Patriots will come out flat. Will the Jags take advantage?

[upstater1]

Exactly... I don't think I've ever seen them "flat" for a playoff game.

What's this based on ?

They played much better the second half against Denver than the first.

0 points in 1st quarter, a field goal second.

People are saying I've never watched the Patriots, but I seem to have a better memory about them than others. I could point to other games as well.

It's no big deal. We're talking 8 minutes here to get acclimated.

 

[upstater1]

So why do you anticipate them coming out flat? I don't get why anyone would assume that, especially with THIS team composed of veterans led by the best coach in the history of the game. Having a bye week only helps ensure they won't come out tired and "flat" from a very demanding regular season.

I tried to explain this in the opening post. I've heard the Patriots players be interviewed and after the last game, they did talk about the pressure and the joy of going 16-0. Some called it a crucible. Some breathed a sigh of relief. Personally, I was impressed by how seriously they took it, and how they said there was a lot of pressure. They also celebrated for 48 hours, something I can't recall the patriots ever doing after the season. So, I think it's natural for them to have a tiny bit of relaxation after the season.

Second, any time you enter a game against a team that's already played one quarter of playoff football, the opposition has an advantage for the first few minutes. There's something to be said about having already gone into the cold playoff water.

 

[Wildo7]

They played much better the second half against Denver than the first.

0 points in 1st quarter, a field goal second.

People are saying I've never watched the Patriots, but I seem to have a better memory about them than others. I could point to other games as well.

It's no big deal. We're talking 8 minutes here to get acclimated.

Except I wouldn't say they were "flat" in that game. They were outmatched, and, other than this year's Colts game, that was the worst officiating I've ever seen. I've never seen them anything but extremely fired up and maximizing their abilities in a playoff game especially after a bye week.

And I'm 127 years old.

 

[JaxPats]

I could not agree with you more. I think they're going to explode. I don't know why people say the pressure is higher, I think the pressure is off. The perfect season is done, they have a new season now. I think we are going to see the same Pats team we saw the 1st half of the season.[/QUOTe

TG. I think you're wrong here. The 1st half of the season was a teaser. Defensively BB has not shown "everything" just yet. my rea:rocker: soning is why? With this offense there was no need to. I have a feeling the best is yet to come. Oh yeah.

 

[upstater1]

Except I wouldn't say they were "flat" in that game. They were outmatched, and, other than this year's Colts game, that was the worst officiating I've ever seen. I've never seen them anything but extremely fired up and maximizing their abilities in a playoff game especially after a bye week.

And I'm 127 years old.

If they were outmatched, then how come they outplayed them later in the game? They dug an early hole, and then got the better of the Broncos, only to watch the refs rip it away.

 

[Patriot Power]

...so because their performance in the first half of a road playoff game wasn't perfect, and they didn't score a ton of first half points, they were "flat" ?

...it couldn't have been the play of the Broncos in their own home stadium ?

...it couldn't be poor execution by the Patriots ?

...it couldn't be poor gameplanning, lack of adjustments ?

...it was because they were "flat" ? How is that quantifiable ?

...were they flat in the divisional round when they didn't score against Indy in the first quarter in '04 ?

This is up there with the people who wanted to read Brady's "body language" last year.

 

[upstater1]

...so because their performance in the first half of a road playoff game wasn't perfect, and they didn't score a ton of first half points, they were "flat" ?

3 points. In one half.

I wouldn't have mentioned it if they scored a lot less than a ton. Let's say, um, 10?

But maybe 3 points is explainable by lack of execution, etc., even though they rolled up and down the field in the second half.

 

[spacecrime]

The bye week coupled with that big exhale of breath after completing the undefeated regular season will almost certainly mean the Patriots will take 8 to 15 minutes to get adjusted to the intensity of playoff football.

Why do you say this?

every summer when I take my first dip into the water off the North Shore, that cold water is a shock to my system.

Oooooh-kaaaaaay. :bricks:

 

[Tunescribe]

I tried to explain this in the opening post. I've heard the Patriots players be interviewed and after the last game, they did talk about the pressure and the joy of going 16-0. Some called it a crucible. Some breathed a sigh of relief. Personally, I was impressed by how seriously they took it, and how they said there was a lot of pressure. They also celebrated for 48 hours, something I can't recall the patriots ever doing after the season. So, I think it's natural for them to have a tiny bit of relaxation after the season.

Second, any time you enter a game against a team that's already played one quarter of playoff football, the opposition has an advantage for the first few minutes. There's something to be said about having already gone into the cold playoff water.

Well, whatever "celebrating" they did occurred during the three days off BB game them after the Giants game. I personally believe this team is highly focused and won't suffer any letdown going into the playoffs. Players like Moss and Seau have waited too long to let anything like that happen. If anything, I'd predict Jacksonville to come out flat, having played last week and traveling back to back.

