How Bad Are We?

[Real fan 02]

Even with all we've done this offseason, this team is still filled with guys that are nothing more than stopgaps.

We're going to have to nail the next two offseasons to even establish reliable starters at half the positions.

Agreed. Scott pioli was on post game live last week speaking of how similar things are for Vrabel that it was for he and Bill in 2000. Except the team had high end players especially on defense to help Jumpstart the roster building. Vrabel ia definitely going to need 2 off seasons and drafts to get this roster back to where it needs to be.

 

[Wozzy]

The loss to the Steelers shows a serious lack of focus. That's ball security by the RB1 and the starting QB. Good grief. That was an issue that has now carried over from last year.

Mayo=Vrabel

2024 rankings in points (PPD):
Offense: 30th
Defense: 27th

2025 rankings points (PPD):
Offense: 24th
Defense: 17th

This 2024 ranking^ was at the end of the season, pretend for a moment the 2025 Patriots could improve dramatically in the mistake category after less than a month of football… then stop sniffing glue.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

Yeah, I don't see a Law, Milloy, McGinest, or even a Johnson on this defense right now.

 

[Real fan 02]

Yeah, I don't see a Law, Milloy, McGinest, or even a Johnson on this defense right now.

The roster was bills gift he left on his way out.. .

 

[DarrylS]

My extremely critical eyeball test tells me that I enjoy watching this brand of football compared to the past several seasons.. they experience growing pains, but there is a lot to like about our offense (turnovers be damned).
I can watch a whole game and not feel all cringey..
My eyeballs also tell me that Drake Maye is developing nicely...
Still much to do in all aspects...

 

[Real fan 02]

My extremely critical eyeball test tells me that I enjoy watching this brand of football compared to the past several seasons.. they experience growing pains, but there is a lot to like about our offense (turnovers be damned).
I can watch a whole game and not feel all cringey..
My eyeballs also tell me that Drake Maye is developing nicely...
Still much to do in all aspects...

Same for me. The team has a chance to get better as the season goes on. Last few seasons they got worse as the season went on. Drake is the centerpiece to everything.

 

[1960Pats]

The Pats could easily be 3-0 or 0-3 in the first three weeks. I think stupid mistakes are the biggest problem with this team over the first three weeks. That is correctable.

They haven't played a good team yet. So it is hard to know how good or bad they really are. We won't really find out on Sunday either.

I think we'll know if they lose.

 

[1960Pats]

You are delusional.

He's obviously a troll.

 

[lancerman]

This isn't a talented roster. There's too many space fillers and even our top guys besides Gonzo and Henry are works in progress. That said, they are beating themselves with mistakes and even just being disciplined, they would be in a much better spot and with this schedule they If they tighten up, they could really just screw around and still have a playoff shot (they will get massacred once they get there, but it would be fun just to have the illusion of a chance).

What will decide the fate of this team is next year and the year after. The current geime has to show they can actually fill out the roster with solid players and develop the guys we do have. This year is always going to be weird because of the schedule. The next few seasons will likely have much harder roads. So ideally they can use this build some confidence and good habits with the guys they do have and they can sort of fake it until they make and add some good pieces along the way.

The big fear for me is still the passing game. Right now Henry is once again the only consistent quality player that exists in that respect. Everyone else is a huge mixed bag. Henry is also 30, so we can't rely on the guy forever. He needs more help before he ages out of being the safety valve for the passing game. Without him and without adequate replacements, the team becomes incredibly one dimensional (more than it is) real fast.

 

[rochrist]

Apparently not that bad.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

This roster is plenty talented to make the playoffs this year. The only thing we lack is a #1 WR with top end speed, but we do have many decent targets, a top play caller, a top QB, a pretty solid defense, and good ST's.

 

[Kdo5]

Next week will tell us a lot about the team. If they perform well even in defeat it means they are legit when they don’t get in their own way.

 

[reflexblue]

I think they'ed be very good if they fixed the sloppy, mental error filled play. Its only a matter of time before they break out.

Yeap, it was only a matter of time

 

[manxman2601]

Apparently not that bad.

Yep. not bad in both senses of the term.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Next week will tell us a lot about the team. If they perform well even in defeat it means they are legit when they don’t get in their own way.

I see no reason they can't compete with the Bills. None. That is a team who barely beat the Dolphins and had the Saints hanging around today. Their D can be exposed too.

 

[Steve102]

Apparently not that bad.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Noce job today. They got no shot next week. Bills are in another league.

 

[Wozzy]

I see no reason they can't compete with the Bills. None. That is a team who barely beat the Dolphins and had the Saints hanging around today. Their D can be exposed too.

Agreed, their D is probably the worst it’s been since Josh Allen’s rookie season. The Pats need to play mistake free and smart, the Bills can be had.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Noce job today. They got no shot next week. Bills are in another league.

Absolutely not.

 

[Kdo5]

Noce job today. They got no shot next week. Bills are in another league.

The Bills have been playing down to some of their sub-par opponents. We have a legit QB and highly ranked offense that is getting better.

If the Bills don’t bring their A-game the Pats could pull off an upset.