Game Thoughts: It just doesn't matter edition

[Rob0729]

Here we go (I will start with the negatives and go to the positives):

• Slater screwed up. I thought he wanted to receive and just said it wrong, but he should have elected to defer the decision. I think the rules still apply in overtime where he can defer the decision to the Jets and select the end zone to defend. But once you select to kick off, you have made a choice. I could be wrong there.
• That said, I don't get the strategy. I can understand if weather was a factor, but it didn't appear to be. I mean even though the defense had been playing well since the Jets' opening drive of the second half, don't know if you can guarantee stopping a TD on the opening drive in overtime.
• I have never seen a team more snake bitten with injuries than the Pats this season. Every week the Pats lose a significant starter. Vollmer looks like he could be done for the year. Big loss for the Pats even though Waddle played fairly well in replacement (more on him later).
• I do not like how the Patriots are passive right before halftime on offense. I know they are really missing most of the their skill players, but I think they could have made it to at least field goal range. I don't get why they keep doing this.
• I also didn't like how conservative they were on offense early in the game. Yes, your two best receivers were out, but you were inviting the Jets to blitz Brady because they didn't fear any passes over 2-3 yards.
• I think all the people who said McCourty was having a mediocre year are seeing how much he means to the secondary. The Jets picked on Harmon today and got some big plays and Logan Ryan has had his two worst games in a long time this season (although he will get more blame for Marshall's product than deserved because he covered Marshall pretty well for the most part).
• Ok onto the positives, I liked the way Waddle played. Yes, he struggled at times (letting the defender behind him to pressure Brady), but he did very well for the most part. Not a bad effort for a guy who was a street free agent brought in this week.
• I give this team a lot of credit. This team should have a losing record with all the injuries they have, but they keep on fighting. The Jets were playing for their playoff lives, this game really didn't have that much meaning for the Pats since they can get HFA with a win against the Dolphins, and the Jets came into the game at full health. And the Pats took them to overtime.
• Collins finally seems to be back to close to 100%. This is the first game he has really looked like his former self.
• Jabaal Sheared costs the Pats $11 million TOTAL over this year and next. Namdukong Suh got a $25.5 million signing bonus this year (his GUARANTEED base salary next year is $23.5 million). Who had the better free agent signing? I know they play different positions, but Sheard has made more of an impact on the Pats' defense than Suh has had on the Dolphins defense for a fraction of the cost. Another game where Sheard had a big impact on the defense. Huge strip sack that allowed Collins to get the TD.
• I think Keyshaw Martin is going to be a good player for the Pats when he finally settles into his real role as the #3 or #4 WR. He was pretty good today out of the slot. He isn't really a primary receiver, but hasn't been horrible at it being thrusted into the position with Amendola and Edelman down.
• All you people afraid of the Steelers should be happy today. The Pats assisted in probably knocking them out of the playoffs. The Jets would have to lose to the Bills for them to even have a chance at it. Although I am not afraid of the Pats playing anyone if they can get a lot of the players who can come back healthy, but I will admit that the Steelers are more scary than the Jets who could barely beat a wounded Patriots team with not much on the line playing for their playoff lives at home.

 

[Connecticut]

Good points but I keep saying it, never "wish" any opponent on yourself, especially the Jets who always play us tough. I'm not so sure I'd rather have them over the Steelers but we might not even end up playing either team.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Not much to really add.

LaFell has really taken a step backwards. Maybe it's because he doesn't get as many good looks without Edelman out there? To me he hasn't been all that reliable this season.

I was happy with the way the defense played overall despite missing the middle of their secondary. It really showed with Ryan not getting the help he needed. Marshall and Decker really do form an awesome combo.

Oline is a mess right now. Drinks on the house if they can get this thing fixed before that first playoff game. Don't even know where to begin there. If it was any other Qb behind that line it would be curtains. Brady has one of the fastest deliveries off the snap and in some cases he wasn't even getting two seconds. Very frustrating to watch.

Luke warm on Jackson. He ran with power and I didn't really get to see enough with Bolden taking carries. With what little I saw I was encouraged I guess. White came through in some big moments.

Anyway, on to Miami. Jets won and outplayed the product the Pats put on the field. Sure, it would be nice to see this team healthy but it is what it is. Pats had a lot of rhythm with Lewis on the field and still even had it when he went down with Edelman helping the offense remain creative and hard to defend. I'm hoping they can rekindle that when he gets back on the field and the oline can plug some leaks.

