NFL Week 11

[aknow]

Originally Posted by 1neeto

Yep. In reality, the Patriots are less than perfect every single season. They get the craziest curveballs, season after season, they either lose key players, or have serious holes in their game. Last season we lost Gronk on the post season, still won the super bowl. This season we lost Edelman for the season, and they adjusted. Early this season our defense was ranked last, they are now ranked 16 or so. It’s how they adjust and adapt what makes the Patriots a super bowl contender every season.

The Raiders have nothing to play for and their QB is not right. Still recovering from lumbar or lumbo-sacral spinal injury, and he may never be the same again.

[1neeto]

Originally Posted by aknow

The Raiders have nothing to play for and their QB is not right. Still recovering from lumbar or lumbo-sacral spinal injury, and he may never be the same again.

He sure did good last season.

[David M123]

Originally Posted by 1neeto

Yep. In reality, the Patriots are less than perfect every single season. They get the craziest curveballs, season after season, they either lose key players, or have serious holes in their game. Last season we lost Gronk on the post season, still won the super bowl. This season we lost Edelman for the season, and they adjusted. Early this season our defense was ranked last, they are now ranked 16 or so. It’s how they adjust and adapt what makes the Patriots a super bowl contender every season.

This is true, it's the nature of the game. Every team loses key players every season.

The difference with the Patriots is that they always have another guy ready to step in and do the job. They may not have a direct replacement for Edelman, but they have enough other players who have other strengths. And they are not tied to one player's strength. The Patriots are like a chess team that might spot you a bishop, but they have 4 knights instead. How are you going to deal with that?

When Brady was suspended for 4 games last season, the Pats won 3 of them with their 2nd and 3rd string quarterbacks. Jacoby Brissett was a rookie who in the normal course of things would never have gotten close to playing time in his 1st season. Yet the Pats won with him under center.

Compare that with the Packers this season; they are completely lost without Rogers. And Dallas apparently can't win without Elliott. Any team which builds its' strategy around a single player deserves to lose, even if that player is healthy.

The Patriots have a very balanced offense this year. This allows them to plan for every game differently and keep their opponents guessing. You want to double-team Gronk? Fine, they'll throw to Brandon Cooks. Cover Cooks effectively and they'll throw to Amendola. Cover Amendola effectively, they'll run the ball. Smother the run and they'll throw it. The Patriots are so versatile and so well-prepared for every game that they will find the weakness in even the best teams.

[1neeto]

Originally Posted by David M123

This is true, it's the nature of the game. Every team loses key players every season.



The difference with the Patriots is that they always have another guy ready to step in and do the job. They may not have a direct replacement for Edelman, but they have enough other players who have other strengths. And they are not tied to one player's strength. The Patriots are like a chess team that might spot you a bishop, but they have 4 knights instead. How are you going to deal with that?



When Brady was suspended for 4 games last season, the Pats won 3 of them with their 2nd and 3rd string quarterbacks. Jacoby Brissett was a rookie who in the normal course of things would never have gotten close to playing time in his 1st season. Yet the Pats won with him under center.



Compare that with the Packers this season; they are completely lost without Rogers. And Dallas apparently can't win without Elliott. Any team which builds its' strategy around a single player deserves to lose, even if that player is healthy.



The Patriots have a very balanced offense this year. This allows them to plan for every game differently and keep their opponents guessing. You want to double-team Gronk? Fine, they'll throw to Brandon Cooks. Cover Cooks effectively and they'll throw to Amendola. Cover Amendola effectively, they'll run the ball. Smother the run and they'll throw it. The Patriots are so versatile and so well-prepared for every game that they will find the weakness in even the best teams.

It’s that Belichick and Brady magic. They can make just about anyone on that bench a star. I thought we were screwed when Welker was traded to the Broncos. I couldn’t believe that Belichick would give Manning, Brady’s best weapon. Then out of nowhere comes a guy named Julian Edelman and just like that, losing Welker was a non issue. Also Belichick is not afraid to trade key players. He traded Blount even after him being a key player last season. The list goes on and on.

[posternutbag]

Nobody wins an NFL football game alone, but nobody comes as close as Matthew Stafford. He is the John Elway of the 21st century. No O-Line, no running game, inconsistent receivers...

If Brady is compared to Montana, and week in and week out, year in and year out Brees puts up Dan Marino numbers, then Matt Stafford does a really convincing John Elway impression. Both are great enough to come from behind time after time on teams not good enough to give them leads to hold onto.

[David M123]

Originally Posted by 1neeto

It’s that Belichick and Brady magic. They can make just about anyone on that bench a star. I thought we were screwed when Welker was traded to the Broncos. I couldn’t believe that Belichick would give Manning, Brady’s best weapon. Then out of nowhere comes a guy named Julian Edelman and just like that, losing Welker was a non issue. Also Belichick is not afraid to trade key players. He traded Blount even after him being a key player last season. The list goes on and on.

Absolutely true. Just look at the Patriots record with running backs.

Brady is so good a passer that it's easy to forget the backfield. And they never have the big name running back like Peterson or Lynch. But they always have several guys who can get the job done.

This season they have Dion Lewis, Brandon Bolden, Rex Burkhead, James White and Mike Gillislee. They all have had playing time and made great plays when they were needed.

