Reflecting on the 2013 Pats

[mgteich]

The Offseason Getting Harder Every Day

SOME 2014 UFA's WHO PLAYED WELL
Blount
Edelman
Hooman
Wendell
Talib

And Fletcher played OK.

 

[A.C Vegas]

Re: The Offseason Getting Harder Every Day

that is not that hard gronk will be back so TE will be a back Blount,Edelman and talib hae earned their money

 

[goheels22002]

Patriots Tie Raiders for #2 all-time in AFCCG appearances

AFC Championship Game - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

With the win last night against the Colts the Patriots are now tied with the Raiders at #2 all-time in AFC Championship game appearances with 11, four behind the Steelers' 15. With a win, they move into sole position of 1st in AFCC victories, or most Super Bowl appearances by an AFC team.

In other records, Brady holds the record for most playoff pass completions, playoff games played, and passes attempted in the playoffs.

Belichick is now #3 all-time in playoff games coached and tied with Don Shula for #2 in playoff wins, one behind Tom Landry.

NFL head coach playoff records - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

So, after reflecting on the Pats victory on Saturday night, I am at a point where I can say that this 2013 squad ranks among my all-time favorite Patriots teams, along with the 1976, 1985, 2003 & 2004 versions, and here's why...

Before the season even started, they lost Aaron Hernandez and Adrian Wilson, and had to start the season without Rob Gronkowski.

In the first game, they lost Danny Amendola for 4-5 games and Shane Vereen for 8 games.

During the first half they lost Aquib Talib, Steve Gregory to multiple game injuries and Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly to season ending injuries.

Then, they lost Jerod Mayo and Sebastian Vollmer.

Gronk returned and then was lost again for the season.

And through it all, they kept reinventing themselves and playing tough and buying into Bill Belichick's "next man up" philosophy.

They finished the season 12-4, won the AFC East and got a first round bye.

Then, Brandon Spikes went down for the year and my logical, prognosticating side just didn't see how they could trudge on.

Yet, they did. A bunch of no-name guys stepped up and led this team to a blowout win vs. upstart Andrew Luck and the Colts on Saturday night.

LeGarrette Blount and Jamie Collins and Dane Fletcher stepped up. Julian Edelman made us all forget that guy who drops passes to lose Super Bowls. Stevan Ridley fought off fumble-itis to become a spectacular change-of-pace back.

And through it all, the greatest coaching/QB combo of all-time just kept the ship steady, full speed ahead.

And now, here they sit in yet another AFC Championship game - the 8th time Belichick and Brady have been there in the past 13 years.

Charles Barkley said a couple of nights ago that we Pats fans take winning for granted and don't understand how blessed we are to have a team that is in the mix year and year out.

I disagree. I think we appreciate the greatness of this team over the past decade plus, and I think we most definitely love and appreciate this 2013 squad of Dirt Dogs and fighters.

If they go into Denver and lose on Sunday, I know they will do it with valiance and pride and if they go on the road, with an injury-riddled squad and beat the Broncos and Peyton Manning on Sunday, maybe those irrational types who claim Tom Brady is a system QB will finally understand they have been watching one of the top 2-3 greatest QBs to ever play the game these past years.

Or maybe they won't.

Who cares?

Because here a couple of facts the Patriot haters just have to deal with:

1) We have the 2nd youngest team in the NFL so whatever you're seeing this season, will just get better over the next few seasons under Bill Belichick's tutelage.

2) We got #12 and we got Coach Mumbles and we ain't going away as long as those two call New England home.

Go Pats!

 

[IllegalContact]

they're in the AFCC, and the way I see it are playing with house money

I'm already happy with the pats level of success this season........want more, but will not complain about any of the decisions made for the 2013 season.

especially proud of the defense and the game plan that has evolved with the run even though the pats have brady.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Reflecting is for when things are finished.

hopefully, I can come back and read this post in 3 weeks.

 

[mayoclinic]

Reflecting is for when things are finished.

hopefully, I can come back and read this post in 3 weeks.

I agree.

But there are several reasons why this has been one of my favorite Pats teams so far:

1. They appear to be the most mentally tough and resilient team we have had since 2003-2004. The 2011 SB team was tough and resilient, but this team even more so.

2. They've re-invented themselves on both sides of the ball multiple times this season. Past teams have done this to some extent (trading Randy Moss and re-working the offense around the TEs in 2010 comes to mind), but I can't recall any doing so on both sides of the ball.

3. The entire squad seems to be on the same page in terms of team-first approach, selflessness, detailed preparation and dong the little things. It's so hard to get 53 guys on the same page - there's usually a couple of outliers. BB notably cut Albert Haynesworth for lack of effort in 2011, and the result was a less talented but more focused and committed team. The only possible outlier this year is Brandon Spikes, depending on how true the reports are.

