Official Post Game Thread- Dolphins beat the Pats

Here’s where my thinking is at.

I’m a lifelong fan so going to be optimistic til the end.

But in the past 20 years I remember only one team completely changing its identity from regular season to playoffs. That was the Colts team that won the Super Bowl vs the Bears. All season they couldn’t stop the run. Awful. Then they got Bob Sanders back Week 13. And no one could run on them come playoff time. It started with The Larry Johnson Chiefs then a Ravens team with a strong running game. (We won’t get into the AFCCG).

And there have been a couple of teams without the gaudiest of regular season records but a boatload of momentum going into the playoffs, even winning three playoff games before taking the Lombardi. I vaguely remember a Steelers team doing this but have blocked out the details. And maybe a Giants team or two. . (Pats 2008 could have been one of those teams if they got in).

point being I don’t currently see either of these in the 2019 Patriots. There is no Sanders-like returning hero (ie Gronk) and we can hardly say they have a ton of momentum right now.

So by that perspective, the 2019 Patriots have a lot to overcome. They need to gain a momentum they simply haven’t shown the second half of the season.

but I’d dint give up at 28-3 and I’m not giving up now. The team still has some all-time champs.

Maybe crushing last second losses to Miami are the key to Super Bowl victories?

This is the performance they have after saying all week this was a playoff game. That is just pathetic.

luuked said:

A healthy QB and they would have had a pretty realistic shot at HFA. Just goes to show how razor thin the margin is each year.

If you want to pin it all down to one stat that just screws this team in 2019 it is their third down efficiency on offense. Which obviously also starts with less success on the first two downs.

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I would say competent wrs!!! Brady’s not 100 percent but these wideouts are incompetent! Brady’s 42. He’s not 32 and carry his wideouts. Make them look good.

Cunk said:

AJ Green is still injured after a whole season, Beckham is far from cheap, is hurt (sports hernia) and s diva, OJ Howard has done nothing on a high powered offense. Hunter Henry would be a decent addition though.

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One would assume AJ Green will be healthy by July.
The cheap part I was alluding to for Beckham was what it would cost to get him draft pick-wise. As for his contract it is pricey but he will have pretty close to the same cap hit (around $15 mill) the next 4 years. Randy Moss was a diva and we brought him in. Antonio Brown is a diva and we brought him in.
Howard could do for a change of scenery. The talent looks to be there but BA offenses don't utilize the TE.

203Pat said:

I don't think this team needs a "rebuild" by any means but they need some firepower on offense. Get AJ Green on a one year prove it deal or Trade for Beckham while he's cheap. For the love of god make a move for a TE whether it be in the draft or in free agency. I believe Hunter Henry is a FA at the end of the year or maybe make a run at OJ Howard again. This offense needs some attention and will need it even more-so since I think the defense will take a big step back as I don't see anyway we keep Collins and Van Noy.

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So your solution is a bunch of guys who are some combination of extremely overrated, hurt, and old? Barf. No thanks.

They need talent but let's not kid ourselves into thinking a team is going to trade OBJ for a 4th round pick or something, and it's not like we have a ton of assets.

Froob said:

Worst loss of the belichick era. Totally inexcusable home loss to a terrible team

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2010 loss to NYJ in playoffs was worse.

Bobsyouruncle said:

Agree, made zero sense.

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With the way the offense was playing in the first half it sadly made lots of sense.

I hope Gilmore can adjust to not having his **** sucked for a week. I’d love if he lost the DPOY award and comes back to earth. I’ve never seen a Pat lobby for an individual award as hard as him. Other than KVN I guess.

fnordcircle said:

I just don't really see how this team can do it this year. I'll never count them out but being realistic our defense is great but not at the otherworldly level they looked through the first half of the season. The run game is definitely improving and pass blocking is better but not great. Our WRs are all some combination of hurt or trying to find their groove. Our TE position is invisible. Brady's clearly got a physical problem.

I'm not trying to be negative and in a weird way I'm kind of happy we get a game next week to watch, but realistically I'm just not seeing a championship team here.

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Our wideouts after Edelman are not good. Sanu has been a disappointment.

QuantumMechanic said:

2010 loss to NYJ in playoffs was worse.

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That was sheer pain.

This game felt like a funeral to me.

robertweathers said:

That was sheer pain.

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Worst loss ever.

Seels said:

So your solution is a bunch of guys who are some combination of extremely overrated, hurt, and old? Barf. No thanks.

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Yes let's just draft 7 All-Pros instead.

QuantumMechanic said:

2010 loss to NYJ in playoffs was worse.

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That Jets team was a legit super bowl contender.

I gotta ask - how do you guys who seem so bitter not remember the past 2 decades?

I'm not saying we should be happy. I'm not saying you're wrong to be upset, I'm upset. But having enjoyed watching my team have more success than any other fan has enjoyed in their lifetime I just can't find it in me to be as angry as I used to be. I used to be a miserable cnut to be around after any loss but especially one like this one. It would ruin my whole weekend, I would snap at my ex-wife, etc.

But somewhere around 2014 it just all sort of went away. I guess I just wish I could understand why some of you seem so personally injured by this. Please don't twist this around to try to make it sound like I'm saying you can't be upset over a loss - that's not what I'm saying.

I'm just genuinely curious how fans who have enjoyed what we've enjoyed can sound like fans of a team who has just broke their hearts for 50 years.

How can all the success of the past two decades not take the edge off of losses?

Ross12 said:

Worst loss ever.

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I seem to remember a loss in February of 08 that was a little worse.

NashuaPats said:

This game felt like a funeral to me.

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Bro it’s football not real life. I’m over it, this team doesn’t dictate me being depressed and making comments like that.

Patjew said:

I hope Gilmore can adjust to not having his **** sucked for a week. I’d love if he lost the DPOY award and comes back to earth. I’ve never seen a Pat lobby for an individual award as hard as him. Other than KVN I guess.

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I think this performance brought him back to earth. IMO it's going to have that effect for most of the team.

NYCPATS4LIFE said:

Our wideouts after Edelman are not good. Sanu has been a disappointment.

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Once Sanu has whole trainh camp.under him he'll be a stud in the system next season.

Harry and Meyers have a ton of potential as well. Probably the most potential since we had Dobson years ago.