Grogan's Grade: Week 11

[PatsFans.com Article]

Former New England Patriots Quarterback Steve Grogan Reviews the Week 11 match-up: New England vs Philadelphia

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[psychoPat]

Just What BB Expected

Bill Belichick began his postgame press conference by saying the game went as they expected. Am I wrong, or did most of Patriots Nation expect another easy, one-sided victory?

Steve Grogan: Bill Belichick expected the game to be that close, huh? Wow, he’s an amazing guy, isn’t he? It was not the kind of game I expected. The Eagles played a lot better than I thought they would, particularly on offense. I didn’t think the Patriots played all that poorly but I was really impressed with how important the Eagles made the game seem to them. They really came out with a lot of emotion and had a great game plan. Every team has come into the game with something to prove against the Patriots and no one has been able to stay with them until this game. ....

I think BB was telling the truth when he said it was what he expected.
He spends all week lauding the next opponent.
I think he really believes it.

We all know about Any Given Sunday. Bill takes that to heart.
It's just that, on most Sundays, they haven't been coming near the Patriots.
That doesn't mean BB was wrong to think Cleveland ... Dallas ... Indy ... and each of the others ... COULD.
It's just that usually they don't.
Eagles almost did.
Just as he knew they were capable of doing.

Sure going to be easier to hammer that into the players now!

 

[VJCPatriot]

I think the grades were fair given the performance. The Patriots need to step things up. I think this is a wakeup call game. They need to be ready for the Ravens.

 

[ClevTrev]

BB will never admit this, he never admits anything. The Eagles game is exactly what BB wanted and at the perfect time. His constant lauding of opponents can often be filtered by the players as the team reels off success after success. He needed a game like this to get the players' attention, particularly against a team that had been struggling. Now he's got their attention and can hammer home the idea that every opponent will be ready for the Patriots for the rest of the season. Perfect timing.