We're on to Baltimore

[Oswlek]

Actually, I think we are in agreement. My contention was simply that the concerns about the OL are legitimate, and Rob's dismissal of this concern because they played well in the middle of the season was not much of an argument. I have been trying to stick to facts, but people responded by trying unsuccessfully to pick on one game of many I mentioned. I don't see any straw man, so not sure what you are referring to.

I agree that we agree, which is why this comment stuck in my craw:

Not sure how a few on this board can be fully confident that this lack of production will disappear Sat.

That's the straw man, positioning others as if think the OL is a complete non-issue rather than them claiming it may not be as bad it it's being made out to be.

 

[fightingirish595]

After re watching the 2011 and 2012 AFC Championship games(not that they in anyway matter) I noticed two things. Before I get to that, I was expecting to see Brady being harassed in both of these games. The protection wasn't great, but i definitely expected to see him hit a lot more. That being said, In both of those games there were two distinct problems, turnovers and the inability to finish drives. 4 times we got inside the Baltimore 35 and came away with no points (2012).

 

[JMC00]

Think BB has watched that Texans/Ravens game film and maybe had a chat with BOB and RAC?

And please hold the Watt related responses

 

[JMC00]

@MikeReiss
Expectation at this point is that the Patriots should have all their banged-up players (LaFell, Solder, Edelman etc.) available Saturday.

 

[Oswlek]

After re watching the 2011 and 2012 AFC Championship games(not that they in anyway matter) I noticed two things. Before I get to that, I was expecting to see Brady being harassed in both of these games. The protection wasn't great, but i definitely expected to see him hit a lot more. That being said, In both of those games there were two distinct problems, turnovers and the inability to finish drives. 4 times we got inside the Baltimore 35 and came away with no points (2012).

Yes. 2012 there was solid pressure, but not nearly the level people discuss in retrospect. In 2011, Baltimore could barely lay a finger on him. NE's struggles were almost entirely because Lewis/Reed rarely made a bad decision and ensure the other guys were lined up properly. In 2012, it should also be pointed out, NE had three drops in the maroon zone (35-20) that all short-circuited drives. They also made countless mistakes on the last drive of the half (Hernandez wasting 20 seconds by cutting upfield for three extra yards instead of just ducking out of bounds, Brady wasting 15 seconds instead of just taking the last TO, Brady scrambling and forcing himself to waste the last TO there)... NE could have easily put 24 points on the board in the first half with better execution. Better execution.

 

[Rob0729]

Actually, I think we are in agreement. My contention was simply that the concerns about the OL are legitimate, and Rob's dismissal of this concern because they played well in the middle of the season was not much of an argument. I have been trying to stick to facts, but people responded by trying unsuccessfully to pick on one game of many I mentioned. I don't see any straw man, so not sure what you are referring to.

I am not dismissing it. I am just countering the people who are going overboard the other way (especially the ones who point to the Bills' game as part of their proof). When Connolly is healthy and they have their starting line up in there, I don't have a lot of concerns. They are a good group as a whole. The big concern if someone gets injured and is less than 100% or out. That is where the problems are.

If saying they played well in the middle of the season with their starters all healthy is not much of an argument, how is saying they played like crap with 2/5 of the line and their two best receivers being out is a strong argument?

 

[Huckleberry1]

It is just blind hope.

Absolutely. Just blind hope. It has nothing to do with them having a top three scoring offense again this season, or their 12-4 record and HFA. In fact the Patriots didn't go 12-4 and in fact they sucked as bad as their critics said they did and aren't even in the playoffs, we're imagining this and making this sh.t up. The unbeatable Broncos are already in the Supper Bowl and Brady is belting shopped for a late round pick while the Kraft's try to convince Charlie Casserly to take over the team.

On the other hand maybe the chicken littles should shut their pieholes given that they were 100% wrong about this team all season.

 

[Rob0729]

I agree that we agree, which is why this comment stuck in my craw:



That's the straw man, positioning others as if think the OL is a complete non-issue rather than them claiming it may not be as bad it it's being made out to be.

That's the thing. The "I told you so" crowd is already out in full force warning the people who are optimistic about this game that when the Pats lose because of the offensive line (there is no if because the Pats lost this game back in August) that they are going to be upset when the Ravens destroy the Pats because there is no other possible outcome possible.

 

[Rob0729]

Absolutely. Just blind hope. It has nothing to do with them having a top three scoring offense again this season, or their 12-4 record and HFA. In fact the Patriots didn't go 12-4 and in fact they sucked as bad as their critics said they did and aren't even in the playoffs, we're imagining this and making this sh.t up. The unbeatable Broncos are already in the Supper Bowl and Brady is belting shopped for a late round pick while the Kraft's try to convince Charlie Casserly to take over the team.

On the other hand maybe the chicken littles should shut their pieholes given that they were 100% wrong about this team all season.

Yeah, that is the problem. People who are optimistic about this game are just stick their head in the sand and ignore the problems that plague this team while the people who are predicting impending doom and see there is no way possible for the Pats to win this game are just rational realists and understand the game.

Yes, the Pats have concerns in this game, but the Ravens have just as many or more concerns than the Pats.

 

[letekro]

After re watching the 2011 and 2012 AFC Championship games(not that they in anyway matter) I noticed two things. Before I get to that, I was expecting to see Brady being harassed in both of these games. The protection wasn't great, but i definitely expected to see him hit a lot more. That being said, In both of those games there were two distinct problems, turnovers and the inability to finish drives. 4 times we got inside the Baltimore 35 and came away with no points (2012).

