PostGame Thread OFFICIAL: Romo Strikes Back - Pats Squeak Past Falcons w/ Win, 24-23

[lancerman]

Cry me a river Penix and Morris. The play clock was running down it was less than two seconds left when that ball was snapped. Not like it was snapped with 10 seconds on the clock. No idea why Penix was not ready for it, was he going to get a delay of game penalty? The real issue was the right guard not reacting to the ball being snapped or Milton Williams moving on the snap. That was their second back up guard in the game and he played like it on that snap. Loser mentality to talk like this after a loss, this is why Morris might not survive the year. Be shocked if he is back next year, that is not a well coached team even though they played much better than I expected yesterday. Even with that, they were dominated in the first 3 quarters of that game. The game was only as close as it was due to turnovers and Boutte getting hurt. Really impacted the passing game.

I really don't understand your post. Morris literally praised the Patriots for it in the article calling it great situational football and a great job by us.

Florio's the only one going "well technically that's supposed to be a penalty". The Falcons aren't crying about it.

 

[Real fan 02]

Tough to sneak a good young player from a bad team. That would be ideal.

Beyond that, a starter who fills an obvious hole, but isn't 35. A guard, a safety, a linebacker with speed, a depth corner. Something like that. A guard gives you flexibility to move Wilson back to his natural position, and Bradbury to the bench, or Onwenu to the bench.

Someone, I think @Bill Lee said 'the trade deadline always favors the sellers' and it's really true. The chances of getting a game changer are extremely low, and if you do, it's an overpay.

Trading a 3rd round pick for Jalen Phillips is a pretty big overpay for the Eagles, for example.

Got it. Always good to get your insights there Tommy..

As some injures in certain positions are starting to arise. Definitely some dept at G would significantly help. At CB while Davis has been solid.. it's worth paying attention that woods is the first guy off the bench over Austin. Tells us where the depth is.

I'd like to go after a younger player with upside that can rotate with KC and Landry to firm up the depth at edge..

 

[Bill Lee]

i would scout the nba for a tall receiver like moss.

Be careful for what you wish for, otherwise we get another Boney Thornton.

Did anyone else catch the fact that he could have won the game for KC?

Kermit threw a bomb on the next to last play of the game that hit Boney in the hands.

Those boney hands aren't very strong so the defender was able to smack it out of his hands.

 

[Ring 6]

No not at all.. the house money is just saying we are still a evolving team.. well coached.. with talented 2nd year QB who's taking the leap into greatness..

While all of this is definitely possible I truly don't think the organization as whole envisioned it to look like this so soon.

It's impressive.

Playing with house money typically means you have nothing to lose, you’ve already won more than you expected.

I disagree on what the organization “thought”. In a competitive business you don’t lower expectations prior to competing. You create a plan that if it goes accordingly you win. The patriots didn’t sit down and say “ ok year 1 we just want a winnng record, then we can make the playoffs in year 2……. Etc etc”
They set out to win every game.

 

[lancerman]

No not at all.. the house money is just saying we are still a evolving team.. well coached.. with talented 2nd year QB who's taking the leap into greatness..

While all of this is definitely possible I truly don't think the organization as whole envisioned it to look like this so soon.

It's impressive.

Exactly the Bills are in a window where they are supposed to be making Super Bowl runs and are watching it close on them and are praying they can capitalize before that clock runs out. Their coach might actually get fired if they fail again this year and the whole team could be up in the air.

The Patriots were just hoping to improve a little this season and show growth. The fact that they might have made a jump to real playoff competition is a welcome surprise and maybe they started to open a window.

But going forward, the Patriots have a bit of luxury where they can play free and don't have any external outside pressure and expectations that the players have to deal with. Other teams like the Bills and Chiefs don't.

 

[TommyD4207]

Got it. Always good to get your insights there Tommy..

