Week 1 win meaning...

[Real fan 02]

Belichick lost his first game as HC ... Parcells lost his first game as HC...
Carroll won his first game as HC ... Mayo won his first game as HC...

I want us to win every game, but it is not predictive of the direction the team will take... the first four weeks of the season is a marathon... the last fourteen are a sprint... getting out of the blocks slow doesn't bother me as long as they are playing good, mistake free football at the end of the season...

Good points. I don't really know how to summarize the first week of the NFL season other than what we've all seen as fans across the league teams that start out winning set themselves up for some room when they hit bumps in the road during the regular season..

for example If you're a Patriots team that has been 4-13 for multiple seasons and out of contention by October, and has worsened as the season went on then you can't think that September is a extension of the preseason or a marathon. What I feel is this team has a sense of urgency... they are hungry for winning. Of course it's not the determining factor of who they are.

Yes, it's encouraging to see a team play hard and compete but at some point that needs to become conducive to Wins and less Losses... just my 2 cents..

 

[Real fan 02]

Pittsburgh could be tough too.

I see Rogers and Metcalf having a big year.

Patiots have done more damage to themselves than what any other team has done to them past few seasons.. penalties, non execution, turnovers.. coaching. You have to stop beating yourselves before you worry about what another team can do.

 

[Patsfan1645]

I think winning is important because of how last season went, leaving a lot of doubt in peoples minds. I get some posters saying the wins dont matter if there is progress but if you have ever played any sport competitively then you know continually losing will stymie growth and has negative impacts. I think we can agree we want them to get off on the right foot and a win helps build the confidence, trust and cohesion. Its the proof or justification that what they are doing is working and they are most likely moving in the right direction. If they lose its not the end of the world but a win sure would feel much better to me.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

I hope "progress" results in winning football before the decade is out. We've been irrelevant for far too long.

 

[Zoomnbyu]

Pittsburgh could be tough too.

I see Rogers and Metcalf having a big year.

I'm more afraid of Brady's statue at QB than Rodgers.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think winning is important because of how last season went, leaving a lot of doubt in peoples minds. I get some posters saying the wins dont matter if there is progress but if you have ever played any sport competitively then you know continually losing will stymie growth and has negative impacts. I think we can agree we want them to get off on the right foot and a win helps build the confidence, trust and cohesion. Its the proof or justification that what they are doing is working and they are most likely moving in the right direction. If they lose its not the end of the world but a win sure would feel much better to me.

this ^. We've seen times even last season where the team has played decently enough to win, but for whatever reason haven't.. for example the Colts game last season, the rams game last season those should have been wins either way you look at it. Starting off week 1 is just so imperative to where this team wants to go and re-instill some winning. Winning can become a habit. I wouldn't want to see them 0-1 and heading into Miami where they historically struggle and have not yet beaten Tua.

 

[PatsFan2]

As fans we've all seen the slow starts in the month of September. For this year's patiots team Getting a win week 1 has more significance than in the Win/loss column. It's a continuation of believe into what Vrabel's preaching, it's a pay out of all the hard work the players and coaches put in. It's a confidence in the players and in us the fans that the team can be competitive.

Last season's debacle is in the rear view... this team needs a win on Sunday and they have enough on offense and defense to do so.

How do you feel as a fan about how much a win to open up the season can do for a team?

Twin let's hope Drake Maye have that Brady pedigree of winning: and not losing two or three games in a row. Like Al Davis use to say "Just win baby".

 

[SammyBlueCat]

If the Patriots win, I will eat another lobstah with buttah.

 

[Real fan 02]

Twin let's hope Drake Maye have that Brady pedigree of winning: and not losing two or three games in a row. Like Al Davis use to say "Just win baby".

Twin your exactly right. Drake is hungry to win you can see it whenever he speaks.. we don't need to continue a loosing culture it can sour a locker room fast.. like last few seasons..

 

[JoeSixPat]

As fans we've all seen the slow starts in the month of September. For this year's patiots team Getting a win week 1 has more significance than in the Win/loss column. It's a continuation of believe into what Vrabel's preaching, it's a pay out of all the hard work the players and coaches put in. It's a confidence in the players and in us the fans that the team can be competitive.

Last season's debacle is in the rear view... this team needs a win on Sunday and they have enough on offense and defense to do so.

How do you feel as a fan about how much a win to open up the season can do for a team?

Right - with September now being at training camp quality level - with the starters playing together for the first time in live action, that's. a double edged sword and you can catch better teams unprepared.

That's certainly what happened last season!

I'd like to see quality play, no injuries and a solid foundation on which to grow, even with a loss.

A sloppy messy win is nice, but that wouldn't bode as well for the future.

Regardless, this is FAR from the team that we will see playing better at the end of this season - but best to set expectations that the goal of this season is to sort out who is a solid foundation on which to build for NEXT season.

As someone who endured the Rod Rust/**** McPherson eras (in person on the cold aluminum bleachers no less) it is actually fun to watch a team develop the way we've see the Pats do in the Parcells to Belichick era, but best to be patient this time of year.