 

[ViperGTS]

Not much to really add.

LaFell has really taken a step backwards. Maybe it's because he doesn't get as many good looks without Edelman out there? To me he hasn't been all that reliable this season.

I was happy with the way the defense played overall despite missing the middle of their secondary. It really showed with Ryan not getting the help he needed. Marshall and Decker really do form an awesome combo.

Oline is a mess right now. Drinks on the house if they can get this thing fixed before that first playoff game. Don't even know where to begin there. If it was any other Qb behind that line it would be curtains. Brady has one of the fastest deliveries off the snap and in some cases he wasn't even getting two seconds. Very frustrating to watch.

Luke warm on Jackson. He ran with power and I didn't really get to see enough with Bolden taking carries. With what little I saw I was encouraged I guess. White came through in some big moments.

Anyway, on to Miami. Jets won and outplayed the product the Pats put on the field. Sure, it would be nice to see this team healthy but it is what it is. Pats had a lot of rhythm with Lewis on the field and still even had it when he went down with Edelman helping the offense remain creative and hard to defend. I'm hoping they can rekindle that when he gets back on the field and the oline can plug some leaks.

Good points. The o-line will appear to be better when Jules and Amendola are back out there. With an improved Martin the receiver core will be suddenly deep when now it's bare. White is doing a good job of doing what he needs to do as well. Vollmer having a sprain, while not ideal, is better than what it could have been. I bet he practices this week, and doesn't play until the Divisonal round. Jackson stated it didn't feel that fast to him which is a good sign considering it was his first live game action in a year. Anything positive such as his quickness to the hole is a good sign of things to come.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Here we go (I will start with the negatives and go to the positives):

• Slater screwed up. I thought he wanted to receive and just said it wrong, but he should have elected to defer the decision. I think the rules still apply in overtime where he can defer the decision to the Jets and select the end zone to defend. But once you select to kick off, you have made a choice. I could be wrong there.
• That said, I don't get the strategy. I can understand if weather was a factor, but it didn't appear to be. I mean even though the defense had been playing well since the Jets' opening drive of the second half, don't know if you can guarantee stopping a TD on the opening drive in overtime.
• I have never seen a team more snake bitten with injuries than the Pats this season. Every week the Pats lose a significant starter. Vollmer looks like he could be done for the year. Big loss for the Pats even though Waddle played fairly well in replacement (more on him later).
• I do not like how the Patriots are passive right before halftime on offense. I know they are really missing most of the their skill players, but I think they could have made it to at least field goal range. I don't get why they keep doing this.
• I also didn't like how conservative they were on offense early in the game. Yes, your two best receivers were out, but you were inviting the Jets to blitz Brady because they didn't fear any passes over 2-3 yards.
• I think all the people who said McCourty was having a mediocre year are seeing how much he means to the secondary. The Jets picked on Harmon today and got some big plays and Logan Ryan has had his two worst games in a long time this season (although he will get more blame for Marshall's product than deserved because he covered Marshall pretty well for the most part).
• Ok onto the positives, I liked the way Waddle played. Yes, he struggled at times (letting the defender behind him to pressure Brady), but he did very well for the most part. Not a bad effort for a guy who was a street free agent brought in this week.
• I give this team a lot of credit. This team should have a losing record with all the injuries they have, but they keep on fighting. The Jets were playing for their playoff lives, this game really didn't have that much meaning for the Pats since they can get HFA with a win against the Dolphins, and the Jets came into the game at full health. And the Pats took them to overtime.
• Collins finally seems to be back to close to 100%. This is the first game he has really looked like his former self.
• Jabaal Sheared costs the Pats $11 million TOTAL over this year and next. Namdukong Suh got a $25.5 million signing bonus this year (his GUARANTEED base salary next year is $23.5 million). Who had the better free agent signing? I know they play different positions, but Sheard has made more of an impact on the Pats' defense than Suh has had on the Dolphins defense for a fraction of the cost. Another game where Sheard had a big impact on the defense. Huge strip sack that allowed Collins to get the TD.
• I think Keyshaw Martin is going to be a good player for the Pats when he finally settles into his real role as the #3 or #4 WR. He was pretty good today out of the slot. He isn't really a primary receiver, but hasn't been horrible at it being thrusted into the position with Amendola and Edelman down.
• All you people afraid of the Steelers should be happy today. The Pats assisted in probably knocking them out of the playoffs. The Jets would have to lose to the Bills for them to even have a chance at it. Although I am not afraid of the Pats playing anyone if they can get a lot of the players who can come back healthy, but I will admit that the Steelers are more scary than the Jets who could barely beat a wounded Patriots team with not much on the line playing for their playoff lives at home.

