Pats vs. Patsies: Considering New England's schedule

[CTPatsFan]

By Os Davis, realfootball365.com

(Excerpt)Those waiting to proclaim the New England Patriots ' dynasty carrion had probably better take a look at the Foxborough boys' remaining schedule and start searching for corpses elsewhere.

Seriously, how did this happen? After taking care of business four weeks of five and inexplicably limping through the Denver Broncos game, New England takes a 4-1 record into the bye week. The Pats will emerge from the mini-vacation to see a schedule card that includes a virtual "Who's Who" of beat dogs, including the Detroit Lions , Green Bay Packers , Miami Dolphins , Tennessee Titans and the Houston Texans ; combined, these teams are currently 3-21.

Aside from these notables, New England's dance card also includes visits to marginal squads such as the Buffalo Bills , Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars (who, by Week 16, should be exposed for the .500-level teams they actually are), plus a home date against the New York Jets .

Exactly two appointment-canceling dates for both Patriot haters and worshippers appear on New England's schedule: Nov. 5 and Nov. 26. The opposition on these Sundays will be the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears , respectively, a pair of juggernauts who may well bring undefeated records to the face-off.

But guess what, Bradyophobes? Both games are in Foxborough. Indy and Dah Bears may bring zero losses into town but shouldn't count on leaving Massachusetts still perfect. (Continued)

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2006/10/patriots-soft-schedule111006.html

 

[PatsDeb]

While I agree the schedule bodes well for us, I think it is a mistake to consider everyone patsies. We had a hard time against "patsies" Buffalo and Miami, while our one blowout came against Cincinati, which was supposed to wipe up the field with our secondary. You never know from week to week. We need to prepare for everyone and only look up to see where we are week 16

 

[D-cleater]

True, but that doesn't mean that those teams still don't bite.

I look at it as payback for the 2003 season when we played one of the toughest schedules, ran over both MVP's in the playoffs, and still won the super bowl .

The concern if we win all our games against weak teams, but lose to Chicago and Indy ( which, I don't think will happen, I think we crush Indy this year) , will we really know how good this team is? BB will, sure, but he doesn't post here

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

The sad thing is that before the season everyone knew the AFC East was an crappy division, and that the Lions, Packers, Titans, and Texans were awful teams. It wasn't even close to a stretch to guess that the Pats would go 4-2 in the division, beat those 4 awful teams, and split the rest to finish with an 11-5 record.

All this "downfall of the Patriots" crap was either written by idiots, intended for idiots, or both.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

After their opening day loss the Broncos have a similar schedule awaiting with just SD, Seattle and Cincy to go I believe at home. However the rest of the big dogs in the AFC are in some deep dog poop.

Indy has 7 of 11 tough matchups yet to come. Washington, @ Denver, @ NE, @ Dallas, Philly, @ JAX and Cincy. Yeeesh....

Cincy and Baltimore also have a tough road to hoe going forward with each other still to face twice, Baltimore yet faces Pittsburgh twice late when Ben may have awakened from his face plant induced coma, and they both have teams like Carolina, @ NO, Atlanta, @Denver or KC or @ Indy yet to go.

I'll take the Pat's at 4-1 with their remaining schedule any day.

 

[bishbash]

The concern if we win all our games against weak teams, but lose to Chicago and Indy ... will we really know how good this team is? BB will, sure, but he doesn't post here

Sure he does, who do you think NEM really is???

 

[PatsDeb]

Sure he does, who do you think NEM really is???

I thought he was Josh McDaniels using some serious reverse psychology.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

While I agree the schedule bodes well for us, I think it is a mistake to consider everyone patsies. We had a hard time against "patsies" Buffalo and Miami, while our one blowout came against Cincinati, which was supposed to wipe up the field with our secondary. You never know from week to week. We need to prepare for everyone and only look up to see where we are week 16

Agree, every game is different and needs to be considered on its own merits. What looks like a easy game isn't always that way.

Phins have beaten us in each of the past two years, when they weren't supposed to.

Phins were playing for their season this past week, and it was a really tough game, tougher than a normal AFCE game against them.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Yow, this guy is right, the Bears do have an absolute cakewalk schedule. They have a tough one against the Pats, and two semi-toughs at the Giants and the Rams. That is it! Everything else is soft, soft, soft.

@AZ
SF
Miami
@Giants
@Jets
@Pats
Vikes
@Rams
Bucs
@Lions
Packers

What fluff!

 

[broadwayjoe]

Yow, this guy is right, the Bears do have an absolute cakewalk schedule. They have a tough one against the Pats, and two semi-toughs at the Giants and the Rams. That is it! Everything else is soft, soft, soft.

@AZ
SF
Miami
@Giants
@Jets
@Pats
Vikes
@Rams
Bucs
@Lions
Packers

What fluff!

I think its kinda interesting to see the Dolphins on Chicago's schedule again in a season when the Bears have a chance to have a Undefeated record when they meet and the 72 Dolphin alumni are waiting to uncork the champagne well I don't think this Miami team will stop that streak I believe it will probably be the Giants or the Pats to put a blemish mark on that record and it helps both have the Bears at home also.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Dolphins fans honestly think that the Fins will take down Chicago to keep the '72 thing alive. If the Fins couldn't beat the Pats to keep their season alive I don't see how they have any shot at da Bears.

I want the Bears to be undefeated going into the Miami game so that they can shut them out, quashing any sense of "the team protects its legacy." I also want to see the Fins fans on here praying the Pats beat Chicago.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Dolphins fans honestly think that the Fins will take down Chicago to keep the '72 thing alive. If the Fins couldn't beat the Pats to keep their season alive I don't see how they have any shot at da Bears.

I want the Bears to be undefeated going into the Miami game so that they can shut them out, quashing any sense of "the team protects its legacy." I also want to see the Fins fans on here praying the Pats beat Chicago.

"Thats !!! why they play the games" Boomer on ESPN