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...that's how I felt watching the Pats somehow win this game. It is BY FAR the most IMPROBABLE playoff win during this run. But on the other hand it shows just how MENTALLY TOUGH this team really is. Normally I like to wait a few days before I comment on a game, but today's win was so.... so out of character, I would only confuse myself if I waited, so here are MY observations for your comments
1. Well. we all wondered if the Pats could win a playoff game if Tom Brady played a poor game? Today we found out that WE COULD. This was the worst I have EVER seen Tom in the playoffs. Even in last year's loss to Denver, the offense moved the ball up and down the field. Today Brady looked as inaccurate and confused by what he was seeing, as I have ever seen him. All 3 picks were DIRECTLY his fault, not tipped balls as we have seen.
The first one to Donny Edwards was particularly bad, since HE'S the guy Brady was supposed to read. If he takes the seam route, you throw to the crossing TE (watson). If he covers the crossing TE, thorw the seam pass. Inexplicably, Edwards ignored Watson, and Brady threw to Graham in the seam ANYWAY!!??. Also disturbing was the fact he continued to miss the deep pass to open receivers.... EXCEPT the last one to Caldwell.
I think the SD defense played a GREAT game, but Brady didn't play his best. He seemed to be feeling pressure that sometimes wasn't really there. Not always, but sometimes.
BOTTOM LINE: Its actually comforting to know that Brady DOSEN'T have to ALWAYS carry the offense for this team to win.
2. The key to this game, for the Pats was the great play of our OL/TE's/RBs who did a MARVELOUS job in pass protection, especially since the game play DIDN'T seem to include running the ball. (more on that later). MEGA KUDO'S should got to Dante and his magic acts, since his players made Merriman literally DISAPPEAR.
3. Will someone please explain to me the rule that caused 2 fumbles to called "incompletions". In BOTH cases the receiver had control of the ball, 2 feet on the ground, and then turned upfield, BEFORE fumbling. I know there HAS to be sometihing I'm missing in the rule. Would someone more knowledgeable please help me understand???
4. I have changed my opinion on Assante Samuel. They threw 2 balls in his direction and he made 2 great plays on the ball. PAY THE MAN, BILL. This isn't a WR who we know can be replaced. CB is a premium position and we are going to have to pay him "Ty Law" money...or else resign...Ty Law
5. Speaking of CB's, does anyone else see this pattern - Find Ellis Hobbs and exploit him. He's the guy most likely to miss a tackle - He is the guy you can missmatch with a taller WR. I'm not saying he sucks, and he made a GREAT play breaking up a pass on the GL (but Samuel would have made the pick); but going into Indy next week the Pats should have a good idea on where the Colts are going to attack our secondary.
6. Did anyone else have the feeling that if BB was coaching the Chargers' talent, the game would have been a blow out. Be thankful we got by them this year, but that is going to be one HELLACIOUS team in the near future, whether Marty is coaching them or not.
We all knew that their front 7 was very good, but I was very impressed with their secondary. I especially liked their rookie Cromartie. He was actually the guy I hoped the Pats would tap with their first round pick. Unfortunately SD got him a couple of picks before we chose. I wonder who the Pats would have gone for if both HE and Muroney were both there.
7. Staying on the Chargers for a minute, I have new seen Phillip Rivers, and I am now suitably impressed. He was poised, made good decisions, and NEVER seemed rattled or confused by anything BB threw at him. I'd rather have him than Rothlesburger. As time goes on, he IS going to be one of the top QBs in the league.
BTW- Has any team made better moves in the draft. First they pass on Mick Vick and get LT AND Drew Brees. THEN they pass on Eli Manning and get Rivers, Merriman, AND Oben. Instead of 2 losers, they wind up with FIVE starters, 4 of whom are key factors in their team.
