PostGame Thread OFFICIAL: Romo Strikes Back - Pats Squeak Past Falcons w/ Win, 24-23

[VJCPatriot]

Yes! I keep seeing references to the weak schedule with the conclusion that the team isn’t as good as its record, so they shouldn’t commit too much to this season. But the opposite argument can be made: the schedule is an opportunity.

Sure, the team should be stronger next season, but so will the opposition they face. At this point, they have a legitimate shot at the #1 seed. That’s a path to the Super Bowl, flaws and all.

Patriots have a legit shot at top 2 seeding and getting a 1st round bye. History shows us that teams who get the bye have a lot better shot at progressing deep into the postseason.

I feel like even though this is a young team, if you add a couple of veteran pieces that will really help their ability to compete going forward. A playoff win would also be huge for building morale and a winning culture.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Huh? They would be like all of the other 31 teams that don’t win it all.

What do you mean by “go all in”?

Trade picks first one year rentals etc

 

[bormio]

Patriots have a legit shot at top 2 seeding and getting a 1st round bye. History shows us that teams who get the bye have a lot better shot at progressing deep into the postseason.

I feel like even though this is a young team, if you add a couple of veteran pieces that will really help their ability to compete going forward. A playoff win would also be huge for building morale and a winning culture.

You have to be #1 to get a bye now

 

[Ring 6]

I think folks recognized that he is special. Not sure people are critical just to be negative. It appears they are pointing out things that can make him unstoppable, durable and safer.

maybe they can write him a letter.

 

[Ring 6]

Trade picks first one year rentals etc

Who ever suggested a one year rental?

But the point is this team has the best record in the NFL, of course it is a contender.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

WTF is hero ball that is the stupidiest attempt into a player.

They win because of him. They lose with an average qb.

He gets ripped for everything that isn’t perfect.
We have win 6 in a row mostly because of him carrying the team and some posters only want to talk about criticizing him. It’s stupid.

This a Pats forum, we discuss plays good and bad.
Nobody is ripping him, talking about bad plays doesn’t discredit the good plays he makes which are plentiful.
He is our best player without a doubt, but your failure to recognize when he makes a mistake is perplexing.

 

[Vindicate]

Is there any chance Judon could help?

He would be dirt cheap, and “coming home” might be enough to motivate him for the stretch run.

I would've loved for the Judon we had to be on this team. Infact I'm almost mad I'm now thinking about how awesome of a piece he'd be as a leader.

However that guy is done. He did us a favor by fleecing the Dolphins for a quick $6 mil, because ultimately, his career should be coming to an end.

 

[Patsfan1645]

I would've loved for the Judon we had to be on this team. Infact I'm almost mad I'm now thinking about how awesome of a piece he'd be as a leader.

However that guy is done. He did us a favor by fleecing the Dolphins for a quick $6 mil, because ultimately, his career should be coming to an end.

I think that may be the only thing Mayo got right last year. Since Judon left he has done absolutely nothing.

 

[Ring 6]

This a Pats forum, we discuss plays good and bad.
Nobody is ripping him, talking about bad plays doesn’t discredit the good plays he makes which are plentiful.
He is our best player without a doubt, but your failure to recognize when he makes a mistake is perplexing.

When did I fail to recognize he made a mistake?

Posters made their first post win comments criticizing Maye. I’m sure he got killed in the game day thread.
We don’t win this game without him.
The comment I responded to was Maye had a bad game. That is untrue.

Is “hero ball” pointing out a mistake or ridiculous criticism?
Do you really think he is trying to be a hero at the expense of the team?

 

[Ring 6]

I think that may be the only thing Mayo got right last year. Since Judon left he has done absolutely nothing.

Not sure Mayo got it right, I think Judon made the decision, Mayo was, as usual a spectator.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Not sure Mayo got it right, I think Judon made the decision, Mayo was, as usual a spectator.

You could be right. Either way it was the right time to part ways looking back.

 

[KCSVEN]

Considering the uncertainty before the year started it is great to know we are now the highest odds of making the playoffs at 96%. More than any other team.

11 wins has been 100% playoffs, 10 wins makes it a high percentage but not always.

Jets twice, Dolphins, Giants should be 11. Good times. 5th best odds to win the Super Bowl.

