Formula is simple - Brady plays great = Patriot win

[cstjohn17]

The defense is really just along for the ride. Brady is Larry Bird and Bobby Orr rolled into one. These are the glory days.

Every game comes down to whether or not Brady can play at a superior level.
Tom Brady: Game Logs at NFL.com

The odds are he will need the rest of the team to win one for him. It would be beyond orgasmic if that game happened to be the Jets. Imagine if the Patriots beat the Jets with Brady having an off day and the Patriots defense smothers the life out of Sanchez.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The defense is really just along for the ride. Brady is Larry Bird and Bobby Orr rolled into one. These are the glory days.

Every game comes down to whether or not Brady can play at a superior level.
Tom Brady: Game Logs at NFL.com

The odds are he will need the rest of the team to win one for him. It would be beyond orgasmic if that game happened to be the Jets. Imagine if the Patriots beat the Jets with Brady in TFB mode and the Patriots defense smothers the life out of Sanchez.

I prefer my version.

 

[Pessimistic Pete]

We won back-to-back games without Brady playing great.

vs Ravens, @ Chargers

 

[Patspsycho]

The truth is that the Patriots win when everyone does their job. Today was a huge step forward when the players on D did not succumb to the temptation of trying to make plays by themselves, even when they were down 14-3. They stayed within the boundaries of their jobs and it paid off handsomely.

Also despite the yardage they gave up, they held the Lions to 7 points in the 2nd half. That is the important stat.

 

[Kontradiction]

The truth is that the Patriots win when everyone does their job. Today was a huge step forward when the players on D did not succumb to the temptation of trying to make plays by themselves, even when they were down 14-3. They stayed within the boundaries of their jobs and it paid off handsomely.

Also despite the yardage they gave up, they held the Lions to 7 points in the 2nd half. That is the important stat.

If we're being honest, the Lions' ineptitude also helped that stat, though. But it definitely takes two to tango and the defense DID improve upon their otherwise putrid first half performance.

 

[Patspsycho]

If we're being honest, the Lions' ineptitude also helped that stat, though. But it definitely takes two to tango and the defense DID improve upon their otherwise putrid first half performance.

The Lions ineptitude eventually did.. However, up to a point in the game (probably the McCourty interception), they were holding their own, and were up 14-3 on us, and that is what I am crediting the defense team effort for- they did not panic.