2020 Pats: How Does the Season End?
- Thread starter BigSoxFan
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Play well next week. Win by 10 or so. Go to KC and play them close for a half before losing by three scores.
Edit: but I’m not eager to jump on the “era is over” bandwagon. Who knows what happens next year. Get the o line healthy, get Brady signed, a year of Harry in the system, etc. Who knows.
Edit: but I’m not eager to jump on the “era is over” bandwagon. Who knows what happens next year. Get the o line healthy, get Brady signed, a year of Harry in the system, etc. Who knows.
It ends next week. Tennessee will play man against the Patriots and they will have no answer. Brady is hurt and does not trust anyone beyond Edelman and maybe White out there The defense is not what it looked like in the first half. The Titans come up here and win handily against a very average Patriots football team.
I voted divisional round. I felt that might be the end of the road regardless of today's outcome. Without the bye week I feel more sure of it.
I don't think I can stomach KC or Baltimore dancing on the Pats' grave.
They likely get beat at home next week anyway.
They likely get beat at home next week anyway.
Probably an emotional overreaction to today, but I'm saying they lose next week.
- Edelman desperately needed a week of rest. Won't get it. Will not be effective and may even get knocked out of the game.
- Ten plays tight man and the Pats' passing game cannot get untracked.
- Ten has the #12 rush defense by yds/game, and #8 by yds/rush. The Pats will struggle to run the ball.
- Henry forces the Pats to really game for the run, but that opens up the passing game for Tannehill, who's been great. If Fitzy can carve up the Pats, think what Tannehill can do (and he's better).
- BB vs his former assistants is not an encouraging record.
That said, the Pats will find a way to keep it close. Brady has balls of steel and is tough as nails and the team will fight like crazy. They may make a big special teams play. They may get a big defensive play. They'll keep it close but not have enough in the end.
Then all the offseason questions will come. Kellerman will talk about the demise of the Patriots (despite having a season the vast majority of NFL franchises wish they'd have had). But Brady will come back. They'll get healthier. They'll upgrade. And we will be right back here next year with another 11-12 win season (despite a difficult schedule) and will have a chance to compete in the playoffs again.
- Edelman desperately needed a week of rest. Won't get it. Will not be effective and may even get knocked out of the game.
- Ten plays tight man and the Pats' passing game cannot get untracked.
- Ten has the #12 rush defense by yds/game, and #8 by yds/rush. The Pats will struggle to run the ball.
- Henry forces the Pats to really game for the run, but that opens up the passing game for Tannehill, who's been great. If Fitzy can carve up the Pats, think what Tannehill can do (and he's better).
- BB vs his former assistants is not an encouraging record.
That said, the Pats will find a way to keep it close. Brady has balls of steel and is tough as nails and the team will fight like crazy. They may make a big special teams play. They may get a big defensive play. They'll keep it close but not have enough in the end.
Then all the offseason questions will come. Kellerman will talk about the demise of the Patriots (despite having a season the vast majority of NFL franchises wish they'd have had). But Brady will come back. They'll get healthier. They'll upgrade. And we will be right back here next year with another 11-12 win season (despite a difficult schedule) and will have a chance to compete in the playoffs again.
The angry fan in me tonight wants to vote 'Wild Card vs. Tennessee', but if this is it for Bill and Tom together, then I just can't count this team out too soon. I could see a close but solid win vs. the Titans and one more magic Brady win to take down KC before the run ends in Baltimore.
I think they make it back to Baltimore and lose there. It just seems like a special year for them and I think the Ravens win the SB.
Pats should win at home next week just because the defense can't play that bad again (back to back weeks). I also think the Pats upset the Chiefs as they owe them for the regular season loss.
Pats should win at home next week just because the defense can't play that bad again (back to back weeks). I also think the Pats upset the Chiefs as they owe them for the regular season loss.
Today has shook me as I thought they had their game figured out. I think they go to the AFCCG and lose.
On Gronk's party boat watching the Ravens play the 49ers.
Gronk gives the Pats a hometown discount on the MVP/VIP package.
Gronk gives the Pats a hometown discount on the MVP/VIP package.
After the way Brady played today I have a hard time seeing them being competitive against the Titans, although few have gotten rich betting against him. As bad as TB12 has been these past weeks (absent the Buffalo game) this was different. Miami is a disaster against the pass and Brady faced an anemic pass rush (he had more time today than any game all year). Couple all that with an effective running game and Brady’s play was mind boggling....there were at least five throws in the first half that he badly missed or airmailed. There was some talk of a lower leg injury to go along with the elbow, and that may be it. But he is really struggling without a healthy Jules, and has simply not been good.
I think they regroup to beat the Titans, but I think the injuries -- and the inability to keep pace offensively with the Chiefs -- finally take their toll in KC.
edit: And I agree with Joker ... Brady is more injured than they're letting on
edit: And I agree with Joker ... Brady is more injured than they're letting on
Gronk may play a fool, but he's getting full table-service mark-up on those magnums.
It's just such a different scenario:
1. Getting a bye week to rest the wounded guys, then get KC at home.
2. Having to play a brutal WC game, not getting healthy, and then having to play KC on the road.
Ugh. Today's loss really really stings.
That said, how sweet would a playoff run be to run this table?
PS - How many teams in the playoffs are looking at the Patriots right now and fearing them? They may see a paper tiger defense, and nothing scary on offense.
