Pittsburgh avoided a playoff rematch with New England

[BradyisGod]

I just hope Jax takes the way the Pats approached the game for what it was...a mojor sign of disrepect.
Most on here last week were saying how important a #3 seed was. Now after a loss, everyone changes their tune.

PLEASE GO AWAY

 

[ClosingTime]

Ummmmmm....no thanks.

 

[BradyisGod]

Are you equally as pissed at Marvin Lewis, b/c he had his team mail it in to try to get to Jacksonville as well? That would prove you are sincere in your point. Or are you just another troll trying to stir up trouble by taking an anti-Pats, anti-Belichick stance?

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

Yes, but Pitt didn't throw a game to avoid the matchup now did they.

Pitt didn't have a game to throw away. If they lost, KC was in.

 

[ClosingTime]

First, I'm not pissed. Just calling it for what it was. Neither the Pats or Cincy wanted the 3rd seed. The ones who I think should be pissed are the Jags.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

The Jags can read all the disrespect into the strategy they like, they are still the weaker opponent, even if they beat Maddox and Co. Beating an experienced Pittsburgh playoff team is par for the course, allowing them to school the young Bengals and rough up (if not beat) one of the top seeds is just good planning. Grump about it all you want, your lads still have to wrestle the tiggers.

 

[mgteich]

We all WANT to play PITT in the Chamionship game at Foxborough.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

We all WANT to play PITT in the Chamionship game at Foxborough.

I respect,admire, even laugh at most peoples opinions here (even some of the other teams posters), but Anyone who thinks we have the steelers number is a tad dilusional....some of our greatest victories in the last few years have come at thier expense but a few of them were absolute battles that required the Pats to dig way down to pull out victory...

I for one, am glad that we will not have to play Pitt in the 1st round. If we see them later on, great. It will be another classic.

 

[Double G]

You guys have it all wrong; Closing Time is not a troll, as his 433 (and counting) posts will demonstrate.

Trolls usuall show up before a big game, like, oh say the first Stoolers game last year and talk smack. Come to think of it, that's when old CT showed up here; anway, when they win the game (like the Stoolers did), they hang around to rub it in. They continue to hang around until the next time the teams play so when his team wins again, like in the AFC Championship game last year.............oops, bad example; what a total ***** kicking that was by the Patriots, ok, the game earlier this year in the Stool City..........oops, another bad example. Christ, CT how the @#$K did the Stoolers blow that game......well, you get the point. Come to think of it, maybe he is a troll................

 

[ClosingTime]

Nice one Double G

 

[STFarmy]

Seriously, ClosingTime's not a troll. A little antagonistic sometimes, yes - but he presents things from a different perspective which is not a bad thing.

 

[dryheat44]

I realize I'm resuscitating a buried thread, but since nobody else made the point, allow me to conjecture that if the Steelers held the 5 seed, and the Jaguars the 6, the Patriots would have played Miami the exact same way. The strategy was never about choosing your opponent, it was about letting guys heal up some nagging injuries, and making sure nobody else (Brady, Seymour, Vrabel) got hurt. Don't forget that the past two years the Pats had a bye week 1. They don't have that luxury this year. All this talk about not trying in order to play Jacksonville instead of Pittsburgh is just silly. There's no advantage to being seeded 3 rather than 4, or 5 rather than 6, for that matter. Health is much more important. The Pats almost went to overtime vs. Miami. If they were trying to lose, don't you think they would have done a better job?

 

[mikey]

What I find very interesting about the article is that Willie Parker was an undrafted rookie free agent.

I always find it amazing how teams like Denver, KC, Baltimore, and Pitts can routinely draft great RBs. You have backups RB like Willie Parker, Chester Taylor, Derrick Blaylock, Larry Johnson, Tatum Bell, and Mike Anderson. If one goes down, another one just pops right up.

In contrast, we have to get older RB through the free agency and give them big fat contracts when they are in their 30's. We are then stuck with them as they proceed to underperform or go on the disabled list. The ones we drafted are mediocre or very susceptible to injury.



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[dryheat44]

What I find very interesting about the article is that Willie Parker was an undrafted rookie free agent.

I always find it amazing how teams like Denver, KC, Baltimore, and Pitts can routinely draft great RBs. You have backups RB like Willie Parker, Chester Taylor, Derrick Blaylock, Larry Johnson, Tatum Bell, and Mike Anderson. If one goes down, another one just pops right up.

In contrast, we have to get older RB through the free agency and give them big fat contracts when they are in their 30's. We are then stuck with them as they proceed to underperform or go on the disabled list. The ones we drafted are mediocre or very susceptible to injury.



