PostGame Thread OFFICIAL POST GAME THREAD: Patriots beat Bengals 26-20

[PatsFan2]

I think Jets and Dolphins will mail in their seasons by that point, Giants have played Bears, Packers and Lions tough and likely getting Dart back who has a ton of scrambling ability, they can also pressure the QB, that could be a tougher game than the record indicates. Bills home, and Ravens on road are toss ups.

IF we get a split with the Bills or Ravens possibly 14 wins.

 

[bormio]

What I really like was his ability to just shrug off a bad first quarter and bounce back for the rest of the game.

That is an elite trait.

This. Great QBs play bad at times. But don’t let it affect the next series

 

[mike_usagisan]

I'm a little less worried about the offensive line losses. I think Brown is ok and Lowe will hopefully be just good enough. Our run game hasn't been strong and probably took another hit. But we were always going to go as far as Drake takes us. If he can settle down and find his groove with Diggs, Boutte, Pop and Henry again, we can beat any team.

The defensive losses are the bigger ones for me. We're seeing cracks in the run defense and Gonzo hasn't been looking right in our pass defense. If I have a worry, it's that the defense is going to start falling apart even more.

 

[PatsFan2]

I'm a little less worried about the offensive line losses. I think Brown is ok and Lowe will hopefully be just good enough. Our run game hasn't been strong and probably took another hit. But we were always going to go as far as Drake takes us. If he can settle down and find his groove with Diggs, Boutte, Pop and Henry again, we can beat any team.

The defensive losses are the bigger ones for me. We're seeing cracks in the run defense and Gonzo hasn't been looking right in our pass defense. If I have a worry, it's that the defense is going to start falling apart even more.

I can't stomach the thought of Vederian Lowe even short term: he is what he is a marginal NFL player. Who we are going to have to help a lot on passing downs.

 

[Toofy]

Let's move to few on-off screens for next few weeks . Keep henderson on left and stevenson on right of maye for pass protection . Keep switching outside zone runs or screens depending on which defender comes across. Keep max hollins on left to block .

Sometimes keep Williams in left to just chip a block and take off on left side so that teams attacking left get burnt pretty badly on big plays .

Let's hope defense can churn some turnovers and be better in red zone. Pass rush is so bad. We can't wait for bye week to come sooner.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I can't stomach the thought of Vederian Lowe even short term: he is what he is a marginal NFL player. Who we are going to have to help a lot on passing downs.

Yeah, but maybe we bring in Dippre to be the blocking tight end to help. I trust Josh and Marrone to figure out ways to help him that the staff last year didn't.

 

[PatsfanTN]

I can't stomach the thought of Vederian Lowe even short term: he is what he is a marginal NFL player. Who we are going to have to help a lot on passing downs.

Well, let’s all hope better coaching and more experience improves his game.

 

[Kdo5]

I'm a little less worried about the offensive line losses. I think Brown is ok and Lowe will hopefully be just good enough. Our run game hasn't been strong and probably took another hit. But we were always going to go as far as Drake takes us. If he can settle down and find his groove with Diggs, Boutte, Pop and Henry again, we can beat any team.

The defensive losses are the bigger ones for me. We're seeing cracks in the run defense and Gonzo hasn't been looking right in our pass defense. If I have a worry, it's that the defense is going to start falling apart even more.

Yes the absence of Williams was already being felt both in terms of run defending and pressure. Then to lose Tonga was brutal.

 

[Triumph]

Glad they didn’t lose this one but they certainly did everything in their power to make it happen.

The way the Bengals D played yesterday its perplexing that they are ranked last.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

I think Jets and Dolphins will mail in their seasons by that point, Giants have played Bears, Packers and Lions tough and likely getting Dart back who has a ton of scrambling ability, they can also pressure the QB, that could be a tougher game than the record indicates. Bills home, and Ravens on road are toss ups.

This Giants game will be a big challenge - they're 2-10 but can compete with anyone. It's our most dangerous game of the past 2 months, given the loss of our 3 best linemen in Williams, Campbell, and Wilson.

 

[Triumph]

I'm a little less worried about the offensive line losses. I think Brown is ok and Lowe will hopefully be just good enough. Our run game hasn't been strong and probably took another hit. But we were always going to go as far as Drake takes us. If he can settle down and find his groove with Diggs, Boutte, Pop and Henry again, we can beat any team.

The defensive losses are the bigger ones for me. We're seeing cracks in the run defense and Gonzo hasn't been looking right in our pass defense. If I have a worry, it's that the defense is going to start falling apart even more.

