RelocatedPatFan
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2009
- Messages
- 6,913
- Reaction score
- 5,724
And if you aren't feeling optimistic, what would make you feel more optimism?
The Patriots are 4-1 after taking a lackluster performance by the offense against what many thought would be a playoff contender in the Cincinnati Bengals. Brady’s streak of consecutive games with a passing TD ended at 52. The offensive line seemed to have issues and the running game couldn’t provide the relief needed to establish the passing game. After losing Wilfork the week before, Patriots nation was miserable when Kelly went down with a non-contact injury. The Defense played well enough to win this game and it may be the first time the patriots lost a game when they held their opponents to 13 points or less (or it’s been a long time since that happened).
What’s optimistic
We’re 4-1. Even a loss this week will still have us atop the AFCE. While the Dolphins have their bye this week, they can’t claim the top spot until week 8. And, they can only do that by stopping us on our home field. It’s about time we played games that mattered this early in the season (against divisional teams).
Defense. While we seem to be running out of able bodies able to clog the middle of the field, we do have the mad scientist BB managing the helm and the rest of the D is looking good (well, we do seem to have issues with athletic TE’s, but who doesn’t?) While our yardage stats seem middle to bottom 2/3, our team ranks #2 in points allowed. At the end of the day, the scoreboard really only cares about points.
Team offense Is it possible for Brady to have 2 bad games in a row? I expect Dante Scarnecchia will have settled any issues on the Oline, even if w have to replace our Center this week (Which isn’t as bad for us as some teams). When we get Ridley back, we’ll have better balance. When we get Vereen back, we have the ability to open the field. IF we get Gronk back, we have the ability to dominate. Lots of ifs, but it’s optimism, not a crystal ball
Schedule. After the Saints, we got to the Jets, host Miami, host Steelers and then have a well timed bye. We should beat the Jets, I don’t care how much positive press they seem to have and how we barely beat them. Miama, could go either way, but we have to take care of the division if we want to make the playoffs. The Steelers, well they’re glad the Jags/Giants are expected to be the worst team in football thus far.
Mild concerns
Patriots Nation After looking at our “Predict the Score Contest”, hosted by Alamo, it appears that Patriot Nation is reeling and anticipating another loss. Is this just a reaction to last weeks fiasco, a sign of troubling times ahead, or just that the Saints are that dominant (though they do seem to have our number in the last few matchups as I recall). We’re at home and we have lots of the Patriots faithful fearing for a loss. Can’t blame them, how many injuries can a team overcome before they need some time for the “next man up” to get settled into the starter role.
Gronk’s return This weeke it seemed to go from a matter of if and not when. While we have a Doctor
What’s on my nerves
Injuries. While no team will ever admit injuries derail their season, we fans have that luxury. At the current pace the team is getting injured, we might not even be able to have the necessary number of game day active people on the roster (without cutting and injured player). Hopefully, the PS players are starting to step up because they are the next man up.
The hits. Not the ones on the field, but from the bad press. Doctors, Gronk’s status, injuries. I’m not sure if some of it’s piling on after the whistle or if it’s been unusually quiet this week. I’ve been tuned out, but there just seems to be a negative vibe to everything. Not sure if it’s me because I thought I was at peace with the loss (losses are going to happen and atleast it was to a defensively good team and not a trap game)
What’s on my mind
I shouldn't be enjoying the Giants demise, but I am. After denying us the last 2 Superbowls, I’m actively rooting for them to be bad. I just want to see them improve enough so they don’t get a top 3 draft pick. Can we spell elite without Eli now? They typically don't gain momentum until the end of the season, but I think they've dug themselves a deep hole. Even if it is in the previously thought of as dominant NFCE.
The advantages to being tuned out or otherwise real busy this week is that I haven’t heard the press fawning all over Pyyton this week. But, it does have the look and feel of something special… It really hurts to say that, but its inevitable and you have to appreciate it because Peyton did get to decide where he wanted to play and by all accounts, he chose wisely. Getting the best slot receiver in the game I think is what makes it awful for me.
I'm numb this week[/b[ Maybe it's lack of sleep catching up to me or my lack of reading the news (though you'd think that'd make me feel better), but I'm numb this week. I'll definitely be watching the game and while it feels like a game we can lose (and we would have said that before week 1), it feels more likely after last week. I'll be most interested to see how the team responds after last weeks performance.
