Comments on: Making Sense

By: Classless

Classless — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:36:04 +0000

Actually, Mayo hasn’t made any big plays this year. He’s the guy tackling the RB after he gained 5 yards. I want to agree with you about him, but sorry, facts get in the way.

By: Jason Coyote

Jason Coyote — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:49:45 +0000

While BB going for it on fourth down wasn’t beyond his normal MO, you have to at least admit that the game situations this time were considerably different than any other time he has taken the gamble.

No question losing a playoff game is always worse, but this was a crushing regular season defeat for Pats fans who thought this was a championship-caliber team. The Pats have only won Super Bowls when they were a 1 or 2 seed, and Sunday’s loss has now made that possibility increasingly more difficult.

By: mike b

mike b — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:22:36 +0000

Not being a Patriots fan, I’m not going to pore over all the various commentaries. I am curious whether anyone bothered to look at the data on fourth-down success rates, however.

If I remember the stat correctly, the two Bills — BB and Parcells — have the highest percentage of going for it on fourth down. So in that sense, the move was not out of character.

As an aside, calling it the “second-worst loss” sounds like a bit of hysterics. It was a regular season game. Losing a playoff game is, by definition, always worse than losing a regular season game.

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:20:14 +0000

What they don’t have on defense is pass rushers. Let’s face it, the secondary is much better than it was last year, and given that they’re very young, they should only get better. What they don’t do nearly well enough is force the QB to make bad throws with constant pressure. Until they can fix that problem, there will be more and more losses like Sunday night.

By: Lance

Lance — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:12:29 +0000

You’re kidding, right? If you don’t know any of the playmakers you might just want to watch a game or two. Maybe you’ve heard of Jerod Mayo.

But yeah, I guess it’s always easier for people to whine instead of think.

By: HighWireNickEsasky

HighWireNickEsasky — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:24 +0000

The Pats have 13 forced fumbles, which puts them 4th in the league (most is 15). Not sure how many of those were from “strip sacks” but a fumble is a fumble.

By: Seawall

Seawall — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:53:39 +0000

Pats have no play makers on De. Gone are the days of Ty Law or A. Samuel and a pick 6. When is the last strip sack in a big game?

Also, they have no ability to run out the clock in a game.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:57:08 +0000

The NY Jets are going to get doubly demolished Sunday afternoon. Once for their own win against the Pats and then again for last night. We’ve gotta take it out on SOMEONE. It won’t be fun being a Jets fan for the next six days.

By: Bob Ekstrom

Bob Ekstrom — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:07:25 +0000

Steve:

I have to agree with Peter that this was HUGE. Your analysis is wrong; the Pats need have only made up one game if they had won last night, as they would have had the head-to-head.

Maybe they never get that one game, and maybe this won’t affect the divisional standings. But maybe they’re reeling, and the Jets are in Belichick’s head already, too. The division could be down to a game next week, and the head-to-head would belong to the Jets.

One thing you do know is that the Pats lost a great opportunity for a bye – which they still could get, but it’s a lot harder with Cincy one game ahead and unfavorable tie-breakers against Pittsburgh and Denver.

So, if making the playoffs is your only litmus test, you had a great night last night since you’re now a week closer to January 10. You’ll probably see one home game, then it’s 50/50 you’ll have to travel back to Indy where Belichick no longer believes he has a shot of beating Manning.

The best hope right now is that SD gets that task, which is a labor of love for them. They could take care of the Colts . . . or we could have just punted on 4th-and-2.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:34:05 +0000

There is one team in the AFC that has not won a game in the another team’s home stadium so far this year. It’s not Buffalo, not Cleveland, not Kansas City, and not Oakland.

It’s the New England Patriots.

So yeah, losing any shot at home field IS a huge deal.

The way they have blown leads in each away game (the London farce notwithstanding since it was neutral site) makes me think that they are NOT Super Bowl caliber.