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Your weekly, drunken, ass version of a better weekly thread. Thanks to @VrabelJr for the name.
This week, I'm drinking Suktinis because it's the second strongest one I've got on hand. It's a lovely mead from the homeland clocking in at 100 proof. Alas, the 150 proof Zalgiris mead was considered an explosive by the TSA/authorities in Europe and I wasn't allowed to bring it on the flight.
We could have used some explosive(nes)s in Foxboro today...
You ever find yourself late on a Saturday night at a bar, when you've spotted a gorgeous woman across the way. She's smiling back at you, inviting you over with her eyes. You think to yourself, now this is going to be a good night. But as you stand up to make your move, you realize you've vomited and pissed on yourself, and your pants are missing, and you can't even remember what happened afterward because you blacked out and woke up in a jail cell two counties over. You realize, only too late, that you were in no shape to make a play and you wished you had gone home hours earlier, never having even tried.
And that's the segue to Week 13 and the New England Patriots.
It's not that there was never any hope. Zappe had somehow managed to win games last year. The defense is doing its job, for the most part, and maybe a pick six, combined with a safety and good field position, setting up a field goal, could be enough to win the game. Alas, by the end, it wasn't to be. I've got a handful of observations and drunken insights to share (give them their appropriate due):
Weird Stats: The Pats lead the lead in one-score losses. One of the forum members got killed in a thread for suggesting that the Pats might actually be a playoff contender with some offensive tweaking. But he has a point, and it's one that's been true for two seasons now. This team is a playoff contender with even a league-average offense. Considering that a league-average offense is scoring around 22 points a game, ask yourself this. If the Pats scored only 22 points in every game this year, what would their record be? 6-6. Ok, not amazing, but they're in the hunt. Getting rid of a pick/fumble six or two might also get you another win. It's just interesting to think about. Either way, this ain't the 1990 Pats.
Also, there has only been one other time since 2009 that the Pats held opponents to 10 or fewer points in three consecutive games (2021). The defense is not world beating, but they're doing their job. The 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009 Pats all have three consecutive games like this...those were good times (yeah, even 09).
Zappe Hour: In the end, he didn't get done, but if ever there was a best case scenario for people who want a high draft pick, but could no longer stomach the panicked dynamic with Mac, Bailey Zappe delivered. On the upside, he resisted the intrusive thoughts to chuck the ball up while being spun into a sack on two different occasions. There were even players there ready for whatever might happen. But he did the responsible thing and held onto the ball. He also threw the ball away on at least one occasion, living to play another down. Mac had found himself on the bench for making...the other choice...all too often on these kind of plays. Zappe also stepped into the pressure and leaned into his throws. It's basic stuff, but something that had been sorely lacking with Mac. That's the good.
Unfortunately, the thinking that the screen-heavy game plan from last week was a residual from the Mac game plan proved not to be all that true. Zappe's biggest sin, prior to this year, was telegraphing his passes and not being tall enough, resulting in a lot of batted balls. Screens can cover for this, as well as scrambling out of the pocket, and it seemed that for the first three quarters, this was how the Pats avoided the batted passes from last year. Unfortunately, Zappe just wasn't all that accurate, especially on the run, which he was....a lot. And in those moments he made some beautiful throws, the receivers weren't always there to make the play (I can't fault Parker too much...horrible luck landing on the Chargers guy).
He wasn't even remotely good enough to win the game, but he wasn't the flaming, dumpster fire Mac had become recently. We'll see you Thursday for Zappe Hour!
The Dugger Factor: It seemed clear to me that the Chargers had a game plan to expose Dugger in coverage, especially if they saw the Pats in zone or two-high coverage. By the second quarter, I started looking on the field for where Dugger was and sure enough, the ball was headed in his direction. At one point, late in the second quarter, Herbert looked in Dugger's direction pre-snap and audibled out of whatever play they were going to run and wound up throwing an incomplete pass over the head of Allen on Dugger's side of the field. Dugger was too slow getting there and it was only a bad throw by Herbert that saved the touchdown.
I love Dugger, probably more than most here. But I also know he's playing way out of his element right now, thanks to the famous odd-year injury luck. I am looking forward to being healthy next year, hopefully with Dugger back and sitting in his old role.
Draft Beer: Arizona did their job today and helped us with a nice win over ****sburgh. Thanks fellas.
Quick points:
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That's it for this week. It's a pale, sorry, vapid imitation of a much better weekly from @patfanken but it's certainly reflective of the decline on the field, and probably what most of us deserve.
Curious to know what you were drinking during and after the game.
Cheers
This week, I'm drinking Suktinis because it's the second strongest one I've got on hand. It's a lovely mead from the homeland clocking in at 100 proof. Alas, the 150 proof Zalgiris mead was considered an explosive by the TSA/authorities in Europe and I wasn't allowed to bring it on the flight.
