2020 schedule to be released tomorrow - (UPDATED: Pats open vs MIA on 9/13)

16-0 easy

With no fans in these tough road venues it will help JS4 at least this year. Brady was never intimidated by that hopefully JS4 can learn not to be as well.

This season is entirely up for grabs in a way that no season has ever been before. How good a team is, on paper, won't matter nearly as much as it used to. And rosters that are built for depth will matter a lot more.

I'm enjoying my gentle filtered cold brew this morning and imagining a season where:
1. Games that can't be played because of an outbreak will be declared ties.
2. The Pats get incredibly lucky with the virus, while several opponents don't.
3. The Pats win the AFCE with a 6-3-7 record.
4. The Pats win the SB against a Giants team that won the NFCE with a 5-3-8 record.
5. The winning play in the SB is made on the last play of the game, on tipped pass that isn't intended for the Pats receiver who caught it, and scores when three Giants defenders run into each other.
5. The fan base of every other team explodes with frustration at the Pats good fortune, and conspiracy theories abound.
6. Banner is raised in Gillette at the beginning of next year.
7. Pats fans .com is a happy place for a month, until the draft conversation starts up again and suddenly the team's management sucks again.

NYCPATS4LIFE said:

102 Patty you might be the biggest homer on this board. You can pat yourself on the back for that.

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Optimism and positivity go a long way in leading a good life

betterthanthealternative said:

I'm enjoying my gentle filtered cold brew this morning.....

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I like a good cold brew as much as anyone BUT dude, the first cup of the day has got to be HOT.
I don't care if it's 98' at 6am. I live where it's hot and I work outdoors.
Ironclad Rule: first coffee of the day gotta be steaming freakin hot.
And no lattes or any other sissified drinks.
Wtf is the world coming to?

jimnance said:

I like a good cold brew as much as anyone BUT dude, the first cup of the day has got to be HOT.
I don't care if it's 98' at 6am. I live where it's hot and I work outdoors.
Ironclad Rule: first coffee of the day gotta be steaming freakin hot.
And no lattes or any other sissified drinks.
Wtf is the world coming to?

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LOL. I prefer cold brew now at all times, except after a really nice dinner, with desert, where I opt for hot. That happens much less frequently now. And not in a long time, because of a bit of a recent drop in restaurant visitations.

This brew sits in a stainless steel mesh filter for 48 hours, so it'll take paint off. One 16 ounce cup over ice and I'm well buzzed. Does that help with your concerns about my sissification?

5 prime time games. That is pretty awesome. I thought for sure we would get maybe 2. I do think the league expects the Pats to be decent and very competitive. Perhaps we get a bonus and Stidham ends up being above average in year 2. Of course Brady was a second year starter and played the perfect game manager all season and stepped up big late in games for many wins. I really hope Stid is the second coming.

amfootball said:

5 prime time games. That is pretty awesome. I thought for sure we would get maybe 2. I do think the league expects the Pats to be decent and very competitive. Perhaps we get a bonus and Stidham ends up being above average in year 2. Of course Brady was a second year starter and played the perfect game manager all season and stepped up big late in games for many wins. I really hope Stid is the second coming.

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Or they think the "fall of the Patriots" is a compelling story... and we'll prove them wrong and provide a better story: the RISE OF THE STUDMAN!

Darn it! I wanted to play the Bucs. Would have been a media circus

amfootball said:

5 prime time games. That is pretty awesome. I thought for sure we would get maybe 2. I do think the league expects the Pats to be decent and very competitive. Perhaps we get a bonus and Stidham ends up being above average in year 2. Of course Brady was a second year starter and played the perfect game manager all season and stepped up big late in games for many wins. I really hope Stid is the second coming.

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I think it's more that the Patriots are still a huge draw for ratings whether people want them to win or lose.

I expect the team to be competitive. We have a very good defense and most importantly we have Bill.

sb1 said:

I think it's more that the Patriots are still a huge draw for ratings whether people want them to win or lose.

I expect the team to be competitive. We have a very good defense and most importantly we have Bill.

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I agree about the defense. This is why I think we have a legit shot at the playoffs. None of the Qbs in our division are elite. Our defense should keep us in every single divisional game and then it is just a matter of finding out if Stidham can close the deal. If he can, then watch out.

betterthanthealternative said:

LOL. I prefer cold brew now at all times, except after a really nice dinner, with desert, where I opt for hot. That happens much less frequently now. And not in a long time, because of a bit of a recent drop in restaurant visitations.

