PostGame Thread 2025 OFFICIAL Patriots Wild Card PostGame Thread: Patriots win 16-3

[Vindicate]

I wore my Spikes jersey because I wanted to channel the hardest hitter of recent Patriot memory that was all about what this defense set out to be at the beginning of the season: Ultraviolent.

And I gotta say, they lived up to it last night

 

[GreenCow]

Facing Josh Allen isnt the issue. He isnt Brady or Mahomes.

Its sitting around on your axx too long.

You’re right, he’s better than Mahomes. He is the best player on the planet.

 

[PP2]

It wasn't on the next play, it wasn't even on the same drive. On the drive he missed Hooper, we kicked a FG. It was still a one possesion game, 9-3.

I honestly don't get why people are getting defensive about calling Drake's game mediocre. He had a pick inside the 10, that would have resulted in 7 if not for a great goal line stand. He fumbled at the Chargers 18-yard line costing the team at least three points. After that he missed a wide open Hooper, which were another four points off the board. And even with the game seemingly secured, he fumbled at midfield with 06:30 to play, and thankfully Wilson fell on it. The Pats had 9 points through 50 minutes.

If the defense has a stinker, those mistakes would've resulted in a loss. It doesn't mean Drake isn't great, or that he isn't the biggest reason we are where we are or that he can't be better. On the contrary, he can be MUCH better, and in spite of all that, we won. That's something to cherish, it's great that we're not dependent on the QB to bail us time and again. He bailed the defense on several occasions in the regular season, and last night they bailed him. There's nothing wrong about well-intended critique. Drake was the first to admit he didn't play his best. That's why he's improved so much.

I meant to say the next drive. My mistake.

And I did say he didn't have a perfect night, but I don't agree that it was mediocre. To each their own.

 

[GreenCow]

Being a wild card would be worse.

They have to face either Denver or the Patriots.

Neither team scares me.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

You’re right, he’s better than Mahomes. He is the best player on the planet.

He is the best throwing running back the league has ever seen

 

[jmt57]

D'Ernest Johnson had two roles:
1.) Run the ball during garbage time
Result: Four attempts for five yards in the 42-10 win at Jets, 13 yards on five carries in 38-10 win vs Miami
1.9 yards per carry on 13 attempts. At least he didn't fumble, I suppose.

2.) Kickoff returns
Result: 25.6 yard average on five returns in those two games.
Not bad, but Efton Chism put up almost the same numbers.

Chism is obviously going to contribute far more to the offense than Johnson ever would.


I wonder if Elijah Mitchell gets moved from the practice squad to the active roster, strictly for insurance.

Seems like having only two running backs on your roster is a risky maneuver, should one get hurt during a game.

 

[Triumph]

You’re right, he’s better than Mahomes. He is the best player on the planet.

They call Allen "No Rings"

 

[Triumph]

 

[oldrover]

Honestly, yeah. He didn’t play like a “Drake Maye,” and I’m sure he’s not happy with his performance.

Yet he also pulled out enough clutch runs and throws to win the game. And of all Maye’s strengths, the greatest might be his learning speed, including learning from mistakes. Playoff Football 101 course completed successfully.

Ashley? That you?

Hey!

 

[Triumph]

Neither team scares me.

With all that losing I would imagine not.

 

[VrabelJr]

This is one of the rare years where having the #1 or #2 seed is a detriment.

#1 seed gets to face Josh Allen and #2 seed gets to face that ridiculous Houston defense.

It’s rare to prefer a wild card, but this is one of those years.

Your logic doesn’t make any sense but I’ll leave the work for you to do.

 

[Pape]

Did you see the follow-up to Ross after the reset??? *LOL*

lol yes... that was some funny stuff

 

[DaBruinz]

Your logic doesn’t make any sense but I’ll leave the work for you to do.

Gotta love the assumption that Houston is going to beat Pittsburgh. They should, but it's not a guarantee.

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[shmessy]

This one

So you actually believe "Houston/New England is a bigger draw than LA/Chicago"???????

You think the #5 vs #11 major Metropolitan markets are greater draws than the #2 and #3............

And that the game between the #2 and #3 - which is the only one where a Super Bowl Champion Quarterback is playing - is a better draw than the #5 vs #11 game???

Interesting universe you live in.

.

 

[GreenCow]

Gotta love the assumption that Houston is going to beat Pittsburgh. They should, but it's not a guarantee.

I just don’t see how Pitt scores

 

[Ring 6]

So you actually believe "Houston/New England is a bigger draw than LA/Chicago"???????

You think the #5 vs #11 major Metropolitan markets are greater draws than the #2 and #3............

And that the game between the #2 and #3 - which is the only one where a Super Bowl Champion Quarterback is playing - is a better draw than the #5 vs #11 game???

Interesting universe you live in.

The patriots are a bigger draw than both of those teams.
Don’t believe me, check the ratings.

Or are you trying to argue that playoff football ratings are based upon the size of the market the team is in and people from the rest of the country don’t actually determine which game is a better draw?

 

[p8ryts]

Was it just me, or did they not go Jumbo for most of the 1st half? Even on running plays?

they did not

 

[Ring 6]

An Offensive game plan that produces a total of 16 points when the Defense is perfect is not a very successful game plan.

And yes, there were 2 fumbles, and we lost ONLY one. There were also possible interceptions after the first play, with none lost. I guess this is considered a great success.
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I think that the Offense will get better, but I don't think that the offensive game plan of yesterday executed as we did yesterday would be good enough to beat HOU.

First of all game plans don’t produce points, execution does.

Secondly how much more successful can you be than winning.
There are 2 results. Winning is success, losing is not. We succeeded.

If you haven’t figured out by now that football is a complementary game and if the defense was t playing as well and allowing more points the offense would have run differently, im not sure why anyone bothers to read your posts any more.

 

[Steve102]

An Offensive game plan that produces a total of 16 points when the Defense is perfect is not a very successful game plan.

And yes, there were 2 fumbles, and we lost ONLY one. There were also possible interceptions after the first play, with none lost. I guess this is considered a great success.
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I think that the Offense will get better, but I don't think that the offensive game plan of yesterday executed as we did yesterday would be good enough to beat HOU.

They won. That’s successful.