Patriots vs Bengals Post-Game Thread

[Hael]

Here's a stat for ya...

1-12 on 3rd downs. Hard to win like that.

Yea thats really it.. Its ashame too, I mean a lot of those third downs come from great playcalling by Cinci. They absolutely read everything we were trying to do.

I still feel like they should have taken a few more go routes deep in the first half to KT or Dobson, just to keep them honest. There was too much stacking against the run and protection against the screen/slant game.

 

[manxman2601]

Not having Ridley there hurt. But Bolden is still a better short-yardage option than Blount.

At any rate Bengals D-line dominated that game. Don't think Gronk is going to help with this team's biggest weakness going on seven years now--inability to handle quick, disruptive DTs.

I'm not sure Bolden is better than anyone. Can't catch the ball and can't get to the edge. Replacement level performance today (which is what he really is).

edit: He's OK as a 4th string RB but I really don't see him being any better than that personally.

 

[andrewgarrr]

Brady is starting to lose a step but that is to be expected when you get into your late 30's. Its not helping that BB decided to surround Brady with such a piss poor receiving core. This is worse than the 2006 receiving core.

Didn't you just contradict yourself? How are you delineating between Brady, the offensive line, the receivers, and the CIN defense's performance?

Look... Brady didn't play well. The receivers didn't play well. The offensive line didn't play well. And the CIN defense played well.

There's no sense or value in pouring the blame on one player. Football doesn't work like that.

 

[Joker]

All this, however, means shlt if they can't block.

that would be a bullseye..

the core of any offense is the O line...they suck, you usually lose...they sucked today, knocked back all afternoon...of course the Bengals defensive front MIGHT have something to do with that, huh?

 

[PatriotSeven]

Brady is starting to lose a step but that is to be expected when you get into your late 30's. Its not helping that BB decided to surround Brady with such a piss poor receiving core. This is worse than the 2006 receiving core.

No coincidence that Manning at age 37 is putting up ridiculous numbers because Elway surrounded Manning with great receivers. Its anybody's guess why BB just refuses to give Brady the same help at his age.

He IS!

For once he's actually trying to groom 2 downfiled threats inside to help Tom in his final years.

It's what we needed since Moss, but clearly it hasn't worked out for us in free agency.

Rooks will have growing pains this year, but Tom's going to be better off his last 3 years with Dobson and KT well trained in the Pats offense.

I mean you can see we can't even run the no huddle with these guys. They're still very green.

If we don't look better in weeks 12-16 then we can worry, but I really think Dobson and KT will be great for us.

I prefer this over trading for a diva WR that can't even learn the damn playbook.

 

[ausbacker]

Yeah. They have no skill players that can just flat-out win a 1v1 match-up. I thought Amendola back would be able to do this...

Vereen and Gronk are the biggest 'match-up' weapons for the offense. Need these guys back 100%. Should take a load off KT and AD.

All this, however, means shlt if they can't block.

Getting the skill players back on O won't matter much if the OL continues to dish up putrid performances as such. They've been terribly disappointing this season, most unlike them.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

With all the talk about drops, probably worth noting that was an amazing catch. If Brady puts the on the money, it's an easy TD. Amendola had stop his momentum and catch a ball way behind him, and then gather himself. Credit the DB for getting the tag just in the nick of time. Huge play in the game. But it was a really great catch.

Exactly that's what I'm sayin it just wasn't meant true Brady could have thrown it better and Amendola could have had presence of mind to roll into endzone. DBs did what they were supoosed to do see he didn't put a hand on him.

 

[Ozymandias]

I heard the media saying their road woes are over. Yet all i'm seeing is they are still average on the road.

Needed a choke job by Schaub to come back last week and squeaked by the Panthers 12-7.

Agreed.

All of those games have a common theme: 1PM EST.

The Seahawks have notoriously struggled in that spot. Circadian Rhythms and all that. So I'm not really knocking them much in those spots. They're unbeatable at home right now.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Couple of thoughts.

The defense played excellent. It was evident that they will miss Wilfork and his run stopping ability. Besides the 1 play when they pinned the offense at their 1 and then giving the long 3rd down I have no gripes.

Allen punted his tail off today. He is another reason NE was still in the game today.

The offense was a different story. NE already led the league in drops and now leads by a mile.

Lot of bad route running and some poorly thrown balls to go with it. Simply not on the same page today. Hopefully the return of Gronk will lessen their load while they figure it out.