 

[Oswlek]

They played much better the second half against Denver than the first.

0 points in 1st quarter, a field goal second.

People are saying I've never watched the Patriots, but I seem to have a better memory about them than others. I could point to other games as well.

It's no big deal. We're talking 8 minutes here to get acclimated.

This is entirely incorrect. The Patriots completely outplayed Denver in the first half and moved the ball fairly well. It was in the second half that they completely melted down.

 

[godef]

I think the Patriots will win the game handily, but a lot depends on what the Jags do in the first quarter.

The bye week coupled with that big exhale of breath after completing the undefeated regular season will almost certainly mean the Patriots will take 8 to 15 minutes to get adjusted to the intensity of playoff football.

This is a battle-tested veteran team, that's very true. But every summer when I take my first dip into the water off the North Shore, that cold water is a shock to my system. They will be pumped, of course, they will be ready, and hopefully the bulletin board material will compensate for the natural letdown post regular season and the by week.

But I firmly expect the Patriots to come out a bit flat.

The Jaguars better score 10 points in that first quarter if they want to keep their hopes alive.

When the Pats had a bye week at midseason, they came out and scored touchdowns ontheir first seven possessions against the Bills. Hardly an adjustment there. Perhaps a restoration instead?

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I'm not sure which thread is dumber, this one or the "are you worried about Brady" thread. Jesus. Why would the Patriots come out flat.

:bricks:

 

[upstater1]

This is entirely incorrect. The Patriots completely outplayed Denver in the first half and moved the ball fairly well. It was in the second half that they completely melted down.

Are you serious?

It didn't happen that way. New England had 3 of their 4 longest drives all in the second half.

Here's the first half play by play:

New England - 15:00
1st-10, NE25 15:00 C. Dillon rushed to the left for 2 yard gain
2nd-8, NE27 14:55 T. Brady passed to D. Branch to the right for 9 yard gain
1st-10, NE36 14:17 T. Brady passed to H. Evans to the right for 3 yard gain
2nd-7, NE39 13:36 C. Dillon rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain
3rd-6, NE40 13:12 NE committed 5 yard penalty
3rd-11, NE35 12:24 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
4th-11, NE35 11:58 J. Miller punt. C. Adams returned punt for 10 yards

10 Yards

New England - 9:21
1st-10, NE35 9:21 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, NE35 9:21 T. Brady passed to D. Branch to the right for 9 yard gain
3rd-1, NE44 9:14 C. Dillon rushed to the right for 11 yard gain
1st-10, DEN45 8:34 NE committed 5 yard penalty
1st-15, 50 7:51 T. Brady passed to C. Dillon to the right for 9 yard gain
2nd-6, DEN41 7:33 K. Faulk rushed up the middle for 4 yard gain
3rd-2, DEN37 6:53 K. Faulk rushed to the right for 1 yard gain
4th-1, DEN36 6:11 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right

29 Yards

New England - 2:34
1st-10, NE4 2:34 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, NE4 2:34 C. Dillon rushed to the left for 5 yard gain
3rd-5, NE9 1:45 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
4th-5, NE9 1:45 DEN committed 4 yard penalty
4th-1, NE13 1:31 J. Miller punt, no return

9 yards

1st-10, NE11 6:10 T. Brady passed to A. Davis to the right for 51 yard gain
1st-10, DEN38 6:10 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, DEN38 5:25 T. Brady passed to D. Branch to the right for 13 yard gain
1st-10, DEN25 5:21 K. Faulk rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain
2nd-7, DEN22 4:41 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
3rd-7, DEN22 3:57 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
4th-7, DEN22 3:57 A. Vinatieri kicked a 40-yard field goal

67 yards, their best first half drive

1st-10, NE6 2:41 T. Brady passed to D. Givens to the right for 21 yard gain
1st-10, NE28 2:41 C. Dillon rushed to the left for 8 yard gain
2nd-2, NE36 2:00 K. Faulk rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain. K. Faulk fumbled. I. Gold recovered fumble

30 yards

1st-10, NE11 0:43 T. Brady rushed up the middle for 1 yard loss

144 total first half yards in a game in which they had 420 net yards.

Again, 144 1st half.
276 in the 2nd half.

Their offense got twice as many yards in the second.

 

[upstater1]

I'm not sure which thread is dumber, this one or the "are you worried about Brady" thread. Jesus. Why would the Patriots come out flat.

:bricks:

Asked and explained. If you want to counter it, go ahead.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I think you're right. I think the coin toss goes to the Jags.

After that, however...

 

[upstater1]

I think you're right. I think the coin toss goes to the Jags.

After that, however...

Well, coins are flat!