As some injures in certain positions are starting to arise. Definitely some dept at G would significantly help. At CB while Davis has been solid.. it's worth paying attention that woods is the first guy off the bench over Austin. Tells us where the depth is.

I'd like to go after a younger player with upside that can rotate with KC and Landry to firm up the depth at edge..

I don't hate that Arden Key's name keeps popping up, I'll say that.

The GDTers will be in full revolt if that's all they do though.

 

[lancerman]

Yes! I keep seeing references to the weak schedule with the conclusion that the team isn’t as good as its record, so they shouldn’t commit too much to this season. But the opposite argument can be made: the schedule is an opportunity.

Sure, the team should be stronger next season, but so will the opposition they face. At this point, they have a legitimate shot at the #1 seed. That’s a path to the Super Bowl, flaws and all.

Everything about this year is an opportunity. In another thread someone said we shouldn't spend money because we finally have a QB and they are supposed to elevate things. We have a QB on a ROOKIE CONTRACT. That is a golden opportunity to spend before you start having to put a market resetting contract on the books.

 

[Tunescribe]

Let's be honest, they have had an easy schedule and they lack talent and depth. We saw what a few injuries meant today. We went from dunking on the Falcons to treading water and it didn't take losing much. Their 52 man roster just isn't good enough. The Pats have been so lucky with injuries this year before this game overall... We saw what it looked like without Gonzo early. Not good. We saw what it looked like for a half without Boutte. Not good.

They need to be able to absorb SOME losses. And they can't. I am not saying don't try to do anything this year. I want a nice playoff run, and it is possible for them to do it. This is a down year across the league. But do i expect their injury luck to hold up? Nope. It is starting not to.

Does this mean they can't win the Super bowl this year? No. Stranger things have happened... but they would be one of the worst winners of all time and it would need to involve a lot of fluky things.

The harbinger of doom speaks again on behalf of "honest reality." One might even wonder if your prediction last week of the Patriots being "due" for a loss left you disappointed. Just enjoy what's happening without going overboard trying to temper hopes and expectations.

 

[Diffs4]

The fumble happened with 30 seconds left in the half, not over a minute.

FWIW, the crowd around me was going crazy when they went for it there. Quite a few were yelling, "What the hell are they doing" or yelling "Take a knee".

The drive started with a minute and 17 seconds on the clock. I think what happened here is after the first run of the drive, the Falcons called time out. They had all 3 left so they were not going to let the Pats just run the ball 3 times and end the half. I was surprised that they did this. I did not expect them to call a time out because if they did, I expected the Pats to say f u, watch this we will go down and put points on the board. I would have done the same thing. It did not turn out well due to poor execution by Onwenu and lax ball security by Drake. That play sucked. Shout out to Will Campbell hustling and tackling Pearce. Could have saved four points, but that did not happen. Curious what the Pats would have done if no time out was called. I think they stay conservative but we will never know. They were backed up (own 21) with no time outs with 1:17 left up two scores. I think the plan was to stay conservative but if something breaks we will go for it. This plan was upended with the Falcons calling a time out. Based on how the first half was going for their defense, I thought it was a bad decision but it turned out to be quite beneficial for them.

 

[bresna]

The drive started with roughly 1:20 left in the half at our 30. We had gotten to midfield with over 40 seconds left. Why would we take a knee at that point where we are 15 more yards away from a FG attempt?

Why would we take a knee… hmmm… I don’t know… maybe because the Falcons D has been blitzing and getting to Maye pretty regularly and maybe, just maybe, they might get to him, cause a fumble and allow them to score.

Hey - wow - that’s just what happened.

 

[TommyD4207]

Why would we take a knee… hmmm… I don’t know… maybe because the Falcons D has been blitzing and getting to Maye pretty regularly and maybe, just maybe, they might get to him, cause a fumble and allow them to score.

Hey - wow - that’s just what happened.

Or Maye could have just, you know, not heroballed and basically dropped the ball?

