So much has changed in two years

[TheRainMaker]

"should be". Do you mean should be according to you?

No, anyone that actually watches the NFL. It's a bad ranking - like really bad. Total amateur hour.

Is trolling not agreeing with TheRainMaker?

Ranking a team 14th in the NFL after making the Super Bowl and their young QB finishing one vote shy of the MVP is flat out trolling. This is very basic analysis.

I don't think that I have read any major media or betting sites that consider the patriots in the top 3 teams, as you do. I don't know any that have us in the top 5, even after adding Brown.

Good, then take the odds. I've been watching the NFL for a long time and it was too easy predicting the Pats having a winning record in 2025. Here's some of my receipts:

Post in thread '2025 Patriots Season Predictions'

Aug 27, 2025

I saw the Athlon magazine at the grocery store yesterday. I immediately flipped to the AFC predictions. Where do they have the Pats? Last place. Who represents the AFC in the Super Bowl? The Bills. That gave me a good laugh and put the magazine back and walked away. This has to be the weirdest era I've seen watching sports. I see teams getting worse, but their expectations get higher (Bills).

Pats are going to surprise this season. I voted 9-11 wins. Look for a heavy dose of the ground game to loosen up the coverage for Diggs and others. Lots of play action and roll outs for Maye to give...

• TheRainMaker

Post in thread 'Challenge the Bills'

May 13, 2025

short answer, no. Long answer, no, not yet. we still have a ways to go

What else do they need? This roster is the best in the division.

• TheRainMaker

NFL News Post in thread 'Josh Allen Gets Massive New Deal'

Apr 8, 2025

Rain... your absolutely right. Just thought about our roster in comparison to the bills roster.. the only they have for "right now" is the QB.. we have a better HC, OC and defense. Diggs is going to help Drake become to top 10 QB this season.

Bills roster has been trash for years. They only become "good" when Bill, Tom, Gronk and others left NE and Diggs was traded for. They had their window with a mediocre roster, but their roster continues to erode. Their major FA signing was an oft injured Joey Bosa. If Maye is the real deal, the Pats are going to overtake the division just...

• TheRainMaker

PLEASE LIST
all the betting sites that have the patriots as as the 3rd most likely team to make the SB.
all the betting sites that have the patriots as the most likely to win the AFC CHampionship.
all the betting sites that have the patriots in the top 3 strongest teams.

AS AN ASIDE
Please list the betting sites that have the patriots as clear favorites to win the AFCE. I do think that some sites are starting have us winning the same number of games as BUF. Even those sites, think that BUF is more likely to be in the AFC Championship Game.

I have better things to do with my time and don't need to read anyone's analysis to validate my own opinion. If I do read it, it's for curiosity as to what others think.

I said it in 2025 and I'll say it again, this division belongs to the Pats now. Buffalo is cooked. They just fired their HC for an OC that is not well liked by fans and a 1st time HC. Their defense continually is getting worse while the Pats have 8 of 11 starters returning on defense and one upgrade in the secondary (Byard). The only way Buffalo takes the AFCE is by default with Patriots injuries. If anyone says with a straight face that the Bills roster is superior than the Pats, then they are either delusional or they are 12 years old.

 

[TommyD4207]

If anyone says with a straight face that the Bills roster is superior than the Pats, then they are either delusional or they are 12 years old.

Or, are perpetually stuck in 2022, which is the case more often than not.

 

[mgteich]

No, anyone that actually watches the NFL. It's a bad ranking - like really bad. Total amateur hour.

Ranking a team 14th in the NFL after making the Super Bowl and their young QB finishing one vote shy of the MVP is flat out trolling. This is very basic analysis.

Good, then take the odds. I've been watching the NFL for a long time and it was too easy predicting the Pats having a winning record in 2025. Here's some of my receipts:

Post in thread '2025 Patriots Season Predictions'

Aug 27, 2025

I saw the Athlon magazine at the grocery store yesterday. I immediately flipped to the AFC predictions. Where do they have the Pats? Last place. Who represents the AFC in the Super Bowl? The Bills. That gave me a good laugh and put the magazine back and walked away. This has to be the weirdest era I've seen watching sports. I see teams getting worse, but their expectations get higher (Bills).

