We all need to temper our expectations

[Wax Frog]

Hey now, who says.

You know what, screw it, I’m going to say he’s going to be better than Brady. That way it won’t be a lie/strawman when someone says “fans who think he’s going to win seven Super Bowls.”

Hell, as long as he stays in the league it’s gonna take a long time to prove me wrong. Plenty of time to spin it or disappear.

Fully embracing an against-the-grain ethos - love it!

 

[Boston Boxer]

my expectations are this: make the playoffs this year.

 

[Pats1971]

my expectations are this: make the playoffs this year.

I would lower that a bit.

 

[Boston Boxer]

I would lower that a bit.

we have a really good defense and running game. We just need improved play from the QB position (which shouldn't be hard) from last year and we will be fine. The 20 years of absolute dominance are gone but there is no reason we cant still be in the playoffs every year.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

I would lower that a bit.

We went 7-9 last year. 10-7 and in sounds reasonable.

 

[condon84]

I would lower that a bit.

Defense and offense will be better than last year and the Pats just missed the playoffs. I will be disappointed if we miss the playoffs.

 

[DarrylS]

No, his passing skills aren't deficient- he had a cannon for an arm and we saw a bit of that in the Seattle game where Edelman got his career high.

But in terms of quarterbacking, especially mentally- he unfortunately plays checkers. The system we have, is best optimized by someone who can play chess.

So I guess all those passes thrown at the feet of receivers were something else?? Seeing a "bit of something" will not negate his 8TD/10 int ratio, or his 82.9 QB rating which is 24th in the league.. absolutely no confidence in him as the QB of the NEP.

 

[scott99]

my expectations are this: make the playoffs this year.

I think they are certainly a team that SHOULD be on the cusp of making the playoffs. They went 7-9 , and if Cam scores from the 1 vs Seattle and doesn’t fumble against Buffalo, they might have made the playoffs LAST year.

Take that team, and add in Hightower, Van Noy, Barmore, a rapidly improving Uche & Dugger, Matt Judon, Carl Davis, the returns of Guy & Wise, and man this team has the makings of a top 5 defense when Gilmore returns, probably top 10 without him.

Then on offense you add Henry, Smith, Agholor, Bourne, Stevenson and a more involved JJ Taylor, and a QB who was born to play for the way this offense usually plays, and the offense SHOULD be MUCH improved.

That being said, there are a lot of factors in a season, Bad bounces, injuries, Covid, many things can derail a season. But if the Pats stay healthy, no reason this team couldn’t win at least 9 games. Which would be an improvement over last year. Which is all you can ask for from a rebuilding squad. That being said, I think the Pats go 10-7, and sneak into the playoffs.

 

[sb1]

I think they are certainly a team that SHOULD be on the cusp of making the playoffs. They went 7-9 , and if Cam scores from the 1 vs Seattle and doesn’t fumble against Buffalo, they might have made the playoffs LAST year.

Take that team, and add in Hightower, Van Noy, Barmore, a rapidly improving Uche & Dugger, Matt Judon, Carl Davis, the returns of Guy & Wise, and man this team has the makings of a top 5 defense when Gilmore returns, probably top 10 without him.

Then on offense you add Henry, Smith, Agholor, Bourne, Stevenson and a more involved JJ Taylor, and a QB who was born to play for the way this offense usually plays, and the offense SHOULD be MUCH improved.

That being said, there are a lot of factors in a season, Bad bounces, injuries, Covid, many things can derail a season. But if the Pats stay healthy, no reason this team couldn’t win at least 9 games. Which would be an improvement over last year. Which is all you can ask for from a rebuilding squad. That being said, I think the Pats go 10-7, and sneak into the playoffs.

Agreed. I'll stay with my prediction of 9 wins but maybe with Cam gone 10 wins is more doable. Problem is other teams on the Pats schedule also got better. And Miami won 10 games last year and missed the playoffs.

