Thunderlips
Footballguy
Pats fans...... the gift that keeps on giving. 
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Indefinite New England Patriots Thread (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter captain_amazing
- Start date
Pats fans...... the gift that keeps on giving. 
AngryPatriot
Footballguy
GOAT! Great performance sans the pick but the game shouldn't have been that close. C Jones should never field a kick again, is he stupid or something? Sounds harsh but at least jump away from the ball??!! And then Slater... ALMOST a perfect storm. I thought the DEF looked good tonight, more creative, aggressive, and good tackling.
pats3in4
Footballguy
When Gronk went down, I hoped that Brady wouldn't spend all of his dropbacks looking to force the ball to Edelman. That thought got bigger when Amendola went down, too. In the Welker/Moss to Gronk/Edelman era, Brady has appeared to over-rely on these guys as his security blanket...excellent security blankets, indeed, but good defenses can force him out of his comfort zone.
I've got to admit that Brady looked pretty comfortable throwing to White, Mitchell, Hogan and Bennett against Baltimore. That's the Brady the Pats need to win it all this year.
I've got to admit that Brady looked pretty comfortable throwing to White, Mitchell, Hogan and Bennett against Baltimore. That's the Brady the Pats need to win it all this year.
Old Smiley
Footballguy
Does anybody know what sort of deal Dante Scarnecchia is on? Or any impressions as to if they're grooming an apparent successor?
msommer
Footballguy
Old Smiley
Footballguy
The testing the Giants did is itself a violation. You can't stick a needle in the football after they've been given to the refs.
Run It Up
Footballguy
So if we lose Patricia this offseason and hes willing to shelve his head coaching career for a minute, what about Rexy for DC. Marcell Dareus said he thought Rex didnt work out because his defensive game planning was too complex and opponent specific, lacking an identity.
That checks most of the boxes, might even help our pass rush. Not sure they could contain his ego tho, hed have to come to heel for it to work.
That checks most of the boxes, might even help our pass rush. Not sure they could contain his ego tho, hed have to come to heel for it to work.
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captain_amazing
Footballguy
No way would that happen (IMO). They rarely hire out for coaching positions, often promoting within, and he really doesn't fit the coaching culture. I personally wouldn't want to see him in NE. I also don't think he'd help with the pass rush - our lack of pass rushing, IMO, is by design (lots of zone and "contained" rushing with rare blitzing) and due to a lack of pass rushing talent. I do think he would add to defensive scheming and whatnot, but I don't think he'd work out in NE. My guess is he gets another shot at HC or a high profile DC job somewhere outside the AFC East (just an off the cuff hunch).
Old Smiley
Footballguy
Plus I'm guessing if Rex did anything innovative, Bill has already stolen it...
Spike
Footballguy
![[icon]](/data/avatars/m/5/5167.jpg?1660313464){kind=avatar}
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Insoxicated
If the patriots win next weekend it will be their unprecedented 6th straight modern era conference championship. This will also have them in the AFC conference championship 10 out of the last 16 years.
Only comparable streaks:
Dallas Cowboys:
• 4 straight conference champ games in 92-95 after an 8 year drought>
• Went to 12 of 17 conference championship games in 1966-82 which is incredible, but not sure the eras translate (?)
San Francisco 49ers:
• 6 of 7 conference champ games in 1988-94 (2 streaks of 3 straight), and 9 of 14 between 1981-94.
and comically:
• The Buffalo Bills once went to 4 of 6 straight conference championship games, playing in 4 straight superbowls in 1990-93.... losing all 4 because they're the Bills. They've not been back to the Conf Championship in the 26 years since.
Only comparable streaks:
Dallas Cowboys:
• 4 straight conference champ games in 92-95 after an 8 year drought>
• Went to 12 of 17 conference championship games in 1966-82 which is incredible, but not sure the eras translate (?)
San Francisco 49ers:
• 6 of 7 conference champ games in 1988-94 (2 streaks of 3 straight), and 9 of 14 between 1981-94.
and comically:
• The Buffalo Bills once went to 4 of 6 straight conference championship games, playing in 4 straight superbowls in 1990-93.... losing all 4 because they're the Bills. They've not been back to the Conf Championship in the 26 years since.
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Bossman
Footballguy
As a Pats fan, I'm glad they finally have a worthy opponent.