The stoolers made Mallett look like an nfl franchise QB. The jets have a good defense. We would be favorites but i got a feeling we would sweat that game out. The stoolers stink on defense.

 

[farn]

This team, mid-season, had the makings of something very special. They may still achieve the ultimate goal, but there is no question injuries are a massive part of this league. And it makes me so much more appreciative of the magical 2014 squad. If the gang returns - the AFC seems vulnerable. And once you make the last game - anything can happen (as we've seen both good & bad).

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I like Curran's take:
Curran: A calculated risk gone wrong for Patriots

 

[QuantumMechanic]

And Kevin Duffy has a nice runthrough of what should be kept in mind re: the OT decision:
Analyzing Bill Belichick's decision to kick off in overtime during Patriots' loss to Jets

 

[SomePatsFan13]

Martin will be a stud once Jules and Dola return to this offense, come January.

Defenses won't know what hit em.

He might be faster than Edelman. Getting some weak one on one nickel corners on him makes me salivate.

January, hurry the hell up.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

You guys harping on Lafelle forget about last week?

 

[cmasspatsfan]

And Kevin Duffy has a nice runthrough of what should be kept in mind re: the OT decision:
Analyzing Bill Belichick's decision to kick off in overtime during Patriots' loss to Jets

I thought they might have gone for 2 on the last td.

 

[Patstopia]

It's tough on Lafell being the only WR that the Pats have left. He is getting a lot of attention, as well as Gronk! That is why Martin is as open as he is.

When Edelman and Amendola come back with all the work and trust Martin has built up, and with less attention to Lafell, I think we will be back to being a proficient offense.

OLine is another thing all together. They are totally snagged up. Maybe for the next month they can get Scar to consult and straighten out what is left standing. But it looks like quick slants and short timing routes for the rest of the season. Thankfully our QB and receivers are built for that.

Lets face it, if this wasn't a loss to the Jests, nobody would care. But we hate them, so every loss to them sucks.

Just think of how nice it will be to knock them out of the playoffs when we have everyone at back

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

Its really unbelieveable to think that Ryan Fitzpatrick might be the second best QB in the AFC playoffs. Not one time have I ever seen him and thought he could win a playoff round, let alone possibly two.

As snakebitten as we have been this year, the fact that Brady keeps standing up after getting pummelled all season gives us a gigantic advantage over everyone. We would have to make it to the Superbowl to play a top 15 QB, which could be ugly if our roster keeps dropping like flies.

 

[NJPatsfan26]

i would have loved to crush the jets at home just because i hate their fan base and team

that being said being as banged up as we are, going into OT was pretty good with how the Jets were playing today

Lets just hope we can beat the Dolphins next week without injuries and get the 1st round bye

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I love SHeard

 

[TBR]

The Steelers did stink it up today, but so did the Ravens near the end of last year (vs Browns and Texans I think) and still came into Gillette and had the Pats down 14 twice.

I'm glad it looks like they might miss the playoffs.

 

[aluminum seats]

This team, mid-season, had the makings of something very special. They may still achieve the ultimate goal, but there is no question injuries are a massive part of this league. And it makes me so much more appreciative of the magical 2014 squad. If the gang returns - the AFC seems vulnerable. And once you make the last game - anything can happen (as we've seen both good & bad).

To appreciate the difference that remains between the Pats and the Jets, just think about if the circumstances were reversed today: the Jets coming into Foxboro decimated against a healthy Pats team at home fully motivated to win.

The Pats would've won by 40. It took the Jets overtime.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Rex will have the bills ready and they beat the jets next week.

 

[supafly]

Rex will have the bills ready and they beat the jets next week.

This is a very realistic possibility, which would place Pittsburgh back into the wild card assuming they win vs the Browns.

 

[Fencer]

I'm not so sure I'd rather have them over the Steelers but we might not even end up playing either team.

Of course. There are lots of scenarios in which we won't play against any wild card team.