PostGame Thread Official Post Game Thread- Pats beat the Texans

[jah]

No, I wouldn't agree with that at all.

Every game is different. The two guys who whiffed on that 67-yard TD are both really good players.

Another was a 37-yard flea flicker that fooled them. Over 100 yards and 2 tds on plays that aren't going to happen in most games.
Not flukes, but not typical.

This is certainly not a bottom 5 roster. That's just silly talk. They're a couple of plays - bad plays, because they're definitely a work in progress - from being a 4-1 team - you just can't say that against teams with terrible rosters. They're not usually even in any games. The Pats have more points for than points against - you can't say that for teams with truly terrible rosters very often - and can't say it now because they don't have a terrible roster at all.

And all that with a rookie QB and 25 new players, including guys you need to become leaders, on the team. It takes patience because it takes time.

I think that person was saying the Texans roster was bottom 5.

 

[Sicilian]

Why are they barely beating the Texans then? I think we can agree their roster is one of the 5 worst in the nfl. Mills had more than 300 passing yards and 3 TD. More passing yards than against Bills and panthers together

The best explanation for any of this is that the NFL is weird, and they were coming off a game that was as close to a Super Bowl level of hype as a regular season game has ever been in NFL history. Not an excuse for a flat performance, but sometimes a flat performance is all it is. We'll get a clearer picture I think against Dallas.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

We drafted Cameron McGrone from Michigan and stashed him for the year. Great prospect at ILB.

I agree but we could need another LB imo depending on Hightower's status. Neither of the other ILB has shown enough for me to be fulltime starters and McGrone is like a rookie then after an injured year..

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

I think that person was saying the Texans roster was bottom 5.

Yes sir

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

The best explanation for any of this is that the NFL is weird, and they were coming off a game that was as close to a Super Bowl level of hype as a regular season game has ever been in NFL history. Not an excuse for a flat performance, but sometimes a flat performance is all it is. We'll get a clearer picture I think against Dallas.

This could be a good explanation. I hope it is true since other explanations would mean worse for the future.

 

[goheels22002]

This team should be playing so much better than they have been. We improved talent across the board but the team looks worse.

I put that on coaching. Also the OL has been a mess. The game is won in the trenches.

Overall, this team has played well. They could easily be 4-1. (One point loss to the Dolphins, two point loss to the Buccaneers.) When they don't turn the ball over and retain possession, the offense is tough to get off the field. The defense is doing great at opponent's 18 ppg, top five in the NFL.

Right now they have no margin for error and cannot sustain their play with the injuries piling up on offense. The OL is the greatest concern from a number of perspectives. The Covid-19 thing is just ridiculous. Why people who depend on their health to earn a living don't trust the doctors is beyond me. Injuries on the offensive line and the backfield are concerning.

On the positive side, it was great to see the TEs starting to assert their excellence and leadership against the Texans. Some of that is Josh, some of it is Mac, and a lot of that is their ability to get separation. The WRs are well above average as a group. They, too, are starting to get open. This is a developmental thing when you have so many new skill players learning how make connections with a rookie QB in a new system.

Dallas at Gillette will be an interesting next step. Zeke got injured twice yesterday, and I think the Patriots can get to Prescott and move him out of the pocket. That's a winnable game. The Cowboys struggle on the road. The Chargers squeaker (20-17) is the besxt comparison game so far. Patriots do need to get going early and not fall behind the Cowboys.

 

[Sicilian]

This could be a good explanation. I hope it is true since other explanations would mean worse for the future.

Agreed, and I think what yesterday did prove is that their margin for error is slim. They're not good enough to play bad and beat bad teams. Luckily, they only played bad for 2.5 quarters, then played really good and the Texans threw them a few bones. The positive to take from that is it's a wake up call and gives the coaches a lot to humble them with, while still getting a +1 in the win column. Also moves the needle a little in the direction of the players (and coaches) believing in Mac Jones in pressure situations. That kind of trust can pay dividends moving forward as well.

Not an encouraging game overall for sure, but the NFL is so week to week, matchup to matchup, that as long as you get the win you can find some things to build on and forget about it.

 

[Steve102]

The best explanation for any of this is that the NFL is weird, and they were coming off a game that was as close to a Super Bowl level of hype as a regular season game has ever been in NFL history. Not an excuse for a flat performance, but sometimes a flat performance is all it is. We'll get a clearer picture I think against Dallas.

It's hard to win in the NFL. 20 years of greatness has made us spoiled.

 

[Sicilian]

It's hard to win in the NFL. 20 years of greatness has made us spoiled.

No doubt about it.

 

[archstanton543]

Right now they have no margin for error and cannot sustain their play with the injuries piling up on offense. The OL is the greatest concern from a number of perspectives. The Covid-19 thing is just ridiculous. Why people who depend on their health to earn a living don't trust the doctors is beyond me. Injuries on the offensive line and the backfield are concerning.

How do you know what their doctors are telling them?

 

[bresna]

The one play that got me yelling at the TV was the 4th & 2 play that McCourty seemed to blow. Pre-snap, he was giving a 6 yard cushion. 4th & 2. I was yelling at the TV, "Get up to the line! It's 4th & 2! Give him a chuck at the line." Unfortunately, McCourty didn't hear me from Maine.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

This could be a good explanation. I hope it is true since other explanations would mean worse for the future.

