Patriots Pregame Thread We’re on to Green Bay

[mgteich]

I disagree with this assessment. The patriots should be able to improve between now and the conference championship (as we always do). I do NOT think that the season is over if we have to play KC in Arrowhead. I suspect that KC would be favored, but that hardly means that we won't win.

That being said, beating GB would be a major step forward for the team.

If they drop another game they may never be able to catch KC and the season is likely as good as over if we need to go into Arrowhead. At least it looks that way to me.

 

[dannydyn]

How big a loss is Clinton-Dix for the Packers? I am just looking at his stats, and he has 8 interceptions in the last 1.5 seasons. That seems like a lot of play-making ability, but I know very little beyond the stats. Why would they trade him? Is he just overrated and a liability in other areas? I get that teams are looking to get a return for players whose contracts are expiring, but aren't the Packers supposed to be contending this year?

He's on his last year of his contract, and I'd expect his ask would be too much for GB to meet, therefore, might as well unload him onto another team, and get something in return to boot.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

He's on his last year of his contract, and I'd expect his ask would be too much for GB to meet, therefore, might as well unload him onto another team, and get something in return to boot.

I still don't get it, though. They got a fourth round pick for him. I would assume he'd get them a compensatory pick in the 3rd or 4th round.

 

[libra957]

Belichick should tell the punt

This Bills game on offense is a burn the tape type of game for the Patriots. At least in the red zone. It was one thing or the other. Either bad pass protection, poor decision making, lack of anyone getting open, ect..

They just couldn't execute. Give the Bills some credit but the Pats should have turned at least one of those other FGs into a TD if not two.

This team hasn't had 1 good road game all season and that is concerning. If they need to go on the Road to play KC they will get their ass kicked by the look of things right now.

The Patriots have never beaten Aaron Rodgers (at least I don't think they have). This needs to be the year they do it. If they drop another game they may never be able to catch KC and the season is likely as good as over if we need to go into Arrowhead. At least it looks that way to me.

The Pats need to hold serve at home and score a lot of points to do it most likely. Hopefully the 6 days off does Gronk some good. If they get passed GB and the Titans they can get to the bye week and be healthy enough to close the year out strong.

"The Patriots have never beaten Aaron Rodgers " considering they play each other once every 4 years, that doesn't mean anything.

 

[mosi]

Belichick should tell the punt


"The Patriots have never beaten Aaron Rodgers " considering they play each other once every 4 years, that doesn't mean anything.

Yeah, someone else mentioned that to me. I responded the Patriots have never beaten Colin Kaepernick. Generally ends the conversation.

 

[Sicilian]

Belichick should tell the punt


"The Patriots have never beaten Aaron Rodgers " considering they play each other once every 4 years, that doesn't mean anything.

And one of those years, Rodgers didn't play.

 

[jah]

And one of those years, Rodgers didn't play.

And we still almost lost...

 

[SHOWTIME15]

And one of those years, Rodgers didn't play.

Belichick should tell the punt


"The Patriots have never beaten Aaron Rodgers " considering they play each other once every 4 years, that doesn't mean anything.

The only time they faced each other was in 2014 when the Pats went to Green Bay and lost a close game.

Brady beat the Pack in 2010 in the game when Dan Connolly almost scored on a kickoff return, but Rodgers was hurt and didn’t play.

 

[goheels22002]

What was Green Bay thinking trading away starting safety Ha-Ha Clinton Dix the week before the Patriots game? I like the Pats to beat the Packers anyway, but the Packers defense got worse yesterday. That 4th rounder isn't going to help in Foxboro.

I also like that they bailed on Ty Montgomery who is a Swiss Army knife for them - RB/WR/kikc returner. I get that he blew the Rams game for them, but now they have a hole in their offense that is tough to fill.

The line moved a half point overnight to the Pats giving 6 today.

 

[Triumph]

Run the ball.

GB is ranked 24th vs the run. Run straight at the shrunken head Mathews.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

What was Green Bay thinking trading away starting safety Ha-Ha Clinton Dix the week before the Patriots game? I like the Pats to beat the Packers anyway, but the Packers defense got worse yesterday. That 4th rounder isn't going to help in Foxboro.

I also like that they bailed on Ty Montgomery who is a Swiss Army knife for them - RB/WR/kikc returner. I get that he blew the Rams game for them, but now they have a hole in their offense that is tough to fill.

The line moved a half point overnight to the Pats giving 6 today.

The trade deadline has come just days before the Pats play the packers. Green Bay had little choice. Teams don’t make trade decisions (and should not) based on who their upcoming opponent is.

And Montgomery disobeyed orders to stay in the end zone. It cost his team badly.

 

[Deus Irae]

What was Green Bay thinking trading away starting safety Ha-Ha Clinton Dix the week before the Patriots game?

It's pretty good thinking on Green Bay's part, actually

1. Green Bay has no shot to win the Super Bowl
2. Green Bay knows it has no shot to win the Super Bowl
3. Letting Dix go after the season would yield an absolute maximum of a 3rd round pick two drafts from now.
4. Trading Dix now yields a 4th round pick in this upcoming draft
5. Trading Dix now means that the team won't lose (max) 3rd round comp pick if, as expected, they sign more eligible free agents than they lose.

 

[Deus Irae]

As mediocre the Packers D may be on paper, I thought they did a great job against the Rams, consistently pressuring Goff.

Goff under pressure v. Brady under pressure

Who ya' got?

 

[tasmlab]

Run the ball.

GB is ranked 24th vs the run. Run straight at the shrunken head Mathews.

I like the strategy, now we just need a running back to put it in place.

 

[mosi]

Run the ball.

GB is ranked 24th vs the run. Run straight at the shrunken head Mathews.

But with who?

 

[Boston Boxer]

got a general question about Patterson. Why is he not used as typical WR on the outside? I only see him catching screens, running jet sweeps and at RB/KR. with him and Gordon on the outside, you would think it opens up the middle for Gronk and Edelman. I have to think he is much more than a gimmick player.

 

[Deus Irae]

got a general question about Patterson. Why is he not used as typical WR on the outside? I only see him catching screens, running jet sweeps and at RB/KR. with him and Gordon on the outside, you would think it opens up the middle for Gronk and Edelman. I have to think he is much more than a gimmick player.

Patterson is not a capable route runner.

 

[goheels22002]

It's pretty good thinking on Green Bay's part, actually

1. Green Bay has no shot to win the Super Bowl
2. Green Bay knows it has no shot to win the Super Bowl
3. Letting Dix go after the season would yield an absolute maximum of a 3rd round pick two drafts from now.
4. Trading Dix now yields a 4th round pick in this upcoming draft
5. Trading Dix now means that the team won't lose (max) 3rd round comp pick if, as expected, they sign more eligible free agents than they lose.

I guess the bigger picture in my mind is that Ha-Ha Clinton Dix is a pro-bowl safety with a nose for the ball. Your assumption seems correct that that the Packers had decided that they were not going to pay the going rate to keep him. Looking at the Packers, they have other needs on defense, and they really need to do something about that offensive line with a guy like Rodgers at QB. They created a weakness out of one their strengths.

The real beneficiary in this might be Matt Patricia who now has a better shot at winning the NFC North. His defense got better with the trade for DE Damon Harrison. A win on Sunday against the Vikings could put the Lions in first place.

 

[Uptown]

And one of those years, Rodgers didn't play.

But Big Man Dan surely did!

 

[TheRainMaker]

Run the ball.

GB is ranked 24th vs the run. Run straight at the shrunken head Mathews.

That would be the game plan if they had Michel.