Patriots Pregame Thread AFC Divisional: We're on to the Chargers (Beat LA!)

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[mgcolby]

This was the most important part of your post. The Patriots will score on these guys, particularly at home. I saw a team yesterday that was up 12-0 at the half and could not get the ball in the end zone, as much because they played conservative every step of the way. They settled for field goals.

I posted during the game that the Chargers were throwing the ball behind the line of scrimmage and almost never past the sticks. Rivers looked like he had trouble getting the ball downfield all day. That's a problem since he's throwing into a superior Patriots secondary to the one he faced in Baltimore. I agree the pass rush won't be as fierce, but the line exposed its weaknesses yesterday.

Their travel schedule seems ridiculous. Flying back to the coast for a couple of days and turning around and flying back to the East Coast is a waste of two days travel. The Patriots will better use that time.

Granted, that was the first Chargers game I watched closely all season, but I am unimpressed and mystified about how they got to 12 wins. They beat the the Raiders 2X, the Broncos, the 49ers, Bills, Browns, Bengals, Steelers, Cardinals, Titans, Seahawks, and Chiefs. They lost to the Ravens, Rams, Chiefs, Broncos. In other words, they went 2-3 against playoff teams while the Pats went 4-0.

I agree with one caveat, I don't see the Pats defense coming with three goalline stops or whatever it was yesterday. I do believe the Ravens D deserves a lot of credit for making the Chargers Offense look a bit inept. I am not sure our D will do it the same way. I think we will stop them our traditional way not giving up the big play, TO's bend but don't break. If they get on the goalline they will most likely score 6.

 

[Lavictoire]

So the consensus is this is going to be a tough game for the Pats. I agree. I remember many similar build-ups to a game however, where the Pats tough it out or do the impossible and win but afterward the win is denigrated in the media and by fans as maybe the team we beat wasn't that good after all.

 

[Tony2046]

McDouchy86 is just a troll. So is TennisBallHead.

I don't personally think McMurty is a troll but definitely seems like a fan with the propensity to be doom and gloomish.

 

[maineman209]

They did but that was more to deal with Jackson and his speed. But they blitzed the hell out of them playing almost entirely in cover zero basically one gaping across the board and going man (going off memory).

Agree with the other statement. Still think the STs will be the difference in this game.

Even if that grouping was to deal with Jackson's speed, they didn't seem to have a major problem handling Gus Edwards or TE blocking, either.

 

[WHPats]

This will be a challenge, but if both teams play well, the Patriots will win imo. A lot of the media is making it seem like we should be wetting ourselves at the thought of playing Ingram, Bosa, Gordon, Allen and Rivers among many, many others. I agree that these are players that need to be controlled/handled and that they're LA's difference makers. They're good players, some great, nobody's questioning that. But it almost seems like the Patriots are underdogs to some in this game.

But last time I checked, this is in Foxborough, and it's likely going to be chilly. The Patriots are very, very good at home and traditionally have been excellent in colder weather when the Chargers, a warm weather team, have not had much success. Also, shouldn't they be scared of us? Brady, Belichick, Gronkowski (more rested and likely not going to be protected anymore), Edelman, our 3-headed RB monster of Michel, White & Burkhead and a very underrated defense that's done pretty well against some pretty darn good QBs this year ie. Roethlisberger and Rodgers.

But since this is a "down year" for the Patriots, it seems like we're not being taken as seriously. I say that's good! Not as much pressure. I know that this Patriots team is still a very very good football team and I'm confident we'll play well in the playoffs. So much experience at this time of year and there's almost nothing that Brady and Belichick haven't seen. Oh yeah, and Brady's record is pretty dang good against the Chargers too.

I know this will be a challenge, it's supposed to be, it's the playoffs! If it were easy, the Bills and Jets would compete for the Super Bowl every year. I like our chances to go deep in the playoffs once again. Go Pats!

 

[maineman209]

That was my question about the no-catch/fumble play.

