How many regular season games do the Patriots play this season?

So? How many, you troutmouth?

  • 0

    Votes: 79 29.3%
  • 1-4

    Votes: 47 17.4%
  • 5-8

    Votes: 47 17.4%
  • 9-12

    Votes: 42 15.6%
  • 13-15

    Votes: 6 2.2%
  • 16

    Votes: 49 18.1%

  • Total voters
    270

BunnzMcGinty

New Member
Jul 17, 2011
267
As recently as two or three weeks ago I thought they’d start the season and get at least 8-10 games in before a second wave shutdown forced a stoppage, but with the spike in the south and the west showing no signs of even slowing down, I don’t think we’re going to see a season at all.
 

edoug

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Jul 15, 2005
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I took 9-12 because, I believe, at some point it's going to be a "here they come ready or not" situation.
 

bigq

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Jul 15, 2005
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I voted 1-4. I think the NFL will fight to start a season but ultimately shut it down.
 

Oppo

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Apr 5, 2009
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0. Can’t see this getting controlled in the next couple months and too many players could decide it’s not worth it.
 

mikeford

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Aug 6, 2006
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0

its a logistical nightmare with as many players as it takes to field a football team and america seemingly has no interest in doing whats necessary to make this virus go away so here we are.
 

bankshot1

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I think a September start is increasingly in doubt, but I would not discount the season shifting to a December--April timetable with the Superbowl theoretically being played in May. They may lose 4 games, so lets say a 12-game schedule.
 

Seels

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Jul 20, 2005
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0 because just today MLB's best player raised concerns. If Mike Trout is having a hard time seeing a sport that doesn't require you be near anyone else, I'm having a hard time seeing football resume. All it is going to take is a handful of players to say something for that dam to break.

That said, I think the second most likely is 16. The NFL is stubborn. I can't see them giving up halfway through a season.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
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Sep 27, 2016
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V&N regulars know that sometimes I'm (nearly) the most cynical person there, and other times I'm positively panglossian.

This is one of the former. The owners truly believe that they're the ranchers and the players are the cattle. Trump, too, has a lot riding on the NFL being a bellwether of America's ability to return to something approaching normality. The players' union is weak: careers are short, strike funds are minimal, they rarely apply decent leverage in CBA negotiations. Every force trends in the direction of: they will plow ahead, damn the torpedoes, and dare a Governor or Mayor to try and tell a team they can't play.

I think a better question will be how many games end up allowing fans, out of the 256. Then you're doing the math of # of franchises * how early each will start.
 

shoosh77

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16, because most players need the money and can’t sacrifice a year of a short career and the owners don’t generally give a shit about player health.
 

bankshot1

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V&N regulars know that sometimes I'm (nearly) the most cynical person there, and other times I'm positively panglossian.

This is one of the former. The owners truly believe that they're the ranchers and the players are the cattle. Trump, too, has a lot riding on the NFL being a bellwether of America's ability to return to something approaching normality. The players' union is weak: careers are short, strike funds are minimal, they rarely apply decent leverage in CBA negotiations. Every force trends in the direction of: they will plow ahead, damn the torpedoes, and dare a Governor or Mayor to try and tell a team they can't play.

I think a better question will be how many games end up allowing fans, out of the 256. Then you're doing the math of # of franchises * how early each will start.
I think the NFL would play the entire 256 regular season schedule in a fan-free environment if they have to, to cash the network TV checks, which account for about 2/3 of total revenues. They may try to social distance seating to drive some gate revs, but the asses on the couch at home are the ones FOX/ESPN/CBS/NBC give a shit about.
And 66% of the loaf is better than none.

And I agree the owners are probably mostly indifferent which head of cattle are needed to bring to market, but they probably really want the marquee guys to maintain quality and protect and drive ratings.
 
Last edited:

E5 Yaz

Transcends message boarding
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1-4

It's not the players; they're the ones in the best shape.

It's the coaching staffs, the referees and the auxiliary personnel. The chances of an older person, not particularly healthy, not only getting the disease but ending up on a ventilator (or worse).