 

[mayoclinic]

Sure, the team should be stronger next season, but so will the opposition they face. At this point, they have a legitimate shot at the #1 seed. That’s a path to the Super Bowl, flaws and all.

I've made this point before. The team next year will be better, but their schedule will be brutal:

6 games against AFCE
4 games against AFCW (KC, Denver, LAC, Las Vegas)
4 games against NFCN (Detroit, GB, Minn, Chicago)
AFCN 1st or 2nd place
AFCS 1st or 2nd place
NFCW 1st or 2nd place (Seattle, LAR or SF)

They could be much better, and have a worse record than this year.

 

[bresna]

Or Maye could have just, you know, not heroballed and basically dropped the ball?

I think taking a knee and going to the locker room up 14 would fit the definition of “not playing heroball”.

 

[Real fan 02]

Exactly the Bills are in a window where they are supposed to be making Super Bowl runs and are watching it close on them and are praying they can capitalize before that clock runs out. Their coach might actually get fired if they fail again this year and the whole team could be up in the air.

The Patriots were just hoping to improve a little this season and show growth. The fact that they might have made a jump to real playoff competition is a welcome surprise and maybe they started to open a window.

But going forward, the Patriots have a bit of luxury where they can play free and don't have any external outside pressure and expectations that the players have to deal with. Other teams like the Bills and Chiefs don't.

Absolutely Lance.. Vrabel if given a 5th of rum.. would reveal that he didn't forsee this. He even mentioned how we've won 8 games in 2 seasons. We have 7 now.

The window as you mentioned is open. We actually have the best coach in the AFCE.. I will be paying close attention to how we perform coming out of the bye week.

 

[TommyD4207]

I think taking a knee and going to the locker room up 14 would fit the definition of “not playing heroball”.

 

[Ring 6]

Or Maye could have just, you know, not heroballed and basically dropped the ball?

He moved to avoid the pass rusher and it got punched out. Doing the right thing didn’t always have the best result.
Amazing to me that we lucked into an incredible QB that is carrying his team on his back to the best record in the NFL and “fans” can’t wait take any opportunity to tear him down. We are the Jets of fan bases.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Out of conference game on the road next week
I have this down as a loss.
If bad Baker shows up they might have a chance.
Hope they figure out how to replace Boutte.
Will Stevenson be back?

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Why would we take a knee… hmmm… I don’t know… maybe because the Falcons D has been blitzing and getting to Maye pretty regularly and maybe, just maybe, they might get to him, cause a fumble and allow them to score.

Hey - wow - that’s just what happened.

Oh good fkn lord dude.



We’re literally one first down away from possibly going up 3 possessions and getting the ball to start the 3rd. And you want to take a knee after converting the first down to midfield with plenty of time left on the clock.

 

[Ross12]

Here's how I'd approach things:

- Week 10, @TB: Win. Play 60 minutes, clean up mistakes.
- Short week 11 vs Jets: Win, get mini-bye.
- Week 12, @Cincinnati. Win. The Bengals' defense is so bad, they actually play better with only 10 men on the field.
- Week 13, Giants: Win.
- Week 14 bye week: still want a Win.
- Week 15, Bills: Win. Statement game.
- Week 16, @Baltimore: Win.
- Week 17, @Jets: Win.
- Week 18, Miami: rest people if possible, but still Win.
- Bye week: enjoy watching people lose.

I like my plan better, don't buy the "you really only have to go hard for 3 games" idea. Football doesn't work like that.

I think people are missing the point of the post but it's fine, it is what it is. I understand people just want to see as many W's as possible after the last few years.

 

[TommyD4207]

He moved to avoid the pass rusher and it got punched out. Doing the right thing didn’t always have the best result.
Amazing to me that we lucked into an incredible QB that is carrying his team on his back to the best record in the NFL and “fans” can’t wait take any opportunity to tear him down. We are the Jets of fan bases.