8. I wish we would have run the ball more. We seemed to completely give up on the run. Worse IMHO, we gave up on the run formation. While I thought (correctly BTW) that the most dangerous match up for the Pats was LT in the short passing game, I also thought that Muroney in the Passing game would be a tough match up for SD. I never got to see that evolve. I'd like to see more of what the Jets do with their RBs in the short game. Releasing the RB over the middle in combination with crossing TEs hitting the guy who ISN'T picked up by the LB
8 ADAM WHO....??????? Where do I go to sign up for the "Cult of Gotkowski" . Adam is kicking very well (a rarity among former Pats - someone who is living up to his Pats personna), but in the long run, I think the FO did the right thing, and for today at least, its working out fine.
9. Speaking of cults, it seems like old friend Dan Klecko has found a home in Indy as a FB in thier Short yardage offense, along with a little time as a pass rushing DT. I always thought his best position would end up being a full time FB. He as decent hands.
10. MARTY BALL- You can't blame Marty for a lot on this game. His team played hard and were VERY WELL Prepared. THat being said at the end of the game, he suddenly turned into Herm Edwards in terms of game management. First he never should have call for the challenge on the late fumble. Even worse was the time out later AFTER the Pats had an injury TO, the Chargers STILL couldn't get their stuff together in time to get the next play off without having to call their own TIME OUT.
Lastly on the CHargers last drive, if they had rushed to the line and spiked the ball right away they should have had about 10 seconds. That SHOULD have given them enough time to run another play and possibly get the 6 more yds the needed to get their FG kicker closer. Maybe its nitpicking. Marty is a very good coach, but he's not BB. No one else is.
11.Finally, I guess I have to comment on the LT situation at the end of the game. Frankly I'm passing it off as a fierce competitor who was VERY frustrated to be going home for the season. IMHO it was Merriman who showed poor sportsmanship with his Ray Lewis Rippoff after MERELY getting to Brady AFTER he threw the ball..... and THEN virtually DISAPPEARING for the rest of the game. If we wants to SHOWOFF iln the Pats' face, then SD SHOULDN'T get bent out of shape, when someone shoves it back into their faces WHEN THEY LOSE.
12. Like the Pats I'm going to enjoy this won, but come Monday, we all have to TURN THE PAGE and get ready for INDY. Good job BOOMER, someone got it right.
...that's how I felt watching the Pats somehow win this game. It is BY FAR the most IMPROBABLE playoff win during this run. But on the other hand it shows just how MENTALLY TOUGH this team really is. Normally I like to wait a few days before I comment on a game, but today's win was so.... so out of character, I would only confuse myself if I waited, so here are MY observations for your comments
1. Well. we all wondered if the Pats could win a playoff game if Tom Brady played a poor game? Today we found out that WE COULD. This was the worst I have EVER seen Tom in the playoffs. Even in last year's loss to Denver, the offense moved the ball up and down the field. Today Brady looked as inaccurate and confused by what he was seeing, as I have ever seen him. All 3 picks were DIRECTLY his fault, not tipped balls as we have seen.
The first one to Donny Edwards was particularly bad, since HE'S the guy Brady was supposed to read. If he takes the seam route, you throw to the crossing TE (watson). If he covers the crossing TE, thorw the seam pass. Inexplicably, Edwards ignored Watson, and Brady threw to Graham in the seam ANYWAY!!??. Also disturbing was the fact he continued to miss the deep pass to open receivers.... EXCEPT the last one to Caldwell.
I think the SD defense played a GREAT game, but Brady didn't play his best. He seemed to be feeling pressure that sometimes wasn't really there. Not always, but sometimes.
BOTTOM LINE: Its actually comforting to know that Brady DOSEN'T have to ALWAYS carry the offense for this team to win.
2. The key to this game, for the Pats was the great play of our OL/TE's/RBs who did a MARVELOUS job in pass protection, especially since the game play DIDN'T seem to include running the ball. (more on that later). MEGA KUDO'S should got to Dante and his magic acts, since his players made Merriman literally DISAPPEAR.
3. Will someone please explain to me the rule that caused 2 fumbles to called "incompletions". In BOTH cases the receiver had control of the ball, 2 feet on the ground, and then turned upfield, BEFORE fumbling. I know there HAS to be sometihing I'm missing in the rule. Would someone more knowledgeable please help me understand???