Here's a remarkable statistic: since the Pats lost 33-14 to Cleveland on November 7, 2010, the Pats have gone 48-14 including the playoffs; in the 14 games that they have lost, they have been within a TD at some point in the 4th quarter of the game:

- 9/23/2012: Lost by 1 point on the road at Baltimore on a controversial FG.
- 10/14/2012: Lost by 1 point on the road at Seattle.
- 9/16/2012: Lost by 2 points at home against Arizona, with a missed FG opportunity to win it at the end.
- 9/25/2011: Lost by 3 points on the road at Buffalo.
- 10/20/2013: Lost by 3 points in overtime on the road against the NY Jets, on a controversial penalty that had never before been called.
- 11/6/2011: Lost by 4 points at home against the NY Giants.
- 2/5/2012 (2011 SB): Lost by 4 points against the NY Giants.
- 11/18/2013: Lost by 4 points on the road against Carolina, on a controversial non-call at the end of the game that cost them a shot to win the game from the 1 yard line.
- 12/15/2013: Lost by 4 points on the road against Miami, missing on 3 chances to score the winning TD in the red zone at the end of the game.
- 1/16/2011 (2011 AFC Divisional Round): Lost by 7 points at home to the NY Jets.
- 10/6/2013: Lost by 7 points on the road at Cincinnati in a downpour.
-12/16/2012: Lost by 7 points to San Francisco at home. Came back after being down 28 points in the 3rd quarter (31-3) to tie the game.
- 10/30/2011: Lost by 8 points on the road at Pittsburgh. Were down 6 points with 2:35 left in the game.
- 1/20/13 (2012 AFCCG): Lost by 15 points to Baltimore at home, but trailed 14-13 entering the 4th quarter.

Twice in those 62 games the Pats were being "blown out" by playoff-caliber opponents: they were down 31-3 against San Francisco last year and came back to tie the game in the 4th quarter, and they were down 24-0 to Denver this year at the half and came back to win the game in OT.

They could lose next week, but I don't think they would go out with a whimper.

 

[chasa]

this has already been a great season.

Win or lose next week i'm happy that we made it this far on the backs of second and third stringers at almost every single position.

This team with all its starters would be a team capable of going 19-0

 

[qbno12]

Our season is not done yet..will wait until it's over in 3 weeks to reflect on it

 

[SalemPats]

this has already been a great season.

Win or lose next week i'm happy that we made it this far on the backs of second and third stringers at almost every single position.

This team with all its starters would be a team capable of going 19-0

I agree, we can win the SuperBowl and next year's team is going to be a lot better

 

[Mountain_Commando]

Here's a remarkable statistic: since the Pats lost 33-14 to Cleveland on November 7, 2010, the Pats have gone 48-14 including the playoffs; in the 14 games that they have lost, they have been within a TD at some point in the 4th quarter of the game:

- 9/23/2012: Lost by 1 point on the road at Baltimore on a controversial FG.
- 10/14/2012: Lost by 1 point on the road at Seattle.
- 9/16/2012: Lost by 2 points at home against Arizona, with a missed FG opportunity to win it at the end.
- 9/25/2011: Lost by 3 points on the road at Buffalo.
- 10/20/2013: Lost by 3 points in overtime on the road against the NY Jets, on a controversial penalty that had never before been called.
- 11/6/2011: Lost by 4 points at home against the NY Giants.
- 2/5/2012 (2011 SB): Lost by 4 points against the NY Giants.
- 11/18/2013: Lost by 4 points on the road against Carolina, on a controversial non-call at the end of the game that cost them a shot to win the game from the 1 yard line.
- 12/15/2013: Lost by 4 points on the road against Miami, missing on 3 chances to score the winning TD in the red zone at the end of the game.
- 1/16/2011 (2011 AFC Divisional Round): Lost by 7 points at home to the NY Jets.
- 10/6/2013: Lost by 7 points on the road at Cincinnati in a downpour.
-12/16/2012: Lost by 7 points to San Francisco at home. Came back after being down 28 points in the 3rd quarter (31-3) to tie the game.
- 10/30/2011: Lost by 8 points on the road at Pittsburgh. Were down 6 points with 2:35 left in the game.
- 1/20/13 (2012 AFCCG): Lost by 15 points to Baltimore at home, but trailed 14-13 entering the 4th quarter.

Twice in those 62 games the Pats were being "blown out" by playoff-caliber opponents: they were down 31-3 against San Francisco last year and came back to tie the game in the 4th quarter, and they were down 24-0 to Denver this year at the half and came back to win the game in OT.

Wow.

You know, for that longest time, I'd been feeling like all the Pats losses were brutal, bitter etc. A lot of it was hangover of losing some really big games since '06.

Then sometime before this season started, it occurred to me that the reason those losses felt tough was because the team was in it until the very end.

Suddenly, my frustration turned into appreciation. As a result, I never felt bitter about our 4 losses this season. I wasn't happy about them, but I could appreciate how the team fought until the very end.

That realization made this season doubly special for me. And now looking at the numbers you posted (thanks for that!), that realization is validated.

However, THIS team...I posted after the first Miami game, that I would NEVER question the 2013 Patriots again. This team is just special! I don't care what happens ahead, I'm proud as heck at what they overcome and what they've achieved and the pure grit that they've shown. I will fondly remember this season for some time.