Patriots Pregame Thread Patriots Chargers Sunday @ 8pm - pregame thread

[DaBruinz]

Not betting on the game, but we need to look at the offenses that the Pats have beat up on to get to #4. I appreciate the optimism but they have played against maybe 2-3 good QBs this year. So to say the Pats D is better and its not arguable is quite a bold statement.

There is always context behind stats and you are only telling part of the story if you ignore context.

Part of the reason those other teams haven't been good is because of the Pats defense. People always forget that aspect of things.


The Chargers play a Zone Defense 80% of the time. That plays into the hands of the Pats offense.

On defense, the Pats are getting healthy. They have Williams back. Landry and Spillane are back as well. Even if Tonga isn't back, I expect Williams to play more than the 28 snaps he played against Miami. I would expect Williams to play 75-80% of the snaps. Which will go a long way to putting pressure on the Chargers O-line. Denver, Philly, Pitt and KC all put up at least 4 sacks on Herbert. I see no reason the Pats Defense with Williams, Landry, and Spillane back can't do the same and put Herbert under pressure more than 12 times.

 

[ViperGTS]

I'm getting tired of the Chargers this, Chargers that. "Oh the Chargers curb stomped the Patriots last season!" True but that was Wal- Mart Mayo and company with a wet behind the ears Maye.

This Patriots team is vastly more improved from coaches to players. It's not even close. The Pats are the BETTER TEAM than the Chargers. Period.

 

[DaBruinz]

No need to bring up offense because I was addressing your claim that the Pats Def is better than the Chargers and that its not arguable.

It's not?

Weeks 12-16, the Pats held opposition teams to: 20, 15, 35, 24, That's 23.5 points allowed without Williams. Then you take into consideration that Spillane missed the Bills and Giants games, you realize that the Pats defense didn't do so bad. Especially since the Refs gifted Buffalo 3 of their TDs.

Look at weeks 1-11. The Pats allowed 206 points over those 11 weeks.. Or 18.7 PA/G. Then they handled both the Jets and Phins the way they were supposed to. Despite missing 4 defensive starters against the Jets and 3 against the Phins.

I think it's plain as day that the Pats defense is better since it took losing 2 starters and some ridiculous Ref help for another team to put up a 30 spot.

 

[Vindicate]

I haven't had the flu since before Covid. Also stopped getting the "Flu Shot"...

I've spent my fall/winter on airplanes, in ERs and within proximity to toddlers. It's a recipe for disaster.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

I realized after the Gaff in that Buffalo Game: we have been keeping the pedal to the metal regarding our Opponents.

half gaff half refs

 

[patchick]

Since when does the flu last more than a couple of days?

Since always? Symptoms of influenza, including debilitating fatigue, can last up to two weeks. The current dominant strain is also producing extended periods of fever in many people, as much as 5-6 days.

The good news is that these are healthy young men who will doubtless receive the best antiviral medication.

The bad news is that this strain is ultra-contagious and more players are likely to be symptomatic soon.

 

[Toofy]

Edge should be the first pick in the draft

Most good edge defenders are taken in first 10 picks. It's a safety or DT or linebacker or guard or RT. Bpa amongst these 5 positions will be taken

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Herbert is an outstanding QB, probably the closest thing to Maye in the league. We have to be really careful of him running with it in man coverage, he can do a lot of damage with his legs. Better to keep him penned in than to go for the sack. But, if our D is finally back to full strength that bodes well.

Maye has to watch out for Mack and James, can't have turnovers in a game like this. If we can get the run game moving that will help neutralize those guys.

Really nervous about the flu bug. That's a problem.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I haven't had the flu since before Covid. Also stopped getting the "Flu Shot"...

Same here. Efficacy rate is way too low for the flu shot. In the years since we stopped no flu. When the science improves I'll consider it.
We did get the new Shingrex vax couple years ago. Shingles was awful when I had it at 30ish.

 

[sb1]

Any time any sport anywhere. Never gets old!

 

[Sect140]

Yeah and it may be him and Brown playing C and LG if Bradbury is out with flu-like symptoms. Who would be at C and who would be at LG? Prob Wilson at LG...I don't believe he has played at C yet.

They are all playing on Sunday, they have a bug on Wednesday, better Wednesday than Sunday.

 

[jimnance]

Why? because I can make a prediction on the way I think the game goes even if its my team losing. Weird

No "weird" is an alleged Pats fan predicting they lose a home playoff game to an inferior opponent who by virtually all stats, both
offensively AND defensively, is considerably weaker.
It's one thing if we're playing the Bills,Rams or Eagles. OK, you can make a case.
The Chargers? Hell no.
All playoff games can be tough.
I expect the Patriots to win. Maybe easily.

