PostGame Thread 2023 Patriots Official Postgame Thread: Week - 14 NE @ PIT

[doesntmatter1]

While I wanted a loss to secure our draft position as I was hoping for #1, beating the Steelers and making their insufferable fans cry is always so sweet.

We lost our cushion but we are still #2 so it's all good. That said, begs the question of why Belichick and O'Brien both thought Mac was better than Zappe when it was obvious last year he had the better QB qualities (confidence, pocket awareness, toughness, mechanics).

It is pure stubbornness to salvage a high pick. It was obvious to everyone including N'Keal Harry himself that it wasn't working out and Bill still tried to salvage it instead of granting his trade request. Joejuan Williams was simply too slow to play the position and he remained on the roster. I truly believe if either were udfa they wouldn't have lasted more than a month.

The cutthroat BB that would cut both starting safeties and make bold moves has been gone a long time now. That guy would've traded Mac last year. I'm personally willing to give BB one last chance to blow everything up next season and go for broke.

 

[Scotty]

Just finished watching the game.....

Elliot and Jennings played well and of course Zappe , especially in the first half. I also thought McDermott (LT) and the OLine in general did OK. Although Sidy Sow still struggles but still time for him to get better..

Think I only saw Gesicki once in the whole game......not really working out for him ?

One other thing ....I did not understand the blocked punt play. I thought you could not run into the kicker (roughing ?) so why was there no penalty ?.....what am I missing ?

 

[Nunchucks]

1st half patriots looked like a team I used to know. JC Jackson...meh. 2nd half patriots are my tanking patriots.

I like winning more than losing.

 

[sb1]

Looks like Zappe will be the starting QB for the remainder of this season after tonight.

so, going into camp next preseason, wha5 does the QB room look like? Is Mac still here? Is it Zappe, Jones, rookie, FA vet? Is it Zappe's job to lose, or an open competition? One thing I’d expect is that if it is an open competition ties would go to Zappe even if the other contender is a high first round draft pick.

No matter what I think there should be a bridge to the new guy. Do it right this time. Jones should never have started right away he needed to sit for a while and learn everything about playing in the pros.

Wish he got here a few years earlier what better guy to learn from than the GOAT.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

One other thing ....I did not understand the blocked punt play. I thought you could not run into the kicker (roughing ?) so why was there no penalty ?.....what am I missing ?

I think he blocked the punt before running into the kicker.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

This is how starved we are for some glimmer of hope we can score against 11 teenagers on a soccer field. You have to admit, he played well for his 4th start with a team that should be completely mentally exhausted.

Of course he did. I don't know why I'm getting lumped into some kinda Mac Jones tower defense platoon just for saying maybe we shouldn't get too carried away with Zappe here. I love seeing Zappe light it up. I would be thrilled if the offense becomes miles better with him, it would mean we're not as far away from returning to being a good playoff contending team as I thought we were. If we suck as bad as Mac made it look, it'll take way more than just 1 offseason to fix this offense. Alls I'm saying is I'm not ready to put him into that tier of QBs at 15-20 yet

 

[RIpats88]

Luckily we are still in the #2 spot for drafting. A win is fun. But I'm sure the Jets probably regret winning that meaningless game in 2019 so instead of Trevor Lawrence they ended up with Zach Wilson.

On the other hand, it was fun to watch a good game. And while I'm not sure zappe is the answer he does move in the pocket better than Mac and throws a tighter ball imo.

 

[farn]

Steelers are unbelievably dogshit

The entire 2023 season is. There are many bad teams out there. Look at the teams hovering just below / at / just above .500 ! Oof.

 

[PaulThePat]

Draft spot aside it's NEVER a bad thing to beat Tomlin and the Steelers, especially down there. Didn't see the game as it was overnight UK time but I've watched the highlights and it looks like first half we balled out and second half we nearly ballsed up. Zappe could be salvaging a back-up level career (which isn't to be sniffed at) if he keeps up the first half showing.

With regards to the draft, I think this result could be a good thing. We need to stop being utterly obsessed with Williams (Mayfield/Murray), Maye (Herbert/Trubisky) and focus on who else is out there and how we can make the best of whatever happens. Personally I'm ok with Daniels, Pennix, Nix + a vet for QB - after that we need to fix the other issues otherwise we're not going to get any better.

 

[PatsFan2]

It’s amazing how scouts looked at Mitch Trubusky and agreed he was the guy over National Champion DeShaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes.

I see there are some pissed off posters because they won. I’d like a high pick too, but it is no guarantee they will be the savior.

Smith Schuster had his best game.

Tomlin called a terrible game.