The last 2 months of football have been almost unwatchable as they faced one horrible team after another.
Jets, Dolphins, 49ers, Rams, etc. Not much entertainment when the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
All the while I'm thinking "just wait until after the playoff bye. This will be a quality team" ... being the second round of the playoffs and all.
Nope. They get the Texans. The freakin Texans. I found myself pulling for HOU to score just to make it interesting.
Fuller let a TD go thru his hands and I was complaining.
(... is that considered a drop if it never touched his hands. How can you drop something that you never touched?
)
I really hope PIT doesn't make me wait until the Superbowl to see the Pats play a worthy opponent.
The last 2 months of football have been almost unwatchable as they faced one horrible team after another.
Jets, Dolphins, 49ers, Rams, etc. Not much entertainment when the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
All the while I'm thinking "just wait until after the playoff bye. This will be a quality team" ... being the second round of the playoffs and all.
Nope. They get the Texans. The freakin Texans. I found myself pulling for HOU to score just to make it interesting.
Fuller let a TD go thru his hands and I was complaining.
(... is that considered a drop if it never touched his hands. How can you drop something that you never touched?
)I really hope PIT doesn't make me wait until the Superbowl to see the Pats play a worthy opponent.
fred_1_15301
Footballguy
As a Pats fan, I'm glad they finally have a worthy opponent.
The last 2 months of football have been almost unwatchable as they faced one horrible team after another.
Jets, Dolphins, 49ers, Rams, etc. Not much entertainment when the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
All the while I'm thinking "just wait until after the playoff bye. This will be a quality team" ... being the second round of the playoffs and all.
Nope. They get the Texans. The freakin Texans. I found myself pulling for HOU to score just to make it interesting.
Fuller let a TD go thru his hands and I was complaining.
(... is that considered a drop if it never touched his hands. How can you drop something that you never touched?
I really hope PIT doesn't make me wait until the Superbowl to see the Pats play a worthy opponent.
Bossman
Footballguy
Pats coming in pretty banged up this week:
WR2 Chris Hogan (thigh),
WR3 Malcolm Mitchell (knee)
WR4 Amendola (ankle),
TE1 Martellus Bennett (knee),
MLB1 Dont'a Hightower (shoulder),
DE1 Jabaal Sheard (knee)
RB4 Brandon Bolden (knee),
all showed up as limited participants in Wednesday's practice on the team's most recent injury report.
Reminds me somewhat of last years playoff matchup with DEN.
You would think that with the playoff bye, these guys would be better rested and healed.
WR2 Chris Hogan (thigh),
WR3 Malcolm Mitchell (knee)
WR4 Amendola (ankle),
TE1 Martellus Bennett (knee),
MLB1 Dont'a Hightower (shoulder),
DE1 Jabaal Sheard (knee)
RB4 Brandon Bolden (knee),
all showed up as limited participants in Wednesday's practice on the team's most recent injury report.
Reminds me somewhat of last years playoff matchup with DEN.
You would think that with the playoff bye, these guys would be better rested and healed.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Apparently you haven't been following the injury report all year long. Or the past 15 years for that matter. There have been times when they listed 25 players on the injury report.
The "Patriots are banged up" narrative is a charade, a farce, or in today's vernacular . . . fake news. In NE speak, "limited participation in practice" = resting. With the exception of Gronk, the 2016-17 version of the Patriots is the healthiest team they have had at this stage of the season in at least a decade.
Bossman
Footballguy
True, I typically don't study the injury report on a weekly baisis ... but apparently you haven't been following any of the Patriots games for the past month.
I watched as Amendolas ankle got wrecked, Hogan slow to leave the field last week, Bennett go down and stay down having to leave the game.
These guys aren't faking. I did notice that your eye glasses are a nice shade of rose though.
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Insoxicated
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Amendola got hurt over a month ago and has been such a bit player in the offense it's not worth taking the time discussing him. Bennett has been playing on one leg the entire season. He has tweaked his ankle a half dozen times this year and will be suited up and ready to go. Hogan got a thigh bruise. He'll be ready to go.
It's post season football. 98% of the players still in it have bumps, bruises, and abrasions. Guys with ruptured disks, broken bones, and torn ACL's aren't going to play. Everyone else is going into battle in a do or die game.
wikkidpissah
Footballguy
Pats were pretty close to being unable to run their offense late last yr. don't see that now.
