I hate to say i told you so

[Ring 6]

Butler is one of the few playmakers we have, that 2014 team was loaded with playmakers and don't forget that Butler's pick was sweet justice because Seattle had no right to even be close to our endzone if not for one of if not the luckiest catch ever. But for that Kearse play Seattle would not have got near our goal line and you can't pin that lucky bounce on the defense.

That play being incomplete would not have ended the game.

 

[long distance]

Well what would you like to know? What standout aspect of the Pats D is there? They look very average from front to back end and hence why they need to improve a lot to become a true SB contender. I don't think the AFC will be too much of a problem but the AFC championship game itself and maybe beyond is a different story if they continue to play the way they are.

Id like to suggest to you that you take the same measure for all teams if you want to have the slightest perspective. Comparing your “eye test“ of NE defence NOW (“if they continue to play the way they are“)
with some sort of visionary (“third eye“) look at the FUTURE of playoff contenders (“what matters is come playoff time when the teams get REALLY good”) is a futile task, don't you agree?

People who were critical of NE D were in minority a month a go and sometimes brutally silenced, I agree. But it still makes sense to keep things in perspective. There's nothing suggesting that they will “continue to play the way they are“, quite the opposite - BB and coaches are very visibly and somewhat outspoken working on not only improving but quite brutally reshuffling the D. Last night we saw lots of new things and some baby steps in the right direction.

Instead of whining about the future one doesn't know anything about it might be better to observe (and possibly enjoy) the work that is being done and “matters“ now - and that is the rearrangement and improvement of the D in order to be the best it can (and maybe even REALLY good) “come playoff time“.

 

[Batman]

Football isn't a game of eye test and feelings they said this about baseball too. Both of these are numbers games like every sport. You win when you score more than you concede. I guess my question would be which 5 defences in the NFL would you want to have more than the patriots?

 

[fair catch fryar]

I too would like to see the defense improve, but I won't say "I told you so" because for every time I could say that, some one could point out 50 times where I was wrong. Besides, what would you say if the Pats win the Superbowl 52-50?

 

[Vindicate]

While, admittedly, I was quick to bash the defense after the first half yesterday, to whichever hater reads this, Seattle has the exact same product on defense. Lots of yards, stops when it matters, little PPG allowed. Go to their boards and ask, they literally say "We have a bend but don't break defense, but we're not worried".

Obviously I'm not saying we run the same SCHEME, but we operate on a similar philosophy. Sure, Seattle has all-pros in every level of their defense, but to act like we're some loner out of contention is silly. Hell, the fact that we can preform with the little names we have is a testament to how well-schemed this defense is.

Are there things to fix? Of course. But just because there are things to fix doesn't mean we're trash. Shoot, the fact that we tightened up on the second half is awesome. 2014 defense, while better than this one, ALWAYS had a rough start and then tightened up towards the second half. God I loved that second half defense.

We're seriously not in a terrible or bad position. A little worry is always valid, but don't piss your pants.

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah, but remember that Browner was out early, and the offense was a drain on the defense until that Bengals game. It was the 2014 defense, but it wasn't really the 2014 defense until, probably, the Bears game in week 8.

True, but the offense was a bigger drain on the defense for parts of this year.
It is a legitimate trend that BB defenses improve as the season wears on.

 

[Deus Irae]

True, but the offense was a bigger drain on the defense for parts of this year.

One game is not really "parts", IMO.

It is a legitimate trend that BB defenses improve as the season wears on.

Yes. I think the overall point, that the defense should improve, generally bears out. I just think the 2014 comparison was a bit off because of the absence of Browner, and the offensive problems that culminated in the Chiefs debacle. I don't think it's just coincidence that the 2 worst games, from an opponent scoring perspective, happened during the first 4 weeks of that 2014 season.

 

[Schmo]

That Seattle game really got people down on this team. Yes, the D has weaknesses and the Collins trade was an immediate step back, but it turns out there are other good teams in the league that are capable of shutting down their opponents strengths..... even *gasp* the Patriots. Those games tend to be messy and hard fought.

A SB caliber team isn't necessarily going to have every game dominated by halftime. We aren't going to have the warm and fuzzies because Kyle Long gets 4 sacks and Malcolm Butler has 3 picks while Tom throws 2 TDs apiece to Gronk, Marty, Edelman, Hogan and Mitchell, while Blount racks up 200 yards and 4 TDs (and people would still complain about Amendola and White not pplaying well).

We want the Pats to win, and the only times we've come up short was to buffalo without Brady, and by one yard to Seattle (does it surprise anyone that a Pats/Seahawks game was decided by one yard?) I believe gronk was interfered with, but sometimes it just doesn't work out.

 

[Ring 6]

One game is not really "parts", IMO.

Brissett played 2 1/2 games. Brady with a dysfunctional OL is better than Brissett with an intact one.

Yes. I think the overall point, that the defense should improve, generally bears out. I just think the 2014 comparison was a bit off because of the absence of Browner, and the offensive problems that culminated in the Chiefs debacle. I don't think it's just coincidence that the 2 worst games, from an opponent scoring perspective, happened during the first 4 weeks of that 2014 season.

Comparison wasn't mean dollar for dollar, but to show comparison at this point in time of a D that went on to win the SB to one being trashed in the thread.

