NFL.COM Patriots set to collapse, One of worst 3 teams in the league

[Patsgofor4]

Yeah, it's weird. All of this negativity out of nowhere and for no reason whatsoever.

Sure, if we lost, idk, let's say an all time great QB or something, then I'd understand it. But these stupid fake news sports media Pats haters are probably just being wishful thinkers.

It's 2020. The current version of Brady isn't the same player that we all remember fondly. If he was, the guy in charge, who has forgotten more about Brady than any of us know, wouldn't have shown him the door. Keep living in the past, though.

 

[ivanvamp]

It is not a terrible take at all. This season can easily be 5-11 if Stidham is not ready and we have key injuries.

It's a terrible take even based on what you just said. The article said, "This season in Foxborough has 5-11 written all over it. If everything breaks right. I think the Jaguars, Patriots and Giants are the three worst teams in the NFL right now."

If Stidham is bad and they have key injuries, that's not everything "breaking right". That's a lot of things "breaking WRONG". And yeah, if they have that stuff happen, they're not going to be good.

But if everything breaks *right*.... Stidham is going to be good, the defense is going to be elite, Harry is going to take the leap, the OL will stay healthy and be excellent, the young TEs and defensive players will be good and productive....and if all that happens, this is a playoff team, not a 5-11 team.

 

[ivanvamp]

If the Patriots really are bad enough to get the top pick next year then there are way too many problems on both sides of the ball that won't be fixed by drafting Lawrence so in that scenario I think there would be a 90% chance at a trade down. They could ask for the moon for the spot and they would get it.

No if Stidham sucks and the Pats get the #1 pick, they're taking Lawrence and then spending the next few years putting the rest of the team around him. A franchise quarterback is by far the most valuable player asset any team can have - especially one on a rookie contract.

Now if Stidham is terrific but they're still bad because they suffer huge injuries or what have you, then maybe you're right and that's when they'd trade down. Or they trade Stidham and draft Lawrence. But a trade in that scenario makes sense. But not in your scenario.

 

[Doctor DDS]

To me it really comes down to how they do in division. For some reason the Bills who were somewhere around 23rd in the league in yards and points last year with a similar yet slightly worse defense are clearly the team to beat by many. Pats absolutely dominated them in a huge week 16 match up last year (score was much closer than play on field) yet somehow the Pats team lost so much they are one of worst in the entire league? Pats need to go 4-2 in the division and that certainly seems quite possible. The Pats lost Brady and that clearly hurts. If Stidham blows then the dire predictions may prove to be accurate but I have a hard time believing that BB would have allowed Brady to leave then pass on several available veteran QB options if he did not have faith in Stidham. It is not unheard of for young QB's to play well enough (see Minshew as a possible comp) to keep a defense first team highly competitive. Pats will clearly need to win their share of toss up games to make the playoffs but outside of the Chiefs and Ravens in the AFC I do not see where they are clearly behind the other tier 2 teams. I've always been an optimist with the Pats and plan to stay there until proven otherwise.

 

[scott99]

They don’t have brady anymore. I think stidham will be up and down. I don’t know if they win 8 games this season.

Actually, I don't think any of us expect Stidham to be perfect. Of course he will be up and down.

 

[Boston Boxer]

They don’t have brady anymore. I think stidham will be up and down. I don’t know if they win 8 games this season.

i agree with that for this season. 8 wins or less is likely but the following season should be a different story. Stidham is a good QB and very teachable and smart. If the staff can play to his strengths he should be able to manage the offense.

 

[denverpatsfan]

This season assuming a full 16-games happen has 5-11 written all over it. I'll bet a charitable donation with anyone on this board. Pats have less wins than the Bucs or whatever fun bet you can come up with.

 

[Boston Boxer]

Actually, I don't think any of us expect Stidham to be perfect. Of course he will be up and down.

everyone will want to compare him to Brady, which would be foolish. There is no other Brady. He is the last (Brees and maybe Rivers) of the classic drop back pocket passers and THE best ever to do it. The other young guns coming up are in a whole new class and are changing the way the position is played. Wilson, Mahomes, Jackson are a different breed. Stidham is mobile when needed and hopefully the Pats set him, up with a solid game plan for his skill set.