TJ Watt needs to find a way to leave the Steelers. He’s rotting there.

Elandon Roberts, one the most hated players during his time in NE, has had a good quiet career since his departure.

Drake Maye?? Hmmmm

 

[Rob0729]

It was an impressive first half by Zappe and the offense. The offense hasn’t played that well all year. Zappe made some big throws, the line blocked well, and receivers got open. Zeke looked like he did five years ago.

The second half, they reverted back to closer to what we saw last week.

It will be interesting to see which offense we get going forward. Thursday night games are fluky so who knows. I mean DJ Moore had 230 yards and 3 TDs on Thursday week five. He has had only one over 100 yard game and only one TD since. And it took him five weeks to get his next 230 yards.

There were several plays in the first half that were big boy plays no matter if the game was fluky or not. Zappe’s second TD pass to Henry or Smith-Schuster catching a pass in double coverage through one of the defenders for example.

As for the defense, hard to judge them since Trubisky is so hot or cold and mostly cold. The fact he was drafted before Mahomes will be one of NFL’s head scratch forever.

 

[Pape]

First half was epic

Second half literally fell asleep... Have to watch that again

But overall feels good to win...

Must have been a good flight home

 

[stcjones]

Man I felt so good after the 1st half. I'll take the win, but geez that was stressful.

Yes I agree …hard to believe they could score any points after the half…I didn’t think there was any way Pats would win….Squeelers seemed to have all the momentum….but they suck worse than us apparently….F their fans…their obnoxious with those stupid yellow snot rags

 

[stcjones]

It was an impressive first half by Zappe and the offense. The offense hasn’t played that well all year. Zappe made some big throws, the line blocked well, and receivers got open. Zeke looked like he did five years ago.

The second half, they reverted back to closer to what we saw last week.

It will be interesting to see which offense we get going forward. Thursday night games are fluky so who knows. I mean DJ Moore had 230 yards and 3 TDs on Thursday week five. He has had only one over 100 yard game and only one TD since. And it took him five weeks to get his next 230 yards.

There were several plays in the first half that were big boy plays no matter if the game was fluky or not. Zappe’s second TD pass to Henry or Smith-Schuster catching a pass in double coverage through one of the defenders for example.

As for the defense, hard to judge them since Trubisky is so hot or cold and mostly cold. The fact he was drafted before Mahomes will be one of NFL’s head scratch forever.

Zappe second TD to Henry was phenomenal….one of the best throws I have seen in a long time..perfect ball….even announcers were impressed. Smith’s catch was amazing considering that was blatant PI …but of course no flags because it’s us

 

[archstanton543]

Zappe second TD to Henry was phenomenal….one of the best throws I have seen in a long time..perfect ball….even announcers were impressed. Smith’s catch was amazing considering that was blatant PI …but of course no flags because it’s us

No flags because it's the Steelers at home. Their only flag was that terrible false start call on the punt.

 

[sb1]

I wonder if teams regret not asking the Patriots about Zeke at the deadline.

 

[stcjones]

Man. Talk about a game of two halfs. Offense came out on fire. Playing like they had nothing to lose and everything to prove. 2nd half they came out with their only intent being to hold on for dear life. Almost pissed the game away with that chicken **** playcalling. I have to give Zappe credit for standing tall, moving in the pocket and making **** happen with pretty much only 3 weapons to work with. Elliott played with some serious heart, grinding out those dirty yards. Defense was meh. They are what they are. Capable of strong series and capable of not getting a stop when they need it most. Tonight they got it when they needed it most. Damn it’s so fun to beat the Steelers and watching Angry Tomlin on the sidelines.

I thought defense played lights out first half and sloppy in the second for the most part….tale of two “half’s” (is it halves?

 

[stcjones]

*cough* Mcdermott *cough*

Captain Turnstile…what does BB see in him?

 

[stcjones]

I don't care about the draft. We traded down and out of the first round so many times that it is hard to put too much faith in it. Mac wasn't the safe pick he was supposed to be and who knows about our next shiny qbs. I prefer to enjoy the wins here and now.

Even if we had lost, it is a joy to not watch incompetent offense. We need to be able to run even when the defense knows though. I'm curious to see how our runs would go if we benched Andrews in these obvious situations.

Jc Jackson and special teams are the only reason this game was even close. We commit to too many specialists for block punts etc to ever happen.

You are right….JC Jackson blows

 

[Triumph]

*cough* Mcdermott *cough*

Fred Sanford wasted HOF QB Big Bens career losing every way imaginable.

12 Years of a franchise QB and only 1 Super Bowl to show for it. Fred is the biggest fraud HC in the NFL.