Re: Official Patriots vs. Falcons Post-Game Thread
This thread is for the post game comments.. Please take any whining (Welker, et al) to this thread
Here:
Sudfeld seems to be working himself off the team.
Refs tried to hand the game to Atlanta in the 4th quarter. Calling BS on the Replay "malfunction". Also the call on Talib for PI, the Illegal hands on Arrington and the non-call on Jones for OPI.
The 4th quarter was proof as to why you never let up. The Patriots did with passive offensive play-calling and nearly lost the game.
Wendell is clearly becoming an issue. There were 3 or 4 plays where he clearly didn't pick up a block and it cost the Pats. I think that this partially led to the fumbled snap.
Great game by Blount running the ball.
Good to see Thompkins step up.
I really liked what I saw from Boyce. It stinks that the reason we saw it was because Dobson went down. (Still can't figure out how that wasn't a hit on a defenseless receiver/ Blow to the head).
Dobson had some good separation tonight until he took that hit.
Loved how Edelman turned things on in the 3rd quarter. Josh needs to use ALL the weapons to help keep the defenses guessing.
A lot of good observations. To add:
Solid job for Ridley. He pitched in some consistent running. As much as Blount seems to be able to break one when given enough opportunities and the one he did break was HUGE! if you take away that one run he was 8 carries for 17 yards. That's not to diminish Blount's critical TD run but we also need consistent running that gains 4+ yards frequently. Ridley did that with his limited opportunities. The Patriots need Ridley doing what he does (just hold onto the ball!)
That was a first down late in the 4th. And it was by around half the ball if not more IMHO. But I agree with the non reversal. No way the ref could properly spot the ball off the replay. Bad spots happen, it's a difficult job the refs have trying to spot the ball in a pile of human beings. It is what it is.....
The many "Edelman is not even a third WR option" posts from a few months ago seem sorta funny now. This guy was barely signed by the Patriots then there was talk of maybe he will be a final cut. Now? Granted yards per reception are not big but he is almost leading the league in receptions. And if he stays healthy he could very well end up with the coveted 100 catch mark. Talk about a reversal of fortune
Make that F'N! onside kick recovery Sudfeld!! Yea it's a tough play but that is the difference between the guy who goes home with the prom queen and the guy who is pulled out of the crowd and made to sweep up the gym right after the prom is over.
Tony Gonzalez, wow. Some coverage on him was damn good yet he still pulls 'em in. His hands are like a friggin steel trap! Man do we miss having a TE pass catching machine (looking forward to Gronk being back).
Dobson held, then Dobson hit helmet to helmet, then Dobson hurt, and no flag. Did I see that play wrong or was that just not right on two separate levels?
The Patriots came in and won in one of the statistically hardest places to win. TB and the newbies were gettin it done as well as gettin it done with
good D. Solid effort and credit all the way around (I'm giving a pass on the last 5 mins). So will there be more excuse making regarding the D? How it's something other than improved play and the D is still the same bottom tier D of 2010-2012?? Is it still wide open receivers simply dropping the ball? Or the more general the opposition O is simply giving it up for free? Just got lucky? Atl is not right at the moment? Jupiter-Saturn-Neptune aligned with optimum magnetic pull? There has to be something to be unhappy with the D and how they really aren't improved over the 2010-2012 Ds? ((the pass rush was clearly ineffective during much of the game - that needs improvement))
Vince hurt? Ouch. I hope he isn't seriously hurt or at least can return for the Week 8 and 9 divisional games. Not sure why Atlanta didn't challenge the Patriots interior D line with more running. Though it looked like they were still largely getting it done when they did try to run (at least from what I remember).
TB, enough said! He actually looked like a man more at ease than I'm used to seeing, looking like he was enjoying himself (maybe I was seeing it wrong). I'd like to think that maybe the youth of the newbies is having some sort of positive effect on him (at least on that one level).
I'm getting a little more excited each week to see what this team will be when DA, Gronk and Vereen are back. If you take tonight's potency level + Gronk + DA + Vereen, then add a few games to gel everything? There is a viable chance come December that this will be our best team since 2007 (not will be, it may be). Hard to believe that having to rely on all these newbies may, just may, end of being a blessing in disguise. Stay tuned....
