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

[SlowGettingUp]

I saw him once.....running off the field !

According to Reiss, 19 snaps for Gesicki (vs. 50 for Henry):

 

[PATS16N0]

Dont know if it was mentioned in this thread but the Squeelers are now the second team in NFL history to lose back to back home games against teams with 10 or more losses. Congrats!

Just going off memory, I wouldn’t at all be surprised to learn Tomlin holds some kind of record for losing to teams with hopelessly bad records this late in the season.

Even in the Big Ben days I recall them dropping very important late season games annually to NFL bottom feeders.

But we’re not bottom feeders anymore.

Zaaaaaaaaaaape Train.

 

[Thelonious]

The up front points to be made re this game are pretty simple. The defense stopped an incompetently-quarterbacked and coached team, keeping intact their standing as a very good-but-not-elite defense. They even grabbed a turnover. We got confirmation that our special teams are likewise badly coached. The offense showed, against nearly alol expectations, and behind a surprisingly good qb play (for a time) actual competence, a little fire, scored some damn points for a change. I am painfully aware we have likely damaged our chances of having the highest possible draft pick, but So It Goes. That's about it.

You can't say what the game means without considering it in context:

1) Zappe: If you look at the whole span of Zappe's interestingly chaotic time here - like one of those intermittently extended figures in an old ****oo clock - this game means a lot. The question going in was, "Can Zappe establish himself as worthy of consideration as a solid backup here or elsewhere." I think only the most perfervid Zappeites will claim his worth as a starter is not still in the realm of hope. It turns out, though, that he is capable of playing competent NFL football in a starting role. It is even, given his steady approach and demeanor (At times he's almost weirdly inert), that whatever he can do on a particular occasion, he can likely do consistently going forward. So congratulations to our wandering boy.

2) Mac. I feel sorry for the guy. I think he has been ill-served by incompetent GM/HC work for three years. We may never know what he could have become when properly-handled. That said, he did not respond well to the stresses of the situation. He could be given a try as competition/mentor for a prospective, as some have suggested: He's reasonably cheap, and there MAY be a far better version of himself somewhere in there, but it's probably time to get what you can for him and move on, whenever that may make the most sense. Mac's story is a sad one.

3) The Future: The question most bandied-about will likely be, "Does this mean we keep Bill?" Change-shy types and breathless in-Bill-we-trust fanboys will say yes...of course. I say no. He is an abysmally failed GM and an obviously failing HC. This game alters in no respect the fact that he has to go. He had literally nothing to do with this win: a remarkably resilient bunch of players accomplished that. I shall expect to be insulted for stating again the inconveniently obvious, but the truth as always, bears repeating. I welcome disagareement, of course - this is a discussion site, after all - but for those who feel that that disgareement must take the form of insult, let me offer a firm preemptive Go **** Yourself.

 

[PATS16N0]

I don't think there's anything Zappe could do this year that would change the need to draft one of the top 5 QB's. Zappe could, however, become a quality backup, a Gardiner Minshew type. He's confident, decent mobility, decent arm, decisive. His 3rd td pass last night was a helluva throw.

Is Zappe starts throwing 3TDs a game that’s something I’d say he could do for us to kick the curb on going all in on any QB that isn’t a sure-fire hit, or starting him while our rookie sits if necessary. “Nothing he could do” sounds like an extreme and uncompromising take. He’s obviously much better than Mac Jones and plenty of people were willing to want to extend him just a few weeks ago.

Are we sure we’re not just damning him because Mac Jones is terrible?

First time having 3TDs in a half since Brady’s departure should buy him a little optimism even if he isn’t a future Hall of Famer. The team seemed pretty happy last night and obviously wanted to start him long before Bill did.

This isn’t a prediction that Zappe will become a franchise quarterback, but we should probably pump the breaks on throwing him into a pit of fire and snakes just because Mac Jones has pissed most people off.

 

[1960Pats]

How did I love that win? Let me count the ways.

Because it was Pissburgh. Do I have to remind you how they tried to take Brady out in 2001?
Because, once again, I saw all the yellow towels act like ceiling fans being shut off.
The Pats had more control this game with less mistakes.
The team may actually have a serviceable QB after all.
The running game was used even though it wasn't very effective. That made passing easier.
And last but not least, one major reason I loved seeing this win was that it had to piss off the Tankheads.

 

[PATS16N0]

I did really hate the play calling after the batted-away interception. Granted he almost threw one that was entirely on him the next possession, we shouldn’t have gone full draw-play mode until two possessions later IMO. Would have liked to see a genuine try at moving the ball down the field and going for an another score. Seemed a little early.

Worked out though.

 

[PATS16N0]

We're told to let it go. My question is why should we?

And NOTHING was as annoying as having fans of the Pats complain to have talk of Brady moved from here. The fact that afterwards some of those same fans and a mod came to the Brady thread to, as one of them said, troll the Brady forum, made it even more annoying.

Those posters were all sour on Brady before he even left and telling us how awesome Mac Jones was for the last three years. If they were General Managers, they would all be unceremoniously fired for literally knowing nothing about football, and never get a job in professional sports again.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

Is the Steelers forum down or is it my imagination? It feels like everytime a team has a massive loss the forum goes down lol

 

[sb1]

This thread is comedy gold!

