Official Unofficial Post Game Thread

[slash83]

The only way the defense can improve is with better communication. Ty Law or Richard Seymour aren't walking through the locker room doors.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

The Defense that has done OK against marginal teams by "bending but not breaking" couldn't hold a strong Offense to less than 20 points.

It's going to be a a very short January if the Offense has to put up 30+ points to beat good teams.

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't know what happened but, at some point, Belichick became unreasonably terrified of mobile quarterbacks to the point where he's trotted out ultra passive defensive packages which are allowing conversions (even on 3rd and long) through the air to prevent the quarterback from running. When you combine that with the lack of playmakers that we currently see on the defensive side of the ball, you get what we saw last night.

 

[A man named Brady]

Gotta love the slant people take "Pats defense sucked, Seahawks defense was AWESOME"

Yep real awesome,

Allowed only 30 yards less than the Pats
Worse on 3rd down
Gave up more 1st downs

"But but those 2 turnovers"

Pats should have had 3 turnovers, Ryan dropped an INT, Hightower dropped an INT and the refs gave a clear fumble back to the Seahawks even though Roberts came out of the pile with it.

Once again, the Seahawks offense was GARBAGE heading into this game, one of the worst in the league while patriots were looking historic since Brady was in the lineup.

It's not the same competition

 

[PF_SU]

I don't know what happened but, at some point, Belichick became unreasonably terrified of mobile quarterbacks to the point where he's trotted out ultra passive defensive packages which are allowing conversions (even on 3rd and long) through the air to prevent the quarterback from running.

I think the point is/was, mobile quarterbacks are/were usually not great pocket passers but dangerous when scrambling. So the idea is keeping them in the pocket and force them to find a window against eight in coverage. Thing is now, some of the top scrambling quarterbacks have gotten quite good at passing in the pocket. Just look at Wilson, he's become quite a terrific QB passing the football. And when that happens the old plan with passive pass rush and zone defense should be scrapped, but for some reason it hasn't happened.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don't know what happened but, at some point, Belichick became unreasonably terrified of mobile quarterbacks to the point where he's trotted out ultra passive defensive packages which are allowing conversions (even on 3rd and long) through the air to prevent the quarterback from running. When you combine that with the lack of playmakers that we currently see on the defensive side of the ball, you get what we saw last night.

I agree completely.

I always thought it was OK to rush 4 or 5, have 5 or so in coverage and a LB/SS type to spy on the QB and depending on what they saw, blitz or be able to go sideline to sideline and prevent the big play.

 

[luuked]

Once again, the Seahawks offense was GARBAGE heading into this game, one of the worst in the league while patriots were looking historic since Brady was in the lineup.

It's not the same competition

By that logic (looking at stats) the Pats D is still one of the top units in the league.

Or let me try it another way..

Seahawks have been looking pretty good since a more healthy Wilson was in the linup.

 

[JMC00]

I don't know what happened but, at some point, Belichick became unreasonably terrified of mobile quarterbacks to the point where he's trotted out ultra passive defensive packages which are allowing conversions (even on 3rd and long) through the air to prevent the quarterback from running. When you combine that with the lack of playmakers that we currently see on the defensive side of the ball, you get what we saw last night.

Pressured Wilson on 18 of his 41 (44%) drop backs. Getting pressure wasn't the problem.

As for playmakers, well the defense should have had 2 INTs and probably a rumble recovery

 

[woolster22]

this game was incredibly close, not just coming down to the last play, but stat-wise. almost every stat line was comparable. big difference was the two turnovers:

Officiating wasnt close. We had that fumble, which they blew.

The early dpi to extend a seattle drive (resulted in a fg) was bogus. The no call on gronk.

 

[FCB02062]

Well, this was supposedly the Pats first test against a "good" team and they failed miserably. Not encouraging to see Wilson complete pass, after pass, after pass against this secondary. At some point this D needs to start taking more chances or just change things up. What from this defense tells anyone that they can stop ANY of the quarterbacks remaining on the schedule? When Tyrod F#cking Taylor lights you up at home you know you have a bad defense.
The Patriots are at the point where the offense really has no margin for error against a good team. The old "Patriot Way" of defense just doesn't seem to be working against good teams. Belichick probably figures he can put out garbage like Justin Coleman and magically the opposing qb will throw a pick or make a bad read on third down. It's time Patricia starts dialing up some pressure OR this schitt pass rushers generate consistent pressure.
Anyone who objectively watched that defense last night is fooling themselves if they think that's a championship defense. Sure, things can change, but is the insertion of Kyle Van Noy going to suddenly change this D into a competent unit.
Last night was a clear refute to all those who kept up with the "BUT LOOK AT POINTS ALLOWED! IT'S THE ONLY STAT THAT MATTERS" mantra.