For past years, remember Danny Woodhead, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Marcus Blount. All were strong contributors to the Patriots' success.

[Neil K Walk]

Yep. There are lots of people in Pittsburgh following the Patriots like people in Florida watch tropical depressions forming off the west coast of Africa. At 8-2 the Steelers are a curious dichotomy that will probably walk into the Brady/Bilichik buzz saw just as they do every time they meet in Foxboro. If only the team that played Tennessee showed up every week. The certainly don't nearly as organized, consistently play down to their competition and lose to lesser teams and this morning with Marcus Gilbert popping the test for PEDs and getting a 4 game suspension the drama continues.

[Rudals]

Redskins fan here.
Threw in the towel after...losing to the Vikings.
Cousins will be long gone.
They have no real GM.
It's been 25 years since and it seems there's no light at the end of the tunnel.

[robj144]

Originally Posted by David M123

This is true, it's the nature of the game. Every team loses key players every season.

The difference with the Patriots is that they always have another guy ready to step in and do the job. They may not have a direct replacement for Edelman, but they have enough other players who have other strengths. And they are not tied to one player's strength. The Patriots are like a chess team that might spot you a bishop, but they have 4 knights instead. How are you going to deal with that?

When Brady was suspended for 4 games last season, the Pats won 3 of them with their 2nd and 3rd string quarterbacks. Jacoby Brissett was a rookie who in the normal course of things would never have gotten close to playing time in his 1st season. Yet the Pats won with him under center.

Compare that with the Packers this season; they are completely lost without Rogers. And Dallas apparently can't win without Elliott. Any team which builds its' strategy around a single player deserves to lose, even if that player is healthy.

The Patriots have a very balanced offense this year. This allows them to plan for every game differently and keep their opponents guessing. You want to double-team Gronk? Fine, they'll throw to Brandon Cooks. Cover Cooks effectively and they'll throw to Amendola. Cover Amendola effectively, they'll run the ball. Smother the run and they'll throw it. The Patriots are so versatile and so well-prepared for every game that they will find the weakness in even the best teams.

McCarthy is an absolute hack. The only reason he has a job is due to Rodgers.

I'm a Pats fan and I'm so glad we have Bill. I actually think McCarthy, Carroll (fake FG last night as 1 example), Garrett, Reid, and the Falcons coach (can't remember his name) are not very good at all at in game decisions.

Those are just the coaches with good teams. Nevermind Miami going after Cutler and going with him week after week or Buffalo benching Taylor...

[robj144]

Originally Posted by 1neeto

It’s that Belichick and Brady magic. They can make just about anyone on that bench a star. I thought we were screwed when Welker was traded to the Broncos. I couldn’t believe that Belichick would give Manning, Brady’s best weapon. Then out of nowhere comes a guy named Julian Edelman and just like that, losing Welker was a non issue. Also Belichick is not afraid to trade key players. He traded Blount even after him being a key player last season. The list goes on and on.

Did he trade Blount? I thought he was a free agent.

[robj144]

Originally Posted by aknow

The Raiders have nothing to play for and their QB is not right. Still recovering from lumbar or lumbo-sacral spinal injury, and he may never be the same again.

The Raiders have the playoffs to play for... That division is weak.

[robj144]

Originally Posted by Neil K Walk

Yep. There are lots of people in Pittsburgh following the Patriots like people in Florida watch tropical depressions forming off the west coast of Africa. At 8-2 the Steelers are a curious dichotomy that will probably walk into the Brady/Bilichik buzz saw just as they do every time they meet in Foxboro. If only the team that played Tennessee showed up every week. The certainly don't nearly as organized, consistently play down to their competition and lose to lesser teams and this morning with Marcus Gilbert popping the test for PEDs and getting a 4 game suspension the drama continues.

Well I can tell you whoever wins the Pats/Steelers game gets home field. It's in Pittsburgh, so it should be good. As a Pats fan, it's the only game a little nervous about that's left on the schedule.

[Jim_G]

Anything can happen, but as long as Mike Tomlin is coaching the Steelers I will never lose any sleep over the prospect of a Belichick led program playing them. Yo Mike, maybe try something other than zone D next time. What you're doing now is the definition of insanity.

Of course if I were actually on the same field as James Harrison instead of safely ensconced on my living room couch on game day I'd be losing plenty of sleep. And I dunno, Big Ben might just have one more SB in him.

jpd, have you noticed that I did not freak early this year when the D was stinking up the joint? I'm still not overly impressed with them, but I'm coping.

[1neeto]

Originally Posted by robj144

Did he trade Blount? I thought he was a free agent.

You’re right he only had a one year contract I think.

[AX17609]

Originally Posted by Rudals

Redskins fan here.
Threw in the towel after...losing to the Vikings.
Cousins will be long gone.
They have no real GM.
It's been 25 years since and it seems there's no light at the end of the tunnel.

Totally true. To my eyes they appear to be a well-coached but massively under-talented team. Cousins is a very pleasant and hard-working B or B+ quarterback. He'll play well for 2 or 3 quarters but can't get it done at the end of the game. The miracle in Seattle notwithstanding, he can almost always be counted on for a last minute fumble or soul-killing interception. Time to move on.