Balt D line a little better since then; our Oline not as good. But, we only had Gronk for one half out of 4 in those games, correct? My recollection is (though I could be wrong), that he was having a really good game before he got knocked out in the third quarter in 2011. And this year's Ravens team probably doesn't have anyone as good as Pollard to cover him.

 

[Nunchucks]

Yeah, that is the problem. People who are optimistic about this game are just stick their head in the sand and ignore the problems that plague this team while the people who are predicting impending doom and see there is no way possible for the Pats to win this game are just rational realists and understand the game.

Yes, the Pats have concerns in this game, but the Ravens have just as many or more concerns than the Pats.

I have not seen anybody predict that the Ravens will win this game. I have seen people point out where the Patriots may have trouble with the Ravens and express concern about that area of the team.

Hyperbole does not help your point of view. The Patriots can very much lose this game to the Ravens, they probably will not, but is it really that much fun to talk about how they are going to stomp all over the Ravens?

No, many of us are measured New Englanders, raised with a sarcastic wit, a negative outlook, and an expectation that all our hopes will come crashing down around us. We talk about how the Patriots could lose, because that is what we do.

Notice the key word is "could" not "expect".

Besides that, I watched them lose to the Ravens last year, live. I saw the same nonsense about how the Patriots will blow them out of the building...the only people downtrodden that day were the legions of Patriots fans walking back to their car being heckled by purple cameo wearing Ravens fans and their silly chants.

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Take away the third quarter and the offense scored 10 points in 3 quarters of play against a mediocre defense. In other games since GB they scored 21, 23, 17 and 9 points. Not sure how a few on this board can be fully confident that this lack of production will disappear Sat.

Translation

Ignore the most important 20 minute stretch of the game and concentrate on the part when the game was decided and distorted by turnovers and blocked FG.

If you do this, I make sense and don't look like the clown I really, really am.

 

[BradyManny]

Yes, the Pats have concerns in this game, but the Ravens have just as many or more concerns than the Pats.

I agree with this - but again, this will not gaurantee the outcome of the game. We've been the better team plenty before. The truth on this one lies in the middle. I would say cautious optimism is appropriate here.

 

[Ring 6]

I have not seen anybody predict that the Ravens will win this game. I have seen people point out where the Patriots may have trouble with the Ravens and express concern about that area of the team.

Hyperbole does not help your point of view. The Patriots can very much lose this game to the Ravens, they probably will not, but is it really that much fun to talk about how they are going to stomp all over the Ravens?

No, many of us are measured New Englanders, raised with a sarcastic wit, a negative outlook, and an expectation that all our hopes will come crashing down around us. We talk about how the Patriots could lose, because that is what we do.

Notice the key word is "could" not "expect".

Besides that, I watched them lose to the Ravens last year, live. I saw the same nonsense about how the Patriots will blow them out of the building...the only people downtrodden that day were the legions of Patriots fans walking back to their car being heckled by purple cameo wearing Ravens fans and their silly chants.

The Patriots beat the Raven last year.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Translation

Ignore the most important 20 minute stretch of the game and concentrate on the part when the game was decided and distorted by turnovers and blocked FG.

If you do this, I make sense and don't look like the clown I really, really am.

Turnovers and blocked FG's aren't part of the game?

Tell us which 20 minutes of the game count so I know when to watch on Saturday.

EDIT: Nevermind, I see that this was a tongue-in-cheek response.

 

[JMC00]

Balt D line a little better since then

Not that this has any effect on this game like none of the other prior games have any effect yet people continue to pound the table using that as a reason why Ravens can and will win

Baltimore had basically the same DL has this year last year when Pats went into Baltimore with a worse receiving corp, an OL that was worse than what this OL has been when all 5 starters are healthy and routed them.

 

[JMC00]

Besides that, I watched them lose to the Ravens last year, live. I saw the same nonsense about how the Patriots will blow them out of the building...the only people downtrodden that day were the legions of Patriots fans walking back to their car being heckled by purple cameo wearing Ravens fans and their silly chants.

And he misses wide left by 10 yards

 

[Nunchucks]

The Patriots beat the Raven last year.

Right, I was thinking the year before, I have been to so many Patriots-Ravens playoff games the last few years.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Perfect attendance at practice today:

http://www.providencejournal.com/sp...tice-attendance-as-brandon-lafell-returns.ece

FOXBORO – The Patriots have started this week out on a healthy note.

On Tuesday, the Pats held their first practice of the week before their AFC Divisional matchup with the Baltimore Ravens and had perfect attendance. The biggest name out there was wide receiver Brandon LaFell, who missed the only two practices the team held last week.

 

[Rob0729]

I have not seen anybody predict that the Ravens will win this game. I have seen people point out where the Patriots may have trouble with the Ravens and express concern about that area of the team.

Hyperbole does not help your point of view. The Patriots can very much lose this game to the Ravens, they probably will not, but is it really that much fun to talk about how they are going to stomp all over the Ravens?

No, many of us are measured New Englanders, raised with a sarcastic wit, a negative outlook, and an expectation that all our hopes will come crashing down around us. We talk about how the Patriots could lose, because that is what we do.

Notice the key word is "could" not "expect".

Besides that, I watched them lose to the Ravens last year, live. I saw the same nonsense about how the Patriots will blow them out of the building...the only people downtrodden that day were the legions of Patriots fans walking back to their car being heckled by purple cameo wearing Ravens fans and their silly chants.

People are talking as if the Pats have no change. If people are going to go overboard with describing my point of view. I can use hyperbole myself.

And as for the Ravens game two years ago, I think if Talib goes down again this Saturday and Marquis Cole has to cover Anquan Boldin again the Pats have no chance of winning this game. My point, is people forget the circumstances that wins and losses come. There were specific reasons the Ravens beat the Pats that game which cannot be reproduced this game.