The problem with the Patriots is lack of top end talent

[slash83]

Yes the injuries have depleted the team on both sides of the ball but... For anyone that watches the game the difference in winning and losing with this teak is red zone. It was real bad this last game, the offense was having to kick fg's and the defense was giving up td's, that's why they lost.

 

[tombonneau]

While your points are very well noted and extremely reasonable, I think the concern is the way that the team has been playing for quite awhile now. The defense is giving up an average of 27+ point per game since September. Does that sound like a "good" team to you? It really doesn't to me, but I definitely agree with your advice to try and enjoy the ride as much as possible. Unfortunately, the standard is set higher due to so much hype, having arguably the best QB in the history of the NFL, along with the best head coach. We should in theory, be making deep playoff runs every year, and although that's happened in the past 2, it had been 2007 prior to that.

In 6 of our last 7 games, we've either been down by double digits+, or have lost the game (or both). That, not to mention all of the other weaknesses are likely what is keeping people from lumping us in with the Saints, Panthers, and 49'ers of the world. In other words, you can't just look at records, but you have to be able to look at the entire team, its strengths, and also its weaknesses.

It's a shame when some people are overly negative and take that too far. There's no reason to think that we cannot make a playoff run, but first we have to get into the playoffs. We'll know more about that in the next week or so. With a loss at BAL, we'd be looking at a 3-5 road record on the year, so having a first round bye is extremely important in my opinion. As you said, we should try and enjoy it as much as possible, and I would certainly never count this team out for any reason whatsoever. There are however, some very glaring issues that may indeed prevent us from doing too much this season, but as a fanbase we're very unfortunate.

I get the standards are high and there is a frustration with the closing window in full view, but sometimes Pats fans need to step back and take the 360 degree view.

Let me put in perspective: In the 11 years Brady has been a starting QB, the Patriots have reach the conference championship 7 times. If they make it this year, he will be playing a game to go to the SB in every 3 of 4 seasons. I don't know what more you can realistically ask for.

 

[supafly]

I get the standards are high and there is a frustration with the closing window in full view, but sometimes Pats fans need to step back and take the 360 degree view.

Let me put in perspective: In the 11 years Brady has been a starting QB, the Patriots have reach the conference championship 7 times. If they make it this year, he will be playing a game to go to the SB in every 3 of 4 seasons. I don't know what more you can realistically ask for.

You can't ask for anything more.

It's been a great ride, and we'll always look back fondly on these times.

I'm simply saying that one can still speak realistically about every team's chances for any given year, and the 2013 year does have some glaring issues that are open to discussion. It's a shame when some posters take it too far though, as Joker and Ivan have pointed out. There are no reasons to start ridiculous threads blaming specific players etc.

Let's try and get the first round bye (or make it in general first), then see how the chips fall this year, but as a whole the general state of the team moving forward is fine...actually more than fine.

 

[Bhelmet]

I will not lose much sleep if they missed the playoffs this season. It sounds weird saying/reading it, but I really wouldn't. This was a promising looking team to start the year. We finally had a D that was holding teams to 20 or fewer points keeping us in every game while the O sputtered. We all knew that would change once Gronk came back and Amendola got healthy again. Then Wilfork went down. I contend that was the true end of the SB hopes. The D was never the same. Yes, there were some spectacular efforts by some young guys and the secondary was splendid. Unfortunately, the injury bug got them too. I cannot remember the last time we had a healthy Talib and Dennard. Then we lose Mayo and Kelly. We can no longer stop the run - that will make it damn tough to win much in the post-season. Then there is the O-line. I did not expect them to be so bad this year - injuries or not. I hope this season is an anomaly as far as the line is concerned. I really do not want to bring Brady into the playoffs against the D's we will face being "protected" by these guys. I would not mind seeing an early offseason to get healthy again and see if we can make a serious push next year. I know there are no guarantees, but I feel pretty certain this team will not do much in the post-season. Too much to overcome.

 

[mgteich]

I would be most upset if we didn't make the playoffs.

We have 2 more games. We are guaranteed a playoff spot if we win either game. It is very unreasonable to believe that the team is not good enough to win one of these games and be division champs.

Even if we lose both, there are scenarios under which we will be in the playoffs. But that shouldn't happen. We should beat Buffalo in the last game.

We are the #7 best team in the NFL. We are very spoiled to not want to compete in the playoffs, just because we don't have the best talent at this time. We certainly didn't in 2001.

When we look at points, our defense is tied for 10th best and our offense is 6th best IN THE ENTIRE NFL. If this isn't good enough, don't bother watching. For the rest of us, we are a playoff team with a shot at the Super Bowl, as all playoff teams do. We should be celebrating the fact that we will very likely be division champs for yet another year.

I will not lose much sleep if they missed the playoffs this season.

 

[Triumph]

Losing Gronk cannot be an excuse. He is always hurt and NE still wins.

Wilfork and Mayo were hurt early in the season and NE is 10 - 4 and every loss has been close. Silga, Vellano and Jones have stepped up.

NE needs to figure a way to overcome the OL injuries. Perhaps running the ball more and not being so pass happy with Brady in the shotgun.