Game Thoughts - I think the Pats scored another TD while I posted this edition

[Rob0729]

Here we go:

• Kudos to Brady. After weeks of people trying to put him in a nursing home and declare that Father Time has already started to eat away at his skills, he answered his critics with a near career performance. I never bought the age thing. His problems never seemed to be age related. As he showed today, he still has zip on his ball even with deep passes, he moves well in the pocket, and he makes good, quick decisions.
• I know he still isn't perfect, but Dobson is turning into a legitimate outside target for the Pats. Probably the best once since Moss (granted that isn't saying a lot). I think he is hitting his stride at the right time and could be a major factor down the stretch and into the playoffs. He is finally getting the back shoulder throw.
• Looks like both Gronk and Amendola are getting close to 100%. Amendola looks to still be missing that overdrive gear, but he is definitely worlds better than he was a few weeks ago. Gronk looked like Gronk for much of this game.
• Still concerned about the o-line. The Steelers don't have a great pass rush, but they were able to put pressure on Brady too much today.
• I am giving the defense a pass today. They were down to five starters from the beginning of the year (McCourty, Dennard, Chandler Jones, Hightower, and Spikes). And other than a few drives, they did step up when it mattered. A lot of heart on this team especially on the defensive side.
• I don't know why the Eagles couldn't get Sopoaga to work in Philly. He was no Wilfork today, but he won most of the battles he had in the trenches today.
• Glad to see Andre Carter get a sack today. He is clearly declining, but it was good to see him get another season with a sack.
• I know people hate Blount on this board, but the guy is not a bad player. He usually gets beyond the 20 on kick returns (which in today's NFL is saying something) and he is a hard runner. Ridley is clearly better, but Blount is a good complimentary back.

 

[PatriotFan77]

Ridley ran like he was pissed off today. Then Blount came in and just hammered.

 

[Big-T]

Having Gronkendola healthy and Vereen back after the bye is going to be huge, the offense should be fun to watch the rest of the way.

Agree with you on Soap too, Wilfork he aint but it's nice to have a proper NT out there anchoring the middle of the line, nice batted down pass too.

 

[Rob0729]

Ridley ran like he was pissed off today. Then Blount came in and just hammered.

Meant to give Ridley props. He should have held onto the ball on that strip fumble, but he really responded when the Pats wanted to run the ball down the Steelers' throat in the fourth.

 

[Kdo5]

Meant to give Ridley props. He should have held onto the ball on that strip fumble, but he really responded when the Pats wanted to run the ball down the Steelers' throat in the fourth.

I disagree. That was just a great strip by Polamalu. Bill said as much in his presser.

 

[Rob0729]

I disagree. That was just a great strip by Polamalu. Bill said as much in his presser.

I give Polumalu credit for the strip, but I still blame the receiver in that case. Even most of the best strip can be prevented. Maybe I will have to watch it again to see if there is nothing he can do.

 

[Ozymandias]

The offense is peaking at the right time. Unlike 2007 where they started to slowdown down the stretch. The Patriots offensive display today can beat anyone soundly in the NFL.

As long as they stay consistent they have a great shot to do some good things. The next opponent will really test their offensive continuity however. The Panthers present some of the same issues that the Jets do - dominant front 7 with a subpar but opportunistic secondary. We'll see how they'll handle that this time around.

The bye week is coming at a great time for self-scouting. This team is starting its ascension precisely when it needs to.

 

[crypto]

ridley is the most balls-out bloodthirsty back the pats have had since corey dillon. holy ****, he looked murderous tonight

 

[upstater1]

Meant to give Ridley props. He should have held onto the ball on that strip fumble, but he really responded when the Pats wanted to run the ball down the Steelers' throat in the fourth.

The nfl.com guys all agreed that was an incomplete pass. I thought so too. In fact, a Steeler lost a ball after making more moves than Ridley. I was stunned to see that called a fumble. Not only that, but Ridley came right out in the next series and caught the first pass.

I happen to think Ridley is the key for the Patriots. He makes all the difference in the world.

 

[pazrul72]

I happen to think Ridley is the key for the Patriots. He makes all the difference in the world.

This....a hundred times this. Yes Ridley fumbles sometimes but so does every back in the league. I have been screaming at my tv the entire first half of the season to give riddles the damn ball 20-25 times a game because good things happen. The two TDs and the legit running threat to open up play action more then make up for the fumble, which was a damn good play by Troy who has a habit of making those.

 

[mgteich]

Many folks seem to agree with you.

Personally, I think the difference is Gronkowski.

I happen to think Ridley is the key for the Patriots. He makes all the difference in the world.

 

[VJCPatriot]

If Brady and the Pats perform exactly the same way as in the Steelers game for the remainder of the season, here would be Brady's final season stats:

5,217 yards 41 TDs 6 INT

Want to know the scary thing? That's not even Brady's best.

Most Passing yards 5,235 - 2011
Most Passing TDs 50 - 2007
Fewest INTs 4 - 2010

That just shows how mediocre the Pats offense has been through the first 8 games. If Game 8 was any indication, the final 7 games should be a real treat in comparison!!