I am fascinated to see what Matt Patricia - whose work with gaps the last coupla months has been revolutionary - has planned for LBell, whose gapfinding is the prettiest RB work i've seen on a fb field since Terrell Davis blew his knee.
I am fascinated to see what Matt Patricia - whose work with gaps the last coupla months has been revolutionary - has planned for LBell, whose gapfinding is the prettiest RB work i've seen on a fb field since Terrell Davis blew his knee.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I haven't really bought into the Pats haven't faced the Killer B's propaganda. Technically, NE may not have faced them all at once, but last year DeAngelo and Brown each went off for a buck thirty and the Pats controlled the game and had a 90%+ win probability from halfway into the second quarter.
Brown and Bell will probably get theirs, but the Steelers point total will be determined by how the other guys do and how many times they cough up the football.
If Ben can stay satisfied with 5 yard check downs and dumpoffs all game and doesn't put the ball up for grabs, the Steelers would have a decent shot. However, I am not sure that jives with his gunslinger, downfield mentality embedded in his DNA.
Bossman
Footballguy
So another AFC Championship game in Foxboro.
I'm curious as to the amount of additional revenue the Krafts get by hosting this game.
Not to mention revenue from the playoff game or two that leads to this one every time they get here.
Bob Kraft has been rewarded 1000x over for his $172m investment when he bought the team ...and the $325m to build the stadium.
Almost feel bad for teams that will never sniff that extra $. Jags, Browns, Steelers, etc.
I'm curious as to the amount of additional revenue the Krafts get by hosting this game.
Not to mention revenue from the playoff game or two that leads to this one every time they get here.
Bob Kraft has been rewarded 1000x over for his $172m investment when he bought the team ...and the $325m to build the stadium.
Almost feel bad for teams that will never sniff that extra $. Jags, Browns, Steelers, etc.
captain_amazing
Footballguy
Here we go again, folks.
Ned
Footballguy
elguapo07
Footballguy
A few thoughts:
For such a big guy Bennett seems to go down pretty easily.
Logan Ryan has quietly been very very good the past month or two.
Branch and Brown are extremely unsung
I that think the Pats are very vulnerable when they go in the nickel\ dime package
One of WR Mitchell or Floyd will need to contribute vs ATL
Has anyone seen Chris Long
Hightower is not 100%
Pats 31 Atl 27
For such a big guy Bennett seems to go down pretty easily.
Logan Ryan has quietly been very very good the past month or two.
Branch and Brown are extremely unsung
I that think the Pats are very vulnerable when they go in the nickel\ dime package
One of WR Mitchell or Floyd will need to contribute vs ATL
Has anyone seen Chris Long
Hightower is not 100%
Pats 31 Atl 27
Baloney Sandwich
Footballguy
Bennett had been playing with broken bones in his leg since week 5, dude is a warrior.
That may be true but the guy never made effort plays in Chicago either. He gives himself up at first contact a lot
Bossman
Footballguy
As a Pats fan, I'm glad they finally have a worthy opponent.
The last 2 months of football have been almost unwatchable as they faced one horrible team after another.
Jets, Dolphins, 49ers, Rams, etc. Not much entertainment when the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
All the while I'm thinking "just wait until after the playoff bye. This will be a quality team" ... being the second round of the playoffs and all.
Nope. They get the Texans. The freakin Texans. I found myself pulling for HOU to score just to make it interesting.
Fuller let a TD go thru his hands and I was complaining.
(... is that considered a drop if it never touched his hands. How can you drop something that you never touched?
I really hope PIT doesn't make me wait until the Superbowl to see the Pats play a worthy opponent.
Turns out ... not so much.
Really wasn't close all game. The AFC is pretty pathetic (other than NE)
Now we'll see if the best team in the NFC can give them a game.
Baloney Sandwich
Footballguy
Blount quit on Pittsburgh and then carried half their defense on his back for 10 yards, tons of examples of guys who supposedly didn't give effort elsewhere leaving it all on the field in a Pat's uniform.
captain_amazing
Footballguy
Rowe has been iffy. He was grateful that the Steeler receivers he was covering had no hands.
