The Patriots' next 4 games

[mayoclinic]

Well, we're half way through "the next 4 games". Having blown a golden opportunity against the Colts, we're now 1-1 after a convincing win against the Jets.

Saints up next. After the Colts game, the hype around this one will be unreal. This is the 7th undefeated team we have played this year - that has to be some kind of record. And 4 of those 7 (Jets, Broncos, Colts and Saints) were on the road. Can't remember a team playing 8-0 and 10-0 teams in one season, off the top of my head.

Win the next 2 and we're 9-3 and heading down the home stretch peaking at the right time, looking at the probable #2 seed in the AFC.

I would really like to see us beat the Saints. As a non-conference game it may have lesser importance in the tie break. But we are clearly one of the top 4 teams in the NFL right now, and I'd like to see us show we can finish against another top team.

 

[The Dynasty]

Well, we're half way through "the next 4 games". Having blown a golden opportunity against the Colts, we're now 1-1 after a convincing win against the Jets.

Saints up next. After the Colts game, the hype around this one will be unreal. This is the 7th undefeated team we have played this year - that has to be some kind of record. And 4 of those 7 (Jets, Broncos, Colts and Saints) were on the road. Can't remember a team playing 8-0 and 10-0 teams in one season, off the top of my head.

Win the next 2 and we're 9-3 and heading down the home stretch peaking at the right time, looking at the probable #2 seed in the AFC.

I would really like to see us beat the Saints. As a non-conference game it may have lesser importance in the tie break. But we are clearly one of the top 4 teams in the NFL right now, and I'd like to see us show we can finish against another top team.

Yes, huge statement game for the Pats this week. Last week at Indy we showed that we could compete with the best the league has to offer on the road, this week we need to show that we can beat the best the league has to offer. Also, this is another good test for our secondary to go against Brees.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

yeah, next week's important. we still haven't won a game on the road (don't try to tell me "Tampa Bay") and none of the teams we've beaten has a record better than .500 today.

 

[mgteich]

For me, it has always been about the five games (the 2 Miami games, the jets, indy and NO). We still could be playing Miami for the division lead in 2 weeks.

For me, the key has been winning the three division games in the five game run. We've won two. We have one more to go. There will be incredible hype, but New Orleans is NOT a division game. Do you have any doubt which of the next two games is more important to Belichick?

Well, we're half way through "the next 4 games". Having blown a golden opportunity against the Colts, we're now 1-1 after a convincing win against the Jets.

Saints up next. After the Colts game, the hype around this one will be unreal. This is the 7th undefeated team we have played this year - that has to be some kind of record. And 4 of those 7 (Jets, Broncos, Colts and Saints) were on the road. Can't remember a team playing 8-0 and 10-0 teams in one season, off the top of my head.

Win the next 2 and we're 9-3 and heading down the home stretch peaking at the right time, looking at the probable #2 seed in the AFC.

I would really like to see us beat the Saints. As a non-conference game it may have lesser importance in the tie break. But we are clearly one of the top 4 teams in the NFL right now, and I'd like to see us show we can finish against another top team.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Well, we're half way through "the next 4 games". Having blown a golden opportunity against the Colts, we're now 1-1 after a convincing win against the Jets.

Saints up next. After the Colts game, the hype around this one will be unreal. This is the 7th undefeated team we have played this year - that has to be some kind of record. And 4 of those 7 (Jets, Broncos, Colts and Saints) were on the road. Can't remember a team playing 8-0 and 10-0 teams in one season, off the top of my head.

Win the next 2 and we're 9-3 and heading down the home stretch peaking at the right time, looking at the probable #2 seed in the AFC.

I would really like to see us beat the Saints. As a non-conference game it may have lesser importance in the tie break. But we are clearly one of the top 4 teams in the NFL right now, and I'd like to see us show we can finish against another top team.

Many people say that, but to me, the best defense against a tie breaker is not to finish in a tie. So win every game you can, including the non conference games. This time of year, after Thanksgiving, it's all about momentum, building towards the playoffs. And the 1st game after Thanksgiving is the Saints.

 

[mayoclinic]

There is no doubt that the next four games are going to be the most hyped games of the year. So,lets take a look at them as to their importance to the Patriots season.

Colts- tomorrows game with the Colts is important in that the Colts are an AFC team. Home field advantage in the playoffs might be on the line but I doubt it. Don't forget we did win 2 of the 3 SB's playing the AFCCG away. Having said all that, I think the Patriots win it and it should be a great game.

Jets- Certainly more important than the Colts game and I consider it a must win game regardless of beating the Colts. They beat us in the first game and we can't afford to lose 2 to them.

Saints- Assuming that we beat the Colts and the Jets, the Saints game will be pure entertainment. They still might be unbeaten and so we would want to spoil that for them and get a W, but that's all the importance I put on that game.