The ref was clearly ruling an incompletion and whistling the play dead before any player had a chance to get to the play to make a recovery. So, would it have mattered if a player had fallen on the ball after the whistle?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don't personally think McMurty is a troll but definitely seems like a fan with the propensity to be doom and gloomish.

McMurtry is incredibly negative and cynical. While some people look for a silver lining and positivity, he finds darkness, death and a vortex of hopelessness.

TennisBallHead is a Pats Fan but trolls the board because he has nothing else to do.

 

[Redman443]

Playing pats-chargers in madden now. 1 pm in snow

 

[jimnance]

McMurtry is incredibly negative and cynical. While some people look for a silver lining and positivity, he finds darkness, death and a vortex of hopelessness.

TennisBallHead is a Pats Fan but trolls the board because he has nothing else to do.

Well put.

 

[PP2]

McMurtry is incredibly negative and cynical. While some people look for a silver lining and positivity, he finds darkness, death and a vortex of hopelessness.

TennisBallHead is a Pats Fan but trolls the board because he has nothing else to do.

I don't think anyone could top Fred from Dartmouth.

 

[Wheelman]

By the way, did they change the PUP rules? How is Hunter Henry being activated so late in the season? What was the deadline for when he would have to start practicing or be IR'ed, Week 13? So 3 weeks of practice makes it week 16? It's Week 19 now?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don't think anyone could top Fred from Dartmouth.

No question.

Gronkowski123 is McMurtry86 Jr.

 

[102 Pat]

I don't think anyone could top Fred from Dartmouth.

He's definitely make the Pats Fan Hall of Negativity...

 

[Redman443]

It’s actually a good madden game. Chargers went up 7-0. Brady completed a curl to Edelman to make it 7-7. Rivers threw one to Keenan Allen to make it 14-7. Gost makes a 50 yard fg in the snow that barely hooked in as the first half ended. Pats get the ball and Brady leads a slow methodical drive that included converting on a 4th and 3 instead of kicking a long fg well because it’s snowing. Michel gets stuffed on 1st and goal. Michel runs it in behind Develin on 2nd and goal to make it 14-10 pats.

 

[Redman443]

By the way, did they change the PUP rules? How is Hunter Henry being activated so late in the season? What was the deadline for when he would have to start practicing or be IR'ed, Week 13? So 3 weeks of practice makes it week 16? It's Week 19 now?

Hunter Henry is playing in madden

 

[WaterfallJumper]

It’s actually a good madden game. Chargers went up 7-0. Brady completed a curl to Edelman to make it 7-7. Rivers threw one to Keenan Allen to make it 14-7. Gost makes a 50 yard fg in the snow that barely hooked in as the first half ended. Pats get the ball and Brady leads a slow methodical drive that included converting on a 4th and 3 instead of kicking a long fg well because it’s snowing. Michel gets stuffed on 1st and goal. Michel runs it in behind Develin on 2nd and goal to make it 14-10 pats.

TELL ME HOW IT ENDS. I'M ON PINS AND NEEDLES OVER HERE.

 

[Belichick8384]

Can't say I feel nervous about this one, even though it could go either way. I don't know how comparing it to last year matters but overall the Pats started pretty conservative and then did a majority of the damage on em in the 2nd quarter. Both teams kinda dwindled from there but the Pats stayed more consistent til the end.

I feel like this one might go a lil differently. Close game between both in the 1st half, then Pats open things up in the 2nd half and if not already ahead at the 2 min warning they would be well on their way to taking the lead by then.

The game just seems like a matter of controlling the clock from start to finish keeping time on our side as much as possible.

 

[Redman443]

Can't say I feel nervous about this one, even though it could go either way. I don't know how comparing it to last year matters but overall the Pats started pretty conservative and then did a majority of the damage on em in the 2nd quarter. Both teams kinda dwindled from there but the Pats stayed more consistent til the end.

I feel like this one might go a lil differently. Close game between both in the 1st half, then Pats open things up in the 2nd half and if not already ahead at the 2 min warning they would be well on their way to taking the lead by then.

The game just seems like a matter of controlling the clock from start to finish keeping time on our side as much as possible.

If we can run on them. We will win.