The titans did lose to the jets last week and Pittsburgh beat Buffalo week one, same team that is now destroying everyone in their way. Weird stuff happens especially early on. Not gonna argue that we look bad right now but it’s a work in progress and hard to draw too many conclusions at this point,

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Ted Karras 27 snaps in the against the Bucs & 64 snaps against the Texans:

0 sacks 0 hits 0 pressures

He has to play. Adjust your lineups accordingly.

Exactly. Shows how little the OLine coach and oc know about talent eval that Karras sat for 4 weeks while durant played

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Overall, this team has played well. They could easily be 4-1. (One point loss to the Dolphins, two point loss to the Buccaneers.) When they don't turn the ball over and retain possession, the offense is tough to get off the field. The defense is doing great at opponent's 18 ppg, top five in the NFL.

Right now they have no margin for error and cannot sustain their play with the injuries piling up on offense. The OL is the greatest concern from a number of perspectives. The Covid-19 thing is just ridiculous. Why people who depend on their health to earn a living don't trust the doctors is beyond me. Injuries on the offensive line and the backfield are concerning.

On the positive side, it was great to see the TEs starting to assert their excellence and leadership against the Texans. Some of that is Josh, some of it is Mac, and a lot of that is their ability to get separation. The WRs are well above average as a group. They, too, are starting to get open. This is a developmental thing when you have so many new skill players learning how make connections with a rookie QB in a new system.

Dallas at Gillette will be an interesting next step. Zeke got injured twice yesterday, and I think the Patriots can get to Prescott and move him out of the pocket. That's a winnable game. The Cowboys struggle on the road. The Chargers squeaker (20-17) is the besxt comparison game so far. Patriots do need to get going early and not fall behind the Cowboys.

Since Thanksgiving'19 this is a team with a 11-16 record. These are a different Patriots. The staff around BB isn't very good.

.

 

[PaulThePat]

One thing that did annoy me during the game was the amount of negative/nothing plays on 1st down i.e. we'd end up on 2nd and 10 time and again. Need to do more to break the back of the 10 yards on first down to give us more options on 2nd and 3rd.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

One thing that did annoy me during the game was the amount of negative/nothing plays on 1st down i.e. we'd end up on 2nd and 10 time and again. Need to do more to break the back of the 10 yards on first down to give us more options on 2nd and 3rd.

I mean based on the down and the specific RB in there you can pretty much use analytics to figure out exactly where the oc is going to run it, the play calling is that predictable.

I saw an article where someone noted every single time Harry is in and lined up near the OLine it's 100% a specific run play.

 

[Wordsmyth]

Overall, this team has played well. They could easily be 4-1. (One point loss to the Dolphins, two point loss to the Buccaneers.) When they don't turn the ball over and retain possession, the offense is tough to get off the field. The defense is doing great at opponent's 18 ppg, top five in the NFL.

Right now they have no margin for error and cannot sustain their play with the injuries piling up on offense. The OL is the greatest concern from a number of perspectives. The Covid-19 thing is just ridiculous. Why people who depend on their health to earn a living don't trust the doctors is beyond me. Injuries on the offensive line and the backfield are concerning.

On the positive side, it was great to see the TEs starting to assert their excellence and leadership against the Texans. Some of that is Josh, some of it is Mac, and a lot of that is their ability to get separation. The WRs are well above average as a group. They, too, are starting to get open. This is a developmental thing when you have so many new skill players learning how make connections with a rookie QB in a new system.

Dallas at Gillette will be an interesting next step. Zeke got injured twice yesterday, and I think the Patriots can get to Prescott and move him out of the pocket. That's a winnable game. The Cowboys struggle on the road. The Chargers squeaker (20-17) is the besxt comparison game so far. Patriots do need to get going early and not fall behind the Cowboys.

Arch, I find your lack of faith disturbing.

 

[PaulThePat]

I mean based on the down and the specific RB in there you can pretty much use analytics to figure out exactly where the oc is going to run it

Too much dancing behind the LOS from the backs at times - particularly Stevenson. Need more punch.

 

[PScottman]

JC Jackson is overrated. I’ve felt this way for a while. He is a very good #2 but a legitimate #1 he is not.

I bet he'll play better if you offer babysitting services for overnights.

You realize this was his first week with a newborn...right? I don't know how it is in your house, but even if the wife takes on ALL of the care for the newborn - sleeping is a luxury not a given.

 

[PScottman]

Too much dancing behind the LOS from the backs at times - particularly Stevenson. Need more punch.

In watching the play design - do you think it's "dancing" by the backs? I think it's too many slow developing run sets - long hand offs, delayed hand offs, etc. Watch the majority of running plays and it's the QB taking the ball to the RB. They changed to more quick hitters than longer developers in the second half and the results seemed to bear out it was a better strategy.

That to me is also a reason for the wildcat - take out the split second for the ball transfer...ironically, I think that the wildcat plays DID have the RBs more "waiting for a hole" (or dancing) then just hitting the play designed area.