They had a 17 point lead against the Colts, that is a fact. The defense struggled in the 4th quarter and allowed the Colts to get back in the game. The Sanders' INT bailed them out. In the playoffs they could be looking at a different result on that last drive. This is where my point comes in that they rely on the turnover too much and could come back to haunt them.
I'm not disputing the 17-point lead. My point is that the Colts game was close throughout. It wasn't a blow-out like the Steelers game where they came back in the 4th. It was a tight first half and they were only up one possession. They shut out Manning in the third quarter and built up a 17-point lead, which lasted exactly 2:26. Which means not even 3 minutes of this game were spent with that big lead. I'd call it a tough performance from start to finish though.
I am giving the Patriots credit, they have played very well against the best teams in the AFC. In those games I just feel like the offense is playing at such a high level they are giving the defense a double digit lead to work with, which obviously makes it a lot easier. They have not been tested in a wall to wall close game where every series is critical. This isnt their fault, I am just pointing it out.
Yes, they have against Baltimore or Indy, unless of course you think the Indy game doesn't count because of 2:26. Then again, you're the same guy that tried to use one play-off game to conclude that turnovers don't happen as frequently in the play-offs.
And those double-digit leads are built in combination with the offense and defense. You think the offense just hands them a double-digit lead, but consider that we could have scored 1/3 of the points we did in the first half and still kept a double-digit lead because of the great job our defense did.
Think about it. The Pats went 3-and-out to start the game, but the defense got them the ball back right away by forcing their own 3-and-out. What if the Bears score there? Changes the complexion of the game. Considering they got the ball at the Bears 46, points were not unrealistic.
Now up 7, the Bears are driving to tie but we shut them down and force a punt. The offense scores again and suddenly we're up double-digits. You say that's the offense giving them a double-digit lead, but that's the defense earning it by stopping them twice. In fact, we'd shut them down on all 6 first-half drives. Again, you'll give credit to the offense, but the defense more than did it's part.
And you're obsessed with this thought that we can only stop teams by causing a turnover. The Bears had 10 drives today. 4 ended in turnovers. Of the remaining 6, we forced 5 punts, and allowed only one scoring drive, and that was only after a great return by Hester gave the Bears the ball at the New England 35. 4 of those 5 punts were 3-and-outs. So yes, we are starting to figure out how to do it even without the turnover.
