How Bad Are We?

[Real fan 02]

It is hard to know who the Pats are.

The coaching has been very underwhelming. I had high hopes for the coaching staff, but after 3 games the lack of discipline and fundamentals seems excessive. I thought training camp would be used to identify the starters, but in game 3 we are still benching mulitple players and the benchings will most likely continue. Too bad training camp was not used to identify the best players. I thought with the wealth of experience this coaching team has that they would be better at structuring camp.

Agreed One. I'm still of the mind that where the coaching is really showing is the team has shown the abilities to adjust defensively. It's impressive what they were able to do the rest of the game holding steelers after all of the offensive TOs. Also the arch Drake is on with his development and entering the conversation of top 10 QB is also a huge positive. I've fell back off the win/loss predictions and focused more on drake and seeing if the team can stop beating themselves.

 

[Real fan 02]

Let’s just say, I’m not confident. The defense looks like garbage, 67 points in 3 games, and even if Gonzalez comes back (have ZERO clue when that’ll be), not sure how big a difference that’ll be, his first few games will be like exhibition season for him.

Then add in our receivers are much worse than I thought they’d be. I thought they be decent, at least they’d be league average. We need to get our RBs going as well, Henderson is only averaging 3.4 yards a carry, and 6.6 yards a catch. Need to get him going.

I wasn’t confident against the Steelers, I’m not feeling confident vs Carolina. It’s tough to go from being a bad team to a good team, even with a great coaching staff. Once again, it’s the roster. It’s just bad, even after spending a fortune on defense.

Anytime you remove an all pro from any part of a NFL team you are going to feel it. The absence of gonzo cannot be overstated. We have a great defensive line and have generated good rush. The secondary hasn't stepped up.. guys are often out of position, penalties, ect.

The fact we had to over pay for guys like Davis for example is a direct example of how bad the roster had eroded over the years. The positive and most important thing is Drake is developing on the arch that we all hoped for.. he still has things to work on of course but he's definitely the guy.

This roster is still incomplete and Vrabel hasn't fully put his imprint on. It will take another draft and FA period. The team can improve. If they are a team in the hunt and looking like a force to be reckoned with by December then the season is successful.

 

[Real fan 02]

Hey look at it this way, after Sunday either the Ravens or the Chiefs will be 1-3.

All we need to do is stay in the thick of the AFC mediocrity. If so I like the chance of possible post season...

 

[p8ryts]

All we need to do is stay in the thick of the AFC mediocrity. If so I like the chance of possible post season...

Win a damn game. Stop losing the game. They haven't done anything that would make someone think they can be a playoff team.

 

[uknepatsfan]

Remember when they predicted the 2025 AFCE champ would be the Pats?

Who on earth predicted that?

 

[jdlboot14]

All signs of a young/inexperienced and/or lack of chemistry team.
But signs of talent & competence are also there. The HUGE step of overcoming a close divisional game (in MIA) to not be the team that made the final game-losing mistake is an enormous sign of improvement.
Last week was about fundamentals and "bad bounces" - it happens as you climb up from the depths of league rankings.

This week will be a major test of what this team will be this year.
If they reduce mistakes, play like the better team, and win... then playoffs are still in the running for this year.
If they lose again at home to a bottom feeder team, then we're in for a longer tougher rebuilding year than I expected.

 

[Real fan 02]

Win a damn game. Stop losing the game. They haven't done anything that would make someone think they can be a playoff team.

Agreed 100%. Winning a dam home game would help! This all all the more reason to try and win some games. Because teams that we think of as contenders are having thier issues. Remember 2021? We went on like what a 6 or 7 game Winning streak.. that's what put us in the postseason.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Don't give the ball to the other team and that way you can score more points and they can score less.

A very intricate statistical analysis.

 

[Triumph]

Who on earth predicted that?

You dont recall?

