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

[The Brandon Five]

This guy came just a bit prior

Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus - Wikipedia

His agnomen, Cunctator, usually translated as "the delayer", refers to his strategy of withdrawal thereby wearing out the enemy without engaging in any direct battle.

The gung-ho macho military types hated him, and when they finally removed his command, they attacked and of course got their asses kicked.

So the "rope-a-dope" was actually created 2oo years BC?

 

[Patsgofor4]

Confused. What are we going to bet? What is your charity of choice? Thanks!

In my opinion, Tampa is going to fail to meet expectations whereas the Patriots will exceed expectations, but to avoid the possibility of the two teams ending up with the same record, I will bet that the Pats will be 9-7 or better.

The amount is up to you. $200? $300?

So many good charities from which to choose....Home for Little Wanderers (Boston based), Operation Smile, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Animal Rescue League of Boston are some of my favorites for donations.

 

[Patsgofor4]

And Brady led the league in throwaways. He was uncharacteristically running around way too much in the pocket. They were not as good as “ranked”.

With an inexperienced QB, that poor pass protection turns into sacks, INT’s.

To you, those throwaways are soley an indictment on the OL. There is no doubt that his OTs in particular failed him during certain games. To me, the fact that he LEAD the league in throwaways is more reflective of an aging quarterback who has become progressively less mobile, less willing/able to extend plays and move to his 2nd and 3rd reads and much less willing to stand in the pocket and make throws under pressure/potentially take a hit.

Many of those throwaways were about self preservation...to the extreme. In my opinion, if you took the same OL but inserted a 31-year-old Brady, the throwaways would drop by 20% or more. I don't have the links handy but at least one local football writers (who are more impartial than most posters here) looked at his 2019 throwaways and came to the conclusion that he gave up on plays too early on numerous occasions. It may have been Howe, or maybe Lazar.

 

[denverpatsfan]

In my opinion, Tampa is going to fail to meet expectations whereas the Patriots will exceed expectations, but to avoid the possibility of the two teams ending up with the same record, I will bet that the Pats will be 9-7 or better.

The amount is up to you. $200? $300?

So many good charities from which to choose....Home for Little Wanderers (Boston based), Operation Smile, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Animal Rescue League of Boston are some of my favorites for donations.

Excellent. 9-7. If for some reason they do not play a full season we can a use the winning percentage instead. $200 for Animal Rescue League it is.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Hey man, it's more of a mystery than at any time for 20 years.

Secondary looks good though

 

[Patsgofor4]

Excellent. 9-7. If for some reason they do not play a full season we can a use the winning percentage instead. $200 for Animal Rescue League it is.

Sounds good. You seem like an upstanding guy. Honor system should be just fine.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Just for the record, isn't Belichick like the winningest in terms of beating the gambling win-loss spreads over the past 20 years ??


.

 

[captain stone]

I've been vocal in stating something similar. While the skeleton of Erhardt-Perkins may remain in place, I'm intrigued by the fact a mobile QB will be under center, the Pats overhauled Tight End with two extremely exciting prospects, some of the young Receivers showed pre-season rapport with Stidham, they added a Swiss Army Knife in Vitale, we have a more than serviceable Running Back corp and the Pats are getting one of the best Centers in the game back! Heck, I'm chomping at the bit to see physically dominant, oldskool smash mouth football bring along, instil confidence and show our young QB he belongs. The personality of this team will be so very different and if being intrigued and optimistic as to what could happen, call me a homer.

We need Damien Harris to be the oldskool, smash-mouth, clock-killin' closer, because we know now that Soreknee isn't that guy.

 

[Patstastic]

Well would being in line to draft Lawrence count as success this year?

No chance we get Lawrence. Coaching is too good. And we have a better overall roster than the Giants and Jags.

 

[stinkypete]

The secondary and special teams are good enough to produce 6 wins.

 

[amfootball]

To you, those throwaways are soley an indictment on the OL. There is no doubt that his OTs in particular failed him during certain games. To me, the fact that he LEAD the league in throwaways is more reflective of an aging quarterback who has become progressively less mobile, less willing/able to extend plays and move to his 2nd and 3rd reads and much less willing to stand in the pocket and make throws under pressure/potentially take a hit.

