A possible Theory on the Patriots playoff woes

[RobertWeathers]

The theory is that with everything aside, the team lacked a stout defense and mental toughness.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

....I know its a bogus theory...

Yep.

10 char

 

[Wax Frog]

Sometimes your opponent plays exceptionally well, even well over their heads, and sometimes you play very poorly.

e.g. Steelers @ Broncos

 

[mosi]

Here's my theory.

Losing in the Super Bowl does not really qualify for "playoff woe" consideration.

IN 2009, the Pats were just a mediocre team by the end of the year, especially without Welker. Getting beaten by a better team does not qualify for "playoff woe" consideration.

In 2010, the Pats made some uncharacteristic mistakes and got outplayed and outcoached by an inferior opponent.

Now, if the 2010 scenario plays out again, then maybe we get into "playoff woe" territory, but as of now, we have a sample size of one abysmal playoff appearance, which doesn't make for a trend and certainly doesn't require a theory of explanation.

2009 was a terrible year. Brady was still recovering from his injury and the loss of Welker in the Houston game just took all the air out of the Pats. For some god aweful reason, people forget about that.

Last year was strange. The kids just choked. Plain and simple. Benching Welker was stupid and the Pats played poor.

I think the mystique is gone. The Pats need to come out, not be tentative and crush the life out of the Broncos. Get that swagger and the mystique back. Part of me wanted the pats to face the steelers again. The Pats would want revenge and would not take the game for granted.

 

[PatsFan24]

Just throwing this out there. The last time the Patriots won a playoff game was in 2008 when we almost went undefeated. Josh McDaniels was here. Josh left after that season and we havent won a playoff game since. Josh is back now, do you think josh is the good luck charm to win this year? I know its a bogus theory, I am just looking at the past, present, and possible future.

It is to get into the heads of the Broncos. Mess with their minds. I like that.

 

[deroc5050]

LOL.

1. We lost the Baltimore game because Ray Rice ran us over, the Pats were shell-shocked and never recovered.

2. We lost to the Jets because they put a lot of pressure on Brady, he threw a dumb INT, the Pats were shell-shocked and never recovered.

I haven't seen any sign of shell-shock in this year's team. If Josh McDaniels can help with the "Oh No! We've fallen and we can't get up!" mentality, then yeah, that's why BB rehired him.

Actually it wasnt just the pressure sometimes Brady had all night to let go of the ball.. They mixed up pressure and then would drop 8 into coverage.. Brady had the dear in the head lights look as soon as he let go of that ball on the first drive... It still burns me that Wes was benched on that opening drive.. I would have loved to ask "hey Bill Benching Welker on the opening drive, Did you put your team in the best position to win the game"? Or did your ego and your over confidence in your team sway your decision? What Welker said was funny and harmless... and clever.

 

[SVN]

Terrible offensive line play and getting beat by 3-4 man rushes are the main reason for those playoff losses.

 

[captain insano]

i think the team as a whole needs to relax and control there emotions and they will be fine. the last couple of years they seemed to be tight including brady. they cant play being afraid to lose. if they play loose they win.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

They didn't have McDaniels the past few years.....they also didn't have Bruschi,Vrabel,Harrison and Seymour.

There is more than one guy as to the reason the team has failed early in the playoffs.

 

[ATippett56]

The New England Patriots playoff woes correlate to the New England Patriots "bend don't break" defense breaking into pieces.

 

[BradyFTW!]

The offensive line was bad in all 3 games and the 09 game was made worse by Rice breaking that long TD right off the bat and not having Welker.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up for me as well. If a four man rush can consistently get to Brady, and especially if the Pats lose the turnover battle, then they will probably lose.

Luckily, that doesn't happen often.

 

[ATippett56]

It is to get into the heads of the Broncos. Mess with their minds. I like that.

Denver Broncos implement a completely different offense under John Fox than the one Josh McDaniels ran while the head coach of the Denver Broncos.