New England Patriots Links 12/07/09 - Patriots Remain Road Kill; Frustrated in Florida

Bill Belichick's post game comments.

That was a typical game with the Dolphins; in the end it came down to that they made more plays than we did. We had our opportunities and it was a tight game obviously, and they just made a few more plays than we did. We just have to work harder to make a few more of those. That's really about it.

I thought we moved the ball well, we got a lot of yards. We came up with no points in two red area drives, and down in the fourth quarter we didn't move the ball. We had a two series or a three series where we didn't move it. But up until that point we moved the ball a lot, just didn't get as many points out of it as we could have.

We just got to do a better job down there [in the red zone]. I have to coach better and we have to play better. When we have those opportunities we have to take advantage of them.

Tom Brady on if he thinks the team is underachieving, and on how much the injury to his finger impacted him.

I think we've played pretty inconsistent. We have some good drives and then we have some bad drives. Everyone is trying to put their finger on it and really figure it out. It's frustrating for all of us. We certainly think that when we go out there we have a lot of confidence that we're going to get the ball in the end zone. We had some chances today inside the 5 yard line, inside the 10 yard line and we get no points. That's the frustrating part for all of us.

There are a lot of guys that are banged up this time of year. You've got to get the job done. If you're out there on the field you're expected to go out there and play great. At times we did that and other times we didn't. There are a lot of guys that are banged up.  I don't think many guys are 100%, I really don't. It's late in the year, it's 12 games, it's a physical game and you still have to go out there and get the job done.

Ron Borges asserts the team's problems are from lack of talented players, not from a lack of effort.

Years ago, Chuck Fairbanks said it best. "It’s not about X’s and O’s. It’s about Jimmys and Joes." For half a decade with the Pats people believed otherwise. In Bill We Trust became the motto, but does anyone honestly believe Bill Belichick forgot how to coach? A guy who has been watching game film since he was 6 now can’t break down film and discover a team’s weaknesses?

That’s not the problem. The problem is he can’t ask people to do what they are not capable of doing. Or, worse, he does and you end up with Sam Aiken, a guy brought here to replace Larry Izzo on special teams, as your third receiver making one great catch for a touchdown and dropping two key ones. Did he have a great game or a disastrous one? Probably both, which is A) not his fault because he’s playing a role he was never supposed to, and B) not something Belichick can change.

TEAM TALK

• Patriots at Miami Game Notes - milestones reached, player records, team stats.
• Erik Scalavino Patriots can't hang onto another 4th quarter lead; Defense done in again.
• Post Game Pressers: Bill Belichick (4:20 min.), Tom Brady (5:53 min.), Wes Welker (3:22 min.)
• Post-game Quotes: Patriots and Dolphins.
  

LOCAL LINKS

• Ian Rapoport recaps the Patriots squandering of another lead, falling to Miami 22-21.
• Karen Guregian notes Brady's numbers were great, but he couldn't deliver when it counted.
• Shalise Manza Young observes the Patriots second-half stumbles continue with a stagnant offense and porous defense. 
• Albert Breer says there is no 'coming through with the game on the line' mentality anymore.
• Chris Gasper writes yesterday's loss left the Patriots at a loss. It was their second straight defeat, their third in four games and their fifth on the road.
• Adam Kilgore reports how the Patriots let the Dolphins off the hook.
• Dan Shaughnessy notes that even if the Patriots win the division, they don't inspire much playoff confidence.  The era of inevitiblity is gone.
• Christopher Price lists his Ten Things we learned from Sunday.
• Kirk Minihane says it's time to face an uncomfortable reality about the Patriots.
• Ron Borges offers the Best and Worst of yesterday's game.
• Christopher Price lists his Ten Things we learned yesterday.
• Mike Reiss offers his Three Up and Three Down from Sunday.
• Mike Reiss looks at the positional groupings utilized by the Patriots, saying the heavier packages couldn't pick up a yard in critical situations.
• Mike Reiss looks at the snaps played by offensive skill-position players, saying TE production remains a concern.
  
• Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Sam Aiken made a highlight reel play, but then had a penalty that nullified a first down and forced a punt; Once again the Patriots struggled in the final 30 minutes; Lack of pressure on QB Chad Henne was a major problem for the Patriots, who had one sack and two hurries - all on one play.
• Jim Donaldson says there's not much to like about the Patriots.  He goes on to talk about how much they've slipped since 2007.  Thanks Glum, for that half-ass journalistic effort there.  How about putting in your own 100%?
  

NATIONAL NEWS

• NFL Game Center Patriots at Dolphins.  Recap, Analysis and stats.
• Peter King (SI) MMQB: New Orleans steals the show, but beware of streaking San Diego.
• Clifton Brown (Sporting News) What we learned: Patriots can't finish.
• Michael Lombardi (Nat'l Football Post) Diner Morning News: Week 13 thoughts.
• Don Banks (SI) Inside the NFL: Week 13.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriot Nation flag flying upside down.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Did Belichick lose again on fourth down?
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Henne's rebound brings a new December.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) In second half, Brady a road woe-rrior.