4. I have changed my opinion on Assante Samuel. They threw 2 balls in his direction and he made 2 great plays on the ball. PAY THE MAN, BILL. This isn't a WR who we know can be replaced. CB is a premium position and we are going to have to pay him "Ty Law" money...or else resign...Ty Law
5. Speaking of CB's, does anyone else see this pattern - Find Ellis Hobbs and exploit him. He's the guy most likely to miss a tackle - He is the guy you can missmatch with a taller WR. I'm not saying he sucks, and he made a GREAT play breaking up a pass on the GL (but Samuel would have made the pick); but going into Indy next week the Pats should have a good idea on where the Colts are going to attack our secondary.
6. Did anyone else have the feeling that if BB was coaching the Chargers' talent, the game would have been a blow out. Be thankful we got by them this year, but that is going to be one HELLACIOUS team in the near future, whether Marty is coaching them or not.
We all knew that their front 7 was very good, but I was very impressed with their secondary. I especially liked their rookie Cromartie. He was actually the guy I hoped the Pats would tap with their first round pick. Unfortunately SD got him a couple of picks before we chose. I wonder who the Pats would have gone for if both HE and Muroney were both there.
7. Staying on the Chargers for a minute, I have new seen Phillip Rivers, and I am now suitably impressed. He was poised, made good decisions, and NEVER seemed rattled or confused by anything BB threw at him. I'd rather have him than Rothlesburger. As time goes on, he IS going to be one of the top QBs in the league.
BTW- Has any team made better moves in the draft. First they pass on Mick Vick and get LT AND Drew Brees. THEN they pass on Eli Manning and get Rivers, Merriman, AND Oben. Instead of 2 losers, they wind up with FIVE starters, 4 of whom are key factors in their team.
8. I wish we would have run the ball more. We seemed to completely give up on the run. Worse IMHO, we gave up on the run formation. While I thought (correctly BTW) that the most dangerous match up for the Pats was LT in the short passing game, I also thought that Muroney in the Passing game would be a tough match up for SD. I never got to see that evolve. I'd like to see more of what the Jets do with their RBs in the short game. Releasing the RB over the middle in combination with crossing TEs hitting the guy who ISN'T picked up by the LB
8 ADAM WHO....??????? Where do I go to sign up for the "Cult of Gotkowski" . Adam is kicking very well (a rarity among former Pats - someone who is living up to his Pats personna), but in the long run, I think the FO did the right thing, and for today at least, its working out fine.
9. Speaking of cults, it seems like old friend Dan Klecko has found a home in Indy as a FB in thier Short yardage offense, along with a little time as a pass rushing DT. I always thought his best position would end up being a full time FB. He as decent hands.
10. MARTY BALL- You can't blame Marty for a lot on this game. His team played hard and were VERY WELL Prepared. THat being said at the end of the game, he suddenly turned into Herm Edwards in terms of game management. First he never should have call for the challenge on the late fumble. Even worse was the time out later AFTER the Pats had an injury TO, the Chargers STILL couldn't get their stuff together in time to get the next play off without having to call their own TIME OUT.
Lastly on the CHargers last drive, if they had rushed to the line and spiked the ball right away they should have had about 10 seconds. That SHOULD have given them enough time to run another play and possibly get the 6 more yds the needed to get their FG kicker closer. Maybe its nitpicking. Marty is a very good coach, but he's not BB. No one else is.
11.Finally, I guess I have to comment on the LT situation at the end of the game. Frankly I'm passing it off as a fierce competitor who was VERY frustrated to be going home for the season. IMHO it was Merriman who showed poor sportsmanship with his Ray Lewis Rippoff after MERELY getting to Brady AFTER he threw the ball..... and THEN virtually DISAPPEARING for the rest of the game. If we wants to SHOWOFF iln the Pats' face, then SD SHOULDN'T get bent out of shape, when someone shoves it back into their faces WHEN THEY LOSE.
12. Like the Pats I'm going to enjoy this won, but come Monday, we all have to TURN THE PAGE and get ready for INDY. Good job BOOMER, someone got it right.