Where is the AFC defense that's going to stop us this season?

[PATS16N0]

I don't see it.

The only AFC defense that's traditionally given us trouble is Baltimore and that defense no longer exists. It's gone, never to return.

I see Seattle being a monster, but unless we see them in the Superbowl, we won't see them at all.

This is one of the many reasons I'm really optimistic this year. I don't see the road block for us anywhere.

Am I forgetting about anyone?

 

[Coach42]

I don't see it.

The only AFC defense that's traditionally given us trouble is Baltimore and that defense no longer exists. It's gone, never to return.

I see Seattle being a monster, but unless we see them in the Superbowl, we won't see them at all.

This is one of the many reasons I'm really optimistic this year. I don't see the road block for us anywhere.

Am I forgetting about anyone?

I think both Houston and Cincinnati should have excellent defenses and I would consider KC a dark horse contender.

 

[supafly]

While I admire the optimism, there are always teams whose defenses are improved from the year before. On top of that we have some decently tough road tests ahead too vs the usual contenders.

The divisional games (particularly on the road) can always pose problems on any day of the week. Otherwise there'd never be any of those 20-17 or 23-16 games that we tend to see just about every year. The JAX and MIA games last season weren't games where one would've thought that we'd struggle on some level, yet we did.

Then there's the inability to score pts in the playoffs when it matters, not to mention the disgusting lack of success vs running on defenses in nickle formations.

I wouldn't go reserving your SB hotel in NYC just yet......we will face some tough defensive teams, have our usual "WTF" games, battle in the division as usual, and have tough road tests this season. Thinking otherwise is close to foolish in my opinion, and I say that respectfully without intent of being a ****.

 

[jsull87]

I don't see it.

The only AFC defense that's traditionally given us trouble is Baltimore and that defense no longer exists. It's gone, never to return.

I see Seattle being a monster, but unless we see them in the Superbowl, we won't see them at all.

This is one of the many reasons I'm really optimistic this year. I don't see the road block for us anywhere.

Am I forgetting about anyone?

I disagree. I believe Baltamore will have a very good defense again this year.

They will be terribly hard to run on with a front of Suggs - Jones - Ngata - Canty - Dumerville.

IMO Dumerville and Canty will offer a bit more in the way of pass rush. I also think with their #1 CB back they will still be a top defense this year.

I personally think they will surprise this year.

 

[PATS16N0]

While I admire the optimism, there are always teams whose defenses are improved from the year before. On top of that we have some decently tough road tests ahead too vs the usual contenders.

The divisional games (particularly on the road) can always pose problems on any day of the week. Otherwise there'd never be any of those 20-17 or 23-16 games that we tend to see just about every year. The JAX and MIA games last season weren't games where one would've thought that we'd struggle on some level, yet we did.

Then there's the inability to score pts in the playoffs when it matters, not to mention the disgusting lack of success vs running on defenses in nickle formations.

I wouldn't go reserving your SB hotel in NYC just yet......we will face some tough defensive teams, have our usual "WTF" games, battle in the division as usual, and have tough road tests this season. Thinking otherwise is close to foolish in my opinion, and I say that respectfully without intent of being a ****.

Well, that's the thing. The play offs. I just don't see the big bad physical Ray Lewis lead defense that's going to really scare me in the play offs this season. Our offensive Baltimore kryptonite is gone. Beyond them, we've scored a whole lot of points in the play offs. We crapped on Houston again, we buried Denver the year before (we have their number).

 

[PATS16N0]

I disagree. I believe Baltamore will have a very good defense again this year.

They will be terribly hard to run on with a front of Suggs - Jones - Ngata - Canty - Dumerville.

I personally think they will surprise this year.

Good defenses have rarely stopped Tom Brady. It was simply that defense that always gave us problems. It remains to be seen if Baltimore can carry the torch of being a pain in our ass without Ray Lewis and whats his face (mind block), the guy Brady ninja kicked in the leg.

 

[supafly]

I disagree. I believe Baltamore will have a very good defense again this year.

They will be terribly hard to run on with a front of Suggs - Jones - Ngata - Canty - Dumerville.

I personally think they will surprise this year.

Their defense has the potential to improve from last year, despite the general perception of the average fan. The offense on the other hand, may certainly take a step or two back--and they weren't all that great to begin with.

At the end of the day they should definitely compete for at least a WC spot in my opinion. I'd see them somewhere around 9-7 give or take a game.

 

[PATS16N0]

Reed

Duh...

 

[supafly]

Good defenses have rarely stopped Tom Brady. It was simply that defense that always gave us problems. It remains to be seen if Baltimore can carry the torch of being a pain in our ass without Ray Lewis and whats his face (mind block), the guy Brady ninja kicked in the leg.

I agree that it depends on what their defense looks like this year, but I also wouldn't discount the defenses of Cincy, Houston, etc.

At the end of the day our defense may be the side of the ball that lets us down again, even though I think both sides contributed to our lack of playoff success vs the NYJ, BAL, and the NYG lately.

 

[PATS16N0]

I agree that it depends on what their defense looks like this year, but I also wouldn't discount the defenses of Cincy, Houston, etc.

At the end of the day our defense may be the side of the ball that lets us down again, even though I think both sides contributed to our lack of playoff success vs the NYJ, BAL, and the NYG lately.

I just can't be scared of Houston considering last season. We gave them a big brother beating, then we buried them again in the play offs. That's pretty decisive. It looked like a Denver situation, where on paper they have a good defense, but New England just rips it to pieces at will anyway.