That will shut the entire thing down.
 

RIrooter09

Alvin
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Jul 31, 2008
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I voted 5-8. I think they get just under half a season in before the players start dropping like flies and they shut it down.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
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I can’t see how they do it.

I wonder what the plan is for when teams’ QBs get it and it rips through the QB position. Teams are gonna need a lot of depth. But the more guys you have on the team, the more people you’ve got in close contact with one another. Which makes it more problematic.

But you can lose three wide receivers and still play. You can’t lose three quarterbacks and still play.
 

wiffleballhero

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In the simulacrum
1-4

It's not the players; they're the ones in the best shape.

It's the coaching staffs, the referees and the auxiliary personnel. The chances of an older person, not particularly healthy, not only getting the disease but ending up on a ventilator (or worse).

That will shut the entire thing down.
This is it. A couple dead equipment managers and it starts to look pretty grim (unless their names are Jastremski and McNally).
 

InstaFace

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I think the NFL would play the entire 256 regular season schedule in a fan-free environment if they have to, to cash the network TV checks, which account for about 2/3 of total revenues. They may try to social distance seating to drive some gate revs, but the asses on the couch at home are the ones FOX/ESPN/CBS/NBC give a shit about.
And 66% of the loaf is better than none.

And I agree the owners are probably mostly indifferent which head of cattle are needed to bring to market, but they probably really want the marquee guys to maintain quality and protect and drive ratings.
They'd certainly prefer getting to play in empty stadiums than aiming for full stands and risking getting no games. I just think that once they open up and nobody has stopped them, they'll start thinking "how can we put 10k people in the stands, distanced", and that'll become 20k in some places, then 30k. Lots of fans won't care, they'll sign the waivers. They'll point to local statistics wherever it's convenient, or bray about "Freedom!" whenever it's not.

I also consider myself as one who takes the Panglossian view most of the time. Not here.

Big
Fat
Zero
That IS the panglossian view! It's the supposition that they prioritize health, safety and concern for others over making money. History suggests they won't, but I certainly hope you're right (barring a vaccine in wide distribution ASAP).
 

RG33

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Nov 28, 2005
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I voted for 9-12 purely because of the track record of sheer greed that the NFL and its owners have historically shown. They will force it — play games — players and staff will get sick - and then they decide to shorten things for playoffs to ensure they have a Superbowl.
 

Sille Skrub

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Mar 3, 2004
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That IS the panglossian view! It's the supposition that they prioritize health, safety and concern for others over making money. History suggests they won't, but I certainly hope you're right (barring a vaccine in wide distribution ASAP).
Au contraire, monsieur! A true Panglossian would be hoping for games to be played!

America needs its national pastime!
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
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Au contraire, monsieur! A true Panglossian would be hoping for games to be played!

America needs its national pastime!
Which is precisely why it's going to be played, mon ami. Freedom is doing what you want while not having to consider the feelings or safety of others.

America, fuck yeah.
 

Phil Plantier

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Mar 7, 2002
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It's the coaching staffs, the referees and the auxiliary personnel. The chances of an older person, not particularly healthy, not only getting the disease but ending up on a ventilator (or worse).
Obesity is a co-morbidity with the virus. How many obese staff do you think are around the teams? So is diabetes and heart disease. None of the staff have these medical issues?

I'm surprised we haven't heard more about this, from any sport. None of the coaches or staff were consulted about conditions (afaik), and yet we haven't heard of anyone who wants to coach over Zoom or whatever.