 

[JMC00]

Officiating wasnt close. We had that fumble, which they blew.

Ya no clue how you decide one team has the ball when the other team comes out of the pile with it.

 

[long distance]

They can start by getting Logan Ryan the hell out of the CB rotation.

I thought they would trade him away at the deadline, because his game is clearly down and his mind is clearly not on the field .. so he would deserve the same treatment as Collins. Plus this D needs some glueing and consistency and 5CBs you cannot really count on is a lot of fat to carry.

But now that he stays here they should find a way to use him the best possible. They benched him already and the results were more of the same. I do hope Rowe and Cyrus can step up through the next “preseason“ period before playoffs ..

 

[Triumph]

The Defense that has done OK against marginal teams by "bending but not breaking" couldn't hold a strong Offense to less than 20 points.

It's going to be a a very short January if the Offense has to put up 30+ points to beat good teams.

Dion Lewis will be back. Remember how electrifying he was?

 

[long distance]

I do NOT like the final playcall (and not just because it failed). With the way Blount was playing they should have either gave it to him or faked the handoff to him and done play action.

Still you must admit its a little less questionable than the SB last passing call .. It is the prerogative of these two teams I guess.

 

[The Brandon Five]

To me TD at end of 1st half with 70 secs left was inexcusable.

They have done that in stretches the last few years. The TD at the end of the 1st half in SB 49. Jordy Nelson TD in 2014. I seem to remember it happening in a Miami game as well.

 

[chasa]

my post game thoughts?

Brady had a couple of REALLY bad throws
Hogan quit on a play that should have turned into an interception
Gronk needs to not run right into guys in the endzone, he's never going to get that call.

other then a few negatives that was a REALLY ****ing fun game to watch. that had good defensive stops, mixed with high octane offense, and pretty minimal flags. that might have been a superbowl preview.

 

[Kontradiction]

I think the point is/was, mobile quarterbacks are/were usually not great pocket passers but dangerous when scrambling. So the idea is keeping them in the pocket and force them to find a window against eight in coverage. Thing is now, some of the top scrambling quarterbacks have gotten quite good at passing in the pocket. Just look at Wilson, he's become quite a terrific QB passing the football. And when that happens the old plan with passive pass rush and zone defense should be scrapped, but for some reason it hasn't happened.

The thing is, there were times when the Pats were scrapping that game plan and getting more aggressive. Hightower and Roberts were going downhill at points and those were typically the times when they would actually force an errant pass and get them off the field. Then they would revert right back the following drive and get torched. Another thing that amazed me was why they were playing a quarter defense, rushing two, while Seattle was already in field goal range at the end of the half. That was very bizarre and it resulted in Wilson having a full 7 seconds in the pocket to survey the field and find the hole in the zone that was eventually going to happen. Result? 7 points and the momentum heading into the half.

Pressured Wilson on 18 of his 41 (44%) drop backs. Getting pressure wasn't the problem.

As for playmakers, well the defense should have had 2 INTs and probably a rumble recovery

Should have, but didn't. That's the story on the defensive side of the ball this season. They're not forcing turnovers either.

 

[PF_SU]

That was very bizarre and it resulted in Wilson having a full 7 seconds in the pocket to survey the field and find the hole in the zone that was eventually going to happen.

This was probably the most bizarre decision by Patricia all game. Remember, he called the very same play a few snaps earlier. There the team got bailed out by the receiver going up the field instead of sitting in the gap between the zones and Wilson's throw (that was the correct throw) fell incomplete. And then he calls that play again and this time the Seahawks connect. It was mind-boggling.

 

[SVN]

Seattle just was very physical. An attribute we used to be proud of our team. They flat out beat us up physically. Every yard pats got on offense was earned but great throws or great individual plays.

 

[Triumph]

Cant believe all the negative threads.

Brady wasnt going to win every game this season or go without throwing an INT. This defense started out great and most everyone was expecting it to get even better. The NE D can still be good enough to go all the way.

Last night was a wake up call for the whole team. I like the Pats chances going forward.