The Official Patriots/Bills Postgame Thread

[MoLewisrocks]

I know--Prozac use is an epidemic.

But I'm stoked about Meriweather making a huge play to save the game. Wonder if he was freelancing at the time?

I don't know, but he clearly was on other occasions including for one of the TD's we gave up to the pathetic Bills that you're all lamenting... Take away that score and the kickoff return and they'd have only scored 16... Which isn't bad considering how poorly they played fundamentally (missed tackles, missed assignments, lack of discipline).

There is some talent on this team including in the secondary. The problem is most of it is either inexperienced and/or undisciplined. You can't help one, the other is inexcusable.

The offense was lucky it was the Bills too. Too many mistakes - it's execution and not playcalling as usual that stymies this team. Drops, penalties, miscues - they went backwards up by 8 with 4 minutes to go. You can't do that against say...the Colts.

This team certainly has plenty of talent and if it all can come together and execute consistently they will be fine. But given the mentality of some of the youngsters on defense, that may not be a given. Veterans on this team can't afford to make mistakes, and they can't afford to keep it light. These kids need to learn that while football is a game and it's fine to have fun playing it, playing at this level as pros isn't a game... Get off twitter and facebook, put the Madden games away, tell your pals you'll see them after the season and get in your playbook and watch film until your eyes cross and listen to your coaches, they know more than you've already forgotten.

 

[Steve102]

The only time I'm unhappy with a win is if it's accompanied by a significant injury to an important player. So yeah, I'm happy with this win. Division wins are division wins, and you take em when you can get em as far as I'm concerned.

This is as succinct as it gets. In December, when we are headed to 9-7, we'll be happy with the win. Division wins are great, regardless on the score. Brady said as much postgame.

Defensively, we have some big issues. On the second Buffalo possession, the Bills broke an 0-40 streak when facing third and ten or longer, converting a third and eighteen. On the 3rd possession, Buffalo converted a third and five by hitting an open Lee Evans in front of rookie Devin McCourty. After recovering a fumble from Brandon Tate, the Bills punched it in the end zone by taking advantage of an out of position Brandon Meriweather. Fitzpatrick hit rookie running back CJ Spiller out in the flat on the left side, where he ran up the sideline for the six points. Meriweather had outside contain responsibility, but aggressively went inside, leaving the sideline unprotected. Spiller was able to run untouched into the end zone.

Granted, a win is a win. But we will need a substantial improvement against the Miamis, Indys, SD's and Pitt's that are upcoming.

 

[VectorPrime]

This is as succinct as it gets. In December, when we are headed to 9-7, we'll be happy with the win. Division wins are great, regardless on the score. Brady said as much postgame.

Defensively, we have some big issues. On the second Buffalo possession, the Bills broke an 0-40 streak when facing third and ten or longer, converting a third and eighteen. On the 3rd possession, Buffalo converted a third and five by hitting an open Lee Evans in front of rookie Devin McCourty. After recovering a fumble from Brandon Tate, the Bills punched it in the end zone by taking advantage of an out of position Brandon Meriweather. Fitzpatrick hit rookie running back CJ Spiller out in the flat on the left side, where he ran up the sideline for the six points. Meriweather had outside contain responsibility, but aggressively went inside, leaving the sideline unprotected. Spiller was able to run untouched into the end zone.

Granted, a win is a win. But we will need a substantial improvement against the Miamis, Indys, SD's and Pitt's that are upcoming.

At least all the toughest games are at home.

And we won't be 9-7 come on

 

[RayClay]

I actually thought the Bills offense looked pretty decent. QB was aggressive and decisive, trying to win a job and Lynch is talented and obviously trying to prove he's not a complete idiot.

Sometimes teams don't play like their past stats say they should and it's better to actually watch the game and decide how they look.

 

[Steve102]

And we won't be 9-7 come on

I hope you are right. I think we are gonna need the bye week after Monday night to get ready for Baltimore. The Pats made Fitzpatrick look like a stud, with the exception of when they could apply pressure. I am hopeful The Hoodie has something figured out for next week.

I can't help but think that this game should have been 38-17 or something like that. Buffalo has a decent running attack, but to have Fitzy go 20-27, that's not good. What's someone like Rivers gonna do to 'em.

 

[reflexblue]

I actually thought the Bills offense looked pretty decent. QB was aggressive and decisive, trying to win a job and Lynch is talented and obviously trying to prove he's not a complete idiot.

Sometimes teams don't play like their past stats say they should and it's better to actually watch the game and decide how they look.

:ditto::wha: I think the pats were gearing up to stop the run maybe not thinking that fitzpatrick could play that well. Evey game is different just cause Green Bay blew them out doesn't automatically mean we would. They played the fins close in their first game, and the fins are giving the jests all they can handle

 

[VectorPrime]

I hope you are right. I think we are gonna need the bye week after Monday night to get ready for Baltimore. The Pats made Fitzpatrick look like a stud, with the exception of when they could apply pressure. I am hopeful The Hoodie has something figured out for next week.

I can't help but think that this game should have been 38-17 or something like that. Buffalo has a decent running attack, but to have Fitzy go 20-27, that's not good. What's someone like Rivers gonna do to 'em.

If it weren't for the ST ****ing itself then the game would have been 38-23.

You remove a stupid fumble by Tate and maybe the bills only score 16.

