Remarkable Turnabout: Patriots Enter as Healthiest Team in the Playoffs

[shmessy]

Well ain't THIS a "Man Bites Dog" story!

In rarity, Pats have all starters intact - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

"Consider this: All 22 of the Patriots' Week 1 starters remain on the active roster, which leaves them as the only team of the eight remaining playoff clubs that can say that......(An examination of old game books suggests that 2012 is the first playoff run the Patriots have had under Bill Belichick since the 2001 season that all 22 Week 1 starters remain on the active roster)......"

 

[patsfaninpa]

I get the theme of the article. But, Edelman started week 1 at Tennessee. Not White Wes. Just sayin.

 

[DocHoliday]

I get the theme of the article. But, Edelman started week 1 at Tennessee. Not White Wes. Just sayin.

The whole idea of starter is really a non factor after HS/college.

At the pros everyone has a role to play.

 

[SoCal Bong]

So no concern at all about the 20 players who were limited in practice yesterday?

Francis returns; 20 Pats limited at practice - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[dales804]

So no concern at all about the 20 players who were limited in practice yesterday?

Francis returns; 20 Pats limited at practice - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

And, presumably, the 20 who will be listed as "Questionable" after Friday's practice. I was expecting that number to be much lower after the bye.

 

[patchick]

It's interesting getting a look at what a team with few key players on IR at playoff time looks like. The answer: they look beaten up.

After a 16-game NFL season, nobody's "healthy." You're either playing relatively fresh backups and replacements, or bruised and battered starters. Still, I'm glad to have the latter.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Edelman was never really a starter, he was an experiment.

 

[RobertWeathers]

So no concern at all about the 20 players who were limited in practice yesterday?

Francis returns; 20 Pats limited at practice - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

No kidding. Very concerned about...

Dennard
Talib
Nink
Gronk
AH
Mankins
Vollmer
Lloyd
Spikes
Love
Connolly
Jones

I assume that all those players will play but if their injuries limit their play just a little, than can be the difference between winning and losing vs a 12-4 team.

 

[dales804]

No kidding. Very concerned about...

Dennard
Talib
Nink
Gronk
AH
Mankins
Vollmer
Lloyd
Spikes
Love
Connolly
Jones

I assume that all those players will play but if their injuries limit their play just a little, than can be the difference between winning and losing vs a 12-4 team.

Vollmer and Love are not on the injury report this week (at least not yesterday).

 

[JackBauer]

So no concern at all about the 20 players who were limited in practice yesterday?

Francis returns; 20 Pats limited at practice - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

I'm concerned anyone would take that at face value.

 

[PatsDeb]

No kidding. Very concerned about...

Dennard
Talib
Nink
Gronk
AH
Mankins
Vollmer
Lloyd
Spikes
Love
Connolly
Jones

I assume that all those players will play but if their injuries limit their play just a little, than can be the difference between winning and losing vs a 12-4 team.

I'm concerned about the first three. Gronk we kind of know what we have, the others have been on the report a lot and still played.

 

[shmessy]

So no concern at all about the 20 players who were limited in practice yesterday?

Francis returns; 20 Pats limited at practice - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Who said "no concern"?

 

[RobertWeathers]

Vollmer and Love are not on the injury report this week (at least not yesterday).

I still think Love's knee and Vollmer's back are nagging them a little...

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm concerned about the first three. Gronk we kind of know what we have, the others have been on the report a lot and still played.

Agreed.

I think Lloyd is a pretty critical piece moving forward. Teams will flood the middle of the field and/or blitz up the middle and having Lloyd break off his routes on the outside is an important option to have...

Then again, everyone on this list is important...

 

[Froob]

Not bad at all, only guys on IR(not including preseason guys like Will Allen ect.) are Edelman and Dane Fletcher I think. Hopefully no injuries in the playoffs either.

 

[dales804]

I still think Love's knee and Vollmer's back are nagging them a little...

Possibly. I find it encouraging that they are not listed on the report. As we all know, if a player has the slightest injury they will be listed as "Questionable" by Belichick.

 

[Dutchmaster617]

Isn't Dowling and Edelman injured?

 

[shmessy]

Possibly. I find it encouraging that they are not listed on the report. As we all know, if a player has the slightest injury they will be listed as "Questionable" by Belichick.

At one time, Brady threw something like 150 TDs over 4 years as a "Questionable/Shoulder".

 

[dannydyn]

People forget how easily BB put players on the injured report - practically at will....

He can slap someone on the hand, and immediately list him as questionable with a 'wrist injury'....

 

[RobertWeathers]

Isn't Dowling and Edelman injured?

The secondary without Dowling is an upgrade.