This team isnt that bad

[50-yard-line]

Pats are the 7th AFC seed right now if they beat the Cowboys. Kinda annoying but nothing they can do about it now. Absolutely gotta take care of business.

If they can't even beat the Jets then they don't deserve to play any games after week 17.

Cowboys are a SB contender. As is Tampa. They're hanging with the big boys, but they've got to get over that hump and start winning these games.

 

[Sicilian]

I am not a "fire Belichick/cut everyone" guy, but this season has been bad in ways we didn't even see in 2020 and (so for) it's not getting better.

Penalties, 12 men on the field, blocked punts, fumbles, turning turtle with play calls/game management decisions when going for the throat used to be the baseline, general sloppiness, it's alarming. Like the Pats had questionable decisions and sloppy games sometimes before of course, but now it's the norm.

It's definitely uncharacteristic, especially the ST mistakes. But that's what gives me some hope, is that stuff like that is correctable. They're not getting punts blocked because they don't have talented punt protectors, it's happening because of coaching/execution breakdowns, which can be drilled. Substitution errors are about gameday operation, which I have faith in this head coach to work out. The play calls and game management has been frustrating, but also again not a talent issue, so can be improved as Mac continues to show they should have faith in him. It's a lot to clean up, so I won't sit here and say bank on it, but the solutions to most of their problems so far are already in the building, so that's a start.

 

[archstanton543]

It's definitely uncharacteristic, especially the ST mistakes. But that's what gives me some hope, is that stuff like that is correctable. They're not getting punts blocked because they don't have talented punt protectors, it's happening because of coaching/execution breakdowns, which can be drilled. Substitution errors are about gameday operation, which I have faith in this head coach to work out. The play calls and game management has been frustrating, but also again not a talent issue, so can be improved as Mac continues to show they should have faith in him. It's a lot to clean up, so I won't sit here and say bank on it, but the solutions to most of their problems so far are already in the building, so that's a start.

People said that kind of stuff last year and it never got better. This is virtually the same coaching staff as last yeat.

 

[sean10mm]

It's definitely uncharacteristic, especially the ST mistakes. But that's what gives me some hope, is that stuff like that is correctable. They're not getting punts blocked because they don't have talented punt protectors, it's happening because of coaching/execution breakdowns, which can be drilled. Substitution errors are about gameday operation, which I have faith in this head coach to work out. The play calls and game management has been frustrating, but also again not a talent issue, so can be improved as Mac continues to show they should have faith in him. It's a lot to clean up, so I won't sit here and say bank on it, but the solutions to most of their problems so far are already in the building, so that's a start.

The concern this year vs other slow starts is that we're 6 weeks in and it's still not going away.

2020 was more about having no quarterback, receivers or tight ends. 2021 is better talent on paper but they're way sloppier top to bottom IMO

 

[Nikolai]

I see a lot of references to 2000's 5-11 team that lost all those games by one score. I could be wrong (several concussions has probably caused some damage upstairs) but I always thought the takeaway from that season was all those close games should have been an indicator to everyone who wrote off the 2001 team in August, that the team had a much higher ceiling.

 

[Nikolai]

This team has all the hallmarks of a (mostly) young team, trying to figure out how to play as a team...inconsistent effort, mental mistakes, etc. This team can probably be coached into performing more consistently and less sloppy. I suppose we will see.

 

[Sicilian]

People said that kind of stuff last year and it never got better. This is virtually the same coaching staff as last yeat.

I don't remember a lot of people saying last year that our problems were not primarily talent related.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Screw this “just gotta win against those Super Bowl contenders” talk like they’re almost contenders themselves. They lost to the Dolphins (bottom 10 team) and got curb stomped by the Saints (maybe average), both at home. They barely won against the Texans. None of their games are gimmies. Not sure how anyone is listing a few of their tougher games and thinking they can split them, and run the table or go 5-1 or whatever against “lesser” opponents. They’re simply not good enough right now to expect a win no matter who they’re playing. That’s what life is like in the NFL for all but about 8-10 teams.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I would throw in coaching as another reason the team isn't that good this year so far...