Pats are going to surprise this season. I voted 9-11 wins. Look for a heavy dose of the ground game to loosen up the coverage for Diggs and others. Lots of play action and roll outs for Maye to give...

• TheRainMaker

Post in thread 'Challenge the Bills'

May 13, 2025

short answer, no. Long answer, no, not yet. we still have a ways to go

What else do they need? This roster is the best in the division.

• TheRainMaker

NFL News Post in thread 'Josh Allen Gets Massive New Deal'

Apr 8, 2025

Rain... your absolutely right. Just thought about our roster in comparison to the bills roster.. the only they have for "right now" is the QB.. we have a better HC, OC and defense. Diggs is going to help Drake become to top 10 QB this season.

Bills roster has been trash for years. They only become "good" when Bill, Tom, Gronk and others left NE and Diggs was traded for. They had their window with a mediocre roster, but their roster continues to erode. Their major FA signing was an oft injured Joey Bosa. If Maye is the real deal, the Pats are going to overtake the division just...

• TheRainMaker

I have better things to do with my time and don't need to read anyone's analysis to validate my own opinion. If I do read it, it's for curiosity as to what others think.

I said it in 2025 and I'll say it again, this division belongs to the Pats now. Buffalo is cooked. They just fired their HC for an OC that is not well liked by fans and a 1st time HC. Their defense continually is getting worse while the Pats have 8 of 11 starters returning on defense and one upgrade in the secondary (Byard). The only way Buffalo takes the AFCE is by default with Patriots injuries. If anyone says with a straight face that the Bills roster is superior than the Pats, then they are either delusional or they are 12 years old.

fair enough. I don't believe that the patriots are the #14th best team in the NFL. I also don't believe that they are 3rd behind on LAR and SEA, as you seem to think. I believe that the final line on wins last year was 8.5, that is 50-50 with regard to a winning record. Half the betting money expected us to have a winning record. You certainly were not the only one. Many, many here thought that the line was resonable and predicted 9-10 win and a relatively low likelihood fo making the playoffs.

I get it . Your opinions are your own and you are not influenced if every bettor and media expert believes that the patriots are outisde of the top 5.

I also have been watching football since before there was an AFL. I have a different approach. I consider the possibility of adjusting my opinion if the vast, vast majority have different views, expecially when it is just possible that they have more expertise and experience than I do at evaluating players.

In the end. almost all have us in the playoffs. How we do in the playoffs is a crapshoot. All the team can do is do what they can to get another player or two, and coach with the intent of getting to the playoffs relatively healthy. Once in the playoffs, anything can happen.

 

[mgteich]

No, anyone that actually watches the NFL. It's a bad ranking - like really bad. Total amateur hour.

Ranking a team 14th in the NFL after making the Super Bowl and their young QB finishing one vote shy of the MVP is flat out trolling. This is very basic analysis.

Good, then take the odds. I've been watching the NFL for a long time and it was too easy predicting the Pats having a winning record in 2025. Here's some of my receipts:

Post in thread '2025 Patriots Season Predictions'

Aug 27, 2025

I saw the Athlon magazine at the grocery store yesterday. I immediately flipped to the AFC predictions. Where do they have the Pats? Last place. Who represents the AFC in the Super Bowl? The Bills. That gave me a good laugh and put the magazine back and walked away. This has to be the weirdest era I've seen watching sports. I see teams getting worse, but their expectations get higher (Bills).

Pats are going to surprise this season. I voted 9-11 wins. Look for a heavy dose of the ground game to loosen up the coverage for Diggs and others. Lots of play action and roll outs for Maye to give...

• TheRainMaker

Post in thread 'Challenge the Bills'

May 13, 2025

short answer, no. Long answer, no, not yet. we still have a ways to go

What else do they need? This roster is the best in the division.

• TheRainMaker

NFL News Post in thread 'Josh Allen Gets Massive New Deal'

Apr 8, 2025

Rain... your absolutely right. Just thought about our roster in comparison to the bills roster.. the only they have for "right now" is the QB.. we have a better HC, OC and defense. Diggs is going to help Drake become to top 10 QB this season.

Bills roster has been trash for years. They only become "good" when Bill, Tom, Gronk and others left NE and Diggs was traded for. They had their window with a mediocre roster, but their roster continues to erode. Their major FA signing was an oft injured Joey Bosa. If Maye is the real deal, the Pats are going to overtake the division just...

