Do you realize we are looking at a minimum of a 12-4 team?

[VJCPatriot]

You do realize we are still giving up 300-400 yard games to opposing offenses and even to QBs who have 3 of thier 4 top receivers out of the lineup right?

The defensive problems have been covered up by the opposing teams special teams disasters in Miami and San Diego and not to forget Brain Farts by SD players didn't hurt either.

How many teams will continue to practically throw away games to the Patriots?

You act like the Pats have won all their games that way when it's far from the truth.
The Pats first 3 wins out of the opening 4 games were convincing. They put up 38, 38, and 41 points respectively.

The Pats D EARNED their win against the Ravens by stopping them stone cold in the 4th quarter and OT.
Even in the last win, the Pats displayed a far HIGHER football IQ than the talented but idiotic Chargers team that they beat. The Pats don't hurt themselves because they are a well coached and disciplined team.

It can't last all season there are some pretty disciplined and well coached teams along the way..

There are also some inept and bumbling, sub-500 teams left on the schedule. And none of them are nearly as talented as the Chargers team the Pats just recently defeated. As I stated the Pats only have 3 tough games left to play this season.

Be happy with 10-6 and a #6 seed, anything more than that with this young defense is gravy

We should be happy with the Pats playing .500 ball the rest of the way? Because they would have to go 5-5 the rest of the way to end up with that record.
No if the Pats go 5-5 the rest of the way, I'd actually have to be worried about their chances of doing anything in the post season.

I think the Patriots are BETTER than a .500 team. In fact, going 7-3 the rest of the way is very realistic.
This is a young team with excellent speed and athleticism on a defense that is finally starting to put it together. No they haven't put together a full 60 minute effort YET. But when they do, this defense will be SCARY GOOD.

You set the bar too low in an effort to avoid disappointment. I say, what's the the use of being a fan with mediocre expectations? It's much more fun to root for the Pats to win each game they play, than to root for them to win one game then lose a game the rest of the season.

 

[RayClay]

Is this the new math, or a CBO estimate?

 

[VJCPatriot]

I remember scraping out a 9-3 win over a very poor Cleveland Browns team at Cleveland with a more talented Patriots team ....2003 I think it was

So what? You realize that they went 14-2 that year right? The GOOD teams win the close games. Scraping out a win doesn't make it a loss, much as you want to make it sound like one.

Is this the new math, or a CBO estimate?

It doesn't take that much math skills to figure out.
Just look at their schedule and how they'd have to play in the remaining games to see where they will likely come out.

If you want to look at math check out these power rankings that estimate the Pats to win 70.6% of their games.
Since there are 10 games remaning, winning 70% of them yields 7-3. Which means 12-4 overall.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Originally Posted by PATRIOTSFANINPA
I remember scraping out a 9-3 win over a very poor Cleveland Browns team at Cleveland with a more talented Patriots team ....2003 I think it was

So what? You realize that they went 14-2 that year right? The GOOD teams win the close games. Scraping out a win doesn't make it a loss, much as you want to make it sound like one.

That year had a lot of "squeakers" but they didnt beat themselves and knew how to win, having Tom Brady as QB doesnt hurt either, last I knew he was still the QB.
2004 was a different 14-2 team, thye were in control of most games from the start.
Both ended in Super Bowl wins so I dont care how they get there.

 

[NewFeep]

12-4 would be insane if they accomplish it. At the start of the season I had them penciled in at 3-3 right now and ending up at 10-6 as a successful season...... I saw 4-2 as great start for this team given the number of starters on IR... I.E. Bodden, Ty Warren, etc and the Mankins tirade.... but 5-1 is stunning....

Obviously this game has passed by BB!

 

[mgteich]

Do I realize that the team is a minimum of 12-4. No, I don't.

I think 12-4 might be reasonable, but it certainly isn't a minimum.

That means 1-3 against GB, PITT, NYJ and INDY (GB in NOT a gimmie)

and,

6-0 against the rest.

Expecting to go 6-0 is unreasonable in this league of parity, but then perhaps you didn't see the results around the league thus far this year.

The Pats are currently 5-1.
This is how the rest of their schedule looks:

Sunday, Oct. 31 Minnesota Vikings 4:15 p.m. ET WBZ-TV CBS 
Sunday, Nov. 7 @ Cleveland Browns 1:00 p.m. ET WBZ-TV CBS 
Sunday, Nov. 14 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 8:20 p.m. ET WHDH NBC 
Sunday, Nov. 21 Indianapolis Colts 4:15 p.m. ET * WBZ-TV * CBS* 
Thursday, Nov. 25 @ Detroit Lions 12:30 p.m. ET WBZ-TV CBS 
Monday, Dec. 6 New York Jets 8:30 p.m. ET WCVB ESPN 
Sunday, Dec. 12 @ Chicago Bears 1:00 p.m. ET * WBZ-TV * CBS* 
Sunday, Dec. 19 Green Bay Packers 8:20 p.m. ET * WHDH * NBC* 
Sunday, Dec. 26 @ Buffalo Bills 1:00 p.m. ET * WBZ-TV * CBS* 
Sunday, Jan. 2 Miami Dolphins 1:00 p.m. ET * WBZ-TV * CBS*

Even if the Pats go 7-3 the rest of the way that adds up to a 12-4 tam.
Their only remaining tough games are @ Steelers, vs Colts, and vs Jets.
Those are the only games I really see us losing and I'm not willing to concede that the Pats will go 0-3 against those teams.
But even if they did, they would be at 12-4. If we're generous and give them 2 wins out of those 3 matchups, there's a distinct possibility of 14-2. Did you realize how good this team could be this year?

