The Patriots aren't the only team with big issues right now

[ctpatsfan77]

Just look at the Colts:

Win this game?

Not when the defense gives up 236 yards rushing. The Jaguars didn't even try subterfuge; they simply lined up, told the Colts they were running and then ran through them.

[...]

Now comes the bye week, which suddenly seems to be at precisely the right time. The Colts need to take stock, and understand they are this close to being 0-3. One call didn't beat them Sunday. Several calls didn't beat them Sunday. Jacksonville beat them. And pummeled them. And embarrassed them.

And remember this is a JAX team that's lost, either temporarily or for the season, almost its entire projected starting OL.

Why bring this up? Not to say that we have no cause for concern, but rather that a lot of other teams also have flaws. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.

 

[DGameguy]

You know, I was just going to start a thread about this! You beat me to it!

Yeh, at leats everyone else in the conference fell off this year.

Indy's banged up/old
JAX can't pass
Pitt - Big Ben is hurting and their line can't block anyone
SD - the cry baby's sucking his thumb and they seem to have softened on D quite a bit

Heck, even Denver at 3-0 doesn't seem to have anything resembling a Defense, and Tenn still has the headcase situation to deal with.

Now, if only we had a QB.....

Just kidding! Just Kidding!

 

[JoePats]

It seems, I know it's still early, but it seems like the AFC got lapped in just one year by the NFC. The NFC has won 7 of the first 10 games this year against the AFC for what that's worth. Just two years ago I think, the AFC won something like 42 of the 64 inter-conference games.

Which of the significant contenders from the beginning of the year in the AFC have played well? Probably the only three new shooters are Buffalo, Tennessee, and Denver, and I'm personally not sold on Buffalo or Tennessee and Denver could be 34-31 quite frequently.

Meanwhile, the Pats, Colts, Jags, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and San Diego all have issues, for one reason or another.

 

[SVN]

colts blaming the officials....whats new.

 

[xmarkd400x]

colts blaming the officials....whats new.

I think the "blame the officials" excuse is old enough to be carbon dated.

 

[dhamz]

I don't think anyone would argue plenty of other teams have big issues. I'm just not sure why as a Pats fan I'm supposed to feel bettter because other teams have issues.

 

[JAYHAWKS34]

Just look at the Colts:



And remember this is a JAX team that's lost, either temporarily or for the season, almost its entire projected starting OL.

Why bring this up? Not to say that we have no cause for concern, but rather that a lot of other teams also have flaws. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.

This is a good point, I was thinking of this as well when I was reading the sports section this morning, so many good teams starting out poorly. A 2-1 record looks pretty good right now

 

[muzz]

Problem is the Pats have played 3 "Weak" teams in comparison.

 

[SVN]

I don't think anyone would argue plenty of other teams have big issues. I'm just not sure why as a Pats fan I'm supposed to feel bettter because other teams have issues.

correct.....

 

[nepatz11]

I agree strongly with the OP. I think though there are some good teams and that this could be a year where the power shifts. I suspect a couple of up and comign teams will be great (a la Tennessee) and that some power will shift back to the NFC.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

I don't think anyone would argue plenty of other teams have big issues. I'm just not sure why as a Pats fan I'm supposed to feel bettter because other teams have issues.

Ding Ding Ding . . . we have a winner.

If anything, the fact that the pre-season contenders in the AFC seem to be having trouble makes me feel worse not better that we have injury and defense issues. Playing in the relatively weaker conference is good, not bad -- it's easier to get to and through the playoffs. A team in the relative "weaker" conference only needs to win once in the playoffs against the other conference, while the teams in the "stronger" conference need to win twice or three times against the "stronger" opponents.

I would have much preferred, for example, if the 2006 Patriots had been in the NFC.

 

[tombonneau]

Ding Ding Ding . . . we have a winner.

If anything, the fact that the pre-season contenders in the AFC seem to be having trouble makes me feel worse not better that we have injury and defense issues. Playing in the relatively weaker conference is good, not bad -- it's easier to get to and through the playoffs. A team in the relative "weaker" conference only needs to win once in the playoffs against the other conference, while the teams in the "stronger" conference need to win twice or three times against the "stronger" opponents.

I would have much preferred, for example, if the 2006 Patriots had been in the NFC.

This is the only thing that really bums me out about the Brady injury: the AFC is having a clear down year among it's alleged elite, and NE would have probably cruised to the #1 seed with Brady.

If those teams were all still really good and elite, I wouldn't feel so bad, as it would still be a rough road to the SB.

The only positive is if the D can come around and the Pats can manage to get average QB play, they are in realistic contention for the conference title. Just look at this year's Titans & Ravens, who are looking like two of the AFC's better teams with great defense and average QB play.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

This is the only thing that really bums me out about the Brady injury: the AFC is having a clear down year among it's alleged elite, and NE would have probably cruised to the #1 seed with Brady.

How do you know that this isn't the football gods' response to Brady's injury? ["If they can't have their star, let the entire AFC suck!"] /

 

[NEPatriot]

Whenever we lost, we can't have an excuse for it. Yes, everybody has a problem but I don't really care what other teams' problem is. I only care Pats. The fact that we are too slow and old to improve the situation really bothers me a lot.

If we keep up our 'good' work, we go no where. We need to learn how to adapt and change it if we want to be in the play off.

 

[F89C06]

You know, I was just going to start a thread about this! You beat me to it!

Yeh, at leats everyone else in the conference fell off this year.

Indy's banged up/old
JAX can't pass
Pitt - Big Ben is hurting and their line can't block anyone
SD - the cry baby's sucking his thumb and they seem to have softened on D quite a bit

Heck, even Denver at 3-0 doesn't seem to have anything resembling a Defense, and Tenn still has the headcase situation to deal with.

Now, if only we had a QB.....

Just kidding! Just Kidding!

Indy is definitely banged up.... however, in a "3 things that would surprise you about your team segment" for Indianapolis, I saw said that this year they are the 3rd youngest team in the league. The only old is Harrison.. maybe Manning? As far as the officiating, I watched the game and the only bad call was the pick six by jacksonville. He grabbed Harrison and pulled him out of the way. Anyway, a 2-1 record is excellent right now. The Pats would roll this year with Tom.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

and, it is still early, 13 games to play......I can remember losing an early season game by 31 points a few years ago......and we finished the regular season with 12 straight wins.

I pity our next opponent.....

 

[kbbluepits]

Problem is the Pats have played 3 "Weak" teams in comparison.

Exactly! Couldn't have said it any better.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Exactly! Couldn't have said it any better.

No, we played three teams that did poorly last season. KC admittedly looks awful, but both the JEST and the LOLphins* could do well this season.

Regardless of what the Pats' final record is this year, do you honestly believe that will be a good indicator of how they'd do next year with Brady back?

*I don't care if they just won by 25 points. I'm a Pats fan, and they're still the LOLphins in my book.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I agree strongly with the OP. I think though there are some good teams and that this could be a year where the power shifts. I suspect a couple of up and comign teams will be great (a la Tennessee) and that some power will shift back to the NFC.

Just so you know Tennessee is doing that with great defense and exactly league average QB play. Kelly is 36 years old and has tons of good and bad experience yet he's playing at exactly the same level as our former HS starter... So whatever they do this season will be short lived whereas when we get our regular starter back next season the power will likely shift again.