• TheRainMaker

I have better things to do with my time and don't need to read anyone's analysis to validate my own opinion. If I do read it, it's for curiosity as to what others think.

I said it in 2025 and I'll say it again, this division belongs to the Pats now. Buffalo is cooked. They just fired their HC for an OC that is not well liked by fans and a 1st time HC. Their defense continually is getting worse while the Pats have 8 of 11 starters returning on defense and one upgrade in the secondary (Byard). The only way Buffalo takes the AFCE is by default with Patriots injuries. If anyone says with a straight face that the Bills roster is superior than the Pats, then they are either delusional or they are 12 years old.

We are patriot fans. We have our biases, as we should. Most here refuse to consider the possibility that BUF and BAL might have better teams than we do. or that KC might if Mahomes is healthy, or that the LAC are a ready for prime time. Of course, we discount DEN, even with a healthy QB. I do NOT think that ALL this is the case. However, it is just possible that one or two are indeed better than we are. Of course, that doesn't mean that we aren't in the mix to go deep into the playoffs.

 

[TheRainMaker]

fair enough. I don't believe that the patriots are the #14th best team in the NFL. I also don't believe that they are 3rd behind on LAR and SEA, as you seem to think. I believe that the final line on wins last year was 8.5, that is 50-50 with regard to a winning record. Half the betting money expected us to have a winning record. You certainly were not the only one. Many, many here thought that the line was resonable and predicted 9-10 win and a relatively low likelihood fo making the playoffs.

I get it . Your opinions are your own and you are not influenced if every bettor and media expert believes that the patriots are outisde of the top 5.

I also have been watching football since before there was an AFL. I have a different approach. I consider the possibility of adjusting my opinion if the vast, vast majority have different views, expecially when it is just possible that they have more expertise and experience than I do at evaluating players.

In the end. almost all have us in the playoffs. How we do in the playoffs is a crapshoot. All the team can do is do what they can to get another player or two, and coach with the intent of getting to the playoffs relatively healthy. Once in the playoffs, anything can happen.

We are patriot fans. We have our biases, as we should. Most here refuse to consider the possibility that BUF and BAL might have better teams than we do. or that KC might if Mahomes is healthy, or that the LAC are a ready for prime time. Of course, we discount DEN, even with a healthy QB. I do NOT think that ALL this is the case. However, it is just possible that one or two are indeed better than we are. Of course, that doesn't mean that we aren't in the mix to go deep into the playoffs.

Who in the AFC is better than the Pats? Denver is the only team that has a really strong roster and could seriously challenge them. However, I do see Nix's ankle being an issue. If you believe there are other teams better than the Pats, you'll have to explain why? That is going to be a serious challenge.

Some posters here throw a fit when I'm critical of the Pats or a certain player - so it's pretty well known I'm one of the last people here with a Patriots bias. I call it as I see it. I could be wrong after the season, but the Pats are a top 5 team on paper at worst and in the top 2 with Denver in the AFC. The rest of the AFC is a the next tier below.

 

[TommyD4207]

We are patriot fans. We have our biases, as we should. Most here refuse to consider the possibility that BUF and BAL might have better teams than we do. or that KC might if Mahomes is healthy, or that the LAC are a ready for prime time. Of course, we discount DEN, even with a healthy QB. I do NOT think that ALL this is the case. However, it is just possible that one or two are indeed better than we are. Of course, that doesn't mean that we aren't in the mix to go deep into the playoffs.

I'm filing you under "Stuck in 2022"
The Chiefs were 6-9 with Mahomes as a starter last year, and they've gotten worse in the offseason.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

We are patriot fans. We have our biases, as we should. Most here refuse to consider the possibility that BUF and BAL might have better teams than we do. or that KC might if Mahomes is healthy, or that the LAC are a ready for prime time. Of course, we discount DEN, even with a healthy QB. I do NOT think that ALL this is the case. However, it is just possible that one or two are indeed better than we are. Of course, that doesn't mean that we aren't in the mix to go deep into the playoffs.

I think what puts the Patriots over the top is coaching.

Vrabel infects his staff and his players with intensity and focus and awareness to do what it takes to win.

I don't see this in other teams.