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Ummmmm.....Staley and Bettis came to Pittsburgh in trades/FA. Denver also drafted Clarett. Their RB success is a function of their O-Line, not their drafting. When runners leave there, they don't do nearly as well, and guys who were nothings, like Droughns and Dayne, find success there. Holmes came to KC as an aging FA, that Belichick tried to get. The only proven RB Baltimore has they spent a top 10 pick on.

Get your facts straight before you universally try to make a point. Denver might be saying the same thing about New England "Man...they can sure draft defensive linemen...we need to rely on other teams' rejects." It's a matter of where the GM chooses to spend his high picks. To my knowledge, Belichick drafted two RBs: Redmond in the third, and Cobbs in the fourth. I wouldn't call it a failure. I would actually call it smart. Get a proven NFL-caliber RB instead of spending millions of dollars on a first round RB that might be a bust.

 

[Tony Collins]

Yes, but Pitt didn't throw a game to avoid the matchup now did they.

Ding ding ding ding ding!!!!!!


Prizes for the winner !!!!

I thought BB goes all out all the time. Those looked like brand spanking new helmets and jerseys losing to the fish on Sunday. Was it to avoid Pitt?
Was it to play JAX? How funny it would be if all this talk of going to INDY or Denver was derailed by a team with teal in their uniform.

 

[mikey]

Ummmmm.....Staley and Bettis came to Pittsburgh in trades/FA. Denver also drafted Clarett. Their RB success is a function of their O-Line, not their drafting. When runners leave there, they don't do nearly as well, and guys who were nothings, like Droughns and Dayne, find success there. Holmes came to KC as an aging FA, that Belichick tried to get. The only proven RB Baltimore has they spent a top 10 pick on.

Get your facts straight before you universally try to make a point. Denver might be saying the same thing about New England "Man...they can sure draft defensive linemen...we need to rely on other teams' rejects." It's a matter of where the GM chooses to spend his high picks. To my knowledge, Belichick drafted two RBs: Redmond in the third, and Cobbs in the fourth. I wouldn't call it a failure. I would actually call it smart. Get a proven NFL-caliber RB instead of spending millions of dollars on a first round RB that might be a bust.

I was not trying to question or criticize Pioli/Belichick for the way they handled our RB situation, as your posting (earlier unedited version) seemed to insinuate.

I was just making an observations why many teams have very productive and reliable backup RBs while we had to go out and get guys like Heath Evans.

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[dryheat44]

I was not trying to question or criticize Pioli/Belichick for the way they handled our RB situation, as your posting (earlier unedited version) seemed to insinuate.

I was just making an observations why many teams have very productive and reliable backup RBs while we had to go out and get guys like Heath Evans.

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Actually, my earlier, unedited post actually commended you for challenging the Pats' brain trust. It was sincere, not sarcastic. Then I remembered you post stuff like this all the time just to (apparently) get people to respond in a huff.

Your point about the Patriots deciding to only go with three RBs on the roster is a valid one. It's a point a few of us made back in September.

 

[coltshater]

Stating the obvious

The reasons the Patriots played the game the way they did are obvious:

1) Resting starters(no injuries).
2) Backup players get real game experience.
3) Able to Concentate on game planning Jacksonville solely a week sooner.
4) Giving Steeler fans the stupid idea that the Patriots are afraid of a team that the Patriots beat in two AFC championship games played in Pittsburgh.

 

[Ring 6]

The strategy was very simple. Get ready to beat whichever team we play in round 1.
That means getting the starters a few reps, and playing the backups.

This game meant NOTHING to the Pats. They were locked in to 3 or 4 either way, and were playing a first round game at home.
It did not matter at all whether they won or lost, except for just not wanting to lose a game.

They played hard with backups, played to win, but being ready for the 1st round (including limiting injuries) was more important than the outcome of that game.

Anyone who thinks Bill Belichick puts a single thought into manipulating who his opponents are is out of touch with reality.

 

[BradyAlright]

Hello from Hong Kong, this is my first post. I have been a big fan of this Forum for at least two years. Box o Rocks, NEM, and Andy much respect for your knowledge, and your insight on the Pats.

I really believe that the Pats will continue there run for the super bowl regardless who they play Pitt and Denver, or Indy. I been checking out the herald and globe and the guys just have look and feel for this upcoming playoff games. Big Willie, Tedy, and Brady are just so relax, "Been there done that" type of swagger.

We have allot of Patriot Fans here in Hong Kong, I just know that with Brady and his attention to details and his drive to win is to overwhelming for this team to have a let down. I think our secondary will be a big surprise for us. After Jacksonville we will have huge advantage having played one of the better defensive lines allowing or offensive line to be battle tested against Denver, Indy or Pitt (do they really have a defense line other then Hampton)

Hell, even our Head Coach seems to be brewing with confidence. Chess board has been set people. Just watch how he (Belichick) works his magic.