Intellectually, your argument here makes a lot of sense. That said, I doubt there are many teams or fanbases that relish facing New England, if only based on their history. If there is one team in the playoffs who can patch together a run with spit, kleenex and pacifiers from Marciano's clubbing days, its the Patriots.
I also think the gameplan for today was as basic as possible for a variety of reasons. They will have more wrinkles, either way, next week and in any games that may follow.
This season has felt like a combination of the 2013/2015 seasons for a while. Great start and then fizzle down the stretch under the weight of injuries and poor personnel. I think they'll figure out a way to beat Tennessee and then the game in KC will look similar to the 2013 AFCCG where they hung in it but never really were a threat to actually win. Defense and Special Teams can keep them in this. I refuse to believe the defense will be as bad in January as they were today but I also have zero confidence in the offense doing anything of note with Edelman basically broken in half. At this point, they are who they are. We just have to hope that the defense can stand on their heads for a few games like they did earlier in the year and that we get some turnover luck.
Have always felt that this team's SB chances effectively died the moment AB was kicked off the team. Not worth rehashing that discussion but this is obviously a much different team with him. Nothing short of AB staying or Gronk returning could have saved this team. Gordon would have crapped out once again, Demaryius was toast, Dorsett was never going to emerge, etc. Trading for Sanders over Sanu would have helped some. That was definitely a self-inflicted wound. He was there for the taking and we simply chose the wrong guy.
They're going to gut it out like those late 1980s Celtics squads but they won't have enough. No shame in that.
Have always felt that this team's SB chances effectively died the moment AB was kicked off the team. Not worth rehashing that discussion but this is obviously a much different team with him. Nothing short of AB staying or Gronk returning could have saved this team. Gordon would have crapped out once again, Demaryius was toast, Dorsett was never going to emerge, etc. Trading for Sanders over Sanu would have helped some. That was definitely a self-inflicted wound. He was there for the taking and we simply chose the wrong guy.
They're going to gut it out like those late 1980s Celtics squads but they won't have enough. No shame in that.
Muscle memory gets them past the Titans. KC announces the new decade in a big way the following week.
They squeak out a tough one next week and Brady wins his final start (ever) at Gillette.
They go to KC and lose by 10 points to a Chiefs team that eventually wins the Super Bowl.
Brady retires.....Josh decides to take a HC job (since Brady is gone).....and the next stage of BB's career begins.
They go to KC and lose by 10 points to a Chiefs team that eventually wins the Super Bowl.
Brady retires.....Josh decides to take a HC job (since Brady is gone).....and the next stage of BB's career begins.
The late 80s Celtics teams are the analogy.
And they did give us the Bird to DJ win over the Pistons and the Bird dismantling of the Pacers before they rode into the sunset.
And they did give us the Bird to DJ win over the Pistons and the Bird dismantling of the Pacers before they rode into the sunset.
I’d honestly rather lose to Tenn then either KC or Baltimore because I don’t want to hear 3+ hours about the changing of the guard or the passing of the torch.
Losing to the Titans will do nothing to squash that narrative.
Per the Gospel According to Bill, it is what it is.
I'd much rather face BUF than TN. TN is going to be a tough game, lots of downhill runs and play action pass. NE pass rush is going to have to get home, something it failed to do this week. I just don't think NE has the horses to compete right now. Team is physically broken.
it's like a mountain of bad vibes from AB finally broke through today.
I'm not voting while the loss is still raw... later in the week.
I'm not voting while the loss is still raw... later in the week.
Not sure how this seson ends but there's no way this group is beating both Baltimore and KC on the road so it's ending this year before the SB.
We win the SB. Lol at losing to KC by 3 scores.
Edit: there is usually a poster that complains we dont deserve the patriots and Brady when anybody gets negative. Seems that poster doesnt deserve the Pats.
Edit: there is usually a poster that complains we dont deserve the patriots and Brady when anybody gets negative. Seems that poster doesnt deserve the Pats.
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Nahhh, he comes back for one more year and mentors New England’s 1st round pick in transition to the next dynasty.
Wanted to vote SB so bad (couldn't decide win or loss) but feel that AFCCG loss to Balt is more likely.
Stack the box vs Henry and let the corpse of Tannethrill throw.
Previously showed can beat KC, as long as Boger's crew isn't working.
BB slows down Balts college O, but not enough due to lack of O firepower against a solid D.
LOVE TO BE PROVEN WRONG. $100 to the Jimmy fund if they make the SB, bring it Tommy.
Stack the box vs Henry and let the corpse of Tannethrill throw.
Previously showed can beat KC, as long as Boger's crew isn't working.
BB slows down Balts college O, but not enough due to lack of O firepower against a solid D.
LOVE TO BE PROVEN WRONG. $100 to the Jimmy fund if they make the SB, bring it Tommy.
Do me a favor and move over a tad.
They beat the Titans at home, go on the road and beat the Chiefs, Arrowhead does not intimidate this team, as long as Boger's crew is not doing the game, they win.
They go to Baltimore and Bill finds a way to shut down the Ravens, then it's on to Miami where they knock off the 49ers.
And heads explode around the NFL.
Once again, losing to the Dolphins means nothing.
When's the parade for that anyway?
What a sad sack shitshow of an organization, 35 years without a whiff at the Super Bowl.
Kinda the same but not as optimistic here. At KC off a bye, they can’t win a shoot out right now. I don’t see any magic this year.
He plays coy about giving them a discount, but in the end charges them full price.
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