This brew sits in a stainless steel mesh filter for 48 hours, so it'll take paint off. One 16 ounce cup over ice and I'm well buzzed. Does that help with your concerns about my sissification?

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Lol. No man, cold brew is not sissified. Neither is nitro.
But it's just WRONG for the first cup of joe of the day to be cold. I work with mostly much younger dudes and they all drink it cold. It makes me fearful for this country's future.
It's like putting pineapple on pizza. Just wrong.
But after the first cup, if I drink any more coffee most days it's gonna be cold brew.

Miami in September is brutal. Then again, we hung 38 on them the last time we played there.

venecol said:

There's probably more logic in making a "no games" prediction in the middle of a pandemic than making your 9-7 or 10-6 one. End of the day, both your predictions and mine are the same, guesses formed on opinions. Neither one is necessarily useful, but at least mine is more interesting.

You getting triggered over the prospect of no games being played, however, is amusing.

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What I don’t understand is that it seems like you want this to happen. And there’s several others like you as well who act this same way. You dwell on this negative mindset and it’s disturbing.

For there not to be a season (no season at all), that would basically mean we are in completely terrible shape and cannot find any solution for mitigations or treatments of the virus. It means even smallish groups of athletes without fans in the stands cannot partake in an event that they are getting paid millions for. The NFL and the players have millions of dollars going into this, they will do all they can to go have it. For it to just not happen, it basically would mean that the worst of worst case scenarios is happening.

But hey, if that’s what you want to happen then you do you.

amfootball said:

5 prime time games. That is pretty awesome. I thought for sure we would get maybe 2. I do think the league expects the Pats to be decent and very competitive. Perhaps we get a bonus and Stidham ends up being above average in year 2. Of course Brady was a second year starter and played the perfect game manager all season and stepped up big late in games for many wins. I really hope Stid is the second coming.

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Could also be that the league (i.e. Stokoe) wants the entire nation to see the Brady-less Patsies get their collective asses kicked as often as possible...

Was going to do game by game but it's pointless as it would be just guessing. So many unknowns right now with how the season will play out both with the Patriots and with the league.

captain stone said:

Could also be that the league (i.e. Stokoe) wants the entire nation to see the Brady-less Patsies get their collective asses kicked as often as possible...

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Maybe but given Brady just left I would think any losses would ring pretty hollow. But hey, if that is what makes folks happy after 20 years of butt kickings so be it. I do think it is more about ratings and wanting to see how BB manages this team post-Brady. I am really intrigued to see how the offense morphs to accentuate Stidham's strengths.

jimnance said:

I like a good cold brew as much as anyone BUT dude, the first cup of the day has got to be HOT.
I don't care if it's 98' at 6am. I live where it's hot and I work outdoors.
Ironclad Rule: first coffee of the day gotta be steaming freakin hot.
And no lattes or any other sissified drinks.
Wtf is the world coming to?

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Tea's much better on your stomach.

Joey007 said:

What I don’t understand is that it seems like you want this to happen. And there’s several others like you as well who act this same way. You dwell on this negative mindset and it’s disturbing.

For there not to be a season (no season at all), that would basically mean we are in completely terrible shape and cannot find any solution for mitigations or treatments of the virus. It means even smallish groups of athletes without fans in the stands cannot partake in an event that they are getting paid millions for. The NFL and the players have millions of dollars going into this, they will do all they can go have it. For it to just not happen, it basically would mean that the worst of worst case scenarios is happening.

But hey, if that’s what you want to happen then you do you.

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I hear you, but you're wrong, I definately want a season. I can't wait to see what BB has cooked up with the toughest schedule in the league. I also can't wait to see how TFB and Gronk look like with one of the easiest schedules in the league.

There's just too much uncertainty. I've been tracking the deaths and the downslope is going sideways very slowly, and now almost everything is going to be open again.

As it relates to sports, football has to be one of the least social distance ones around (unlike baseball). Think of all the players that are constantly having contact and end up in piles (OL, DL, TE, FB, RB, LB, S). Think about how common flu spreads across locker rooms every year. I think it would be worse to start a season and not be able to finish it (think Bruins, ugggh).

But I'm not a Negative Nancy type so I'll play. Based on the schedule, if they play a full season, I predict a 8-8 record.

I can't believe how negative some fans have been in this thread. I think the Pats will surprise them.