The O will get it together, but how 'bout that DEFENSE?!

[Nunchucks]

Lets not forget that the Bucs held the Saints to under 20 points, that is a solid defensive effort. Maybe the Patriots defense is not so bad afterall?

 

[Rob0729]

What I don't get is over the last few days, the Pats' solid defensive effort turned into the defense being awful and maybe be even worse than any year in the last few years.

 

[Ring 6]

Lets not forget that the Bucs held the Saints to under 20 points, that is a solid defensive effort. Maybe the Patriots defense is not so bad afterall?

The Saints did pretty exactly what the Jets did against the Bucs, but that can't be because allowing 10 points against the Jets is supposed to mean you will allow 90 vs the Saints. Now I'm really confused.
I just can't wait to see how we dig ourselves out of this 2-0 hole.

 

[Nunchucks]

What I don't get is over the last few days, the Pats' solid defensive effort turned into the defense being awful and maybe be even worse than any year in the last few years.

Yeah, it is a mystery to me. I am just loving football is back and am ready to sit on the edge of me seat wondering if the Patriots will win or not.

As a long time fan, I have to say that "expecting" the Patriots to win has been boring, I like that nervous anxious feeling that comes with not knowing if they will pull it off, there is nothing like watching those last 2 minutes of a game where the defense is trying to make a stop to get the ball back....

This is football, enjoy it..do not waste your life crying about what was or what you wish would happen....just enjoy the game.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The defense has obviously come through to this point but their biggest challenges lay ahead of them, and while i don't expect them to be dominant at this point I am really encouraged because this is a team whose defense has almost always gotten better and more complex as seasons progress, and if that holds true this season then they are going to end up being one of the best defenses in football by the end of the season, and that more than anything is what has me holding out hope that they can still be a contender for the SB come January. I still think the best offenses, such as N.O. and Atlanta are going to do well against them, especially if they continue to struggle on offense and allow as many opportunities for opposing offenses as they are right now, but hopefully as the offense improves and the defense gets experience with the high powered offenses they really find themselves and turn into a really good D. Long way to go but i believe they will be a top 5 scroing defense by the end of the year.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Yeah, it is a mystery to me. I am just loving football is back and am ready to sit on the edge of me seat wondering if the Patriots will win or not.

As a long time fan, I have to say that "expecting" the Patriots to win has been boring, I like that nervous anxious feeling that comes with not knowing if they will pull it off, there is nothing like watching those last 2 minutes of a game where the defense is trying to make a stop to get the ball back....

This is football, enjoy it..do not waste your life crying about what was or what you wish would happen....just enjoy the game.

Yep, obviously it is great to be a fan of a dominant team but the games do become kind of boring, and i think this is going to be like the early years of Belichick and Brady where they have to execute individual game plans to perfection and find ways to win, instead of just putting up 40 and hoping the defense can hang on. I actually like the fact that they have to depend upon the defense to come through for them and play really smart field position games. i still think they will be good offensively when it all comes together and they get healthy (if they get healthy) and I think that ultimately this will be a much better team for the remainder of Brady's career if they successfully weather these bumps, develop their young receivers, and become a complete team that wins with every aspect of the team pitching in.

This may not be there year with as many questions and areas to really develop as they have right now, but this could be a really good team for the next 3-4 years if they manage to develop and progress, there is plenty of talent there but adding a few pieces in the draft and free agency could put them over the top down the road. It may not be pretty but it certainly has me looking at them more closely and looking at what they need to do going forward.