2025 NFL Post Season Probabilities

The 2025 NFL Post Season Probabilities table presents the probabilities that your team will proceed to different playoff rounds.

www.playoffstatus.com

New England Patriots Playoff Picture

The Patriots playoff picture table presents the probabilities that the Patriots will win each playoff spot.

www.playoffstatus.com

 

[n1997y]

Here's how I'd approach things:

- Week 10, @TB: Win. Play 60 minutes, clean up mistakes.
- Short week 11 vs Jets: Win, get mini-bye.
- Week 12, @Cincinnati. Win. The Bengals' defense is so bad, they actually play better with only 10 men on the field.
- Week 13, Giants: Win.
- Week 14 bye week: still want a Win.
- Week 15, Bills: Win. Statement game.
- Week 16, @Baltimore: Win.
- Week 17, @Jets: Win.
- Week 18, Miami: rest people if possible, but still Win.
- Bye week: enjoy watching people lose.

I like my plan better, don't buy the "you really only have to go hard for 3 games" idea. Football doesn't work like that.

I think your plan is a winner!

 

[Ring 6]

Considering the uncertainty before the year started it is great to know we are now the highest odds of making the playoffs at 96%. More than any other team.

11 wins has been 100% playoffs, 10 wins makes it a high percentage but not always.

Jets twice, Dolphins, Giants should be 11. Good times. 5th best odds to win the Super Bowl.

2025 NFL Post Season Probabilities

The 2025 NFL Post Season Probabilities table presents the probabilities that your team will proceed to different playoff rounds.

www.playoffstatus.com

New England Patriots Playoff Picture

The Patriots playoff picture table presents the probabilities that the Patriots will win each playoff spot.

www.playoffstatus.com

And damn we’re you right about Drake Maye.

 

[n1997y]

This is the longest winded and maybe strangest pathway ever to say "#1 seed best, #2 seed still good"

I thought it said “#1 seed good, #2 seed better” by some convoluted logic.

But I must admit I got lost somewhere in trying to parse the arguments against #1 seed.

 

[n1997y]

It’s a shame those opponents don’t just let us do what we want.

Yeah. And those same teams aren’t just trading us everybody we want for whatever we’re offering. It’s like they’re conspiring against us.

 

[mayoclinic]

Very annoying. With 4 6ths we ought to be able to get Myles Garrett, Jeffery Simmons, AJ Brown and our S or RB of chouce.

 

[n1997y]

I'm fine with Judon active instead of Ponder.

It was a choice between the smh and the beating dead horse reactions. I went dead horse because that’s how much burst Judon has these days.

 

[n1997y]

I would've loved for the Judon we had to be on this team. Infact I'm almost mad I'm now thinking about how awesome of a piece he'd be as a leader.

However that guy is done. He did us a favor by fleecing the Dolphins for a quick $6 mil, because ultimately, his career should be coming to an end.

Watching Drake run away from Judon for a TD was worth every penny of that to me.

 

[Huckleberry1]

While I respect fans feeling differently, I'm seeing a decent amount of the pats aren't ready, this isn't their time, etc. posts. The pats are a good not great team from a roster perspective. So is everyone else in the AFC:

broncos - Nix, mediocre weapons
chargers - injuries, lack high end talent
ravens - injuries, bottom 5 DL
colts - daniel jones

The bills have zero all-pros on their roster, their best defensive player is on IR & they have the worst outside WRs in the NFL. The engine of their offense is the run game as they run it more than they pass. That plays into the pats hands and they already held them to 20 points at buffalo. Chaisson didn't play either.

First ballot HOF chris jones is not the same player this year. The chiefs defense is slow at the second level. Offensively, they are heavily reliant on rice & kelce. I would expect them to put davis on kelce & treat him like a WR. The pats could beat them especially if they can get the chiefs defense at home.

I don't think people realize that while the pats might not have a superbowl contending roster it's close to the rest of the contenders in the AFC. Homefield could be the difference & their win total is currently o11.5 -150 in vegas. Their superbowl window is open right now.

Vrabel made it clear that the Patriots weren't at a point where they should be making deals for big time players to get them over the hump. He realizes that regardless of their record they have considerable work to do to be one of the top team's in the league. ( I believe the video of this is one with Dungy and Rodney interviewing him, and the question was regarding Micah Parsons. So it's not just fans who don't believe they are at that point, but Vrabel and Co. as well.