The NE run game must improve, somehow.

Because a close game like yesterday can easily be lost when you cant run. Pass to get the lead and run to win.

 

[Triumph]

This Giants game will be a big challenge - they're 2-10 but can compete with anyone. It's our most dangerous game of the past 2 months, given the loss of our 3 best linemen in Williams, Campbell, and Wilson.

I hear that Abdul Carter is a Bust.

 

[Patsfan1645]

As usual I stay clear of the GDT as I cant handle all the chicken littles. Its great to get a win but it doesnt feel good to see the team struggle against a depleted not so good opponent. Then we add in all the injuries. But we did have one stud, Hunter Henry was the shinning star on offense. I don't understand why the receivers didn't play a bigger role but I'm glad we have Hunter. It was also great to have Hooper back as well. We will need them both down the stretch.

I thought the only good play calling by Josh was the plays to Hunter across the middle, the bengals never did adjust to that. We simply cannot run the ball between the hashes with any sense of effectiveness. It seems like that is the call on every first down. Its just lame to me that we keep doing it over and over. I would prefer to see something other than the draw when we run the ball. I would have like to see Henderson getting to the outside on some runs, he has the speed, let him stretch the defense.

The play calling and inability to score from the goal line was about as trash as it could be. Bad plays, bad execution, wrong personnel and after how many failed attempts we still went for it when we should have taken the field goal in a close game. Vrabel almost cost them the game with that decision. But as I have said before this is what we are going to get from him, he is aggressive and so far they have been lucky flirting with disaster.

Milton Williams out is glaringly painful as he is the anchor on that line. We need him back ASAP. Flacco had forever in the pocket not only can we not get after a 40yo qb but with Williams out we cant even collapse the pocket with any regularity. Addressing this should be a focus in the off season.

Not sure what was up with Drake the first couple of series, he just looked down right bad. But it also looked like he wasnt trying to really throw the ball with some mustard. Once he got in the zone and started zipping the ball he looked fine, not sure what was going on early. With Campbell/Wilson out and possibly for the season Drake will need to be rolling out more and throwing on the move. Thankfully that's a strength with his game. Josh better be game planning to address the now deficient left side of the line.

Anyone else notice Diggs on the sideline late in the game after one of his catches. He did not look happy......something to keep an eye on. All and all they scrapped through an ugly game and came out with the win. Lets hope we get some good news on the injuries and every player needs to step up down the home stretch and the coaching needs to be honest about their performance and do better as well.

 

[Ring 6]

IF we get a split with the Bills or Ravens possibly 14 wins.

Why only a split?

 

[NFL Mystique]

The way the Bengals D played yesterday its perplexing that they are ranked last.

Patriots helped them out

 

[PatsFan2]

Why only a split?

I want em all AJ just a little worried about the OL injuries a this key juncture.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I think division record is not applicable as tiebreaker between teams not in the same division, so tiebreaker would be conference record. IIRC Denver wins on that.

I think after this weekend they both have two AFC losses so I believe the next tiebreaker would be SOS which lol you know.

ETA:


To Break A Tie For The Wild-Card Team
If it is necessary to break ties to determine the three Wild-Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken.

If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tiebreaker.
If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.

Two Clubs

Head-to-head, if applicable.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
Strength of victory in all games.
Strength of schedule in all games.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
Best net points in conference games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss.

 

[upstater1]

I'm a little less worried about the offensive line losses. I think Brown is ok and Lowe will hopefully be just good enough. Our run game hasn't been strong and probably took another hit. But we were always going to go as far as Drake takes us. If he can settle down and find his groove with Diggs, Boutte, Pop and Henry again, we can beat any team.

The defensive losses are the bigger ones for me. We're seeing cracks in the run defense and Gonzo hasn't been looking right in our pass defense. If I have a worry, it's that the defense is going to start falling apart even more.

I've been saying all year that Chiasson and Landry are underwhelming in every facet of their play.

We had better run stoppage and better pressure from Anfernee last year than we have from each of these guys.

They cannot set the edge at all.

Maybe Gonzo and Davis and Marcus would be locked onto WRs even tighter if some of the pressure of making bonecrunching tackles at the second level were taken away from them.

The Patriots have been living dangerously all year.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Maye with four picks in the past five games. Four prior games: no picks

 

[Rob0729]

The good news from yesterday is that the Giants have officially been eliminated from the playoffs. Some players may be ready to pack it in.