Boston
Footballguy
I'm OK with him...not a star by any means but he has made some plays and allowed them not to rush Cyrus Jones...very nice mid-season pick-up...
Boston
Footballguy
Good for him...he got his money...he maybe gone but something says those $ figures will be part of the negotiations with Hightower...
captain_amazing
Footballguy
Anarchy99
Footballguy
In general, I would agree with you. However, he had 30 other teams to choose from and I doubt the $26 million number would have changed very much, if at all.
Boston
Footballguy
Sneaky good year for Patriot rookies:
*Thuney-looks like a fixture at guard for the next decade...very good player...
*Valentine-Quality D-lineman...
*Roberts-Gotta give BB credit on this one...they saw something in this under-sized LB and he has made plays...
*Mitchell-Finally a rookie WR who does not look lost...
*J. Jones-it feels like he makes at least one big special teams play every game...key contributor in that area...
*Brissett-Possibly your back-up next year...they seem to really like him...
*Karras-Liked him enough to keep him around all year...
*C.Jones-Somewhat of an enigma...there is talent there but so are the mistakes...
*Foster-Would love to know what they think of him...kept him around on the practice squad next year...feels like there is something there but he has Lewis and White in front of him...
*Thuney-looks like a fixture at guard for the next decade...very good player...
*Valentine-Quality D-lineman...
*Roberts-Gotta give BB credit on this one...they saw something in this under-sized LB and he has made plays...
*Mitchell-Finally a rookie WR who does not look lost...
*J. Jones-it feels like he makes at least one big special teams play every game...key contributor in that area...
*Brissett-Possibly your back-up next year...they seem to really like him...
*Karras-Liked him enough to keep him around all year...
*C.Jones-Somewhat of an enigma...there is talent there but so are the mistakes...
*Foster-Would love to know what they think of him...kept him around on the practice squad next year...feels like there is something there but he has Lewis and White in front of him...
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I've seen a lot of speculation already about the Pats backfield for next year and was going to save all that until after all the SB victory celebrations and the hangovers wore off.
I think one of the NFL guys who used to cover NE (Breer? Rapaport?) thought NE had big plans for Foster moving forward. Someone else (Curran maybe?) mentioned that this might be the year they go for a top rookie early in the draft. Reiss wrote an article suggesting that the Pats will be bringing in an every day uber back and would definitely be moving away from a three headed hydra. He didn't really say where this back would becoming from (draft? free agency? trade? Foster?), but the only common theme I say was that NE would not stand pat (pardon the pun).
Boston
Footballguy
It does appear they like him but I would love to know what big plans mean when you have both Lewis and White already there with similar skill-sets making low money...I could see bringing in a replacement for Blount...I have grown to like him more but it wouldn't bother me to see someone that is a little more versatile...but than again he also makes low money...I do see McCaffrey's going to the Pats in mock drafts but those are just mock drafts...
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Anarchy99
Footballguy
I think they like Blount, but even with his bowling ball runs and lots of TDs, he really isn't that athletic or skilled a back. As others have mentioned, he's similar to BJGE. I don't have much insight on their master plan, but Blount is now on the wrong side of 30. Lewis, for as good as he's been, is a health risk. I think White is a decent puzzle piece, but I don't think they can really use him in a bigger role. As far as $$$ go, not knowing who this mystery back is makes it hard to guess what they will have to pay for him. I guess a rookie would be cheap. While NE usually likes veteran backs on the back nine of their careers, I don't think someone like that makes them any better than they are now.
Blount and Bolden are free agents, White has 1 year left for $800K, Lewis has 1 year left at $1.3 million. Foster has 2 years left worth a total of $1.2 million. Tyler Gaffney is still lurking in the shadows, but I don't think he could go from the PS to a big role with the snap of the fingers. They certainly don't have a lot tied up financially in their RB's. And for the season currently winding down, they still have $5.3 million in cap space.
Boston
Footballguy
It is intriguing...I would love to see a legit dual-threat back (although I do think they could milk another year out of what they have if they have to)...someone who can get short-yardage and be effective in the passing game...it has always driven me a little nuts that both BJGE and Blount are too one-dimensional...Powell was a guy I think they liked last year but he was paid a little more than they would like...with all the pending free agents coming up I can't picture them putting real money into that position...the draft is always a possibility but if they don't resign TE than that position becomes far more important than RB...