 

[jsull87]

i'm am predicting 11-5 will be ecstatic with 12-4 but not overly upset with 10-6 as long as this young team makes the playoffs i am happy. If we win the division i will be all the happier because we would have once again beat the jets

 

[eagle eye]

I had this team pencilled in for 12-4/13-3 at the start of the season. Now I'm not so sure. I want to see this offense the next two weeks to be sure that the loss of Randy Moss is not going to cause a huge problem. Welker's numbers have went backwards as I expected post-Moss, Branch had a great first week but didn't look so good in San Diego so there are questions to be answered. We have to see now if Tate has anything in the locker on offense, there has been no sign of him since Moss left.

 

[NewFeep]

I had this team pencilled in for 12-4/13-3 at the start of the season. Now I'm not so sure. I want to see this offense the next two weeks to be sure that the loss of Randy Moss is not going to cause a huge problem. Welker's numbers have went backwards as I expected post-Moss, Branch had a great first week but didn't look so good in San Diego so there are questions to be answered. We have to see now if Tate has anything in the locker on offense, there has been no sign of him since Moss left.

We're you gulping kool-aid? Penciled in at 12-4?! At the start of the season? This unproven team! Against this schedule? Wow... I'm stunned.....

 

[Kontradiction]

I had them at 12-4 to begin the season, and even then I admitted that I was taking the homer angle. Seven more wins seals that.

 

[jsull87]

I had this team pencilled in for 12-4/13-3 at the start of the season. Now I'm not so sure. I want to see this offense the next two weeks to be sure that the loss of Randy Moss is not going to cause a huge problem. Welker's numbers have went backwards as I expected post-Moss, Branch had a great first week but didn't look so good in San Diego so there are questions to be answered. We have to see now if Tate has anything in the locker on offense, there has been no sign of him since Moss left.

letting the prediction of 13-3 or 12-4 at the start of the season slide. I think the offensive woes last week were more due to the left side of the line not giving brady any time then welker or branch not being open. I just don't think they were given any time to be open. Generally when brady got time he hit his man. Our biggest gain for hernandez got called back for holding e.t.c

 

[eagle eye]

We're you gulping kool-aid? Penciled in at 12-4?! At the start of the season? This unproven team! Against this schedule? Wow... I'm stunned.....

No I was being realistic and I predicted the loss to the Jets. I expected this team to lose on the road to the Chargers and Steelers and Jets.

The Chargers injuries on offense cost them big time in that game imo. If they had Floyd and a fully fit Gates I think they would have won it.

 

[eagle eye]

letting the prediction of 13-3 or 12-4 at the start of the season slide. I think the offensive woes last week were more due to the left side of the line not giving brady any time then welker or branch not being open. I just don't think they were given any time to be open. Generally when brady got time he hit his man. Our biggest gain for hernandez got called back for holding e.t.c

Yeah thats true and it was a problem and it has to be sorted out too. Hopefully it was just one of those days for those guys.
Generally though he doesn't need much time to hit Welker but the last two games he has been on a tighter leash with defenses. Its all about Branch and/or Tate showing something now, if they do then this team is going places. Hernandez is our best receiver right now but that is not going to last without Branch/Tate being heavily involved.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I had this team pencilled in for 12-4/13-3 at the start of the season. Now I'm not so sure. I want to see this offense the next two weeks to be sure that the loss of Randy Moss is not going to cause a huge problem. Welker's numbers have went backwards as I expected post-Moss, Branch had a great first week but didn't look so good in San Diego so there are questions to be answered. We have to see now if Tate has anything in the locker on offense, there has been no sign of him since Moss left.

Most fans went the other way, they thought 8-8 or 9-7 and now that they're 5-1 are thinking maybe 12-4 or 13-3.

 

[Synovia]

I remember scraping out a 9-3 win over a very poor Cleveland Browns team at Cleveland with a more talented Patriots team ....2003 I think it was

That cleveland team was a lot better than this one. IIRC, they had a fantastic defense.

 

[shmessy]

That cleveland team was a lot better than this one. IIRC, they had a fantastic defense.

Gerard Warren.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I love the Patriots, been a huge fan since 1975. That being said, I think this team, with that schedule, 10-6 is more realistic. This is a young team playing over it's head which has also gotten lucky in some games. I'd be incredibly pleasantly surprised if they go 12-4. I think it'll be a year or two before the Pats are an elite team again.

 

[Simkin]

we can go 0-10 this 10 games. dont be jinx. game by game. next year 0-10 possibly too. we play against REALLY good team, our schedule is a nightmare.

 

[borg]

The Pats offense is coming back to Earth. The #1 point total has been aided by defensive and special teams touchdowns. The RB roster is not impressive, the O line has been vulnerable, and without a Moss like player, the passing zones have been condensed. I view this Minn. game as a true test for the defense. I fear that Harvin and the TE will run wild as Moss pulls safety protection away from the center of the field and the LBs will be focusing on Peterson. The Pats have done well limiting the running game, but have been miserable covering the swing pass to a releasing RB. Which Favre will show up....turnover machine or streaky gunslinger (I hate that word and feel like a douche writing the word). If the game plan is ...let Favre beat us, he just might. This is an NFC team...which means aweful in Chinese and I have no fear in Chi. or Det.
I expect losses vs Pitt and NYJ (sorry, their roster is better)....12-4 seems reasonable....if they pass the Minn. test.

 

[QB12]

I love the Patriots, been a huge fan since 1975. That being said, I think this team, with that schedule, 10-6 is more realistic. This is a young team playing over it's head which has also gotten lucky in some games. I'd be incredibly pleasantly surprised if they go 12-4. I think it'll be a year or two before the Pats are an elite team again.

So, you're saying they go 5-5 rest of season? Incredible.