Do you wish our schedule was tougher?

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

When I was young I wanted the Patriots to have the easiest possible route to victory. If I could have I'd have had us playing each playoff round against a team of blinded monkeys. But as I've gotten older I appreciate that a team has to be tested at different points in their season to really show that they're special enough to win a title.

Watching some Blue Jays games this year I saw them fight through adversity and thought they could be special, and tonight we'll find out if I was right. But I feel a Hell of a lot better as a fan going in to Game 7 knowing we've been tested before. So, I'm wondering what each of you thinks about our level of competition.

 

[mayoclinic]

Not this year. I'm fine if we face Pee Wee Reese level competition all year.

 

[patchick]

Nope, I don't. I'm not convince toughness comes from how many games your opponents win against other teams. There are plenty of kinds of tests along the way, like three straight road games or having huge TDs called back for phantom penalties.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

no

 

[TommyD4207]

When I was young I wanted the Patriots to have the easiest possible route to victory. If I could have I'd have had us playing each playoff round against a team of blinded monkeys. But as I've gotten older I appreciate that a team has to be tested at different points in their season to really show that they're special enough to win a title.

Watching some Blue Jays games this year I saw them fight through adversity and thought they could be special, and tonight we'll find out if I was right. But I feel a Hell of a lot better as a fan going in to Game 7 knowing we've been tested before. So, I'm wondering what each of you thinks about our level of competition.

You can only play who's on the schedule.
And winning generates winning. For a team that has been abject losers the last 3 years, winning any game is more important than having tough losses against tough competition.

Walk before you run.

 

[TommyD4207]

Also, I'm pretty sure they beat Buffalo in Buffalo on a Sunday Night, when the crowd was in full white-out attire.

That game still counts, as far as I know.

And I'm told Josh Allen is the best player alive and Buffalo is the Super Bowl Favorite (or at least was at the time).

 

[mayoclinic]

They only won in Buffalo because they followed my gameplan, which was to score more points than the Bills.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I get your point, but I also think this team still have some roster deficiencies and I'm happy the schedule is weak enough to hide some so they can make the playoffs.

Defensively...

Hawkins just isn't an NFL starting caliber player and he's past the point of developing. Dugger looks washed up whether it's injury or scheme/role in a non-BB system. Woodson looks like a keeper to develop, but the level of play is average at best right now.

The LB rotation next to Spillane is a bunch of STers/depth caliber pieces. And Spillane himself isn't anything to write home about.

The EDGE rotation outside of Landry/Chaisson is a buncha nothing.

Our interior DL pass rushing duo is spectacular and the depth run stuffers (Tonga, Farmer) are playing well. I do still wonder how that group would hold up against a truly great running team.

Offensively...

Maye looks spectacular but he still is young. Campbell has been a monster at LT right away - still young himself. Onwenu is looking like his old very good but still less than pro bowl self. Everything else on offense I'd say is roughly average or below it for their position/role. I say "role" because at WR for example Diggs is obviously above average but as a "#1 WR" considering his age and injury recovery timeline and that he's only playing half the snaps, I'd say he's an average at best "#1 WR".

So overall i think this roster still needs a lot of work and if they had a strong schedule to "test them" then they might fail it. I'm happy to just make the playoffs. Maybe they continue ascending and come playoff time they look like an actually very good team throughout the roster that could have used more battle testing, but not ready to say that yet.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

They only won in Buffalo because they followed my gameplan, which was to score more points than the Bills.

I think they implemented my gameplay. Allow less points than the Bills.

 

[TommyD4207]

They only won in Buffalo because they followed my gameplan, which was to score more points than the Bills.

 

[mayoclinic]

I think they implemented my gameplay. Allow less points than the Bills.

My mistake. Great plan.

 

[Ian]

Nope, I don't. I'm not convince toughness comes from how many games your opponents win against other teams. There are plenty of kinds of tests along the way, like three straight road games or having huge TDs called back for phantom penalties.

I agree. Another aspect is the "Good teams are supposed to beat up on bad teams." They're not eeking out wins against bad teams. They're beating bad teams handily, which is what they should be doing and it sort of gives us a little better indication of where they actually might be.

Although, at the same time, the only downside is it does throw things off when it comes to trying to figure out just how good they really are when it comes to playing someone like the Chiefs, etc, which I think is a little bit of what @NovaScotiaPatsFan was alluding to.

 

[mayoclinic]

Plenty of time for that.

We will be heavy underdogs whenever that comes, just like against the Greatest Show on Turf.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Plenty of time for that.

We will be heavy underdogs whenever that comes, just like against the Greatest Show on Turf.

Yup, and even if we don't know how good they are, I'm very certain the players and coaches are a very confident squad with 4 starlight wins, no matter who it's against.
Confidence matters, and we're building it.

 

[TommyD4207]

If you want the true remaining 'measuring stick' games, it's really 1 in my mind, @Tampa.

In the meantime?

 

[Sect140]

The schedule is what it is, at this rate the schedule will get tougher next season.

 

[mayoclinic]

New thread: "Do you wish our schedule next season would be easier"?

Answer: "Yes!!!"

 

[mgteich]

When I was young I wanted the Patriots to have the easiest possible route to victory. If I could have I'd have had us playing each playoff round against a team of blinded monkeys. But as I've gotten older I appreciate that a team has to be tested at different points in their season to really show that they're special enough to win a title.

Watching some Blue Jays games this year I saw them fight through adversity and thought they could be special, and tonight we'll find out if I was right. But I feel a Hell of a lot better as a fan going in to Game 7 knowing we've been tested before. So, I'm wondering what each of you thinks about our level of competition.

no
We could be tested by several of the teams that we play. That is plenty.
==========
To be clear.
1) How many want to play CLE's defense?
2) ATL's defense?
3) CIN's offense?
4) BUF for a second time? or even
5) the giants? or even
6) a healthy BALT team

None of those are gimmies. We should continue to win, but this schedule is tough enough for this year.

 

[maust]

Walk before you run.

Yep, that's why I'm just fine with a training wheels type schedule this year

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

The schedule is what it is, at this rate the schedule will get tougher next season.

We play the NFCN next year as opposed to the NFCS this year. That alone makes it tougher, plus not playing a last place schedule.
I will gladly take this years schedule and smile all the way to....11 wins?