Mariucci: "They Just Might Run the Table"

[Garbanza]

They will. Book it. The team is coming together, the defense is playing it's best football in five years, and when he isn't out thinking himself, BB is largely himself. I look at the Indy game as a benchmark measurement of the team. I don't care that they lost, because they weren't catching Indy anyways. What mattered to me was how the team played. They dominated the game, and were one quarter of bad coaching and a freak fumble away from a blowout.

I think that the Pats are currently the best team in the NFL when they are playing at their highest level. I can't identify a team with a legitimate chance of beating them if they execute. First time since '04 I've believed that.

The defense is better...much better...but isn't anyone concerned about their fourth quarter let-downs and the offenses on-again-off-again struggles in the red zone? You make it seem like the the playoff's are a lock. Bleh. I thought the Colts victory was at hand too.

 

[mayoclinic]

The defense is better...much better...but isn't anyone concerned about their fourth quarter let-downs and the offenses on-again-off-again struggles in the red zone? You make it seem like the the playoff's are a lock. Bleh. I thought the Colts victory was at hand too.

Nothing's a lock. Obviously, if we continue to have those 2nd half letdowns and red zone issues, we won't go very far. But I personally think that this loss is what pushes the Pats over the edge and gets them to elevate their game to the next level. Just a guess, though - you still have to play the games.

 

[rabthepat]

This Pats team will lose 2 to 3 more games this season.

 

[Patspsycho]

Nothing's a lock. Obviously, if we continue to have those 2nd half letdowns and red zone issues, we won't go very far. But I personally think that this loss is what pushes the Pats over the edge and gets them to elevate their game to the next level. Just a guess, though - you still have to play the games.

Per Reiss, they are focusing on RZ execution all this week in practice.

 

[Patspsycho]

This Pats team will lose 2 to 3 more games this season.

What is the basis of this brilliant deduction?

 

[Nikolai]

On paper, the Pats should run the table. On paper, the Pats should have smacked the Colts at Indy. The Pats need that killer instinct and have to keep that foot on the gas all the way until the final second.

 

[JoeShmoe]

We have been just as predictable on offense in the 2nd half, running exclusively out of the shotgun, with no effective running game. 10 2nd half points in 6 quarters against the Jets, Broncos and Colts isn't Pees' fault, though I completely agree with you about Pees.

We dominate teams and then give the game away with crappy play calling and schemes. No one has been able to stop our team except our own coaching staff.

:yeahthat:

We need to get one of the power backs fit again (Morris) and hope Taylor is back for the Playoffs, or play more TE sets and use Watson a little better. Get some more balance, use some play action etc

The Defense is more worrying - I think I speak for all fans when I say that if I see a situuation on Sun in the 4th Q with the Pats up by 6 of whatever, you just know the D will all play ten yards off or send the house. One or the other. Pees seems to just s**t himself, We've already seen Peyton shred this. Flacco did and Brees will too and if we're in the PO's with some tiop rated offenses then unless this is sorted we better have a damn big lead

 

[Kontradiction]

What is the basis of this brilliant deduction?

Don't mind him, bro. The guy is the most negative @$$ on this forum.

 

[condon84]

We have been just as predictable on offense in the 2nd half, running exclusively out of the shotgun, with no effective running game. 10 2nd half points in 6 quarters against the Jets, Broncos and Colts isn't Pees' fault, though I completely agree with you about Pees.

We dominate teams and then give the game away with crappy play calling and schemes. No one has been able to stop our team except our own coaching staff.

And that's why no matter how great we look on certain games and stretches, I still don't have a good feeling about this.

We have a fundamental flaw with our approach in tight games that's showcased itself especially in big games. Unless I see us with a different and aggressive approach in similar situations, I'm holding my reservations.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Before the season I called 13-3 and a trip to the Super Bowl this year. I'm sticking by that still. And yes, I actually believe we'll beat the Aints and sweep the Dolphins.

I predicted 12 and 4, and frankly hope I'm wrong, and the team is 13 and 3. I sense the building of unity, and "revenge" the likes of which will shake the foundation of the NFL. The Patriots are going into overdrive against the rest of the league.

