Worst Offensive Performance in Recent Memory

[sb1]

I've been longing for the day when the defense was capable of carrying this team if need be. While I see good signs and I remain hopeful, I am cautious about it because the two teams we just played have very bad offenses.

I agree about being cautiously optimistic and the Jets offense is pretty bad but the Bills - that remains to be seen. They have some weapons and that's the same offense minus Fitzpatrick that put 34 up on the pats a couple years ago.

The Falcons-Bengals-Saints stretch will tell us more about the D.

But I don't think it's a bad thing if this team can win ugly. That's something they usually did in the dynasty years, not so much in recent years...

 

[Salva135]

People citing games from 2003 or 1978 or whatever are missing the point. This is 2013 Brady and the 2013 Pats offense. They are supposed to be elite. These first two performances can squeeze out wins against the crap in the AFC East.

If Gronk doesn't come back in at least 80% form this team loses by at least 2 touchdowns to Atlanta and New Orleans.

They don't look even on the same page as the true Super Bowl contenders in this league right now, and we are banking all of our hope on a return to full health of our best skill position players, which is a questionable bet. This looks like a 9-7 wildcard team at best.

If you think this team is competing for a Super Bowl you are hoping for everything to magically fall in place and the team to go on an improbable run. We are a slightly above league-average team. Accepting that and hoping for better will make life easier for the generic Pats fan thinking 12 wins and a bye.

 

[Sfpat]

Maybe the lack of practice time is catching up with the Pats. They didn't practice this past week (just walk throughs), and haven't really spent much time on the practice field (full speed practices) since the joint sessions with Tampa Bay. Unfortunately, it appears they are taking their practice reps during real games.

 

[livinginthe past]

Well of course it would be.

Recent memory would probably include some of the most offensively explosive teams/performances that the NFL has ever seen.

Plenty of teams have struggled mightily through the regular season - looking offensively and/or defensively inept - only to peak when the games matter most - NY Giants anyone?

This team, right now, is right at the bottom of a hopefully long and progressive learning curve.

Nothing we have seen through games 1 and 2 should surprise the realistic fan.

 

[livinginthe past]

People citing games from 2003 or 1978 or whatever are missing the point. This is 2013 Brady and the 2013 Pats offense. They are supposed to be elite. These first two performances can squeeze out wins against the crap in the AFC East.

If Gronk doesn't come back in at least 80% form this team loses by at least 2 touchdowns to Atlanta and New Orleans.

They don't look even on the same page as the true Super Bowl contenders in this league right now, and we are banking all of our hope on a return to full health of our best skill position players, which is a questionable bet. This looks like a 9-7 wildcard team at best.

If you think this team is competing for a Super Bowl you are hoping for everything to magically fall in place and the team to go on an improbable run.

Really?

Exactly who, in their right mind, would expect a Brady led 2013 offense to be elite?

This is a unit minus its best two TE's, its best slot WR and its arguably its best RB.

I'm not expecting elite, and I don't see how anyone else realistically could.

 

[primetime]

did you watch the patriots during the 90's?

This is a good point. The supporting cast from last night may be the worst since guys like Vincent Brisby and Ray Crittenden were featured. Hey, at least we're getting Ben Coa... er, Gronk back soon!

 

[juny]

I agree about being cautiously optimistic and the Jets offense is pretty bad but the Bills - that remains to be seen. They have some weapons and that's the same offense minus Fitzpatrick that put 34 up on the pats a couple years ago.

The Falcons-Bengals-Saints stretch will tell us more about the D.

But I don't think it's a bad thing if this team can win ugly. That's something they usually did in the dynasty years, not so much in recent years...

The D will have to come up big again, but the O has to improve by a wide margin to win any of those 3 games. I'm hoping last night is the floor for the team, and could only get better from here.

 

[Brewskies]

Two ugly wins are better than two ugly losses. What is whining? Is stating facts from a game whining? Is saying they played poorly whining or complaining? Am I impressed with the 2013 start, NO. Ask me again after I return from the 9/22 TB game that cost me $400, for myself, to go to.

 

[jmt57]

That game was bad, but the Pats moved the ball up and down the field at will in that game. They just sputtered in the red zone. Last night the Pats couldn't do anything outside of that first drive.

Without any hesitation I will take a game where the team turns the ball over zero times over a game where they turn it over three times, every time.

To me it's the equivalent of style over substance; moving the ball up and down the field may be more fun to watch, but ball security is far more critical to winning football. I consider yardage to be an overrated stat, and turnovers to be a very underrated stat.

 

[goheels22002]

OP states "recent memory", posters bring up games from a decade ago and the 90's....

"Recent memory" is an entirely relative thing. There are some here in whose recent memory Bill Belichick was the only Patriots head coach they've ever seen. Others remember the likes of the great Chuck Fairbanks and quiet genius Raymond Berry, or even the poor lost soul **** MacPherson. Others don't remember much before the third quarter of last night's game - you know who you are....

In any event, last night's game was far from a show of incompetence. It was rookies dropping balls in their first-ever or second-ever game.

Here's a stat for you guys who want to bring in old war horses to replace the rookies (including you Tom Brady): Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson's most receptions in a Patriots uniform was 2 (for 65 yards). Kenbrell Thompkins had four and Aaron Dobson had three receptions in their first-ever game in the NFL, respectively.

If Gronkowski, Hernandez, Amendola and Vereen had been on the field last night, these kids might have gotten one or two targets, at best. Cut these kids a break.

 

[KamikazeKnight]

Why can't this reporter use Google?

I would just like to say that nobody, reporter or otherwise, should be using Google.

Google is a terrible company, and Eric Schmidt supports the degradation of our free society into a total surveillance state. That's no surprise to me, of course, since he and his company blatantly profit off of the loss of our 4th amendment rights.

Don't use Google.

 

[stcjones]

Good points....and would add Hernandez into the mix as well....You don't replace that kind of WR/TE talent overnight....and he KNEW the playbook inside and out......Having lost him Gronk, Welker, He(( even Branch, Lloyd, Woodhead....and now as you say...even Vereen, Amendola.....Our offense has been completely GUTTED....and people wonder why we are struggling offensively!??

We knew this was going to be tough but we thought we would at least be doing it with the likes of Amendola, Vereen and (as soon as possible) Gronkowski. Threee of our four top weapons are currently out as well as our second string TE in Sudfeld.

You can;t expect rookie's to carry the team. Edelman did a fine job of picking up some of the workload and he was our clear MVP.

Whine about it all you want, but there were positives from our rookies. If Dobson had reeled in that catch we may be preaching a completely different story right now. He was getting open all day. However, you don't learn without making mistakes. Thompkins again was getting open and getting good seperation...there are just a few areas in his game that he needs to address.

We thought we could ease these guys in yet they became the main focal point...the last thing we wanted.

Gronkowski looks set to come back by week 3/4 and that alone will take a lot of strain away and free the rookies up as they'll put double teams on Gronk all day long. Then when Amendola returns we'll be laughing.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Let's face it- the Patriots are the worst 2-0 team in the NFL right now.

They are also the best 2-0 team in the NFL right now.