I'm left to guess that coaches (and referees) wouldn't mind dying for their vocation.
 

mwonow

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Sep 4, 2005
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I can't get my head around the logistics at all. And I'm guessing that many of the players who have money in the bank will give several months of bubbling a pass. But...six games, all intra-division, and then playoffs with divisional champs?
 

bankshot1

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They'd certainly prefer getting to play in empty stadiums than aiming for full stands and risking getting no games. I just think that once they open up and nobody has stopped them, they'll start thinking "how can we put 10k people in the stands, distanced", and that'll become 20k in some places, then 30k. Lots of fans won't care, they'll sign the waivers. They'll point to local statistics wherever it's convenient, or bray about "Freedom!" whenever it's not.
I assume that Goodell has instructed teams to develop contingency plans for social distance seating and safe entry/exit and all other contingencies (from parking to peeing) needed to safely accomodate fans and all possible needs. But given the resilence of this disease, I'm doubtful they will be put into play.

IMO a herd mentality will be in place, long before there is herd immunity, and there will be one league policy and not a franchise by franchise policy.

If a rogue owner opens to soon (and jeeze who might be too fucking selfish and stupid to assume they know better and can game plan Covid-yes Jerry I'm looking at you) and 2 weeks later his market gets re-infected, the blow-back would be massive. And probably not limited to just to the idiot rogue owner.

So if they can play, (and my bet is that may delay the start of the season) they'll limit health risk as much as possible, play fan-free and take the 2/3 of a loaf.
 

nattysez

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They're going to play the full season. Fans will be in attendance everywhere except California and maybe NY and NE. And every week people will get sick and die from Coronavirus spread in stadiums and a few players will get sick. And we will shake our heads and mutter and go right back to watching the games.
 
Apr 24, 2019
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A semi-related hypothetical: The Pats get upset WEEK ONE - Cam is hurt, not ready, Flores gameplans well, Stidham throws four picks, whatever - then they lose in Seattle WEEK TWO. COVID outbreak around the league, NFL shuts down. Patriots at 0-2 are among a handful of winless teams. Does the NFL draft off those records? If the Patriots are in line for the #1 pick and the nfl opts for a weighted lottery or something, does patriots nation lose its mind? If the Pats get the #1 pick based off of two games, how hilarious would it be to watch the NFL’s head explode?
 

Oppo

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A semi-related hypothetical: The Pats get upset WEEK ONE - Cam is hurt, not ready, Flores gameplans well, Stidham throws four picks, whatever - then they lose in Seattle WEEK TWO. COVID outbreak around the league, NFL shuts down. Patriots at 0-2 are among a handful of winless teams. Does the NFL draft off those records? If the Patriots are in line for the #1 pick and the nfl opts for a weighted lottery or something, does patriots nation lose its mind? If the Pats get the #1 pick based off of two games, how hilarious would it be to watch the NFL’s head explode?
Then a new scandal will emerge and they’ll lose the pick.
 

genoasalami

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I think the NFL has the pockets and the proper planning to get it done. College football, on the other hand, is a long shot to have a season.
 

McBride11

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Jul 15, 2005
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I didn't see 19 as an option??

My head tells me 0 but my heart voted 5-8. They are going to want some amount of money this year too badly, especially the fringe players.
 

Red Averages

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Apr 20, 2003
9,054
Seems the prudent thing would be to follow the bubble lead of the NBA, picking a a few host Cities with multiple stadiums. You’d then have divisional teams and their opposite conference opponents in the bubble. For example, the AFC East and NFC West are matched up this year, so you’d have 9 games plus a bye week without leaving a bubble... or about three months factoring in some preseason/scrimmage/training camp type activity.

As they play those and we get into thanksgiving/December, the league can determine if it makes sense to add the rest of the schedule, or move to an abbreviated schedule where the playoffs start after 9 games in another bubble type set up.

So far we haven’t heard that type of plan, which makes me doubt they are successful in getting a season in.
 

CaptainLaddie

dj paul pfieffer
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Sep 6, 2004
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where the darn libs live
They're going to play the full season. Fans will be in attendance everywhere except California and maybe NY and NE. And every week people will get sick and die from Coronavirus spread in stadiums and a few players will get sick. And we will shake our heads and mutter and go right back to watching the games.
They simply can't have fans in attendance. The NFL will literally ban it -- there's no way they allow it. The NFL is already killing their players, there's no way they also kill their fans.
 

snowmanny

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Dec 8, 2005
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Yeah I had to read Laddie’s post twice. I mean if there’s nobody there who buys the beer?

