Like it or not: This is the D we are taking into the playoffs

[Brady_to_Moss]

Every last game in reg season will be a dog fight. Come playoffs. They can't spot teams 17 pts and expect to win them all

 

[SunsOutGunsOut]

ok thanks .. :bricks:

 

[patsinthesnow]

No it's not.

Without Dennard we can't play man to man all game.

Dennard will make a huge difference.

 

[bresna]

Every last game in reg season will be a dog fight. Come playoffs. They can't spot teams 17 pts and expect to win them all

This is true. It turns out that we can actually spot a playoff team with a Hall Of Fame quarteback 24 points, not 17.

 

[Froob]

I bet ravens fans were saying that after the donkeys and RGME tore them up last year.

 

[olschool]

Every last game in reg season will be a dog fight. Come playoffs. They can't spot teams 17 pts and expect to win them all

I still think I'd rather have the 31st ranked rush defense than the 31st ranked pass defense.

I'm just happy they won a road game.

Any news on Thompkins ? Could they just get through a game without a serious injury ?

 

[PatriotSeven]

Like it or not, this D will take us out of the playoffs.

 

[Brady6]

The defense has a lot of big pieces missing:

Wilfork – best 3-4/4-3 NT/DT in the NFL
Kelly – top ten 4-3/3-4 DT/DE in the NFL
Mayo – top five 4-3/3-4 OLB/ILB in the NFL
Dennard – top five RCB in the NFL

All things considered Texans had 264 passing yards, 121 rushing yards and under 27 minutes TOP. We had probably our worst defensive game of the year and it probably would have been our best back in 2011 so I wouldn’t make more out of it than need be, we made stops when we had to and got out there with a win. The Texans record is misleading they’re not as bad as it indicates and that QB has been pretty impressive since taking over.

 

[NSPF]

Well, at least they are "clutch" :bricks:

 

[unoriginal]

Clearly you're implying we shouldn't like it.

But I like it when a tired defense still manages to force two stops to all but end the game.

And I like when Alfonso Dennard plays and pushes Arrington into the slot. Hopefully we'll be taking him to the playoffs too.

 

[Observer]

Like it or not, with all the injuries, this is what we have got and they are playing superlatively considering how many rookies and UDFA's are playing critical roles. We won't dominate anyone but we can hang in there with just about any team.

We have been winning more than our fair share of games in spite of everything. We will need some good luck along the way but who doesn't? I am pretty proud of their performance so far.

 

[Ozymandias]

I like the fact that they made the stand when it actually mattered most without their two best interior DLineman, best LB, and 2nd best cover corner. Those things matter, especially with a bunch of ragtag practice squad and UDFA starters playing significant snaps.

Those defenses of past years probably lose that game at the end. The defense rising to occasion that it did builds character down the stretch. I'm more than confident that they can make the plays when they absolutely need to.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Clearly you're implying we shouldn't like it.

I don't think anyone should like this D where they are right now. I know it's becasue of injuries. But you still can't like what you are seeing.

They have been clutch which has won them games. But can they be clutch almost every game especially in the playoffs. That's the key

 

[Boston Boxer]

Every last game in reg season will be a dog fight. Come playoffs. They can't spot teams 17 pts and expect to win them all

what would you like them to do?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

what would you like them to do?

they can't do anything becasue of injuries. They can't spot teams 17 pts and expect to win them all

 

[RayClay]

Nah, we don't have Wilfork, but we have some talented players that can improve immensely by playing together. Defenses are units, much more than offenses (except the line). If our front seven can tighten up whether 3-4 or 4-3 and our secondary stays healthy, we'll be fine.

Like Logan Ryan, nice reserve IMO. Wilfork ain't wlaking through that door, but we've got two big DTs and two undersized hustlers.

Jones, Ninko, Carter and Buchanan offer hope for the rush, and will be better if the DTs hold their own.

People obsessing about Hightower miss the obvious deterioration of Spikes, who must still be injured IMO. Still, Collins and Fletcher sure beat the collection of castaways we had 6-7 years ago at LB, at least athletically.

D will just need to play smarter without the extremely talented men in the middle.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Nah, we don't have Wilfork, but we have some talented players that can improve immensely by playing together. Defenses are units, much more than offenses (except the line). If our front seven can tighten up whether 3-4 or 4-3 and our secondary stays healthy, we'll be fine.

Like Logan Ryan, nice reserve IMO. Wilfork ain't wlaking through that door, but we've got two big DTs and two undersized hustlers.

Jones, Ninko, Carter and Buchanan offer hope for the rush, and will be better if the DTs hold their own.

People obsessing about Hightower miss the obvious deterioration of Spikes, who must still be injured IMO. Still, Collins and Fletcher sure beat the collection of castaways we had 6-7 years ago at LB, at least athletically.

D will just need to play smarter without the extremely talented men in the middle.

The D is still playing smart for the most part. Just the lack of talent is what is killing them

 

[RayClay]

I don't think anyone should like this D where they are right now. I know it's becasue of injuries. But you still can't like what you are seeing.

They have been clutch which has won them games. But can they be clutch almost every game especially in the playoffs. That's the key

Why not? Satan Manning's one Super Bowl followed stretch where Denver was ripping off 5-10 yard runs up the middle at will. They made a deal for Booger McFarland and patched that enough to complement a good balanced offense.

The Pats are not as bad up the middle as that team was. They threw a new NT into the breach tonight. They'll need to practice hard and bust out some new schemes.

 

[RayClay]

The D is still playing smart for the most part. Just the lack of talent is what is killing them

They can and have played better than today. Nobody said it would be easy and most teams don't have NTs as good as Kelly and Wilfork anyway.

 

[Rob0729]

First, it is doubtful it is the defense the Pats bring into the playoffs. Odds are Dennard will be healthy and playing, Gregory will be back to starting, and hopefully Talib will be healthy. Those three players back and healthy completely change the passing defense.

Second, it was good enough last week. Manning had just two decent drives last week. All their other points were either on defense or on short fields because of turnovers. The Pats played in sub defense all game and many times had two down linemen daring the Broncos to run which the Broncos bought into.

Third, have you been watching the defenses of the AFC playoff teams in recent weeks. The Colts and Broncos defenses are not any better than the Pats. KC's defense has really taken a step back. The Bengals' defense is really banged up too.