Not worried about the Pats... here's five reasons why...

[Tb12goesinya]

I think it's a super bowl hangover. Getting to the final 4 every single year and all the drama over past 4 years finally caught up to them. Even the steady BB and his 1 game approach wasn't enough to get juices flowing to properly finish out another brilliant regular season.. I have every reason to believe a switch will flip in the coming weeks, and a tidal wave of focus and adrenaline will sweep through the locker room. The newcomers will understand what is happening and become rejuvenated by finally feeling the true spirit of this team. This team still has the heart of a champion, it's waiting for it's spark.

 

[Wax Frog]

Ive never been able to make out Tom's sentence before the "No s__t" remark.

It looks like he said, "You f__ing called it" but I don't think thats right.

"I'm going fishing...(with) glow shrimp!!!"

 

[Doctor DDS]

Last year around this time Wentz went down and Foles was playing like crap. Pats in 2010 were absolutely rolling the final 8 games then laid an egg in the playoffs. Lesson learned is anything can happen - Pats will be favored at home against anyone they play so winning out and the Texans losing once is extremely important. That said, there is no game home or away that the Pats would be a prohibitive underdog. They are a flawed team but better than several Super Bowl champs of the past 10 years so I really do not understand so many people giving up. Will they win it all? Probably not but that is always the case heading into the playoffs. This year the odds are longer than usual but there is no way I'm giving up hope.

 

[ohiopatsfan]

Having superior talent doesn't always win football games. The 2001 Pats were a mediocre team with several key players. It was attitude and hard work that won the SB.

 

[Steve102]

This was no pie in the sky post. Just a much-needed (at least for someone like me) walk back from the ledge, not allowing the noise to derail a sober calm appreciation for what we've had and acceptance of current circumstances.

For some reason, they only focus on negativity. I am guessing no one want to hear the optimistic approach. Maybe it's the puritan New England roots, or that old Red Sox blood that runs thru our veins. Whatever. I personally feel that they are playing with house money. I never thought that they'd win five effing Super Bowls. They have repaid my loyalty one hundred fold.

Having said that, I still get pissed and yell obscenities at the TV when Tom throws stupid picks, forgets they are out of time outs, or ducks ghosts because it's now more important to play until he's 45 because of his off the field brand than it is to stand in there and make a good throw.

I digress.

I don't get too shook up because they aren't that good. As Bill says, it is what it is. I understand how difficult it is to play at the level they have for so long. I am convinced that this ownership will have a post BB/TB plan in place that will keep them competitive long term, much like the Steelers organization. While I think there's a chance that they come back to the pack, the playoff teams always seem to include the same teams, year after year.

 

[jah]

Last year around this time Wentz went down and Foles was playing like crap. Pats in 2010 were absolutely rolling the final 8 games then laid an egg in the playoffs. Lesson learned is anything can happen - Pats will be favored at home against anyone they play so winning out and the Texans losing once is extremely important. That said, there is no game home or away that the Pats would be a prohibitive underdog. They are a flawed team but better than several Super Bowl champs of the past 10 years so I really do not understand so many people giving up. Will they win it all? Probably not but that is always the case heading into the playoffs. This year the odds are longer than usual but there is no way I'm giving up hope.

This is pretty much the only reason I still hold out hope. Crazier things happen in the playoffs a few times a decade. For the first time in quite a while, the Pats haven't looked like one of the 2 best teams in the league, but that has no bearing on what happens in the postseason. You just have to win 3 or 4 games...that leaves a lot of room for statistical variability, which is what the 2018 Pats winning it all would be considered.

Now for the downer part. The Patriots have never won a Super Bowl without a bye (which isn't yet out of reach for us but whatever). This team will almost certainly have to win at least one road playoff game to have a chance at a ring, something we have little to no reason to believe can happen based on the season to date. The talent level on both sides of the ball is awfully low, and gets weaker as you get closer to the trenches, which is the opposite of how the Eagles won their championship.

My brain says it doesn't happen this year, but my brain also said that about the 2012 Ravens and 2017 Eagles before those postseasons.

Given what we've seen out of this team, we should just be happy that they're in it at all and enjoy it while it lasts. Eventually they'll hit a game we shouldn't rationally expect them to win, and maybe they'll surprise us. That's about all we can hope for at this point.

 

[PatsFan2]

Ive never been able to make out Tom's sentence before the "No s__t" remark.