We won the toss and decided for the offense to take the field first Is this going against what coaches expect or is there a reason for this shift in philosophy (better defense)?
The Patriots are 4-1 after taking a lackluster performance by the offense against what many thought would be a playoff contender in the Cincinnati Bengals. Brady’s streak of consecutive games with a passing TD ended at 52. The offensive line seemed to have issues and the running game couldn’t provide the relief needed to establish the passing game. After losing Wilfork the week before, Patriots nation was miserable when Kelly went down with a non-contact injury. The Defense played well enough to win this game and it may be the first time the patriots lost a game when they held their opponents to 13 points or less (or it’s been a long time since that happened).
What’s optimistic
We’re 4-1. Even a loss this week will still have us atop the AFCE. While the Dolphins have their bye this week, they can’t claim the top spot until week 8. And, they can only do that by stopping us on our home field. It’s about time we played games that mattered this early in the season (against divisional teams).
Defense. While we seem to be running out of able bodies able to clog the middle of the field, we do have the mad scientist BB managing the helm and the rest of the D is looking good (well, we do seem to have issues with athletic TE’s, but who doesn’t?) While our yardage stats seem middle to bottom 2/3, our team ranks #2 in points allowed. At the end of the day, the scoreboard really only cares about points.
Team offense Is it possible for Brady to have 2 bad games in a row? I expect Dante Scarnecchia will have settled any issues on the Oline, even if w have to replace our Center this week (Which isn’t as bad for us as some teams). When we get Ridley back, we’ll have better balance. When we get Vereen back, we have the ability to open the field. IF we get Gronk back, we have the ability to dominate. Lots of ifs, but it’s optimism, not a crystal ball
Schedule. After the Saints, we got to the Jets, host Miami, host Steelers and then have a well timed bye. We should beat the Jets, I don’t care how much positive press they seem to have and how we barely beat them. Miama, could go either way, but we have to take care of the division if we want to make the playoffs. The Steelers, well they’re glad the Jags/Giants are expected to be the worst team in football thus far.
Mild concerns
Patriots Nation After looking at our “Predict the Score Contest”, hosted by Alamo, it appears that Patriot Nation is reeling and anticipating another loss. Is this just a reaction to last weeks fiasco, a sign of troubling times ahead, or just that the Saints are that dominant (though they do seem to have our number in the last few matchups as I recall). We’re at home and we have lots of the Patriots faithful fearing for a loss. Can’t blame them, how many injuries can a team overcome before they need some time for the “next man up” to get settled into the starter role.
Gronk’s return This weeke it seemed to go from a matter of if and not when. While we have a Doctor
What’s on my nerves
Injuries. While no team will ever admit injuries derail their season, we fans have that luxury. At the current pace the team is getting injured, we might not even be able to have the necessary number of game day active people on the roster (without cutting and injured player). Hopefully, the PS players are starting to step up because they are the next man up.
The hits. Not the ones on the field, but from the bad press. Doctors, Gronk’s status, injuries. I’m not sure if some of it’s piling on after the whistle or if it’s been unusually quiet this week. I’ve been tuned out, but there just seems to be a negative vibe to everything. Not sure if it’s me because I thought I was at peace with the loss (losses are going to happen and atleast it was to a defensively good team and not a trap game)
What’s on my mind
I shouldn't be enjoying the Giants demise, but I am. After denying us the last 2 Superbowls, I’m actively rooting for them to be bad. I just want to see them improve enough so they don’t get a top 3 draft pick. Can we spell elite without Eli now? They typically don't gain momentum until the end of the season, but I think they've dug themselves a deep hole. Even if it is in the previously thought of as dominant NFCE.
The advantages to being tuned out or otherwise real busy this week is that I haven’t heard the press fawning all over Pyyton this week. But, it does have the look and feel of something special… It really hurts to say that, but its inevitable and you have to appreciate it because Peyton did get to decide where he wanted to play and by all accounts, he chose wisely. Getting the best slot receiver in the game I think is what makes it awful for me.
I'm numb this week[/b[ Maybe it's lack of sleep catching up to me or my lack of reading the news (though you'd think that'd make me feel better), but I'm numb this week. I'll definitely be watching the game and while it feels like a game we can lose (and we would have said that before week 1), it feels more likely after last week. I'll be most interested to see how the team responds after last weeks performance.
We won the toss and decided for the offense to take the field first Is this going against what coaches expect or is there a reason for this shift in philosophy (better defense)?