There are always replacement players and replacement fans.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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I voted 16, because the NFL generally only seems to be concerned about the NFL and they pretty much do what they want - I think they figure out a way, regardless of what possibly may happen in the fall/winter with regards to Covid
 

Fisks Of Fury

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Jul 16, 2005
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Well, despite Baker's announcements last week, the Pats haven't given up on any options yet:

Dear Patriots Season Ticket Member,
We hope you enjoyed a relaxing holiday weekend with family and friends.

First, let us say “thank you.” While we have always been proud to have such an incredible fan base in New England, we have never felt more grateful for your continued dedication to the Patriots. During what has been a challenging few months for everyone, we greatly appreciate the confidence and support you have shown us with the recent renewal of your annual season ticket membership.

As we look ahead, the 2020 NFL season promises to be unique and challenging in many ways. We recognize that you are waiting for information that will help define your game day experience in the age of COVID-19, including but not limited to safety, cleanliness, seating arrangements, tailgating, and game atmosphere. We want to assure you that our organization is working diligently to develop numerous contingency plans based on the protocols and policies issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the NFL, keeping fan safety as our top priority. As has been the case since the COVID-19 outbreak began, both state and NFL protocols have been changing rapidly – and we expect further developments as we approach the start of football season. We appreciate your patience throughout this process and want to set the expectation that we will communicate with you on a frequent basis in the coming weeks as more details are finalized.

We are excited to welcome fans to Gillette Stadium in 2020. We know you, too, are eager to return and cheer on the Patriots together. However as previously communicated, if for any reason a game is cancelled this season or is unable to be played with fans, you will receive a full refund for the face value of your ticket (plus associated fees) OR you will have the option to apply the full amount of a cancelled game as a credit toward a future ticket purchase.

In order to show our appreciation for your commitment to the Patriots during this unique season– and in acknowledgement that it will be different than any other season we have ever experienced together– we want to share that we will provide free parking in all Gillette Stadium lots this year. From both a safety and convenience standpoint, we hope this will simplify one aspect of your game day experience in 2020 and serve to express our gratitude for your support.

In addition, we think it is important to make the ticketing and entry process as safe and efficient as possible for our fans. Therefore, all tickets will be digital going forward and stadium entry will be facilitated through mobile ticketing. We understand this is a meaningful change for Season Ticket Members. Please know we have an easy-to-use platform via the Gillette Stadium app, and our staff is available to assist you with any questions you may have about the mobile ticketing process. Learning materials including tutorials and how-to guides will be provided to you in the coming weeks.

While you are receiving this email because you have already renewed your tickets, we also want to reassure you of the promise we made to all Season Ticket Members for 2020. If your age or an underlying health condition places you in a population that the CDC has identified as being at higher risk of illness from COVID-19, and you have decided you no longer desire to use your tickets for the 2020 season, you may defer your Season Ticket Membership. Please let us know by Friday, July 31, 2020 if you wish to defer. Your recent payment will be applied as a credit toward the 2021 season, or we will be happy to offer you a full refund.

As noted above, in the coming weeks there will be many more decisions that will impact your game day experience this season and we will communicate those with you promptly. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to a representative in our Patriots Member Services team at any time at (508) 384-4288 or tickets@patriots.com.
We appreciate your continued patience and support of our collective efforts, in what we believe will prove to be a very different, but memorable season. We are grateful to have such dedicated fans. We look forward to cheering on our team – together.

Sincerely,
Patriots Member Services​
 

CaptainLaddie

dj paul pfieffer
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Sep 6, 2004
36,684
where the darn libs live
LOL!! You think they give a shit about their fans?
Yeah I had to read Laddie’s post twice. I mean if there’s nobody there who buys the beer?

There are always replacement players and replacement fans.
I think if there's thousands of people dying every month that the NFL isn't so stupid as to think they should pack stadiums.