I Swear Guys This 2016 Team Is Special

[Dr Pain]

We just have to manage him better instead of thinking he can play a full season just limit him through out the year and let him loose during the playoffs which is what this year proved is that we can still run the table without him

That play he was hurt on seemed like a nothing play. You can't manage around that. He is a smart kid who has banked everything he has made in the NFL.

 

[rookBoston]

This team is special. They play for each other and the team is balanced between O and D and ST. But we've seen teams this good lose the SB before. Any given Sunday and all that.

To keep from getting too exuberant, I just remind myself that Seattle came to Foxboro and beat us pretty handily-- and that was WITH Gronkowski on the field.

 

[AtomicDawg]

What Belichick said postgame in the lockerroom sent chills down my spine.

"We've been hearing all week about how the Patriots can't come here and win in Denver....but not this team!!!"

"Not this team..."

That's it. All you have to do is read the postgame interviews with some of the players.


The way they finished last year has either been in their heads for a whole year or BB has reminded them of it. So for those who are concerned that this team will take a break during the Bye....this will be festering with them to finish strong. "Not This Team". Even Bennett didn't care about watching the Raiders game. He is focused on winning at this time with this team.
Not This Team".

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

I think this team is special because I feel like this team has so much damn heart. This team wants that Superbowl win and Brady seems so determined to not have a heartbreak repeat like last year. This is not the 2015 NE Patriots. This is the 2016 NE Patriots and they are out for that trophy!

 

[patsfan13]

I hate to say it but I feel like Gronk is done. Just too beaten up to count on for a season. A bright shining star but to me he is like a retired player.

Reminds me of Gayle Sayers, brilliant talent brief but stellar career.

 

[BTTA]

I hate to say it but I feel like Gronk is done. Just too beaten up to count on for a season. A bright shining star but to me he is like a retired player.

I can't get this out of my mind, either. A shooting star. Hope I'm completely and utterly wrong, and he plays another five years as brilliantly as the first.

But I don't feel a bit sorry for him. His life to this point has been fantastic, and he knows how to have a good time. He's twice as smart as his public persona would have us all think, and he's blessed with plenty of serotonin, which is the true gift of God.

 

[BTTA]

I think Belichick let us know what he had, and what he wanted, through the Jones and Collins trades. There's going to be no superstar or me-first attitudes allowed on this team, not a whiff. Do your job, do one more thing to help the team every day, and be happy to be part of it.

And this year's special teams are the strongest I can remember, with seemingly more roster spots dedicated to those guys than in the past. King, Mingo, Bolden...the list is a long one after Slater.

So in a way, this team is more Belicheckian than any I remember.

 

[Minitron]

In my head i start to draw lines to the 2014 team. Since that Seattle game in week 10, they play with a chip on their shoulders, especially the defense. I rembember McCourty shouting to Logan Ryan when he was interviewed after the Broncos game: "Tell them they said we sucked." It's that "Us against the world(NFL)"-mentality again. I love it.

 

[jah]

Please don't take this the wrong way but I would say you didn't see enough Pats teams or football yet so i think your not judging it as well as other can. It is not that you are not smart enough. Purely an experience thing. That 2010 team was good particularly on O but the running game was so-so and the D though good on paper had injuries and the secondary was suspect. The offense was championship caliber (though it was 1 dimensional pretty predictable with limited options that were good) but the D was not.
The team could have won in a VERY weak year... that year was not particularly weak for other teams.

The D and run game are both better this year as is the passing game for that matter even without Gronk. This run game has a more diverse back field and the OL has better run blockers. Also the backs are just plain better. Blount > BJGE and White/Lewis > Woodhead.

Also this D is better particularly at CB. We did not have a #1 CB in 2010. McCourty did well of course but he had holes in his game that i think started to get figured out near the end of 2010. Also our safety play was not near as good. Take it from me this D is better and more apt to not be scored on or let offenses stay on the field as long as they did in 2010 (or 2011 for that matter)

I defer to your knowledge and experience (although I am in my 20s now ). I don't see a whole lot of contradiction from what I actually said, though. It sounds like you're more willing to trust and believe in this team than 2010 and you may be suggesting my doubts are more of a recency bias, is that correct? If so, I hope you're right.

 

[aluminum seats]

All comes down to continued health and then execution and luck for three games. Our level of confidence isn't very important.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Reminds me of Gayle Sayers, brilliant talent brief but stellar career.

Who, if they had reconstructive knee surgery techniques like they have now might have had a much longer career.............

 

[shmessy]

I feel exactly how I did about the 2010 team, and that ended terribly. But I was 15 and that was the first season I paid close attention to, so I'll give myself the benefit of the doubt here. I know I'm biased, but I really do feel like we have a much better defense and run game this time around.