Many of those throwaways were about self preservation...to the extreme. In my opinion, if you took the same OL but inserted a 31-year-old Brady, the throwaways would drop by 20% or more. I don't have the links handy but at least one local football writers (who are more impartial than most posters here) looked at his 2019 throwaways and came to the conclusion that he gave up on plays too early on numerous occasions. It may have been Howe, or maybe Lazar.

I agree with this. Brady has played that way the past two seasons - 2018 and 2019. He was definitely playing the self-preservation game to avoid taking the hits which was actually pretty smart as he avoided major injury while helping to guide the team to 12 wins by managing the game and letting the defense do its thing. As a result, he did not tire at the end of the season playing very well vs the Titans. It's a real shame that we could not close out the Fins to secure the 2nd seed as I think the extra week off would have helped everyone and gave us a legit chance to get back to the bowl.

Back to Brady, I believe that is why Bill was comfortable moving on from him. He didn't want to keep playing the preservation game. The gamble is will a young, more athletic QB be able to game manage as great as Brady to secure all those wins or will be take a lot negative plays that flip field position for the opponent and tire our D or worse throw picks because he is forcing things that are not there. We will find out soon.

 

[captain stone]

The secondary and special teams are good enough to produce 6 wins.

All by themselves? Just like that?

If Stid is merely who many of us feel he is, then 6-10 is our ceiling with this schedule; if he's worse than even that, then there's no way the secondary & especially STs are good enough to come to his - or any other position group's- rescue...

 

[Vindicate]

Sounds good. You seem like an upstanding guy. Honor system should be just fine.

*@denverpatsfan starts a non-profit called "Animal Rescue League it is"*

"Yesss.... So very upstanding!"

 

[Tony2046]

Back in 206 Tom Brady's talent were painting themselves blue and chucking spears. Or was that the Scots?

Actually in that year it would have been the Picts and as the name suggests they were keen on selfies.

 

[goheels22002]

This guy came just a bit prior

Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus - Wikipedia

His agnomen, Cunctator, usually translated as "the delayer", refers to his strategy of withdrawal thereby wearing out the enemy without engaging in any direct battle.

The gung-ho macho military types hated him, and when they finally removed his command, they attacked and of course got their asses kicked.

Sounds like Marty Schottenheimer's great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Sounds like Marty Schottenheimer's great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather.

 

[Betterthanmost]

When AB gets/signs back here, no one can hold a candle to us.

 

[sb1]

At the very least I expect better QB play this year than we got last year. Shouldn’t be that hard to do.

 

[Betterthanmost]

At the very least I expect better QB play this year than we got last year. Shouldn’t be that hard to do.

Are you serious or being sarcastic? I can't tell. I think we did not get good QB play last year. If fact I will go further to say it was a toxic environment for that offense just by the body languages alone.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I'm sure I've missed or messed up a few in here and am open to correction, but, when we consider the dynastic or wannabe "dynastic" teams of the SB era, this is what we see between SB winning Seasons:

GBP: 1967--1996: 30 seasons
1996--2019: 24 seasons and counting
MIA: 1973--??? oops, 47 seasons and counting
KCC: 1969--2019 51 seasons. Was a big oops, but no longer "counting" after last year.
Colts (Bal and Indy): 1970--2006: 37 seasons
Colts: (Indy): 2006--2019: 14 seasons and counting
DAL: 1971--1977, 7 seasons
1977--1992, 16 seasons
1995--??? 25 seasons and counting
DEN: 1998--2015:18 seasons
PIT: 1979--2005: 27 seasons;
2008--20119: 12 seasons and counting
OAK: 1980--??? oops. 40 seasons and counting
RAMS: 1999--??? oops. 21 seasons and counting
WAS: 1991--??? oops, 29 seasons and counting

In other words, six SB wins in nine appearances in 20 seasons...not too ****ing bad.