Well, I live in Krakow, so the Boston talk radio can't infect me.
But I just call it like I see it. Hopefully Wynn solves the issues. They just needs to be average, as you allude to. I'm not a chicken little writing the season off, they virtually already have a bye locked up, just saying if that kind of performance shows up in January, the D better be close to pitching a shutout.
I'll also say that I think part of the whinging of NE fans about a 9-1 team now has to do with the ticking clock with Brady as well. Only so many bites of the apple left. So pissing away a season because you lack sufficient OL depth to protect your 42 year-old QB is a bit of a bitter pill. Especially when you've spent almost 20 years watching Dante S. turn castoffs into Pro Bowlers.
I look at things differently. At this point, I don't think TB12 is a top tier option at QB compared to the rest of the league for a number of reasons. One, I have grown tired of him griping about things. Sure, it would be nice to have a true, high priced WR1 . . . but then they would need to trim payroll elsewhere to accommodate that (and come up with $15-18 million a year to get an established guy if one is even out there). Given the way the team is constructed, the receiving corps should be could enough to score 17-20 points a game or more on their own, but Tom seems to have no interest in working with young receivers. Meyers and Harry could be decent contributors on the offense, yet Tom doesn't seem to want to integrate them. They can also use White and Burkhead on routes, so there should be enough puzzle pieces to cobble together some offense.
I also sense Brady isn't as engaged as in the past, and I think he gets too frustrated and gives up on plays too soon on occasion. Last night it seems like he rushed throws for pressure that wasn't really there. Sure, an incompletion is better than a sack or a turnover, but I felt there were plays that he looked deep when he could have hit someone underneath for some yardage to avoid third and long situations. I also think they need to do a better job scheming based on the guys on the field vs. plays in the playbook because of the limitations they have offensively at the moment.
The other thing is I don't think Brady is consistently as good skill wise anymore. No shame in having some diminished skills after 20 years, but he needs to be better more often (or in big spots). What doesn't make sense to me is why they haven't gone out and picked up a BLOCKING TE to help in the run and passing games. LaCosse and Watson can't block (and neither can Newhouse for that matter), so until they fix things they will sputter offensively.
As I mentioned earlier, a lot of it isn't Brady's fault. The receiving options are only ok and they don't really have a great outside option. Dorsett is fast but can only be used situationally. The verdict is out on Harry, but if Brady isn't going to look at those two very often, it may not matter if they get open if he doesn't see them.
IMO, the only way the run game is going to improve is to go no huddle and pass effectively and then mix in a run or an audible. But that does not play to having Michel on the field. So I have very little faith that they will be able to establish a consistent running game. With Michel on the field, their best bet is to hope Wynn can get Michel to a 4.0 ypc and set up some play action. But they aren't going to have a 150 yard game on the ground.
So 17-20 points from the offense, a key turnover or two (or a score) from the defense and they should be in the 20-24 point range (maybe more against inferior teams). Yes, the defense will have to be "on" most weeks to win that way, but Brady and the offense won't be able to blow teams out based solely on the offense. They may need the GOAT to win them a game in crunch time, but they won't get the guy that had 500+ yards basing in the PHI SB. But if the defense is going to give up 30+ points this version of the team will be hard pressed to win.