Fins- 2nd in importance only to the Jets game. If we beat the Jets and Colts, a win over the Fins would all but wrap up the playoffs unless something totally weird happens over the rest of the season.

OK, tell me how I'm wrong.

I hope you were entertained.

Still think the Saints game was meaningless? I think it had a lot of meaning. It meant we're not ready for a deep playoff run, we're not an elite team, we don't have enough of a pass rush to threaten the top QBs, and we can't win the big games against good opponents. Lot of meaning, and none of it very pleasant.

I think it meant a lot more than the Dolphins game will mean next week, win or lose.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I hope you were entertained.

Still think the Saints game was meaningless? I think it had a lot of meaning. It meant we're not ready for a deep playoff run, we're not an elite team, we don't have enough of a pass rush to threaten the top QBs, and we can't win the big games against good opponents. Lot of meaning, and none of it very pleasant.

I think it meant a lot more than the Dolphins game will mean next week, win or lose.

I disagree. If you think proving yourself over locking up the division matters, sure. I do agree though. This game was so dissapointing because it just shows you they ain't ready for prime time.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Well as I began to say in the lead off in this thread, it all comes down to beating the Jets, which the Patriots did, and the Fins this Sunday.

Making the playoffs id the first step. It would be nice to have home field but it's not really needed to make it all the way.

Now some are going to say, "but, these were "statement" games. I don't believe in "statement" games. Here are a couple of "statement" games from the past. How important did they turn out to be?

November 18, 2001 St. Louis Rams L 17-24
October 31, 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers L 20-34

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

WIN ONE FREAKING GAME ON THE ROAD AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT A SUPER BOWL RUN.

Right now it seems as if the Patriots probably could not beat the Browns or Lions on the road.

 

[Irish Hooligan]

I hope you were entertained.

Still think the Saints game was meaningless? I think it had a lot of meaning. It meant we're not ready for a deep playoff run, we're not an elite team, we don't have enough of a pass rush to threaten the top QBs, and we can't win the big games against good opponents. Lot of meaning, and none of it very pleasant.

I think it meant a lot more than the Dolphins game will mean next week, win or lose.

:ditto::agree::yeahthat::enranged:

 

[mayoclinic]

Well as I began to say in the lead off in this thread, it all comes down to beating the Jets, which the Patriots did, and the Fins this Sunday.

Making the playoffs id the first step. It would be nice to have home field but it's not really needed to make it all the way.

Now some are going to say, "but, these were "statement" games. I don't believe in "statement" games. Here are a couple of "statement" games from the past. How important did they turn out to be?

November 18, 2001 St. Louis Rams L 17-24
October 31, 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers L 20-34

Different kind of games.

The 2001 Pats were a young team on the rise, going up against the overwhelmingly favored Rams. The fact that they were able to play competitively was one of the things BB build on in making a SB run.

The 2004 Pats were the defending SB champs and on a record winning streak when they went into Pittsburgh hit by some major injuries to key players (Ty Law, Rodney Harrison). They had to field a patchwork secondary.

This was a team that was trying to show that it could win on the road, win the big game, and belong among the elite teams, that laid a goose egg and got steamrolled. Totally different.

 

[Patspsycho]

It meant we're not ready for a deep playoff run, we're not an elite team, we don't have enough of a pass rush to threaten the top QBs, and we can't win the big games against good opponents. Lot of meaning, and none of it very pleasant.

I think it meant a lot more than the Dolphins game will mean next week, win or lose.

Not necessarily.. See '04 Halloween debacle in Pittsburgh. We rolled over in that one, then came back to bury them in the AFCC.

Interesting parallel: Dillion was out for that game. Taylor was out for last night.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

The 2004 Pats were the defending SB champs and on a record winning streak when they went into Pittsburgh hit by some major injuries to key players (Ty Law, Rodney Harrison). They had to field a patchwork secondary.

We fielded a patchwork secondary in the playoffs too that year. Randall gay as CB2 and wasn't Troy Brown the nickel back? Hank Poteat off the streets. And Asante well before he was Asante.

Also, Rodney wasn't injured in the Halloween game. I distinctly remember Bettis running him over towards the end and getting in his face.

This game is very comparable to that game. If we get healthy on OL and Brady doesn't make throws like the first pick, who knows what can happen in a rematch.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Different kind of games.

The 2001 Pats were a young team on the rise, going up against the overwhelmingly favored Rams. The fact that they were able to play competitively was one of the things BB build on in making a SB run.

The 2004 Pats were the defending SB champs and on a record winning streak when they went into Pittsburgh hit by some major injuries to key players (Ty Law, Rodney Harrison). They had to field a patchwork secondary.

This was a team that was trying to show that it could win on the road, win the big game, and belong among the elite teams, that laid a goose egg and got steamrolled. Totally different.

And that will mean totally nothing in January. They will either have it together by then or they won't. The NO game will mean nothing.