Initial thoughts on **** show redo

what the holy **** 4th and 2 and you try that stupid **** ******* fire all the damh coaches ******* ******** ******* defense **** the bed in the first half but did okay in the second Roberts is a beast **** everyone else stupid fucing penalty on the long snapper on 4rh down back to...

www.steelernation.com

 

[PATS16N0]

Exactly. It’s like me saying if my johnson was as small as Venecol’s, I wouldn’t have pulled so many *****es during my single days. I can never prove that.

Quite the cope. The team hated Mac Jones and wanted him benched a long time ago, clearly. Mid-tier quarterback play would have put us right in the hunt with all the other mid-teams battling it out for a Wildcard. This game that we just won last night would have been a big one in determining who gets in, _if_ we weren’t stuck watching the worst quarterback in the league, Mac Jones, ruin the entire season all year.

 

[GaryfromTO]

I liked the first half. I liked the fact that the Patriots actually showed some aggression on offence and threw the ball downfield.
I did not like the 2nd half at all. After scoring 21 points the offense went vanilla. no aggression, too conservative. That strategy almost left the defense gassed and had Pittsburgh had a more competent coach and QB, would have cost them the game.
Tomlin gift wrapped the game with that stupid home run ball call on 4th down (you're down by 3, you only need a couple of yds...keep the sticks moving)
What happened to the old BB who had no qualms about running up the score.
The special teams are still a disaster as that blocked punt showed, and Zappe almost threw a real bad pick coming down the wire.

Still nice to get a win though.

 

[FCB02062]

this really is an odd feeling...haven't been in a situation like this since the **** McPherson or rod rust teams. it's great they finally won a game and looked like an nfl offense in the first half....but yet bill put the chokehold on the offense and reverted to trying to win the clock vs trying to score points. there's nothing to look forward to. no playoff seeding, no gloating about the team, just nothing. the team is 3-10 and going nowhere. there's no "cigarette" after this win - there's no "there" there. personally, I think the head coach and gm has done irreparable harm to the franchise post brady and actually starting with his 2019 draft and it is going to take a TON to get back to contention. I certainly hope I'm wrong. every team plays a few good games a year.
Maybe they go 3-1 or maybe 2-2 and gain some momentum going into next year....

 

[PATS16N0]

Zappe almost throwing that pick is why he should have started WAY earlier in the season, over the worst quarterback in football, to hopefully get some of those out of his system in a process of learning and real development.

Considering it’s his 4th start, I can live with a couple of those here and there, especially when he’s scoring more points than Mac Jones could muster in three games.

 

[Tunescribe]

This thread is comedy gold!

Initial thoughts on **** show redo

what the holy **** 4th and 2 and you try that stupid **** ******* fire all the damh coaches ******* ******** ******* defense **** the bed in the first half but did okay in the second Roberts is a beast **** everyone else stupid fucing penalty on the long snapper on 4rh down back to...

www.steelernation.com

Steelers fans tend to be pretty hardcore. Good folks by and large, IMO.

 

[GaryfromTO]

A Patriot win over the Steelers always calls for a little Scuzz Twittly

 

[p8ryts]

this really is an odd feeling...haven't been in a situation like this since the **** McPherson or rod rust teams. it's great they finally won a game and looked like an nfl offense in the first half....but yet bill put the chokehold on the offense and reverted to trying to win the clock vs trying to score points. there's nothing to look forward to. no playoff seeding, no gloating about the team, just nothing. the team is 3-10 and going nowhere. there's no "cigarette" after this win - there's no "there" there. personally, I think the head coach and gm has done irreparable harm to the franchise post brady and actually starting with his 2019 draft and it is going to take a TON to get back to contention. I certainly hope I'm wrong. every team plays a few good games a year.
Maybe they go 3-1 or maybe 2-2 and gain some momentum going into next year....

Just enjoy the win. The team did some good things. Continued to make mistakes but admire the effort of players on a losing team. Think about what a fun offseason awaits, regardless of what happens. You can't undo the past and why would we want to. There is nowhere to go but up. Enjoy the ride.

 

[PATS16N0]

2) Mac. I feel sorry for the guy. I think he has been ill-served by incompetent GM/HC work for three years. We may never know what he could have become when properly-handled. That said, he did not respond well to the stresses of the situation. He could be given a try as competition/mentor for a prospective, as some have suggested: He's reasonably cheap, and there MAY be a far better version of himself somewhere in there, but it's probably time to get what you can for him and move on, whenever that may make the most sense. Mac's story is a sad one.

It’s wild how Mac getting full starter reps in training camps and practice was “ill-served” and broken by Belichick, yet Zappe, who was made to sit behind him, released, put on a practice squad, then thrown into it this late in the season is looking serviceable.

Maybe Mac Jones is just terrible. In fact, I’m sure that’s it.

The dude is a dirty player, a bad player, he throws his teammates under the bus in a desperate attempt to maintain some non-existent value, and goes whining outside of the organization in national news-stories for his own vanity. There is literally nothing sad about him.

It’s embarrassing he was ever even allowed to stand where Brady stood.

 

[PatsFan2]

Parker just got an extension. He's not going anywhere.

Parker will be easier to move.

 

[p8ryts]

Parker can't stay on the field. Never could. Despite the extension, there is only a minimal additional cap hit in 2024 if they cut him before June 1.

With JuJu, they lose additional cap space in 2024 if they cut him before June 1. They gain a million if they cut him after June 1. So their is no real incentive to cut him until the very end of the preseason anyway. Might as well bring him back and see if he can do anything.

keep juju

 

[p8ryts]

I saw him once.....running off the field !

I don't understand the Gesicki dynamic. I've seen him open and not even get a look.