Three Home Games Then the Bye.

[james87654]

"...our team..." for you = the Forehead's team...

lol.......i cant stand that sexually harassing degenerate

im a patriots fan for life......i will always appreciate what BB has done for us

southie roars

 

[juny]

Probably need to win all three to stay in hunt for home field advantage

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Probably need to win all three to stay in hunt for home field advantage

Just win them all and secure home field advantage

 

[mayoclinic]

The AFC playoff picture has settled out somewhat, as far as the top 6 teams goes:

5-1 San Diego
4-1 Denver
4-2 New England
4-2 Indianapolis
4-2 Baltimore
3-1-1 Cincinnati

3-2 Cleveland, 3-3 Houston and 3-3 Buffalo are the only other teams with 3 wins. With Denver playing San Diego week 8 and NE week 9, there should be more clarity at the top.

So far the Pats, Indy and Baltimore have all won this week to go to 5-2, and have some separation in their divisions. Denver and San Diego look like playoff locks unless one has a total collapse in the second half of the season. Cincinnati has fallen back to the pack after a 3-0 start, and looks very vulnerable.

 

[PATS16N0]

If Denver doesn't take the West, they'll be an early exit in the post season. I don't care for anyone's chances on the road in the play offs, but Peyton Manning, on the road, in the winter, in the play offs, surrounded by jacked up play off crowd hostility, is basically a guaranteed loss.

The Chargers still have their bye week, and one less away game remaining than Denver, but Denver has the easier schedule, just with more travel time and no bye week remaining.

Somebody's stock is going to start dropping in their division. It probably should be San Diego, but I think its Denver that's gonna' fall off.

 

[mayoclinic]

If Denver doesn't take the West, they'll be an early exit in the post season. I don't care for anyone's chances on the road in the play offs, but Peyton Manning, on the road, in the winter, in the play offs, surrounded by jacked up play off crowd hostility, is basically a guaranteed loss.

The Chargers still have their bye week, and one less away game remaining than Denver, but Denver has the easier schedule, just with more travel time and no bye week remaining.

Somebody's stock is going to start dropping in their division. It probably should be San Diego, but I think its Denver that's gonna' fall off.

You're probably right, but just to note that SD is warm weather and Indy is a dome, FWIW.

 

[supafly]

I'm into the idea of just taking it one week at a time, so onto Chicago.

After that hopeful victory, we'll be seeing them prepare extra hard against Manning, Welker, and Talib before heading into the bye at an opportune time. Both have the potential to be difficult games though.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

we have a much tougher schedule 2nd half. But coming off a bye pats always play week and play indy that week.

Beat Chi then worry about denver. Pats tough at home..denver so so on road

 

[RayClay]

Why BB isn't on the rules committee is beyond me. Or at least Johnathan Kraft. He should have complained to make those pick plays "a point of emphasis." Give Peyton a taste of his own medicine. It'd be one thing if other teams were allowed those same pick plays but, it seems like Denver is the only one who is allowed to do them.

Sure looks like a point of emphasis whenever LaFell and Amendola are on the field...

 

[meatface]

It would be real nice if the Chargers could beat the hell out of the Broncos on Thursday. I think we would all appreciate it

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

It would be real nice if the Chargers could beat the hell out of the Broncos on Thursday. I think we would all appreciate it

don't count on it. Sanders will run pick plays with the refs again all game.

This week for the pats is kind of big. Becasue if they win this and lose the DEN game it isn't that bad. They lose both...and it's bad based on schedule after bye

 

[mgteich]

Every game is important, but the CHI game especially so. After CHI, we have 5 weeks facing 5 to the top 10 top teams in the NFL.

We might beat them all. But CHI is not a good team.

 

[New England Pride]

I want to open a thread just for the Denver game but I know I'd probably get flamed to no end. I'm so excited for this game. A chance for the Pats to prove what we all know, but most dont. The gap between New England and Denver isn't as wide as media/fans make it out to be. As a matter of fact, it's not that wide at all.

 

[mayoclinic]

Nearing the mid-way point of the season the Pats are 6-2 and have the second best record in the AFC. If we beat Denver next week we will have the best record in the conference. Compare this start to those of the previous years:

2010: 6-2 start; 8-0 second half of the season
2011: 5-3 start; 8-0 second half of the season
2012: 5-3 start; 7-1 second half of the season
2013: 6-2 start; 6-2 second half of the season

Right now the Pats are averaging just under 30 PPG, Brady is playing the best that he has played since the second half of 2010, the offense is showing more diversity than it has showed in years, and most importantly, the offensive line has pulled together and given Brady decent protection. The team has averaged 42 PPG over the past 4 games; Gronk is finally looking to have returned to his old form, and Tim Wright and Brandon Lafell are emerging as significant new weapons. The defense was dominant when it counted, and is still adjusting to injuries; barring more major injuries, it should get better.

None of Indy (5-3), Baltimore (5-3), Pittsburgh (5-3), Cincinnati (4-2-1) and San Diego (5-3) seem like they are likely to end up being better teams than the Pats at this point of the season.

Denver - bye week - @Indianapolis - Green Bay - @Detroit - @San Diego. Win 3 out of those 5 games and the Pats will be in solid position to win out against the division (2 home games, and a road game against the Jets) to finish 12-4 and a likely bye.