So there you go.

 

[Keyser Söze]

If it weren't for the ST ****ing itself then the game would have been 38-23.

You remove a stupid fumble by Tate and maybe the bills only score 16.

So there you go.

shoulda coulda woulda.

Fact is they scored 30, and if the Pats didn't get two INT's, the Bills could have scored more. See that logic?

 

[SEA_Pat]

Saw a lot of things to like:

1. The offense back to spreading the ball and committing to the run (and being successful at it). Brady back to the guy we know and love. Great work by the O-Line.

2. Replacing Faulk - did the injury force them into being more creative or did the opportunity to take some of Faulk's plays and the new wrinkle of a different guy with the ball contribute to the success?

3. The TEs and BJGE.

4. Some flashes again from Brace, Cunningham and Spikes (great hit and stuff on Lynch run).

5. Some great safety play from Chung and Meriweather and solid play from McCourty. Turnovers are something we're getting this year that we didn't last year.

On the other hand, there were obviously some bad things:

1. Defensive secondary giving up big plays (again, still).

2. Some terrible safety play from Meriweather and Sanders.

3. Edge was not well set.

4. Beaten on Special Teams all game.

Overall, they deserved to win and took care of business. I agree with the poster who noted that we've replaced a slow and experienced Defense that had maxed out their ability to compensate for speed with knowledge with a quick and inexperienced Defense that will have growing pains but a lot of room for improvement. Enjoyed the game a lot, good action.

 

[VectorPrime]

shoulda coulda woulda.

Fact is they scored 30, and if the Pats didn't get two INT's, the Bills could have scored more. See that logic?

Ok, lets forget about the fumble.

The FACT is that the Bills OFFENSE scored 23 points. They had nothing to do with the kick return.

 

[Froob]

the kick return should of been illegal block in the back, wouldn't meriweather of gotten spiller from behide when he stopped and broke away from those 2-3 defenders?

 

[sbpatfan]

Wow, the Dolphins defense gave up 31 points to the Jets. They must really suck ass.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Originally Posted by TriplecHamp
why can't our crowd be as loud as the Saints or Chiefs?

I think the biggest reason is the construction of the stadium, they sure were'nt thinking of acoustics when they came up with that design, add the current type of crowd and you have a recipe for a quieter stadium.

 

[patsox23]

I'm really amazed at how many bright Patriots fans think the defense can be excused away as much as it has been on this thread. They are not good at all. Again, I hope you're right about the improvement, but the Bills offense is TERRIBLE, and if they seemed "not as bad as you thought," it's because the Patriots D played a big part in making them look that way.

 

[patsox23]

The problems that the secondary is having is being created by the inability to apply pressure on the quarterback, whether by the fact that it is a weak line and lb's or by weak defense strategy and schemes. Probably a little of both, but for whatever reason, and I am far from being an expert, the defensive signals being sent in are far too soft....

That's why we create star quarterbacks on opposing teams

What he said. Times TEN.

 

[Fencer]

Our defense gave up 23 points to the worst offense in the nfl.

(Only) 1 TO contributed to that scoring.

And 1 ST breakdown took a drive away from that offense, and otherwise STs didn't do that offense any favors.

Overall, that very below-average offense had what league-wide would probably be a somewhat (not hugely) above-average day.

 

[Kontradiction]

The problems that the secondary is having is being created by the inability to apply pressure on the quarterback, whether by the fact that it is a weak line and lb's or by weak defense strategy and schemes. Probably a little of both, but for whatever reason, and I am far from being an expert, the defensive signals being sent in are far too soft....

That's why we create star quarterbacks on opposing teams

Last season, we were among the most aggressive defenses in the league when it came to the blitz. Don't see any reason why that's changing this year.

 

[bostonia3333]

My thoughts.........................

1) We arguably have the worst defense in the NFL.

2)It's hard to detect patterns this early in the year, but its obvious that Brady has to play superb for this team to barely win games. He made some spectacular throws and couldn't play much better, yet we had to sweat it against the Bills. If Brady plays average, we lose pretty easily to 90% of the teams in the NFL.

3) Welker has lost some separation ability. It saddens me to see ACL injuries to players...especially wideouts. After Jerry Rice had that ACL tear, he never was the same. I hope Welker will get better with time...I hope he's not playing with a hidden injury right now.

4. The offensive line pass protection has been amazing so far

5. The pass rush and secondary is progressively getting worse each year---there were 20 yd cushions on receivers, the pass rush was pathetic as well. I dont think Leigh Bodden would have helped matters much either. The culture needs to change with thie defense. Dean Pees is gone, but it still seems like he hasn't left. I'm just wondering if the defense is just going through the motions and thinking the offense is a security blanket who will come through all the time.

 

[danam404]

Get off twitter and facebook, put the Madden games away, tell your pals you'll see them after the season and get in your playbook and watch film until your eyes cross and listen to your coaches, they know more than you've already forgotten.

Yup. Have you seen mccourty, butler, and guyton on twitter?

All day, everyday.

 

[vyrago]

??



The defense has been entirely transformed and two of your best veterans are on IR. People were complaining that our defense was old and slow, and now it's young, fast, and inexperienced. There are still pieces to add but most of all it's the kind of squad that needs patience to see how it all unfolds.

Calming wisdom.