Two things can be true:

[Huckleberry1]

I agree.

Also especially agree about “should’ve won if not for stupid mistakes”. I feel like that’s sort of been the mantra of the past few seasons for us, sadly.

While I understand this take I’m choosing to look at this team as a new entity, and starting fresh from this season. Had the aberration at offensive coordinator not happened I might look at it in terms of a continuation of Jones and the team’s development, but having Patricia run the offense last season was such a disaster that I’m giving them a pass on it. Yesterday was more like the next step in their development to me than anything that happened last season has me giving them a pass on it. I still think it was the worst decision of Belichick’s career, but it’s over now, and I’m letting go of it.

 

[sb1]

I still think it was the worst decision of Belichick’s career

It was... at least as a HC.

 

[1960Pats]

We didn't get the better of the officiating calls, for sure. That was not a hold by Henry. There should have been an unsportsmanlike call on the guy that stood over Marcus. The holding call in the ez on Dugger was ticky tack, and then Bourne was interfered with shortly after and they didn't call that.

It's amazing how inconsistent the officiating is from game to game.

I saw one game where they called an illegal formation because one of the linemen wasn't on the line of scrimmage. I guess that ref didn't see the KC game.

There were plenty of other inconsistencies too but I don't need to get into the details of those.

 

[Bruins29]

I mean if nobody is allowed to critique the team then I guess we are going to the Superbowl baby!

Nobody is saying that.

 

[Steve102]

Belichick is interesting this morning because he said it was the right decision to go for it at 4th and 3 on the Eagles 17 when down 8. I don't disagree. I think it was as well.

But he said it wasn't right to forego the punt at 4th and 17 (though he did mention he doesn't know how many yards would've been gained, which signals some lack of confidence that Barringer can pin the Eagles inside the 15). But here's what I don't get. Who made the decision to forego the punt? Is Bill giving too much rope to Billy O'Brien? Is that what Belichick is telling us there?

I haven't heard his comments, but I think he's wrong. If he kicks the FG with 9:40 left, he gives the team a fighting chance. The defense was doing very well and they most likely would have gotten the ball back even without the turnover. Kick the FG, make a stop, and it's a 2 point game. I don't like his reasoning there one bit.

I wonder if he misses Ernie more than we realize? The 4th and 17 call smacked of desperation, and they still had plenty of time. Give the defense a chance.

 

[BTTA]

And the players don't owe me anything, but the Patriots do.
I'm a bigger Patriots fan than you..actually I'm a bigger Patriots fan than @Kontradiction

No, the Patriots as a team, as an organization, don't owe you anything, other than a seat if you bought one at the game.

 

[RIpats88]

I haven't heard his comments, but I think he's wrong. If he kicks the FG with 9:40 left, he gives the team a fighting chance. The defense was doing very well and they most likely would have gotten the ball back even without the turnover. Kick the FG, make a stop, and it's a 2 point game. I don't like his reasoning there one bit.

I wonder if he misses Ernie more than we realize? The 4th and 17 call smacked of desperation, and they still had plenty of time. Give the defense a chance.

the way the defense was playing you always take the points...

 

[PWRxWLF]

I haven't heard his comments, but I think he's wrong. If he kicks the FG with 9:40 left, he gives the team a fighting chance. The defense was doing very well and they most likely would have gotten the ball back even without the turnover. Kick the FG, make a stop, and it's a 2 point game. I don't like his reasoning there one bit.

I wonder if he misses Ernie more than we realize? The 4th and 17 call smacked of desperation, and they still had plenty of time. Give the defense a chance.

Right? What a crock of ****. 9 mins left and you go for it because you don’t know how many more chances you’re gonna have to get there? If this is how he truly felt than he had less faith in the offense than many on this board.

 

[Wozzy]

Bottom line: stay healthy, fix the mistakes and improve... this is a playoff contending team.