 

[jah]

This season assuming a full 16-games happen has 5-11 written all over it. I'll bet a charitable donation with anyone on this board. Pats have less wins than the Bucs or whatever fun bet you can come up with.

There's a big difference between "Pats will have a worse record than Bucs" and "Pats will go 5-11".

 

[denverpatsfan]

There's a big difference between "Pats will have a worse record than Bucs" and "Pats will go 5-11".

That's why betting is fun. I have the Buc/Pats best record bet with a buddy here in Denver. Come up with something else?

 

[jah]

That's why betting is fun. I have the Buc/Pats best record bet with a buddy here in Denver. Come up with something else?

I'm just saying you're making a pretty tame prediction alongside a pretty bold one. That's pretty much playing both sides in an attempt to be right no matter what.

 

[amfootball]

Yeah I really don’t get peoples sensitivity to this. The Pats

-had there most disappointing season since 2009

-they are tight on cap space and made very few free agencies moves.

-there offensive skill positions are old and were really bad last year and they are hoping a couple rookie TE’s will save them

-they had a dominant defense sure, but lost some solid pieces to it and the core of it is another year older

-they face a much harder schedule than last year and that’s even if the schedule itself ends up not being as daunting as billed.

-they have an unknown at the most important position for the first time since 2001

There’s almost no reason to project this team doesn’t have a tough year

Yeah. That is pretty much my feelings as well. There are a ton of factors to suggest the Pats will struggle mightily this year. Most here thought we would struggle even if the GOAT came back. So yeah, 5-11 is a possibility ...

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

I'm just saying you're making a pretty tame prediction alongside a pretty bold one. That's pretty much playing both sides in an attempt to be right no matter what.

It feels like he changed his prediction mid post. Spouting off that the pats will go 5-11 and then thinking to himself that may be on the low end, how bout the pats will finish worse than the Bucs.

 

[amfootball]

I live in the present. The fact that the GOAT was, in my opinion, part of the problem last year is the only thing that should matter, especially at his age. They went 12-4 with Brady and the offense not being "the difference" in a single win. Unless they are decimated by injuries, 5-11 is a laughable prediction.

Wow. This might be the worst take I have read up here.

 

[denverpatsfan]

It feels like he changed his prediction mid post. Spouting off that the pats will go 5-11 and then thinking to himself that may be on the low end, how bout the pats will finish worse than the Bucs.

I'll back either bet. I did make the Bucs/Pats best record bet. I WILL collect on that one. How about an under/over wins bet for the Pats for the charity of your choice?

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

I'll back either bet. I did make the Bucs/Pats best record bet. I WILL collect on that one. How about an under/over wins bet for the Pats for the charity of your choice?

Nope.

 

[IllegalContact]

That's why betting is fun. I have the Buc/Pats best record bet with a buddy here in Denver. Come up with something else?

I would consider betting that the pats have more wins over the 2nd half of the season than do the bucs

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

I would consider betting that the pats have more wins over the 2nd half of the season than do the bucs

You think Tom hits the cliff this year?

 

[amfootball]

You think Tom hits the cliff this year?

Probably more that BB coached teams get better as the season goes along. Plus our last 5-6 games are not as brutal as the first 10.

 

[Simpelton]

This season assuming a full 16-games happen has 5-11 written all over it. I'll bet a charitable donation with anyone on this board. Pats have less wins than the Bucs or whatever fun bet you can come up with.

I have no money to take that bet but your statement is asinine. The defense alone will prevent 5-11. We have good running backs. We have good receivers. We had issues on offense but that wasn't because of Brady or the receivers, it was because of the loss of Andrews and Wynn. The offensive line was the key to our offensive woes, if we get healthy there, then Stidham shouldn't have a big issue.

Andrews in particular was a big blow last year. Karras did alright, but he's not an experienced center and it showed at times. And having him starting at center was what forced us into the Marshall Newhouse era, that would have been Steady Teddy taking those snaps if he hadn't been forced into action t center instead, and the whole offensive line would have played much better as a result.

The absolute worst case scenario for this team with this coach is 7-9. We're too talented in too many areas for less, and if Stidham is really struggling Coach Bill WILL find a trade that will bring our season under control.