Several sports analysts have predicted the New England Patriots will compete for or even win the AFC East in the upcoming 2025 NFL season following the hiring of Head Coach Mike Vrabel, including Nick Wright of FOX Sports, ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, and B/R Gridiron. While the Buffalo Bills remain the division favorites, the Patriots' odds to win the AFC East have improved significantly due to the coaching and personnel changes under Vrabel.
Here's a summary of the predictions:

• Nick Wright (FOX Sports)redicts the Patriots will make the playoffs in their first year under Mike Vrabel, and even has them potentially making a strong run for the AFC East title.
• Jeremy Fowler (ESPN):Not only buys into Patriots stock but suggests it "would not shock me if they won the AFC East," highlighting their potential to compete for the division.
• B/R Gridiron:Has predicted the Patriots will win the AFC East this year.

 

[Real fan 02]

You dont recall?

Several sports analysts have predicted the New England Patriots will compete for or even win the AFC East in the upcoming 2025 NFL season following the hiring of Head Coach Mike Vrabel, including Nick Wright of FOX Sports, ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, and B/R Gridiron. While the Buffalo Bills remain the division favorites, the Patriots' odds to win the AFC East have improved significantly due to the coaching and personnel changes under Vrabel.
Here's a summary of the predictions:

• Nick Wright (FOX Sports)redicts the Patriots will make the playoffs in their first year under Mike Vrabel, and even has them potentially making a strong run for the AFC East title.
• Jeremy Fowler (ESPN):Not only buys into Patriots stock but suggests it "would not shock me if they won the AFC East," highlighting their potential to compete for the division.
• B/R Gridiron:Has predicted the Patriots will win the AFC East this year.

The AFC is weird this season... Colts 3-0, chiefs, Ravens are tied 1-2.. Texans 0-3.. Buffalo undefeated.. this team needs a win.. I'm talking a convincing win it could help spring board them to put together a run.. of wins.

 

[Triumph]

The AFC is weird this season... Colts 3-0, chiefs, Ravens are tied 1-2.. Texans 0-3.. Buffalo undefeated.. this team needs a win.. I'm talking a convincing win it could help spring board them to put together a run.. of wins.

After the Bills SNF massacre.

Pats will have a run of rummy teams - Saints, Titans, Browns and Falcons. There's at least 3 wins right there to pad the stats.

 

[Real fan 02]

After the Bills SNF massacre.

Pats will have a run of rummy teams - Saints, Titans, Browns and Falcons. There's at least 3 wins right there to pad the stats.

Yes of course. Next week's game.. I hate late games... how much do we loose by 20 or 30?

 

[stinkypete]

This is still likely a 7 - 9 win team. I wouldn't call playoffs likely, but it's not hopeless either. This is a soft, soft schedule, especially now with Burrow out.

I am less concerned with making the playoffs, and more concerned with looking competitive against the playoff level competition.

 

[n1997y]

Don't give the ball to the other team and that way you can score more points and they can score less.

A very intricate statistical analysis.

Don’t overthink things!

 

[Bill Lee]

All signs of a young/inexperienced and/or lack of chemistry team.
But signs of talent & competence are also there. The HUGE step of overcoming a close divisional game (in MIA) to not be the team that made the final game-losing mistake is an enormous sign of improvement.
Last week was about fundamentals and "bad bounces" - it happens as you climb up from the depths of league rankings.

My $0.02: The Miami game only looked good because the Raiders game looked really bad, but as noted we were one footstep on the line away from losing, showed some really bad clock management stuff late in the game, etc. I don't see it as a huge/enormous step forward except in comparison to the Raiders game where there wasn't much at all to be happy about. In the Miami game at least we looked organized a lot more often than in the Raiders game, executed some decent 3rd down and 4th down plays, etc.

The answer to How Bad Are We is that we're a developmental team, both for the players and the coaches. There already have been a lot of roster changes. There will many more by Game 1 of next season. This season is about finding out who the core of the team will be going forward. This is not a playoffs team, even if our weak schedule lets us get into the playoffs.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

My $0.02: The Miami game only looked good because the Raiders game looked really bad, but as noted we were one footstep on the line away from losing, showed some really bad clock management stuff late in the game, etc. I don't see it as a huge/enormous step forward except in comparison to the Raiders game where there wasn't much at all to be happy about. In the Miami game at least we looked organized a lot more often than in the Raiders game, executed some decent 3rd down and 4th down plays, etc.