Besides the bad offensive play on the field I really thought the play calling could of been better as well.

Going into next week I still think they got a shot at winning against the Saints. We've seen the wr's have a good game at Atlanta and if Gronk comes back I really think they can do so again.

Pretty evident this team hates pressure on the QB and don't play well when it happens. Name me a team that doesn't.

Still easy to stay positive after watching the defensive performance and knowing Gronkowski will be returning. He makes the passing and running game better all by himself. Just hope he can shake off the rust quick.

 

[Crononaut]

I shamefully admit I was paying more attention than I'd like to that TD streak. Now that it's over, I'm glad. It's just a stat that will eventually be broken, and one less thing I have to worry about.

The loss hurts though. Huge props to the Bengal's D, but those rookies need to get on Brady's page fast. At face value it looked like there were a couple plays where Dobson was wide open and Brady threw nowhere near him, indicating it would be on Brady. But I don't know how the Patriots offensive system works; as someone pointed out in the gameday thread, it appears Tom has zero flexibility on his routes (except for scrambling situations), which makes sense (that's just asking for miscommunication). It looks like Dobson's going to have to learn, at least on the initial route, to run it correctly.

Not to put it all on him though, Brady was off on a TON of throws today.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Kelly not returning to the game after he re-entered the game is a bit concerning. It means something could really be wrong . . . maybe a really bad sprain. I don't think he would have been able to come down had he torn something (not a doctor). Not having him next week would be a huge loss for a team that is already inconsistent in getting pressure on opposing QB's, which will face one of the best in the league.

 

[andrewgarrr]

Getting the skill players back on O won't matter much if the OL continues to dish up putrid performances as such. They've been terribly disappointing this season, most unlike them.

Thanks for reiterating my last, and most important, point.

 

[coolguy]

Yeah. They have no skill players that can just flat-out win a 1v1 match-up. I thought Amendola back would be able to do this...

Vereen and Gronk are the biggest 'match-up' weapons for the offense. Need these guys back 100%. Should take a load off KT and AD.

All this, however, means shlt if they can't block.

This isn't true.

With danny and edleman being dump off, check down receivers, they are taking away opportunities for thompkins and dobson to make plays.


I don't think having edleman and danny play in the same game is good.

 

[Deus Irae]

Not having Ridley there hurt. But Bolden is still a better short-yardage option than Blount.

At any rate Bengals D-line dominated that game. Don't think Gronk is going to help with this team's biggest weakness going on seven years now--inability to handle quick, disruptive DTs.

Enough with the Bolden crap! If Bolden hadn't dropped the damned screen pass, this game would probably have been completely different.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Guys I really think Dobson needs more snaps. He looks excellent to me on getting separation. I think Dobson is gonna be a good receiver if he can fix his hands.

 

[sb1]

Good God. Yeah Brady looked lousy today, crappy receivers or not. But why is this even a thought in your head?????

I just hope it wasn't, and certainly hope it didn't have anything to do with the play calls down there. That's all I was saying.

 

[manxman2601]

Yea thats really it.. Its ashame too, I mean a lot of those third downs come from great playcalling by Cinci. They absolutely read everything we were trying to do.

I still feel like they should have taken a few more go routes deep in the first half to KT or Dobson, just to keep them honest. There was too much stacking against the run and protection against the screen/slant game.

Yes. they're obsessed with small ball. We started to look dangerous once Dobson got on the field and started getting in to the action. I'm not his greatest fan, but when the small ball isn't working, why not air it out a bit?

And did I miss something on Josh Boyce being injured or inactive? If not, why not try some of his speed?

 

[Patsgofor4]

who the hell are you proposing we replace him with? who should we have gotten in Brady's place before the season started?...or are you just Brady bashing for shiits and giggles?

Yes, of course we are still lucky to have him at QB. He is still a top 4 QB in the league. It's the free pass he gets every week. He is not blameless for this loss or for the offense's problems in general this year.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

What needs to change soon is getting injured players back. This team is down to its third and fourth running backs and has no tight end threat.

Hope you are right because the current incarnation of this offense will be a major liability come playoff time.

 

[Deus Irae]

This isn't true.

With danny and edleman being dump off, check down receivers, they are taking away opportunity for thompkins and dobson to make plays.


I don't think having edleman and danny play in the same game is good.

Yeah.... that whole Welker + Edelman thing last year really limited the offense.

Come on, now.


Outside of the injuries, Dobson and Thompkins are killing the team with their play.