That's cute you're trying to bring up 2013 when we're even more decimated with injuries on offense now than we were then. Hell, in 2013 we still had Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. You know? Our best wide receivers this year that didn't play today. We also had all of our best running backs and we also weren't absolutely decimated with the offensive line injuries that we have this year. For whatever reason you refuse to get that through your thick skull.
No Gronk in 2013, 2015 Lafell > 2013 rookie Dobson, and Edelman and Amendola were both banged up with the latter being near useless. This is on top of injuries to the OL. The two situations are much more comparable than you make them out to be. And, again, if you're going to use injuries as a basis for not trying to score when you have ample time to do so, then the franchise and the GOAT candidate TE should have sat with the bye locked up. They didn't do that which means that we have to assume they were playing to win. If you're playing to win, you try to score when you have the opportunity to do so. Especially on the road where drives and decent field position were coming at a premium. The Patriots, even though they mailed it in, advanced the ball to their own 31 before the half. If Brady could squeeze out two completions against the zone instead of the running plays they called, they would not have needed much more if anything at all in order to get into Gost's FG range. Once again, this team usually shows more killer instinct. The two instances where they didn't this season have both been games that went into overtime and ended up in losses. Your defense simply doesn't hold water.
The chances of us getting those points are not high at all.
Based on what? You are aware the Jets were playing zone on that drive, correct? You are aware that Brady is one of the best quarterbacks in NFL HISTORY against zone defenses, correct? I do agree that the offense was bogged down for most of the game but the Jets were giving the Pats a different look on that series and, instead of capitalizing on it, they ran it twice before they realized they had an opportunity and dropped back. They shot themselves in the foot, in other words.
Now add in the fact that we were going up against one of the best defenses in the NFL and the odds of something bad happening such as another injury
Then I come back to the fact that if they were worried about more injuries, they should have sat Brady and Gronk among others.
or a pick 6, or a fumble return for a touchdown etc. increases.
Those are always hazards when you're trying to score before the half or before the end of the game. Situational football simply wasn't there. You have the GOAT quarterback, a possible GOAT TE and the hardest cover in the league, and a capable WR in Lafell going against a zone defense. The Patriots have historically picked that apart time and time again in Brady's tenure. In a game that tight where possessions are that limited, you have to take calculated risks in order to produce points. They didn't and the rest, as they say, is history.
Now add in the fact that we're gonna get the ball anyway after the half and you can see that we can just end the half now and make our halftime adjustments.
And they were moving the ball after the half as well. Brady and Gronk not being on the same page ended that drive. But it goes to show you that the Patriots were capable of putting a drive together through the air. And that drive was when the Jets were back in man to man. This does nothing to hurt my point.
But please, keep trying to argue your point using hindsight as the crux of your argument. It's adorable.
Why are you mad, though? I'm not basing my stance on hindsight, bud. I said as much in the game thread at halftime...