We could have used some explosive(nes)s in Foxboro today...
You ever find yourself late on a Saturday night at a bar, when you've spotted a gorgeous woman across the way. She's smiling back at you, inviting you over with her eyes. You think to yourself, now this is going to be a good night. But as you stand up to make your move, you realize you've vomited and pissed on yourself, and your pants are missing, and you can't even remember what happened afterward because you blacked out and woke up in a jail cell two counties over. You realize, only too late, that you were in no shape to make a play and you wished you had gone home hours earlier, never having even tried.
And that's the segue to Week 13 and the New England Patriots.
It's not that there was never any hope. Zappe had somehow managed to win games last year. The defense is doing its job, for the most part, and maybe a pick six, combined with a safety and good field position, setting up a field goal, could be enough to win the game. Alas, by the end, it wasn't to be. I've got a handful of observations and drunken insights to share (give them their appropriate due):
Weird Stats: The Pats lead the lead in one-score losses. One of the forum members got killed in a thread for suggesting that the Pats might actually be a playoff contender with some offensive tweaking. But he has a point, and it's one that's been true for two seasons now. This team is a playoff contender with even a league-average offense. Considering that a league-average offense is scoring around 22 points a game, ask yourself this. If the Pats scored only 22 points in every game this year, what would their record be? 6-6. Ok, not amazing, but they're in the hunt. Getting rid of a pick/fumble six or two might also get you another win. It's just interesting to think about. Either way, this ain't the 1990 Pats.
Also, there has only been one other time since 2009 that the Pats held opponents to 10 or fewer points in three consecutive games (2021). The defense is not world beating, but they're doing their job. The 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009 Pats all have three consecutive games like this...those were good times (yeah, even 09).
Zappe Hour: In the end, he didn't get done, but if ever there was a best case scenario for people who want a high draft pick, but could no longer stomach the panicked dynamic with Mac, Bailey Zappe delivered. On the upside, he resisted the intrusive thoughts to chuck the ball up while being spun into a sack on two different occasions. There were even players there ready for whatever might happen. But he did the responsible thing and held onto the ball. He also threw the ball away on at least one occasion, living to play another down. Mac had found himself on the bench for making...the other choice...all too often on these kind of plays. Zappe also stepped into the pressure and leaned into his throws. It's basic stuff, but something that had been sorely lacking with Mac. That's the good.
Unfortunately, the thinking that the screen-heavy game plan from last week was a residual from the Mac game plan proved not to be all that true. Zappe's biggest sin, prior to this year, was telegraphing his passes and not being tall enough, resulting in a lot of batted balls. Screens can cover for this, as well as scrambling out of the pocket, and it seemed that for the first three quarters, this was how the Pats avoided the batted passes from last year. Unfortunately, Zappe just wasn't all that accurate, especially on the run, which he was....a lot. And in those moments he made some beautiful throws, the receivers weren't always there to make the play (I can't fault Parker too much...horrible luck landing on the Chargers guy).
He wasn't even remotely good enough to win the game, but he wasn't the flaming, dumpster fire Mac had become recently. We'll see you Thursday for Zappe Hour!
The Dugger Factor: It seemed clear to me that the Chargers had a game plan to expose Dugger in coverage, especially if they saw the Pats in zone or two-high coverage. By the second quarter, I started looking on the field for where Dugger was and sure enough, the ball was headed in his direction. At one point, late in the second quarter, Herbert looked in Dugger's direction pre-snap and audibled out of whatever play they were going to run and wound up throwing an incomplete pass over the head of Allen on Dugger's side of the field. Dugger was too slow getting there and it was only a bad throw by Herbert that saved the touchdown.
I love Dugger, probably more than most here. But I also know he's playing way out of his element right now, thanks to the famous odd-year injury luck. I am looking forward to being healthy next year, hopefully with Dugger back and sitting in his old role.
Draft Beer: Arizona did their job today and helped us with a nice win over ****sburgh. Thanks fellas.
Quick points:
- The defense said after last week that they have to do more to win games. They got 50% of the way there. The held the Chargers to only six, making a pick six a game-tying proposition. If Ryland were to hit the XP (and that's not a guarantee), you could say the D was doing it all. They might be on to something.
- Baringer turned into a pumpkin more and more as the day progressed.
- Peppers is looking a little beat up out there. Hopefully the Pats docs aren't ass. He still gives a **** and he's the best player on the defense right now.
- Bill Vinovich looks rough...not sure if he needs to drink more or less.
- It's good to see Jonathan Jones out there, with good hip movement, showing some cat-like quickness.
- Our secondary looks like my liver...I don't know how much more injury it can take.
-------------------------------
That's it for this week. It's a pale, sorry, vapid imitation of a much better weekly from @patfanken but it's certainly reflective of the decline on the field, and probably what most of us deserve.
Curious to know what you were drinking during and after the game.
Cheers
