Despite Loss to Packers, Patriots Prove They're Contenders

Sunday's game in Green Bay was a tough battle for Brady and the offense, and they simply came up short. (USA TODAY Images)

When the Patriots took on the St. Louis Rams during the 2001 regular season, it was a hard fought game which, at the time, was Tom Brady's biggest test as a starter and the Patriots' biggest litmus test as they started their streak toward the post season.

In that game they battled hard against a Rams team that put forth a pretty solid effort but by the time it was over, the Patriots simply came up short in a 24-17 loss.

When given another shot against St. Louis a few months later, the outcome ended up being different as New England got redemption when it mattered most, beating them in front of the entire world and winning their first championship.

Sunday's match-up against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers had a similar feel. Having won seven straight games prior to Sunday, the Patriots came into Green Bay looking to make a statement in what many felt could be a Super Bowl preview given how the two teams were playing. New England held up their end of the deal, playing fairly well against a Packers team that simply played a little better.

Neither team committed a turnover, and it was more or less a pretty solid effort from both sides. The biggest problem with Sunday's loss for New England was simply the fact that it came down to just a couple of plays they didn't make that Green Bay did, and that's the reason why they came up on the wrong end things.

"We just couldn't quite make enough plays in the end to come out on top, and they did. So give them credit." - Bill Belichick
(USA TODAY Images)

"That's a good football team," said Belichick after the game. "In the end they made a few more plays than we did tonight. I thought both teams competed hard. [I'm] really proud of the way our guys hung in there, fought right to the end. We just couldn't quite make enough plays in the end to come out on top, and they did. So give them credit."

One of the biggest problems was the Patriots couldn't get to Aaron Rodgers, who had all day in the pocket and frustrated a defense that on one play chased him around for 12 seconds before forcing him to throw it away. They did manage to sack him three times, but for the most part he moved forward and backward like a video game, eluding oncoming defenders in what was one of the best performances by an opposing quarterback that we've seen all season. He finished with 368 yards passing along with two touchdowns and helped the Packers offense move the chains while holding the football for 36:35 and keeping it out of Tom Brady's hands.

He also made some big plays against a defense that had done a decent job of not allowing that many in recent weeks. The Patriots allowed five pass plays of over 30 yards Sunday, the most they've given up all season. Rodgers was calm and cool all afternoon, despite a few plays where New England was able to get to him and there were quite a few times where the Patriots brought pressure and had a shot at him, but Rodgers' quick feet allowed him to get away as he either slid away laterally or moved up in the pocket and made the throw.

It was like that all afternoon, and the absence of Chandler Jones was glaring for the Patriots as they struggled to get any consistent pressure on him. To make matters worse, Rodgers was nearly flawless throwing the football on third down, completing 10-of-13 (77%) passes including eight first downs. Overall Green Bay converted 10-of-17 on the afternoon, including one that was set up coming off of a 2nd-and-17 play that Rodgers scampered 17 yards to set up a 3rd-and-1, which they converted and later lead to a 35-yard field goal. Those plays make for a frustrating day, but Belichick acknowledged that it's not like they didn't have their chances. The Packers were simply the ones who made the most of them.

"Aaron Rodgers is a great quarterback," said Belichick. "Coach [Mike] McCarthy does a good job with this football team. They're tough to beat. We had our chances, we just couldn't quite get enough plays there at the end, or throughout the game. Got to take my hat off to the Packers. That's a good football team."

If nothing else, Sunday's loss is one of those games that proves that New England is right where they need to be in terms of being able to play with the NFL's best. They've come a long way since being embarrassed in their loss to Kansas City that kicked off their seven game winning streak. Brady admitted that one of their other problems was the fact they didn't capitalize on each possession, which lead to them putting up just 21 points on the road in a place where the Packers hadn't been beaten all season.

They did finish 3-of-3 in the red zone including 2-of-2 facing goal-to-go. It just wasn't enough.

"I think we're playing a little bit better, and we have our whole season ahead of us," said Brady after the game. "We're in a decent position, I think we really need to turn it up and just realize that every possession and every play is an opportunity and if you don't take advantage of it you never know which play it's going to be in close games like this that leads to losses. We have to win tough games and find ways to make the important plays when we have them."

Sunday proved that they're close, and fortunately it's one of those games that gives Belichick and Brady enough to work with should these two meet again.

For now they'll head out to the West Coast and get ready for a tough battle with the Chargers next Sunday night as they try and rebound from a game that they obviously know could have turned out differently. There's a lot of talent with this football team and games like this are a reminder of what they're really capable of. All they need to do now is continue playing well and put themselves in position to battle whoever comes out of the NFC in February in the event they make it that far.

And if it's the Packers, hopefully history repeats itself.