Unless we think the Pats have a massive season and beat the Bills for the division, we're probably competing against 5 teams for 3 Wild Card spots: Two of (Ravens, Browns, Steelers), Chargers, one of (Colts, Titans), DolphinsX2. We play 6 games against that group. 4-2 or better would be really helpful toward securing a playoff spot.

I do think they at least go right to the wire this season contending for the playoffs. Our 2020 season was over in November so that's a big improvement there.

 

[PP2]

So I guess all those passes thrown at the feet of receivers were something else?? Seeing a "bit of something" will not negate his 8TD/10 int ratio, or his 82.9 QB rating which is 24th in the league.. absolutely no confidence in him as the QB of the NEP.

He didn't use to be like that, otherwise we'd never have signed him in the first place.

EDIT: I should have said "passing skills weren't deficient.."

 

[maust]

...because they want to crap on your optimism and excitement because they see the world as a glass 1/2 empty.

Who gives a damn if the glass is half empty or half full?
Let's get real, either way it's time for another round.

 

[Pats2000]

I have seen predictions so far....he will be better than Brady, the pats will go 20-0 this year. I mean it was tongue in cheak response, but to some, not far off. WHy? Because fans.

Pats are going 20 and 0 this year and every year Mac is our QB. What are you smoking?

 

[Pats2000]

Brady is Brady.

But this isn't what we have to worry about. Sure, it would be awesome to have our version of Montana to Young but the model that's working is having a decent or better rookie QB, nail your draft picks and surround that guy with a lot of talent.

Early indications of 2020/2021 classes and 2021 FA are we are on a really good track.

Continue to load up in 2022 FA and have another good draft class and you seriously might be a SB favorite with a Kirk Cousins or Jimmy G on a rookie deal. Hell, Jimmy G went to a SB.

Mac certainly doesn't have to be anything close to prime Brady.

I personally think Mac has a better grasp of the offense and will have a much better 1st year than Brady from a stats perspective, I'm not saying his ceiling is GOAT, but I'm betting his floor is higher

 

[RIpats88]

Man Adam Jones is insufferable. Already saying that Mac Jones will be an average QB and has a low ceiling. And team will go nowhere

Kid hasn't even played a regular season game yet

 

[moosekill]

He didn't use to be like that, otherwise we'd never have signed him in the first place.

We were the only team that wanted Cam. We had almost $0 in cap space and signed him for a ridiculously low 1 year contract. There weren't any other options and last year was the reset, eat Brady's dead $$ year. The Patriots took a low cost flier on Cam and he wasn't good enough to make the team this year.

 

[PP2]

We were the only team that wanted Cam. We had almost $0 in cap space and signed him for a ridiculously low 1 year contract. There weren't any other options and last year was the reset, eat Brady's dead $$ year. The Patriots took a low cost flier on Cam and he wasn't good enough to make the team this year.

It wasn't a reset year. BB has already said many times that he doesn't tank or take a season off.

What we did was try to to squeeze out a few more drops from a QB at the end of his career. I really don't think anyone planned for us to end up 7-9 and ending up picking at 15, and additionally, ending up drafting Mac Jones. That was pure luck, plain and simple.

 

[venecol]

Man Adam Jones is insufferable. Already saying that Mac Jones will be an average QB and has a low ceiling. And team will go nowhere

Kid hasn't even played a regular season game yet

What was his reasons?

 

[Keyser Söze]

Idiots over at Finheaven are expecting an easy win against us.

 

[IllegalContact]

20-0

 

[moosekill]

It wasn't a reset year. BB has already said many times that he doesn't tank or take a season off.

What we did was try to to squeeze out a few more drops from a QB at the end of his career. I really don't think anyone planned for us to end up 7-9 and ending up picking at 15, and additionally, ending up drafting Mac Jones. That was pure luck, plain and simple.

100% it was a reset year. We had a ton of dead money and until covid opt outs, we had no cap space. Bill didn't suck for Mac, but by losing Tom they were put into a reset mode regardless.

I like Cam
Cam sucked last year, you have to deal with that.
Cam looked a little better this year but was beaten out by a rookie.