We're not fully back, but even if we were, it's all about just making the playoffs and then going on a run.

 

[maust]

I'd like to think a Pats win would mean less whining out of Sam.
I'm a realist however, so I'll gladly settle for a win meaning he won't whine more

 

[maust]

Regardless, this is FAR from the team that we will see playing better at the end of this season - but best to set expectations that the goal of this season is to sort out who is a solid foundation on which to build for NEXT season.

As someone who endured the Rod Rust/**** McPherson eras (in person on the cold aluminum bleachers no less) it is actually fun to watch a team develop the way we've see the Pats do in the Parcells to Belichick era, but best to be patient this time of year.

After the past few years I'm in pretty much the same place. I'm not expecting a miracle just some professional competence will satisfy me. I too wandered for decades in the Sullivan/Kiam wasteland, the lack of any belief a better future might be coming was a bitter pill. Right up there with always waiting for the next shoe to drop, be it of the incompetent work boot or the malignantly greedy wingtip variety. The one thing we knew for certain was there was always some fresh hell awaiting us.

For the first half of the season I'll be content if we're seeing a team that's making strides building towards 'becoming' versus a team that can't even tread water. A bit of core competence isn't really all that much to ask for

 

[mgteich]

After the past few years I'm in pretty much the same place. I'm not expecting a miracle just some professional competence will satisfy me. I too wandered for decades in the Sullivan/Kiam wasteland, the lack of any belief a better future might be coming was a bitter pill. Right up there with always waiting for the next shoe to drop, be it of the incompetent work boot or the malignantly greedy wingtip variety. The one thing we knew for certain was there was always some fresh hell awaiting us.

For the first half of the season I'll be content if we're seeing a team that's making strides building towards 'becoming' versus a team that can't even tread water. A bit of core competence isn't really all that much to ask for

We are hopefully a 10-7 playoff team in a season with a very weak schedule.

In 2021, we were a 10-7 playoff team in a season with a very weak schedule.

We hope for similar QB stats.

We HOPE to be back to where we were in 2021. How low we have come.
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I think that we greatly understate just how inept the management and coaching were in 2022 and 2023, and of course in 2024.

We HOPE that we will turn the corner as we start again.

 

[maust]

I think that we greatly understate just how inept the management and coaching were in 2022 and 2023, and of course in 2024.

We HOPE that we will turn the corner as we start again.

It truly was an epic run of ineptitude the past 4 years, albeit with a brief squirrel finds acorn '23 draft mixed in. Realistically for those of us who lived through the Sullivan/Kiam eras that's a drop in the bucket but for younger fans used to rolling out of bed netting a trip to the playoffs it has to seem like a biblical level disaster. We've got two sports generations worth of fans who consider an AFCCG appearance their birthright

 

[mgteich]

It truly was an epic run of ineptitude the past 4 years, albeit with a brief squirrel finds acorn '23 draft mixed in. Realistically for those of us who lived through the Sullivan/Kiam eras that's a drop in the bucket but for younger fans used to rolling out of bed netting a trip to the playoffs it has to seem like a biblical level disaster. We've got two sports generations worth of fans who consider an AFCCG appearance their birthright

I disagree. 2021 was not a disaster by any definition. A team with a mediocre rookie QB went to the playoffs.
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The ineptitude was for 3 years, not a very long time in the scheme of things in the NFL.

 

[maust]

I disagree. 2021 was not a disaster by any definition. A team with a mediocre rookie QB went to the playoffs.
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The ineptitude was for 3 years, not a very long time in the scheme of things in the NFL.

(sigh)

 

[40yrpatsfan]

I want to see us punch the opponent first and all afternoon long. Crisp assertive aggressive football, offense and defense. These 2 teams are in similar spots, but we’re at home and hungry. Need to play this game like it’s a playoff game and like 53 careers depend on winning it. It’s time to deliver.

 

[PP2]

Like others, I think seeing a competitive team that is competent in all three phases, plus coaching, and some growth from Maye will mean more than the win column. That said, I agree with a sentiment above that if this team has playoff hopes, winning a home game against the Raiders is a must.

As far as an early season statement win that would really catch my attention would be a win in Miami in Week 2.

To me, it only remains to be seen how the offense and defense fares.

ST is already elite.

 

[stinkypete]

I see 6 “should win” games on this schedule: Carolina, Cleveland, Tennessee, New Orleans, the Giants and the Jets at home.

After that there are 5 “could win” games. Vegas is a could win game, along with Pittsburgh, Miami at home, at the Jets, Atlanta.

The rest I consider likely losses.

A bad team loses “should win” games. The ‘23 and ‘24 teams are good examples. A mediocre team wins the games they should, but loses the “could win” games. A playoff contender needs to win about half their could wins.

So, tomorrow is a big game for setting the ceiling of this team.

 

[stinkypete]

I mean, it might sound a little dramatic.

But for the people who say the Patriots will win 10, 11 games, or make the playoffs, the Raiders at home have to be one of those wins.

It’s a must win for a 2025 playoff berth.

Otherwise, it’s fairly meaningless