromartie, Holmes, and LT. While these are well known players, LT is on his last legs, Cromartie has played well for only half of one season, and Holmes is facing a suspension (plus he plays opposite of another troubled receiver with stone hands). So none are guaranteed to improve the team. At the same time, they decided to weaken the power run game that they relied on last year by releasing Jones and Faneca and may also damage their run stopping capabilities if the rumors are true and they release both Ellis and Thomas. Also, Sanchez hasn't proven anything yet (and I'm not so sure he'll turn into a top 8 QB), and will have to take a much greater role if the running game takes a step back. Plus it feels as though people forget that the only reason the Jets made the playoffs last year was because both the Colts and Bengals laid down because the games were meaningless to them.
Miami has had an offseason similar to the Jets although I think that they may be in a better position than the Jets. They brought in a few big name players (Dansby and Marshall - both of which are better than the players NYJ acquired), but they are also facing high turnover at some defensive positions (like OLB where they lost their top two pass rushers). Although I did like how their draft focus was to improve the depth of the defense. Ronnie Brown is also coming off another severe injury. His return will help, but he may no longer be the same explosive player. In addition to all of that, they also have an unproven QB leading their offense in Henne. Henne has shown flashes of being a top flight QB and has good targets in Marshall, Bess, Camarillo, and company.