They will not say boo about the refs publically, but if you don't they are using it as motivation internally, you're nuts.

 

[mayoclinic]

And that's why no matter how great we look on certain games and stretches, I still don't have a good feeling about this.

We have a fundamental flaw with our approach in tight games that's showcased itself especially in big games. Unless I see us with a different and aggressive approach in similar situations, I'm holding my reservations.

We obviously have to show that we can finish and not let people off the hook, or we aren't going very far this year. But the talent is obviously there to run the table at any time, and I believe that the mental toughness is coming. The Colts loss should serve as a big wakeup call that we have to remain focused, remain aggressive, and play that way for 60 minutes.

If we do that, I like our chances against anyone. If we don't, then we'll be lucky to make the playoffs at all.

 

[Sicilian]

Despite the meltdown, I feel more confident about beating the Saints than I did beating the Colts. I mentioned in a thread a while ago, that the only NFC team to beat us since week 2 of 2005, is the Giants in the Super Bowl... a team that had the luxury of playing us just a month prior.

If BB and Brady go into a game against a team that has no recent experience against them, we simply don't lose. The last nine teams to beat us:

2007
Giants - Played us a month before.

2008
Dolphins - Division team.
San Diego - Has played us in many years recently, regular season and playoffs
Colts - Again, plays us all the time
Jets - Division
Steelers - Again, common opponent, also SB champion that year

2009
Jets - Division
Broncos - Have our former OC
Colts - See above

Teams that beat us are teams that know us. NFC teams struggle because they just don't play us often enough, and by the time we roll around both teams are radically different.

 

[PatsSox363804]

Despite the meltdown, I feel more confident about beating the Saints than I did beating the Colts. I mentioned in a thread a while ago, that the only NFC team to beat us since week 2 of 2005, is the Giants in the Super Bowl... a team that had the luxury of playing us just a month prior.

If BB and Brady go into a game against a team that has no recent experience against them, we simply don't lose. The last nine teams to beat us:

2007
Giants - Played us a month before.

2008
Dolphins - Division team.
San Diego - Has played us in many years recently, regular season and playoffs
Colts - Again, plays us all the time
Jets - Division
Steelers - Again, common opponent, also SB champion that year

2009
Jets - Division
Broncos - Have our former OC
Colts - See above

Teams that beat us are teams that know us. NFC teams struggle because they just don't play us often enough, and by the time we roll around both teams are radically different.

Even the last NFC team we lost to in the regular season we had played in the Superbowl 2 season prior.

 

[Ring 6]

They will. Book it. The team is coming together, the defense is playing it's best football in five years, and when he isn't out thinking himself, BB is largely himself. I look at the Indy game as a benchmark measurement of the team. I don't care that they lost, because they weren't catching Indy anyways. What mattered to me was how the team played. They dominated the game, and were one quarter of bad coaching and a freak fumble away from a blowout.

I think that the Pats are currently the best team in the NFL when they are playing at their highest level. I can't identify a team with a legitimate chance of beating them if they execute. First time since '04 I've believed that.

2007 says hi

 

[Ring 6]

On paper, the Pats should run the table. On paper, the Pats should have smacked the Colts at Indy. The Pats need that killer instinct and have to keep that foot on the gas all the way until the final second.

Champions grow into champions.
The issue you speak of is not an inherent characteristic, it is something that develops.
I don't care if they know how to finish games in November as long as they do by January (and they finish enough to get there)

 

[thechris]

Run the table? Run the table?????? Seriously? Let's just see if the Pats can beat a desperate Jets team.

 

[condon84]

We obviously have to show that we can finish and not let people off the hook, or we aren't going very far this year. But the talent is obviously there to run the table at any time, and I believe that the mental toughness is coming. The Colts loss should serve as a big wakeup call that we have to remain focused, remain aggressive, and play that way for 60 minutes.

If we do that, I like our chances against anyone. If we don't, then we'll be lucky to make the playoffs at all.

Yes, talent is not an issue with this year's team. We showed that we have the players to play tight against the Colts for 3 quarters. However, our coaches have showed how stubborn they can be. I thought after the 06 AFCCG, we would shy away from the soft zone but we haven't. That is why I remain skeptical.