Take it one game at a time. It will be interesting to see how the Pats match up with Denver.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

2-0 so far...would be fantastic to be 3-0

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Nearing the mid-way point of the season the Pats are 6-2 and have the second best record in the AFC. If we beat Denver next week we will have the best record in the conference. Compare this start to those of the previous years:

2010: 6-2 start; 8-0 second half of the season
2011: 5-3 start; 8-0 second half of the season
2012: 5-3 start; 7-1 second half of the season
2013: 6-2 start; 6-2 second half of the season

Right now the Pats are averaging just under 30 PPG, Brady is playing the best that he has played since the second half of 2010, the offense is showing more diversity than it has showed in years, and most importantly, the offensive line has pulled together and given Brady decent protection. The team has averaged 42 PPG over the past 4 games; Gronk is finally looking to have returned to his old form, and Tim Wright and Brandon Lafell are emerging as significant new weapons. The defense was dominant when it counted, and is still adjusting to injuries; barring more major injuries, it should get better.

None of Indy (5-3), Baltimore (5-3), Pittsburgh (5-3), Cincinnati (4-2-1) and San Diego (5-3) seem like they are likely to end up being better teams than the Pats at this point of the season.

Denver - bye week - @Indianapolis - Green Bay - @Detroit - @San Diego. Win 3 out of those 5 games and the Pats will be in solid position to win out against the division (2 home games, and a road game against the Jets) to finish 12-4 and a likely bye.

Take it one game at a time. It will be interesting to see how the Pats match up with Denver.

Good post. Seeing the past W/L records broken down provides excellent perspective.....

The bold-ed line says a lot. Focusing on and winning the next game should be the deep seeded belief of every team (of course forgetabout it with everyone else, just the Patriots). It's effect is an underrated edge (('you are not what they say you are! just forget what 'they' say! any team can be beaten if they don't focus on next Sunday! it is the only F'n thing that matters!!')). I tell ya what, if BB can make this many Patriot younglings/newbys strongly buy into that, he's a straight up magician at it.

The end of the season will see us, as usual IMHO, with a highly competitive record and a very good shot at the #1 or #2 seed (thanks in part to taking it one game at a time). How we get to that highly competitive record/who we may beat or lose to is an unknown. Maybe after we beat Denver the picture will be much clearer

 

[mayoclinic]

Good post. Seeing the past W/L records broken down provides excellent perspective.....

The bold-ed line says a lot. Focusing on and winning the next game should be the deep seeded belief of every team (of course forgetabout it with everyone else, just the Patriots). It's effect is an underrated edge (('you are not what they say you are! just forget what 'they' say! any team can be beaten if they don't focus on next Sunday! it is the only F'n thing that matters!!')). I tell ya what, if BB can make this many Patriot younglings/newbys strongly buy into that, he's a straight up magician at it.

The end of the season will see us, as usual IMHO, with a highly competitive record and a very good shot at the #1 or #2 seed (thanks in part to taking it one game at a time). How we get to that highly competitive record/who we may beat or lose to is an unknown. Maybe after we beat Denver the picture will be much clearer

Any given Sunday. Any of the next 6 games could be a loss. But right now the Pats look like a more complete and better team than Indy, San Diego, Green Bay and Detroit. Denver looks like a complete team at the moment, so that will be a good test.

 

[Deus Irae]

Any given Sunday. Any of the next 6 games could be a loss. But right now the Pats look like a more complete and better team than Indy, San Diego, Green Bay and Detroit. Denver looks like a complete team at the moment, so that will be a good test.

If right now means only this week, then sure. If it means in half of the NFL's 8 weeks, then no. The Patriots sure as hell haven't looked complete against the Jets/Chiefs/Raiders/Dolphins.

As happens every year, fans overrate their team's successes and their opponents' failures, while minimizing their team's failures and their opponents' successes.

 

[mayoclinic]

If right now means only this week, then sure. If it means in half of the NFL's 8 weeks, then no. The Patriots sure as hell haven't looked complete against the Jets/Chiefs/Raiders/Dolphins.

As happens every year, fans overrate their team's successes and their opponents' failures, while minimizing their team's failures and their opponents' successes.

Since I was the one who made the statement, I'll clarify. Obviously, the Pats have been inconsistent, and if they don't play well they stand a good chance of losing against any one of the teams listed. But if they play reasonably well, and with good intensity and focus, then I think they are a better team than SD, Indy, Green Bay and Detroit. They aren't a better team than Denver through 8 weeks, but I think they match up well, and it's still relatively early in the season.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Any given Sunday. Any of the next 6 games could be a loss. But right now the Pats look like a more complete and better team than Indy, San Diego, Green Bay and Detroit. Denver looks like a complete team at the moment, so that will be a good test.

For the team itself, they need to believe any of the next 8 opponents could cause a loss. But for us fans I agree with you.
With the OL healthy, with Gronk returning to form, with LaFell becoming a potent target, with Wright continuing to look like a real bonus, with Browner settling in/with this secondary........if the front 7 can ably stop the run (we need QBs having to throw at this secondary!) I believe you are correct that we are more complete than those other teams. However, to throw some water on this, is this OL lineup the real deal or a blip? Can Gronk do what he hasn't done in a long time, stay healthy/stay on the field? Can the run be ably stopped?