Now here would be our team offense final stats if the rest of the games in 2013 all went like the Steelers game:

7,520 total yards [397 ypg] 619 points [38.7 ppg] 73 touchdowns 36 field goals

NFL records for most yards in a season is 7,474 held by the 2011/2012 Saints.
Most points in a season held by the 2007 Patriots with 589.

Since 55 ppg and 610 ypg is an unsustainable average, I think we have pretty much no chance of breaking those records this year. But the beatdown the Pats put on the Steelers is an epic blowout for the record books.

 

[Deus Irae]

...I happen to think Ridley is the key for the Patriots. He makes all the difference in the world.

No, as the start of the game should have demonstrated quite convincingly.



No.

 

[supafly]

If Brady and the Pats perform exactly the same way as in the Steelers game for the remainder of the season, here would be Brady's final season stats:

5,217 yards 41 TDs 6 INT

I realize that this is a bit of a tongue in cheek post (I think), and I agree that it's great to finally have a breakout performance for our offense. Let's hope they are a lot closer to today's game than the first 7.

It did however, raise our offensive scoring average to 26 pts per game--for whatever that's worth. I'd have to say that a good portion of us expected production around a TD less than last season, so it's good to see things start to fall into place.

Gronkowski, and a healthier Amendola do make a nice difference--no doubt about that one.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I realize that this is a bit of a tongue in cheek post (I think), and I agree that it's great to finally have a breakout performance for our offense. Let's hope they are a lot closer to today's game than the first 7.

It did however, raise our offensive scoring average to 26 pts per game--for whatever that's worth. I'd have to say that a good portion of us expected production around a TD less than last season, so it's good to see things start to fall into place.

Gronkowski, and a healthier Amendola do make a nice difference--no doubt about that one.

Yup just playing with the numbers. It's pretty scary what this team can do when we have our offensive starters healthy for once. Wasn't this the first time all season we've had all 4 of Ridley, Gronk, Amendola, and Dobson on the field and healthy at the same time?

 

[supafly]

Wasn't this the first time all season we've had all 4 of Ridley, Gronk, Amendola, and Dobson on the field and healthy at the same time?

No, they all played together in the MIA game too.

It looks good if they can build upon what they have accomplished in the last 6 quarters.

 

[Kulko]

I know he still isn't perfect, but Dobson is turning into a legitimate outside target for the Pats. Probably the best once since Moss (granted that isn't saying a lot). I think he is hitting his stride at the right time and could be a major factor down the stretch and into the playoffs. He is finally getting the back shoulder throw.

Well apart from moss he is surely the best since Patten, and his upside is defintitely even higher.

Still concerned about the o-line. The Steelers don't have a great pass rush, but they were able to put pressure on Brady too much today.

Unfortunately they were as good and as bad as they have played all year. There seems to some magic or coordintaion missing this year.

I am giving the defense a pass today. They were down to five starters from the beginning of the year (McCourty, Dennard, Chandler Jones, Hightower, and Spikes). And other than a few drives, they did step up when it mattered. A lot of heart on this team especially on the defensive side.

While you are definitely right, this is still the defense that needs to get us past DEN, KC and Ind in the playoffs, and yesterdays result wont accomplish that. Lets pray that Talib makes such a huge difference and the injuries sustained this week have only been minor ones.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

The nfl.com guys all agreed that was an incomplete pass. I thought so too. In fact, a Steeler lost a ball after making more moves than Ridley. I was stunned to see that called a fumble. Not only that, but Ridley came right out in the next series and caught the first pass.

I happen to think Ridley is the key for the Patriots. He makes all the difference in the world.

Count me as one surprised it was called a fumble. Based on what I have seen called an incompletion vs a fumble, I thought it was likely it would be overturned based on how quick the action was (from hitting Ridley's hands until it was moving around in his hands/being stripped).
Considering that I don't fault Ridley for the fumble. That's asking a lot of any receiver to fully secure the ball that quickly. And given BB's penchant for sitting Ridley for fumbling, I'd say BB agreed as the "fumble" didn't seem to effect Ridley's playing time.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Never as bad as your worst game, never as good as your best.

I would love this to be an indicator of the performances we can expect out of the offense the rest of the season.

I like being here w/only 2 losses at this point in the season, given the loss of just about every weapon in the receiving game through the early season. I love the progress of both the running game and the defense in the tough wins.

I would really love if we made other teams look like we made Pittsburgh look last night. But Pittsburgh's not that good a team anymore.

Crossing my fingers that yesterday was "turning a corner" not an outlier.

 

[AzorianPats]

•This offense always takes it up a notch whenever Ridley gets going. I think he's so underrated.
• Its never a surprise when Gronk as a good game. He's such a ****** beast. Best TE in the game hands down. Gronk and Ridley are awesome red zone weapons.
•Really glad to see Amendola and Dobson step it up. Amendola silenced his critics , at least for the next 2 weeks. But he shown he's fast enough to take the top off defenses. Nice trait to have coming out the slot. Dobson really come a long way from the week 2 Jets game. Also gives Brady the confidence that if defenses are gonna clog the middle of the field, he knows Dobson as a chance to beat his man deep and take one to the house. Good confidence builder for both these guys, cuz they seemed to lack it previous weeks.

Now I think its unfair to expect the offense to constantly expect this type of production every week, but it was great to see the offense step up for the defense this year. Now here's hoping we can get a complete game from the offense, defense, and ST!