It looks like he said, "You f__ing called it" but I don't think thats right.

Would probably hurt my virgin ears and eyes trying to decipher that one.

 

[Hyped]

Was that the time when Phillip Dorsett was wide open and Brady never saw him??

Nope, that's Bill O'Brien....I forget what game it was. Guessing around 2011 before O'Brien went to PSU.

 

[fourhour]

and a wide open AFC playoff picture.

Until they are knocked out, i'll be hopeful for the best.

My thoughts as well!

 

[PatsDeb]

Life is more fun being optimistic- but a the same time a realist.

Exactly. I don't need Adam Jones or Felger or that Ben Skywalker idiot lookalike DJ Bean to tell me the Pats have problems. They do have problems. I accept that.

I also know they have talent, a pedigree of winning when we don't think they will and a wide open AFC playoff picture.

Until they are knocked out, i'll be hopeful for the best.

Does anyone else find Adam Jones totally unlisten-able, not just for the negativity but for his CATCH PHRASE of the DAY. Repeat. CATCH PHRASE of the DAY. Repeat. CATCH PHRASE of the DAY. Repeat. ad nauseum. Cripes almighty say something else for 4 hours straight.

 

[Ring 6]

Now for the downer part. The Patriots have never won a Super Bowl without a bye (which isn't yet out of reach for us but whatever)

They have only had 3 postseasons without the bye.
They gave had the bye 12 times including the last 8 years in a row.

The 3 no bye seasons were a long time ago too.
2009
2006 when they should have gone to the Sb
2005 the loss in Denver

 

[Uncle Rico]

My five reasons (for the moment):
- Pats beat Buffalo Sunday
- Chargers lose to Ravens
- Texans lose to Eagles
- Steelers lose to Saints (Super Bowl hangover)
- Chiefs lose to Seahawks

 

[Ring 6]

My five reasons (for the moment):
- Pats beat Buffalo Sunday
- Chargers lose to Ravens
- Texans lose to Eagles
- Steelers lose to Saints (Super Bowl hangover)
- Chiefs lose to Seahawks

Funny if you read this board the patriots are done, have no talent and the dynasty is over and with 2 weeks left they still have a shot at the 1 seed.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I think it's a super bowl hangover.

I kinda agree. Look at Philly this year. Well they have had 1000 injuries but still. This year just feels like one of those off years where nothing will come of it but will be back in it next year

 

[Joker]

Does anyone else find Adam Jones totally unlisten-able, not just for the negativity but for his CATCH PHRASE of the DAY. Repeat. CATCH PHRASE of the DAY. Repeat. CATCH PHRASE of the DAY. Repeat. ad nauseum. Cripes almighty say something else for 4 hours straight.

It's my fault, Deb. I challenged his manhood at a broadcast in Foxboro last year and he folded like a $3 street corner transvestite. Truly a gutless, cowardly worm of a "human" being.

 

[Observer]

His legacy is secure. That is not debatable or a question.

I was just paraphrasing the OP.

 

[scout]

Just having the best coach and QB isn't enough (and Brady isn't at that level anymore). The 10 years between Super Bowl wins proved that.

When they have a balanced roster, they win or come close. They don't have that. Belichick stinks at drafting.

I wouldn't take any bet of any team beating the Patriots with Brady and Belichick. Every year for since 2001 the Patriots are in the Superbowl conversation. BB stinks at drafting....bah, ha, ha, ha. They might lose their first play-off game or they might go to the Superbowl.

 

[jimnance]

My five reasons (for the moment):
- Pats beat Buffalo Sunday
- Chargers lose to Ravens
- Texans lose to Eagles
- Steelers lose to Saints (Super Bowl hangover)
- Chiefs lose to Seahawks

Not only is all of that possible, most of it is likely.

 

[Tony2046]

Funny if you read this board the patriots are done, have no talent and the dynasty is over and with 2 weeks left they still have a shot at the 1 seed.

" They were lucky to get the #1 seed"

" worst #1 seed evah"

 

[mosslost]

Just having the best coach and QB isn't enough (and Brady isn't at that level anymore). The 10 years between Super Bowl wins proved that.

When they have a balanced roster, they win or come close. They don't have that. Belichick stinks at drafting.

Just winning the Super Bowl is not the only thing. The dynasty is going on 20 years of dominance unmatched... there are not 20 Lombardis tho.