Cinci has a lot of proving to do....

And did Baltimore do anything about their run defense? I seem to remember them being awful against the run last season and our rushing attack looks frightening this season.

 

[supafly]

I just can't be scared of Houston considering last season. We gave them a big brother beating, then we buried them again in the play offs. That's pretty decisive. It looked like a Denver situation, where on paper they have a good defense, but New England just rips it to pieces at will anyway.

Cinci has a lot of proving to do....

And did Baltimore do anything about their run defense? I seem to remember them being awful against the run last season and our rushing attack looks frightening this season.

To answer the question, I believe that BAL definitely has the potential to be an improved defense as opposed to last year. They added Chris Canty, Marcus Spears, and have Arthur Jones and Ngata on the defensive line. They added Elvis Dumerville, a healthy Suggs, and the return of one of the better CB's in the game Ladarius Webb.

Your mention of Ray Lewis as a loss isn't that big of a deal to me, as he was almost an embarassment to them last year. He literally almost cost them the SB and was picked on regularly in the playoffs. His days were definitely done.

Who knows what every team's strength will be though, especially at this point in time? We could get blown out by a team like DEN because our defense fails, or there may be a hot wildcard team that no one sees coming who is playing good football at the right time.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I just can't be scared of Houston considering last season. We gave them a big brother beating, then we buried them again in the play offs. That's pretty decisive. It looked like a Denver situation, where on paper they have a good defense, but New England just rips it to pieces at will anyway.

Cinci has a lot of proving to do....

And did Baltimore do anything about their run defense? I seem to remember them being awful against the run last season and our rushing attack looks frightening this season.

What does around, comes around. One of the worst bets in football is the game after, against t a ream that was humiliated and embarrassed in the previous encounter.

Houston will be treating the game to be played at their stadium, as a "grudge match". I count that as a loss, already.

 

[farn]

What does around, comes around. One of the worst bets in football is the game after, against t a ream that was humiliated and embarrassed in the previous encounter.

Houston will be treating the game to be played at their stadium, as a "grudge match". I count that as a loss, already.

I agree. Houston, Cincy, Baltimore, even Pittsburg. One of the AFCE teams will show up - maybe even two - as it is rare the Patriots sweep all 6 games.

Ultimately, I am confident this offense has plenty to get to the bigger games, but once there : will they stall (as has been the recent trend) ? and will the D step up and win games as opposed to 'trying not to lose' ?

 

[Huckleberry1]

Great question, in January.

 

[MassPats38]

If the Pats offense does not click, then the better question might be what defense does not stop the Pats (I believe it will, but the level of performance may take a dip). At this point, that remains a fairly open question in terms of what level a defense will have to perform at to reach that result.

With regard to Baltimore, in many respects the Ravens defense was worse than the Pats defense last year in big stretches of the season (I know, Ngata was injured and that is a huge factor). The loss of Lewis and Reed (even if the current talent represents an improvement), will be a step back in terms of experience. There was a talent bleed after the Flacco contract that hurt a little more. I'm interested in seeing exactly what that defense looks like this year. It may actually be worse than last year.

While Reed has lost a step, I expect he will make the Texans better. The Steelers are not what they used to be with LB talent selection that seemed to be hit after hit for years, so I would put the Texans as the toughest AFC defense. The Jets will field a good defense, to accompany a horrific offense.

 

[Huckleberry1]

What does around, comes around. One of the worst bets in football is the game after, against t a ream that was humiliated and embarrassed in the previous encounter.

Houston will be treating the game to be played at their stadium, as a "grudge match". I count that as a loss, already.

Houston will be motivated but in terms of their ability to match up against the Patriots they have not shown that they can do it, and until they do i will be skeptical of it. Brady owns them to this point and they are going to have to show they can stop him before will believe they can do it.

 

[Oswlek]

Cleveland dominated a 2010 offense that went on to outscore the 2007 Pats over the final 8 games.

In 2011, the Giants allowed 17 and 14 first half points to Buffalo and Miami, respectively, the two weeks before holding NE to a goose egg.

NE will have at least a couple bad showings, no matter how bad the opponent looked beforehand.

 

[patsfanincleveland]

I agree. Houston, Cincy, Baltimore, even Pittsburg. One of the AFCE teams will show up - maybe even two - as it is rare the Patriots sweep all 6 games.

Ultimately, I am confident this offense has plenty to get to the bigger games, but once there : will they stall (as has been the recent trend) ? and will the D step up and win games as opposed to 'trying not to lose' ?

The answer is very simple.

Health, Health, Health.

That's the only thing that matters. The reality is this team needs to be healthy for the playoffs after a 2600-2800 snap season.

Understanding this allows for watching what matters vs nonsense about the defense "trying not to lose".

Playoff teams need their best players during the playoffs because the best players are important for the team being at it's best.

 

[TB12_laser designator]

The Ravens defence will run us close again this year. Despite the reports in some media quarters suggesting that their defense is weakened. I think such reports are way off the mark, I see a potentially stronger defensive unit coming out of Baltimore in 2013. Fortunately though, if we can build on this promising young offense and if it stays healthy. Then we should have enough threats and options on the field to see them off.

 

[Deus Irae]

Can we hold off with the both acclamation of the offense and the destroying of the defense? It was one exhibition game against a team with a new HC, a new DC, switching from the 4-3 to the 3-4 without having the right personnel, missing a starting CB, and having a poor secondary even had all the starters been in there.