No matter what, this was a successful season.

[Pats1971]

This team is turning out to be exactly what we thought they would be, a playoff team that can hang with anybody. Flirting with the #1 seed was fun, but the last two weeks have exposed the defense as a paper tiger. For seven weeks we feasted on depleted offenses, poorly coached teams, and QBs ruined by the New York Jets, and it made the defense look good enough to carry a rookie QB to the Super Bowl.

I like what I saw from Mac the last two weeks, even if he was shut down in the first half of both games. It's a shame that the defense once again failed to give him the chance to lead a game winning drive. This is, what, 5 times this year the D couldn't get a stop where it needed one?

The defense is why we won as many games as we did this year. Literally the exact reason. When you play better teams your D is not always going to shut them down, that is when you need an offense that can stay up, right now, this offense needs the defense to keep games really low and get turnovers, if they dont we lose. Thats not having a bad defense, that is having a low end offense. Another team gets ahead when your offense goes 3 and out or turns the ball over. The pats give up 17.3 ppg...If you cannot win with that, then your offense is the issue.

 

[Foxypats]

I thought 2020 was the rebuild season?

No, this is the rebuild year. Last year was the year to pay the piper for going all in the previous several years . How can a team rebuild when they have zero cap and a lot of dead money from several player contracts ?
This year has been a success as when we started I definitely did not believe they would be close to the playoffs!!

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It seems like the Patriots have fallen back to reality, but no matter what happens... this season in my opinion was a success. 9+ wins and at least a glimpse of a good future. This season was always going to be a rebuild and anything more than what we have now is gravy.

I really think next season will be our true comeback season.

I'm not quite there yet. IMO, a season is a relative success if it ends with a trip to the playoffs.

It is an absolute success if it ends with a Lombardi.

 

[sb1]

Its the, oh wait...we might not win the superbowl? Phase. Pats fans do not understand how lucky we are. We finally do not have to live and die on if we win the superbowl anymore. My favorite times as a fan was watching the growth. The every year you dont win the superbowl ruining my entire year sucked. I want to enjoy the every good thing is a parade and bad things and loses do not ruin my life for awhile. The climb is the fun part, being on the top of the mountain just means you can fall and die at any moment and there is no place to go up.

There is something to this thought. In the last few years winning almost felt like more of a relief than joy.

SB36 will always be my favorite win.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

The defense is why we won as many games as we did this year. Literally the exact reason. When you play better teams your D is not always going to shut them down, that is when you need an offense that can stay up, right now, this offense needs the defense to keep games really low and get turnovers, if they dont we lose. Thats not having a bad defense, that is having a low end offense. Another team gets ahead when your offense goes 3 and out or turns the ball over. The pats give up 17.3 ppg...If you cannot win with that, then your offense is the issue.

This stuttering offense has a lot of talent. Watch Bill O'Brien lead this unit next year and put up 28 a game

 

[cmasspatsfan]

A playoff game and a win would be a great first season for Mac. Next year we add to the roster and its gets more serious.

 

[sb1]

I thought 2020 was the rebuild season?

They were just bad in 2020. There was nothing of value with that team and nothing to take forward.

The real rebuild started this year.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

They were just bad in 2020. There was nothing of value with that team and nothing to take forward.

The real rebuild started this year.

7-9 was a miracle too

 

[wrangler]

Mac is a rook and has hit a supposed wall. Next year we will know if we have our QB of the future.
Before any premature ramblings I'll wait until next year before making any judgements on Mac.
I'm still hoping for a playoff berth. The D needs to get it's sh!t together tho. jmo

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

Mac is a rook and has hit a supposed wall. Next year we will know if we have our QB of the future.
Before any premature ramblings I'll wait until next year before making any judgements on Mac.
I'm still hoping for a playoff berth. The D needs to get it's sh!t together tho. jmo

Yeah I think he has too. Its fine. Hes a rookie and should NOT be trashed just because he isnt that guy yet.

 

[Wax Frog]

Making the playoffs would make this a great season, IMO.

Definitely. I allowed my glasses to get a bit rosy over the win streak, but I did pick (IIRC) 7-9 wins in the early-season forum survey, so they've thus far met my on-the-record expectations, and a wildcard appearance would be the cherry on top of that sundae.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

10 or 11 wins and making the playoffs with a rookie QB is a successful season by any realistic measure. For all of us spoiled fans, all of this means little if the team does not build off the promise of this small step. Mac has demonstrated that he can run the offense and make plays if he has adequate protection providing the foundation for the future. Hopefully the team can get a bit younger on D and some WR that can actually get open and catch the ball.

 

[libra957]

I'm pleased. Huge progress were made, with a few tweaks we will be even better next year.

 

[Guts]

Gonna be sad seeing McCourty and Hightower go

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

Gonna be sad seeing McCourty and Hightower go

Mccourty was a great team leader

 

[Boomer B]

The one thing I’ve loved is the fight this team has shown. The talent isn’t there yet to contend for a SB but with growth and the right pieces we may be knocking on the door in a few years.

Offence:

- we need a playmaker. When we are in clear throwing situations it’s tough on Mac as there’s not much separation out there. We saw that in the 4th qtr yesterday when had to throw the windows were very small. Teams are stacking the box as they don’t respect our ability to throw.

- Mac has been solid this year but has regressed a bit lately. Hopefully he makes the 2nd year jump and becomes a quality starting QB for us.

Defense

- been a good year, but they are getting older. Speed and new blood at LB is needed as Hightower and KVN are close to the end.

- resign JC Jackson.

 

[‘Mondre]

What makes this a successful season so far? Mac?

 

[Pape]

Eh... season ain't over yet...

i get the point of the op, but there is more to be written...

Football is edge of your seat fun again in New England

 

[Bruins29]

Pretty low bar for "successful season"

Shut up troll

 

[Hammer of Thor]

What makes this a successful season so far? Mac?

With a rookie QB and the 2020 team having the least talent top to bottom since the 2000 team, the fact that the team is on the cusp of the playoffs and that rookie QB isn’t actively harming the cause, even if he’s not leading the cause like a handful of rookies have done in NFL history.

The other thing is that it’s simply hard to win in the NFL. If it was a random drawing, we would only make the Super Bowl every 16 years. If we define success as simply winning the Super Bowl, then we’re setting ourselves up for a lot of disappointment. Making the playoffs under this year‘s circumstances seems like a reasonable bar for success for this team, even if ideally we want them to win it all.