How nervous are you about the Bills game?

[Deus Irae]

The stats say that Kyle Williams will be the best DT on the field Sunday.

Reality says that Vince Wilfork will be the best DT on the field against any team in the league besides the Ravens, where Ngata is arguably his equal or superior.

 

[ATippett56]

That's..........not giving the defense a free pass. That's having higher expectations for the offense precisely because we know the defense has been lousy for a few years now.

The expectation for the New England Patriots offense is perfection and the excuses for the current banged up unit have become laughable.

 

[Big-T]

the Bills have a better overall team than the Patriots. The Pats have a better QB and better pass catchers and that's it. The Bills are better everywhere else.

Ignoring the obvious ones you mentioned of QB, TE, WR:
LG
NT
Jones > Anderson
LB
K
P

 

[SeymourTrophies]

We aren't talking about years past are we? I'm simply saying thatTHIS SEASON, the Bills have a better overall team than the Patriots. The Pats have a better QB and better pass catchers and that's it. The Bills are better everywhere else.

Also, in the second game, the patriots were getting blown off the field until Stevie Johnson was benched and the life was sucked out of the team

The excuses are endless.

We give up...we're going to lose by 40, Mario Williams is going to have 8 sacks, and Kyle Williams is going to have 10 tackles for loss and after Fitz throws another pick six, Kyle Williams is going to go under center and throw for 300 yards.

I'm adding Kyle Williams to my fantasy team as the flex as we speak.

 

[ATippett56]

Donald Thomas is also/was also supposed to be the 4th OG on the depth chart.

Name some teams with 4th OGs who are demonstrably better than Thomas?

Thomas was cut by the Miami Dolphins after his first two seasons and the Detroit Lions after his third season. Donald Thomas is in his fifth season in the NFL and not some wet behind the ears rookie.

If healthy, I'd rather see McDonald start than Thomas.

 

[JackBauer]

The expectation for the New England Patriots offense is perfection and the excuses for the current banged up unit have become laughable.

Which, of course, has precisely nothing to do with your assertion that the defense gets a free pass.

 

[ATippett56]

Which, of course, has precisely nothing to do with your assertion that the defense gets a free pass.

Not after Sunday's game in Baltimore and not for the rest of the 2012 NFL Season.

 

[JackBauer]

Thomas was cut by the Miami Dolphins after his first two seasons and the Detroit Lions after his third season. Donald Thomas is in his fifth season in the NFL and not some wet behind the ears rookie.

If healthy, I'd rather see McDonald start than Thomas.

How is the fact he's not a rookie at all relevant to the fact he's on par with what you'd expect from a 4th OG?

I don't know why you think McDonald would be a better option.

 

[ATippett56]

How is the fact he's not a rookie at all relevant to the fact he's on par with what you'd expect from a 4th OG?

I don't know why you think McDonald would be a better option.

I did not realize the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions were better teams than the New England Patriots.

 

[SuperWilliamsBrothers]

The excuses are endless.

We give up...we're going to lose by 40, Mario Williams is going to have 8 sacks, and Kyle Williams is going to have 10 tackles for loss and after Fitz throws another pick six, Kyle Williams is going to go under center and throw for 300 yards.

I'm adding Kyle Williams to my fantasy team as the flex as we speak.

Still a better option than Ridley!

 

[JackBauer]

I did not realize the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions were better teams than the New England Patriots.

That might be the worst argument you've ever made. You sure you want to stick with this line of reasoning?

 

[ATippett56]

That might be the worst argument you've ever made. You sure you want to stick with this line of reasoning?

Donald Thomas was not good enough to stick with the Miami Dolphins nor the Detroit Lions. Donald Thomas is a JAG and Tom Brady deserves better. Donald Thomas is not some rookie with untapped potential that has future upside.

 

[JackBauer]

Donald Thomas was not good enough to stick with the Miami Dophins nor the Detroit Lions. Donald Thomas is a JAG and Tom Brady deserves better. Donald Thomas is not some rookie with untapped potential that has future upside.

Again: are you sure you want to stick with this line of reasoning? I want to give you ample time to reconsider.

 

[ATippett56]

Again: are you sure you want to stick with this line of reasoning? I want to give you ample time to reconsider.

McDonald didn't suck last year when called upon to start. Donald Thomas was one of the main reasons why the New England Patriots offense sputtered against the Arizona Cardinals.

 

[ATippett56]

Again: are you sure you want to stick with this line of reasoning? I want to give you ample time to reconsider.

Meanwhile, you can keep defending Donald Thomas all you want when a neutral observer say otherwise:

3 up, 3 down for the Patriots - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[BradyFTW!]

McDonald didn't suck last year when called upon to start. Donald Thomas was one of the main reasons why the New England Patriots offense sputtered against the Arizona Cardinals.

Thomas was absolutely terrible against the Cardinals. To his credit, the Cardinals have a fantastic defensive line, but even that's not much consolation for how bad he was.

 

[Rob0729]

McDonald didn't suck last year when called upon to start. Donald Thomas was one of the main reasons why the New England Patriots offense sputtered against the Arizona Cardinals.

A couple of things:

• In the first three weeks, Arizona have had one of the best defenses in the league. They are third in sacks with 12 (compared to the Bills' 9). They are also 4th in opposing QB QB rating (the Bills are 16th). The Pats could have struggled with or without Thomas.
• Since McDonald didn't suck last season when he called to start, maybe he won't suck Sunday if he is called.
• I wouldn't write off Mankins just yet. He is the toughest SOB in the league. Even with the week off, he could be a guy who shows up on Sunday and plays. It wouldn't be the first time for something like this to happen with other players (although Mankins rarely if ever missed a practice).

 

[JackBauer]

McDonald didn't suck last year when called upon to start. Donald Thomas was one of the main reasons why the New England Patriots offense sputtered against the Arizona Cardinals.

Now you're just seguing into a different argument entirely. Smart move.

 

[JackBauer]

Meanwhile, you can keep defending Donald Thomas all you want when a neutral observer say otherwise:

3 up, 3 down for the Patriots - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Again, reading comprehension. My defense of Thomas consists of noting he's what you'd expect to get performance-wise out of a 4th OG. So far you've utterly failed to challenge that position. Maybe it would be easier for you to think of it in these terms: are there any teams in the NFL who could trot out their 4th OG against a fantastic AZ defense and except said lineman to not get whipped?

 

[ATippett56]

Now you're just seguing into a different argument entirely. Smart move.

Donald Thomas already cost the New England Patriots a football game so keep defending him.