Go for it.

 

[SVN]

 

[sb1]

Well at least we know they aren't Jets bad. lol

 

[sb1]

Titans beat Bills and Chiefs.
Jets beat Titans.
Patriots beat Jets once and then they clown stomped them the second time.

Therefore, Pats own the AFC. Sounds logical to me.

 

[Ring 6]

I see a lot of references to 2000's 5-11 team that lost all those games by one score. I could be wrong (several concussions has probably caused some damage upstairs) but I always thought the takeaway from that season was all those close games should have been an indicator to everyone who wrote off the 2001 team in August, that the team had a much higher ceiling.

I don’t think so because they tore that team apart and turned over half the roster.
A better analogy is 2000 = 2020 close losses poor year leading to major turnover then 2001 = 2021 where there is major turnover, a new QB and a slow start.
2001 team was also 3-4 with 2 wins over the lowly Colts (6-10) and one over the 5-11 chargers in ot.
2001 thru 7 games 3-4 161 points 150 allowed 2021 3-4 179 points 140 allowed.
Hmmm

 

[Ring 6]

Screw this “just gotta win against those Super Bowl contenders” talk like they’re almost contenders themselves. They lost to the Dolphins (bottom 10 team) and got curb stomped by the Saints (maybe average), both at home. They barely won against the Texans. None of their games are gimmies. Not sure how anyone is listing a few of their tougher games and thinking they can split them, and run the table or go 5-1 or whatever against “lesser” opponents. They’re simply not good enough right now to expect a win no matter who they’re playing. That’s what life is like in the NFL for all but about 8-10 teams.

The 2001 patriots were 3-4. They barely beat the lowly chargers. They lost to the Bengals. They got curb stomped by Miami and the mediocre Broncos.
They didn’t play any super bowl contenders in their first 7 games losing to WC Miami, non playoff Jets, Broncos and Bengals.
Through 7 games the 2001 team that has turned over half its roster looked worse than the 2021 team that has turned over half its roster.

 

[Nikolai]

I don’t think so because they tore that team apart and turned over half the roster.
A better analogy is 2000 = 2020 close losses poor year leading to major turnover then 2001 = 2021 where there is major turnover, a new QB and a slow start.
2001 team was also 3-4 with 2 wins over the lowly Colts (6-10) and one over the 5-11 chargers in ot.
2001 thru 7 games 3-4 161 points 150 allowed 2021 3-4 179 points 140 allowed.
Hmmm

Interesting...very interesting indeed

 

[captain stone]

We'll see how not-that-bad this team actually is when they have to face a Real Team on the Road... Justin Herbert's waiting...

 

[RIpats88]

We'll see how not-that-bad this team actually is when they have to face a Real Team on the Road... Justin Herbert's waiting...

If we beat the chargers I think we are heading in the right direction.

But hey, we still have a better record than the niners and Seahawks and have the same record as the chiefs.

 

[mikey m]

We'll see how not-that-bad this team actually is when they have to face a Real Team on the Road... Justin Herbert's waiting...

Your erection at the thought of a loss is showing

 

[sb1]

The 2001 patriots were 3-4. They barely beat the lowly chargers. They lost to the Bengals. They got curb stomped by Miami and the mediocre Broncos.
They didn’t play any super bowl contenders in their first 7 games losing to WC Miami, non playoff Jets, Broncos and Bengals.
Through 7 games the 2001 team that has turned over half its roster looked worse than the 2021 team that has turned over half its roster.

There was something else different about that 2001 team that they don't have today.

 

[Ring 6]

There was something else different about that 2001 team that they don't have today.

Not really.
But I will assume you are referring to the QB position so:

Brady 2001 through week 7
104/169 61.6% 1069 yards 6.3ypa 7 Td 4 Int

Jones 2021 through week 7
174/247 70.4% 1779 yards 7.2ypa 9 TD 6 Int