 

[jdlboot14]

Chargers 2 biggest wins were Home vs. DEN (week 3) and vs. PHI (week 14) - those are legit,
but they also lost to: NYG & WAS in consecutive weeks (4 & 5), then TEX & DEN (17 & 18)

I know their schedule was tougher than Pats, but they're not playing their best down the stretch.
Even though our games were against wounded &/or bad teams, we had some of our best ball in the last 3 weeks...
and that does matter.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Great piece by Boutte:

How The Hell Did I Get Here??? | By Kayshon Boutte

I’d wake up early in the morning, and the first thing I’d do was bet.

www.theplayerstribune.com

 

[ViperGTS]

Great piece by Boutte:

How The Hell Did I Get Here??? | By Kayshon Boutte

I’d wake up early in the morning, and the first thing I’d do was bet.

www.theplayerstribune.com

Very well done by him. Very personal and open about his addiction.

 

[Triumph]

Herbert is an outstanding QB, probably the closest thing to Maye in the league. We have to be really careful of him running with it in man coverage, he can do a lot of damage with his legs. Better to keep him penned in than to go for the sack. But, if our D is finally back to full strength that bodes well.

Maye has to watch out for Mack and James, can't have turnovers in a game like this. If we can get the run game moving that will help neutralize those guys.

Really nervous about the flu bug. That's a problem.

Herbert is 6 NFL seasons in and he has 0 playoff wins.

Either Maye shows up as the Elite QB and wins or Herbert does.

 

[Vindicate]

Since always? Symptoms of influenza, including debilitating fatigue, can last up to two weeks. The current dominant strain is also producing extended periods of fever in many people, as much as 5-6 days.

The good news is that these are healthy young men who will doubtless receive the best antiviral medication.

The bad news is that this strain is ultra-contagious and more players are likely to be symptomatic soon.

Main thing you gotta worry about playing sick is the increased recovery time post-game. That's the bad part. Playing sports while sick is kinda weird, it actually took me out of my head and helped me lock-in lmao.

 

[Thelonious]

To me, this season is already a 100% success. This is essentially year one of an up-from-******** rebuild. How hideous do the Mayo year and Belichick's swan dive into incompetence look in retrospect? With 14 wins and a pretty elevated standing in the postseason, they have already exceeded every reasonable expectation. Everything from here on out is gravy. Any talk to the contrary is just the stuff of sports gossip. Win or lose on Sunday, they're winners.

 

[Patsfan1645]

To me, this season is already a 100% success. This is essentially year one of an up-from-******** rebuild. How hideous do the Mayo year and Belichick's swan dive into incompetence look in retrospect? With 14 wins and a pretty elevated standing in the postseason, they have already exceeded every reasonable expectation. Everything from here on out is gravy. Any talk to the contrary is just the stuff of sports gossip. Win or lose on Sunday, they're winners.

I see where your coming from but I view this point in time slightly different. Early in pre-season I thought if they are better than .500 they are moving in the right direction and this year would be a success to me. But as the season has gone on my expectations of this team has changed, the bar was set too low. I currently do not consider them in a "re-build" mode, what team is 14-3 and is rebuilding? They are team thats in it right now and like other good teams will look to be even better next year. I see a path they could travel to win it all, if 3-28 could happen so could this years Patriots rise from the ashes and capture glory. If they go out in the first round I cant help be disappointed to a degree because they have more than a punchers chance to make a run at. For me I cant worry about next year because who knows what may happen, I want them to seize the moment. They should never be satisfied, any athlete who is has nowhere to go but down.

 

[Joey007]

I'm not really concerned about that. Go and look at what the Pats did against "Weak O-lines". Pats had 4 sacks and another 11 pressures on the Raiders despite Kolto Miller playing. The Pats just put up 4 sacks with 8 additional pressures on Ewers. The Pats had 1 sack and 10 additional pressures on Brady Cook.

The Pats got 13 total pressures on Josh Allen in the 2nd game. They generated 11 pressures on Jaxson Dart.

With Milt Williams return, Cory Durden seeming to be breaking out, and the potential return of Spillane and Landry, this will be a better defensive team than what we saw from weeks 12-17.

I’m not gonna say it’s something we can’t overcome. Just one of those things that’s not as big of a favorable matchup as it is for other teams. I agree that getting Milton back is huge.