Idle thoughts - the coming out of the abyss edition

[rexxar]

Because we were missing so many key players and starters, I actually wasn't expecting us to win and was pretty surprised we even tied it at end of regulation.

I can see how posters want to point to Harper's fumbling, or Jackson's holding, or whatever, as to why we "lost" the game- but our elite offense was just not there, and I don't mean just the players, but our ability to morph or adapt, or run pick plays. Neither Martin or Harper know the playbook to the depth that Edelman and Amendola does, and they read **** when it comes to coverages, and Denver knew this and left them in single "lazy" matchups and focused on rolling coverages to Gronk/Lafell.

But what really has surprised me is the venom on this board- I mean, for ****'s sake, this is pretty much the first time we've lost this year, and tomorrow is December first.

10-1 and defending NFL champions- I'll take that over the days of Sullivan, metal bleachers, and Macpherson running onto the field with a rolled up piece of paper in his hand, pretending he knew what he was doing.

I agree with the majority of your post. For me it's not the fact that they lost but instead how they lost; uncharacteristic mistakes and questionable calls that lead to a loss after we were up by 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Anyways, I feel a lot better knowing that Gronk and Hightower will be okay in the coming weeks (along with Collins and Amendola). 14-2 (at least one more loss wouldn't surprise me) should be enough to get HFA in the playoffs and hopefully the injury bug stays at bay moving forward.

 

[PP2]

I agree with the majority of your post. For me it's not the fact that they lost but instead how they lost; uncharacteristic mistakes and questionable calls that lead to a loss after we were up by 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Anyways, I feel a lot better knowing that Gronk and Hightower will be okay in the coming weeks (along with Collins and Amendola). 14-2 (at least one more loss wouldn't surprise me) should be enough to get HFA in the playoffs and hopefully the injury bug stays at bay moving forward.

Losing Hightower was a huge defensive gamechanger. When we lost him, we pretty much lost our ability to overcome mistakes like those. Prior to the Denver game, we had three games in a row, IIRC, where we turned over the ball, but still had the talent to overcome those mistakes.

The same can be said of the offense; if it weren't so crippled by injuries, it would have overcome the turnovers and terrible officiating.

After 11 games we have a whopping total of one loss. Don't think its time to panic yet.

We have a easier remaining schedule than Denver/Cin does.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

they lost imho in a large part because they lost their focus on situational football. 2:31 left in the game, 1st down and they throw three passes...man I cant get past that...to me a huge coaching snafu...run three times (even a screen) and Denver either takes their timeout or doesn't but regardless you left Denver a long way to go and very little time.

Yeah. It's like somebody flipped the script.

2:07, three timeouts and the two minute warning with the ball on the 20 at the end of the first half, the GOAT at QB and Gostkowski's leg in the wings at altitude, run...run...run....

2:31 left in the game with the lead...pass...pass...pass...

Big old "Huh?" to that.

But, "In BB I trust."

 

[SHOWTIME15]

there are a few things to be concerned with in the long term: lack of a running game and 4th quarter defense.

 

[tombonneau]

there are a few things to be concerned with in the long term: lack of a running game and 4th quarter defense.

I think it's more a lack of commitment to a run game and how it is called. But certainly without Lewis the running game has lost a big dimension.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Because we were missing so many key players and starters, I actually wasn't expecting us to win and was pretty surprised we even tied it at end of regulation.

I can see how posters want to point to Harper's fumbling, or Jackson's holding, or whatever, as to why we "lost" the game- but our elite offense was just not there, and I don't mean just the players, but our ability to morph or adapt, or run pick plays. Neither Martin or Harper know the playbook to the depth that Edelman and Amendola does, and they read **** when it comes to coverages, and Denver knew this and left them in single "lazy" matchups and focused on rolling coverages to Gronk/Lafell.

But what really has surprised me is the venom on this board- I mean, for ****'s sake, this is pretty much the first time we've lost this year, and tomorrow is December first.

10-1 and defending NFL champions- I'll take that over the days of Sullivan, metal bleachers, and Macpherson running onto the field with a rolled up piece of paper in his hand, pretending he knew what he was doing.

Personally, I'd be pretty happy if I could get a $12 metal bleacher nosebleed seat in Foxboro these days.