 

[Ring 6]

That Seattle game really got people down on this team. Yes, the D has weaknesses and the Collins trade was an immediate step back, but it turns out there are other good teams in the league that are capable of shutting down their opponents strengths..... even *gasp* the Patriots. Those games tend to be messy and hard fought.

A SB caliber team isn't necessarily going to have every game dominated by halftime. We aren't going to have the warm and fuzzies because Kyle Long gets 4 sacks and Malcolm Butler has 3 picks while Tom throws 2 TDs apiece to Gronk, Marty, Edelman, Hogan and Mitchell, while Blount racks up 200 yards and 4 TDs (and people would still complain about Amendola and White not pplaying well).

We want the Pats to win, and the only times we've come up short was to buffalo without Brady, and by one yard to Seattle (does it surprise anyone that a Pats/Seahawks game was decided by one yard?) I believe gronk was interfered with, but sometimes it just doesn't work out.

Frankly the biggest concern for this team is that winning 13 games and getting the 1 seed may be too easy, and they won't be challenged. It does seem though that BB is finding a way to challenge individuals, which could have the same effect.

 

[Deus Irae]

Brissett played 2 1/2 games. Brady with a dysfunctional OL is better than Brissett with an intact one.

Brissett and the offense, while limited, were good enough to help put up 27 points in the Texans game. They were able to jump out to a lead and then sit on it. The Patriots offense has only laid one egg so far this season, and that was the Buffalo game.

 

[goheels22002]

I guess my question would be which 5 defenses in the NFL would you want to have more than the patriots?

That's not a hard question, really. Below in not any order, really, are five defenses that I think are tougher than the Patriots. Mostly, I like the pass defenses on the five teams. The team with great metrics is Houston. Bill O'Brien and Romeo Crennel have assembled an excellent defense.

Minnesota
Denver
Arizona
Seattle
Houston

 

[Ring 6]

Brissett and the offense, while limited, were good enough to help put up 27 points in the Texans game. They were able to jump out to a lead and then sit on it. The Patriots offense has only laid one egg so far this season, and that was the Buffalo game.

Well the defense set up almost all of those points too though.
I will just say the first 4 games of 2104 with Tom Brady at QB was not a bigger drain on the defense than the first 4 this year with Jimmy G and Brissett. You can disagree if you wish.

 

[Ring 6]

That's not a hard question, really. Below in not any order, really, are five defenses that I think are tougher than the Patriots. Mostly, I like the pass defenses on the five teams. The team with great metrics is Houston. Bill O'Brien and Romeo Crennel have assembled an excellent defense.

Minnesota
Denver
Arizona
Seattle
Houston

If we accept that, then the next point is the Patriots defense has played as well and in some cases better than this group this season.

 

[long distance]

That's not a hard question, really. Below in not any order, really, are five defenses that I think are tougher than the Patriots. Mostly, I like the pass defenses on the five teams. The team with great metrics is Houston. Bill O'Brien and Romeo Crennel have assembled an excellent defense.

Minnesota
Denver
Arizona
Seattle
Houston

Maybe you weren't paying attention to Ravens, Rams, Chargers ..
But my job is to love our guys.
.

 

[Sicilian]

That's not a hard question, really. Below in not any order, really, are five defenses that I think are tougher than the Patriots. Mostly, I like the pass defenses on the five teams. The team with great metrics is Houston. Bill O'Brien and Romeo Crennel have assembled an excellent defense.

Minnesota
Denver
Arizona
Seattle
Houston

Just a quick comparison for reference. Arizona played this same San Fran team last week at home, and gave up more points, slightly fewer yards (299 to 281), but more passing yards, and had a worse 3rd down defensive rate. Not that one game means anything, but if we're going to discount what the Patriots were able to do against a subpar team on the road, it's only fair to say they did better than one of the five teams you listed, just a week ago. As good a one-to-one comparison as we can get in the NFL.

 

[Ring 6]

Maybe you weren't paying attention to Ravens, Rams, Chargers ..
But my job is to love our guys.

Ravens have allowed more points than us, and more game losing scores, and for those wrapped up in opponents, have played about the weakest schedule in the league.
Rams? Come on.
Chargers? Where did that come from?

 

[neuronet]

Points against is a ******** stat and you can go just on feeling?

Yeah I'm sure Belichick would agree with you on that.

 

[Ring 6]

Points against is a ******** stat and you can go just on feeling?

Yeah I'm sure Belichick would agree with you on that.

He allowed a TD but he felt good about it.

 

[goheels22002]

If we accept that, then the next point is the Patriots defense has played as well and in some cases better than this group this season.

With the Jets 2X, Rams, Dolphins, Ravens and Broncos left on the schedule, the Patriots' defense could wind up looking as good or better, statistically. Flacco and Tannehill are the only two veteran QBs left on the schedule. The rest are using guys in their first year of work for all practical purposes, and Flacco and Tannehill are having mediocre to poor years.

But I think all of the teams on the list above have better pass rushers, handle the run well, and do more scheme-wise to throw off opponents. The Ravens had a good defense at the beginning of the year but injuries have really taken their toll - 18 guys on IR.

The Patriots should continue to improve as some of the young guys find their roles in Patricia's defense.