Disco Volante
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2007
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do you really think this offense is good enough to win 9 straight?
Considering they are the #1 offense in the NFL (yards + points), yes.
do you really think this Defense is good enough to win 9 straight?
Their defense overall is middle-of-the-pack. The pass defense has looked downright embarrassing.
Regardless, an awful secondary can be overcome, especially when you have the best offense in the NFL to counter it on the other side. For reference, the 4 worst pass defenses in the NFL last season were...
29. Giants (9-7) *Super Bowl Champions*
30. Saints (13-3)
31. Patriots (13-3) *AFC Champions*
32. Packers (15-1)
Also, despite the awful pass defense, we were able to defeat the best QB we will see on our schedule this year, Peyton Manning.
"Are the Ravens leaps & bounds better than the Patriots?" In terms of defense, uh, hell effin ya.
Defense (YPG)
Patriots: 376.0
Ravens: 400.0
Defense (PPG)
Ravens: 23.0
Patriots: 23.3
We have, of course, not played identical schedules, regardless, with such statistics after 7 games I don't see how you can come to the conclusion that the Ravens have performed "leaps and bounds" better defensively.
The second part is confidence and momentum going into the playoffs
No doubt about that. Regardless, the ultimate goal of the regular season is to get the #1 seed.
I love the home team as much as the next guy, but there comes a point where we have to acknowledge certain things from time to time .. Did you see what the product on the field is today?
Of course I can acknowledge the negatives.
The secondary has been embarrassing, our time-management/decision making has been uncharacteristically baffling at times this season (settling for the FG attempt against the Cardinals, last week's end-of-half drive that ended in 0 points, etc.) and we have now failed to keep three 2 score 4th quarter leads. (Though we ultimately came through in the clutch today, a very positive sign in a game full of negative ones)
On paper, it's hard to believe this game was kept within two scores. Just as it was hard to believe that the Texans also were only able to defeat the Revis-less Jets by less than a touchdown.
I don't know why everyone is coming into this thread bashing the OP on his scenario that the Pats can get the #1 seed. It's optimistic and a fair possibility. The Patriots aren't as much of a joke as some of you think.
Right on.
I felt the board needed a counter perspective to all the doom-and-gloom threads and people conceding that this team is now suddenly no longer worthy of competing for one of the top two seeds.
I think a 9 game streak is very ambitious on your part.
Absolutely.
I do not find it out of the realm of possibility though.
Last year is last year, but just to note, if the Patriots defeat the Rams next week, they will improve to 5-3. The same exact record they were after 8 games last season, where after coming off back-to-back losses, they proceeded to go 9-0 and finish 13-3.
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