 

[Gon_Trevil]

It's an understandable concern, no need to bash the man. I don't agree with it for many reasons (most of which have already been stated), but I understand it.

 

[Oswlek]

Are you serious?

It didn't happen that way. New England had 3 of their 4 longest drives all in the second half.

Here's the first half play by play:

New England - 15:00
1st-10, NE25 15:00 C. Dillon rushed to the left for 2 yard gain
2nd-8, NE27 14:55 T. Brady passed to D. Branch to the right for 9 yard gain
1st-10, NE36 14:17 T. Brady passed to H. Evans to the right for 3 yard gain
2nd-7, NE39 13:36 C. Dillon rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain
3rd-6, NE40 13:12 NE committed 5 yard penalty
3rd-11, NE35 12:24 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
4th-11, NE35 11:58 J. Miller punt. C. Adams returned punt for 10 yards

10 Yards

New England - 9:21
1st-10, NE35 9:21 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, NE35 9:21 T. Brady passed to D. Branch to the right for 9 yard gain
3rd-1, NE44 9:14 C. Dillon rushed to the right for 11 yard gain
1st-10, DEN45 8:34 NE committed 5 yard penalty
1st-15, 50 7:51 T. Brady passed to C. Dillon to the right for 9 yard gain
2nd-6, DEN41 7:33 K. Faulk rushed up the middle for 4 yard gain
3rd-2, DEN37 6:53 K. Faulk rushed to the right for 1 yard gain
4th-1, DEN36 6:11 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right

29 Yards

New England - 2:34
1st-10, NE4 2:34 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, NE4 2:34 C. Dillon rushed to the left for 5 yard gain
3rd-5, NE9 1:45 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
4th-5, NE9 1:45 DEN committed 4 yard penalty
4th-1, NE13 1:31 J. Miller punt, no return

9 yards

1st-10, NE11 6:10 T. Brady passed to A. Davis to the right for 51 yard gain
1st-10, DEN38 6:10 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, DEN38 5:25 T. Brady passed to D. Branch to the right for 13 yard gain
1st-10, DEN25 5:21 K. Faulk rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain
2nd-7, DEN22 4:41 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
3rd-7, DEN22 3:57 T. Brady incomplete pass to the right
4th-7, DEN22 3:57 A. Vinatieri kicked a 40-yard field goal

67 yards, their best first half drive

1st-10, NE6 2:41 T. Brady passed to D. Givens to the right for 21 yard gain
1st-10, NE28 2:41 C. Dillon rushed to the left for 8 yard gain
2nd-2, NE36 2:00 K. Faulk rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain. K. Faulk fumbled. I. Gold recovered fumble

30 yards

1st-10, NE11 0:43 T. Brady rushed up the middle for 1 yard loss

144 total first half yards in a game in which they had 420 net yards.

Again, 144 1st half.
276 in the 2nd half.

Their offense got twice as many yards in the second.

No offense, but you are really going to need to catch up on your football understanding. Teams regularly start slowly not because of being "flat" but they are facing a team without any fatigue issues that is likely (in a playoff game) to have a few things up their sleeve.

Also, NE was moving the ball easily on the drive that Faulk fumbled. Then, they lost another possession when Hobbs fumbled the next KO. In the second half, they had two drives back to back where only one Denver play seperated them. That is a larger reason why they had less yardage in the first half than being "flat". That, and the fact that Denver allowed a couple drives after taking a large lead.

Sorry, but you are "flat"-out wrong on this one.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Asked and explained. If you want to counter it, go ahead.

Your Denver example is not good. Just because we got more yards in the second half means nothing. We lost the second half 17-10 in that game but were up 3-0 until just before halftime. If we came out flat we'd have been down at the end of the first quarter.

Someone has already referenced the game coming out of the bye this year.
We have more yards and TD in the first half than the second half. Brady's best quarters this year are the 2nd then the 1st. That doesn't mean he's flat in the first, his passing rating is 126 in the second and 120 in the first. Basically no difference.

 

[upstater1]

No offense, but you are really going to need to catch up on your football understanding. Teams regularly start slowly not because of being "flat" but they are facing a team without any fatigue issues that is likely (in a playoff game) to have a few things up their sleeve.

Also, NE was moving the ball easily on the drive that Faulk fumbled. Then, they lost another possession when Hobbs fumbled the next KO. In the second half, they had two drives back to back where only one Denver play seperated them. That is a larger reason why they had less yardage in the first half than being "flat". That, and the fact that Denver allowed a couple drives after taking a large lead.

Sorry, but you are "flat"-out wrong on this one.

Uh-huh. Teams start slow, eh?

You're the one that came on saying the Patriots moved the ball up and down the field, and now you're backtracking when I showed you the actual facts.

First you say they were moving up and down the field, and then you say they started slow.

Why am I supposed to take you seriously?