None of what went wrong yesterday was the result of a lack of talent or being outmatched, and they won't face a more talented team all season.

 

[Ring 6]

It means teams like the Eagles, Bills, Dolphins, Chiefs don't even have to play that well offensively to score 25 points.

They're regularly scoring in the 30's, the Patriots just can't score enough to beat good teams and the proof is in the results they can't beat playoff teams.

You just aren't going to beat these teams scoring 20 points.

Dolphins averaged less than 25 ppl last year.

 

[Username]

We're just lacking a guy that defenders have to account for on every snap, someone who can make something happen from nothing.

We really have to work hard to score. We have to put long drives together and Mac has to be damn near perfect. The days of dumping a 5 yard pass to Gronk and watch him run 40 yards upfield through defenders is sadly long distant

 

[Huckleberry1]

Right? What a crock of ****. 9 mins left and you go for it because you don’t know how many more chances you’re gonna have to get there? If this is how he truly felt than he had less faith in the offense than many on this board.

I don’t think it was about that, I think he was trying to show confidence in his team. If anything Belichick has been too careful in these decisions, and other teams have been benefitting from pulling out all the stops against them. There’s always going to be criticism when a decision like that fails, but at this point in their development I would rather see them be more aggressive than too cautious overall.

 

[mike_usagisan]

We're just lacking a guy that defenders have to account for on every snap, someone who can make something happen from nothing.

We really have to work hard to score. We have to put long drives together and Mac has to be damn near perfect. The days of dumping a 5 yard pass to Gronk and watch him run 40 yards upfield through defenders is sadly long distant

Right, but that's Patriots football, and to be honest, I thought that's what it was like even before Mac. Death by a thousand papercuts. Just stringing together long drives. I think we have the personnel capable of doing that and I think we're going to get better at it.

Hell, Mac had 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. We would have killed for those numbers last year.

 

[Ring 6]

Bottom line: stay healthy, fix the mistakes and improve... this is a playoff contending team.

None of what went wrong yesterday was the result of a lack of talent or being outmatched, and they won't face a more talented team all season.

2 back to back plays cost them the game. A game which they otherwise pretty much dominated.

 

[Ring 6]

We're just lacking a guy that defenders have to account for on every snap, someone who can make something happen from nothing.

We really have to work hard to score. We have to put long drives together and Mac has to be damn near perfect. The days of dumping a 5 yard pass to Gronk and watch him run 40 yards upfield through defenders is sadly long distant

You mean like when rhamobdre takes a screen and goes for 32. Not so distant

 

[Huckleberry1]

I mean if nobody is allowed to critique the team then I guess we are going to the Superbowl baby!

Yep. No criticism allowed. Going to the Super Bowl baby.

 

[Guts]

Yep. No criticism allowed. Going to the Super Bowl baby.

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

The little mistakes that add up cost us the game. Its still early so there is time to correct. If this is the toughest team on our schedule....we should be a dangerous team to deal with....Its not how you start but how you finish that counts!

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Belichick is interesting this morning because he said it was the right decision to go for it at 4th and 3 on the Eagles 17 when down 8. I don't disagree. I think it was as well.

But he said it wasn't right to forego the punt at 4th and 17 (though he did mention he doesn't know how many yards would've been gained, which signals some lack of confidence that Barringer can pin the Eagles inside the 15). But here's what I don't get. Who made the decision to forego the punt? Is Bill giving too much rope to Billy O'Brien? Is that what Belichick is telling us there?

no he's just criticizing himself in hindsight. He makes the calls about when to punt, try a FG etc.

 

[moosekill]

It means teams like the Eagles, Bills, Dolphins, Chiefs don't even have to play that well offensively to score 25 points.

They're regularly scoring in the 30's, the Patriots just can't score enough to beat good teams and the proof is in the results they can't beat playoff teams.

You just aren't going to beat these teams scoring 20 points.

Great take! Oh wait, no it is as stupid take. Go back to Scotland!