The answer to How Bad Are We is that we're a developmental team, both for the players and the coaches. There already have been a lot of roster changes. There will many more by Game 1 of next season. This season is about finding out who the core of the team will be going forward. This is not a playoffs team, even if our weak schedule lets us get into the playoffs.

The Steelers were a pretty good opponent - not top tier but above average. In a game that was close throughout, we held their offense to about 200 yards and our offense generated close to 400, which are both outstanding. Rham and Drake each committed 2 terrible, avoidable, damaging turnovers that cost us a sure win. Those kinds of turnovers will probably not recur, but there was nothing flukey about our offensive and defensive performances, they appear to be the new normal. The wins will follow.

 

[mgteich]

This is still likely a 7 - 9 win team. I wouldn't call playoffs likely, but it's not hopeless either. This is a soft, soft schedule, especially now with Burrow out.

I am less concerned with making the playoffs, and more concerned with looking competitive against the playoff level competition.

I would say 6-10 and my guess that almost all here would agree.

 

[p8ryts]

The Steelers were a pretty good opponent - not top tier but above average. In a game that was close throughout, we held their offense to about 200 yards and our offense generated close to 400, which are both outstanding. Rham and Drake each committed 2 terrible, avoidable, damaging turnovers that cost us a sure win. Those kinds of turnovers will probably not recur, but there was nothing flukey about our offensive and defensive performances, they appear to be the new normal. The wins will follow.

Yes, except those kinds of turnovers were recurring examples. I'm pretty much done with Stephenson. Maye has to wake up. That fumble was totally inexcusable.

 

[Thelonious]

I think we are better than we have shown, and I am still confident we will be a markedly better team at the end of this year than we were at the end of last year, which is my criterion for a successful season, irrespective of the record. Drake's brain farts are very frustrating - last week's game was a bang-yer-head-against-the-wall experience - but I do think Drake will get his head screwed on straight in time, and I think he and Josh will hit on a way to take advantage of both their skill sets. I am disappointed in Vrabel, who has turned out to be far more of an Oprah-style squish than I ever would have expected. Giving a game ball to the kicker after a **** game, making excuses for players' failures, the unhelpful snitty *****ery over the pace of Drake's showing "leadership," all the nannyish hemming and hawing over how to handle Rhamondre's jackassery, have all been a baffling disappointment. Hopefully he'll come to his senses, soon.

 

[mgteich]

I think we are better than we have shown, and I am still confident we will be a markedly better team at the end of this year than we were at the end of last year, which is my criterion for a successful season, irrespective of the record. Drake's brain farts are very frustrating - last week's game was a bang-yer-head-against-the-wall experience - but I do think Drake will get his head screwed on straight in time, and I think he and Josh will hit on a way to take advantage of both their skill sets. I am disappointed in Vrabel, who has turned out to be far more of an Oprah-style squish than I ever would have expected. Giving a game ball to the kicker after a **** game, making excuses for players' failures, the unhelpful snitty *****ery over the pace of Drake's showing "leadership," all the nannyish hemming and hawing over how to handle Rhamondre's jackassery, have all been a baffling disappointment. Hopefully he'll come to his senses, soon.

So, you don't like Vrabel's public statements.

As with Belichick, personally, I don't care. Let him do what he thinks is right for the locker room. For example, I wouldn't have given Bourregales the game ball, but if Vrabel thinks that it helps, then fine.
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I have no easy answer for handling the situation with Stevenson. Benching him and playing Jennings as our #3 doesn't seem quite right going forward. I can see why he isn't sure what he wants to do. He has to decide whether to give Handerson and Gibson 95% of the reps.
The answer may be to trade for our 3rd back and make whatever deal we need to in order to move Stevenson.