However, I think if this team falters in the playoffs, it will be for the same reason as 2010: inexperienced young players. It does not matter who we play. If the Patriots show up, they win. If they lose, they probably beat themselves. It sounds like a generic ******** post-loss excuse, but that's just how I see it for this specific situation.

The 2010 team should have won it all but choked. This team should win it all and if they don't, barring unforeseen calamity like Brady going down (even that might not be the final nail in the coffin with Jimmy), it must be considered a choke.

Look at the personnel from that 2010 team. They simply didn't have the Super Bowl, nor AFCCG experience of this team. That team hadn't been to an AFCCG game in 3 years. This team has made the last 3 straight. You could go right down the roster, man by man and compare playoff experience vs that team.

To me, THAT is the yawning difference between the 2010 and 2016 teams.

 

[shmessy]

The offensive line is the real key difference I see. Brady is staying upright and the run game looks good. The team having to play 4 games without him was a good thing, it led to more a team atmosphere rather than Brady and the Patriots.

Brady moves FAR better in the pocket than he did in 2010. That long pass to Edelman yesterday doesn't happen in 2010.

 

[Geezer Butler]

This for me is the most balanced team they have had in all three phases of the game since 2004. I actually think they are better than the 2014 team. This team has proven they can win on the road, something the 2014 team couldn't do.

I like their chances against any team left either here or on the road. Also the turnovers have finally started to come, a staple of Belichick's championship teams of the past.

This offensive line is a god damn pleasure to watch, they are manhandling teams up front more than I can remember. Brady is f*cking deadly with a line of this quality.

 

[Bradyking12]

Look at the personnel from that 2010 team. They simply didn't have the Super Bowl, nor AFCCG experience of this team. That team hadn't been to an AFCCG game in 3 years. This team has made the last 3 straight. You could go right down the roster, man by man and compare playoff experience vs that team.

To me, THAT is the yawning difference between the 2010 and 2016 teams.

We made the last 5 AFCCG btw not 3

 

[irishfanatic]

Brady moves FAR better in the pocket than he did in 2010. That long pass to Edelman yesterday doesn't happen in 2010.

I agree, amazing that he has developed a new skill so late in his career. Remember him extending a few plays this year with his new "Twinkle toes Tommy" routine.

 

[Uncle Rico]

what i worry is that maybe i'm too confident. i feel like no way in hell afc teams can beat us at home in foxboro. but i felt the same way about 2010 team.

I was going to write exactly the same thing. That 2010 team seemed destined and we saw what happened. But yes, this team has a special vibe.

 

[BobDigital]

Look at the personnel from that 2010 team. They simply didn't have the Super Bowl, nor AFCCG experience of this team. That team hadn't been to an AFCCG game in 3 years. This team has made the last 3 straight. You could go right down the roster, man by man and compare playoff experience vs that team.

To me, THAT is the yawning difference between the 2010 and 2016 teams.

The biggest difference is that team didn't have the D this team did. They gave up something like 19+ PPG and didn't have the talent this D does that we complained about so much. Also that O though good was not diverse. It was an O centric on attacking the middle of the field and couldn't do much else. It could be "clogged" by a good D and that was figured out by the Ravens. Also they rightl did not expect that teams ability to run vs a good D.

This offense can attack all parts of a field and the run game will not be completely stopped.

Also that team was either to old or too young at most spots. This team is mostly in its prime with a some young upstart talents and still good vets.

This team compares more with 2004 than 2010. I would call this a slightly worse version of 2004. That is not a bad thing at all.

 

[Kontradiction]

LOL apparently many of you in here didn't see the OP's freak outs in the game threads earlier and through the middle part of the season. If they lose, he will create the absolute opposite of this thread. It's good you feel this way, though, BK12. This team is a very cohesive unit and their path to 51 just got much easier. Hopefully what we're seeing translates to the postseason against better quality opponents.

 

[shmessy]

The biggest difference is that team didn't have the D this team did. They gave up something like 19+ PPG and didn't have the talent this D does that we complained about so much. Also that O though good was not diverse. It was an O centric on attacking the middle of the field and couldn't do much else. It could be "clogged" by a good D and that was figured out by the Ravens. Also they rightl did not expect that teams ability to run vs a good D.

This offense can attack all parts of a field and the run game will not be completely stopped.

Also that team was either to old or too young at most spots. This team is mostly in its prime with a some young upstart talents and still good vets.

This team compares more with 2004 than 2010. I would call this a slightly worse version of 2004. That is not a bad thing at all.

I agree about the regular season.

But when it comes to the playoffs, experience becomes a bigger (though not total) factor.

That 2010 team had a lot of players who suddenly were deer in the headlights when they finally got to the playoffs.

The Jets had been to the AFCCG the year before - - they were revved and ready for the "different season" that day.