Not What I Expected, But I'll Take It
by ProfessorTodd on Sep 15, 2009 12:07 AM EDT
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PrintI'll stand up and admit it. I thought it was over. I thought the Patriots were done. I told my wife there was no way New England could come back from 11 down not because we couldn't score but because I didn't think the defense could stop Buffalo when it got to be 3rd and 15 (seriously, are we ever going to stop anyone on 3rd and long?). Mentally, I was already trying to convince myself that coming off a loss with a short week and a road game against the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets coming up would actually be a good thing. We'd be angry and focused and all of that and have something to prove. And then Tom Brady went to work--again--as he always does and tonight Patriot Nation is happy (and breathing a huge sigh of relief).
We'll all analyze this game in the days ahead but here are my quick thoughts:
- Tom Brady is still Tom Brady. It took him a little time to get going (and he did a pretty good Jay Cutler imitation on that Aaron Schobel interception), but Brady down the stretch looked like...well, like Brady down the stretch. Few things are more beautiful to watch than a Brady two-minute drive.
- I hate the throwback unis. The Patriots belong in blue, not red, and I kept thinking someone had switched the TV to the Chiefs game. I'm afraid we've got four of five more games in those things. Give me my Flying Elvis Patriots back. It's just not natural to see them in those colors.
- Those roughing the passer penalties were ridiculous. The one on Adalius Thomas was borderline but the one on Wilfork was maybe the second worst roughing the passer call in NFL history, second only to one on Julius Adams in the 1976 Raider playoff game. In fact, the referees must have been confused by the throwbacks and thought they were supposed to steal the game from the Patriots like they did in the Raider game.
- Ben Watson may have atoned for last season with those two TD ,catches in 76 seconds. The second one was a great catch. In fact, I thought it was Moss at first because it looked like a typical Moss grab, stretching high to pull it in. Let's hope Watson is going to rejoin the offense this year and give us yet another weapon to use to split a zone deep.
- Mayo better not be hurt badly. The defense needs him and he's ready to step in this year and take over that defense.
- How strange is it to look out there on the defense and see no Bruschi, no Vrabel, no Harrison, no Seymour? That's an almost completely revamped defense. And, except for 3rd and long, they did a decent job, especially considering that one Buffalo TD came on the interception return and the last TD was set up by the aforementioned roughing the passer call that ruined what would have been a defensive stop.
- Did anyone on this site think that one of the most significant offseason acquisitions would be........Tully Banta-Cain?
Those are my quick thoughts. What do the rest of you think?
The views expressed in these FanPosts are not necessarily those of the writers or SBNation.
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unfamiliarity on defense
For me is with the secondary. It’ll take a while to get used to not seeing Hobbs back there wearing #27, and instead seeing Bodden flying around.
You were not alone
I also had come to accept that a loss was likely with about five minutes to go. What a thrilling end to the game!
Intelligently,
neither of you said so in the game thread.
I won’t make that mistake again — talk about getting eaten by your own. Makes me wonder about how old I’m getting.
As Mr. Sloan always says, there is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in pie. And there's an "I" in meat pie. Anagram of meat is team... I don't know what he's talking about. --Shaun of the Dead
by JohnHannahRules on Sep 15, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Bodden made a couple of hits that were Rodney Harrison-like
and I loved seeing how Meriweather set up that special teams fumble – he sat back on his route, lined up the returner and held off until the returner had slowed down to change direction on a cut, and only then hit him, holding him upright for Woods to get his hands in there. And it looked all completely calculated.
Only real worry was the inability of the OLBs to change their scheme to get free and set the edge on those annoying screens/ RB off-tackle/tosses the Bills ran to the outside. The Bills TDs were on identical plays, and when a safety and CB are tagged on the main receivers, the OLBs had no real excuse for not finding and hunting down Fred Jackson on that swing route.
Great analysis
Randy Moss said it all in his press conference – the dropped passes, miscommunications, bad throws (he didn’t say that exactly but…) all due to opening game jitters. They had to just settle down and play football. My heart wishes they had settled down a bit earlier, but they did it when it counted.
I had come to feel an increased comfort level when Rodney Harrison was on the field in a desperate situation – now I’ll be transferring that to Meriweather and the rest of the crew. Guyton was flying around, Adalius was playing with energy and fire, and I am so hoping Mayo will be back very soon.
Tully Banta-Cain is the physical example of what Belichick said in the pre-season. He said that the players decide who makes the team. Banta-Cain wanted to play and showed it throughout Training Camp and the preseason.
Also, this year’s Training Camp displayed a renewed emphasis on special teams drills under new coach Scott O’Brien. Belichick has always put importance here and it paid off with a win last night for sure.
Keep the faith!
Respectfully disagree about the jerseys.
I love the old school design because it was their identity for 30+ years. I would love to see more of those.
Beer is good! And stuff!
Concur.
I love the Pat Patriot logo. Could we please go back to him full time? I don’t mind if we ditch the red, but I love that old helmet. Way, way classier.
As Mr. Sloan always says, there is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in pie. And there's an "I" in meat pie. Anagram of meat is team... I don't know what he's talking about. --Shaun of the Dead
by JohnHannahRules on Sep 15, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I'd like the flying Elvis blue jerseys with the Pat the Patriot helmet
Best of the old and new
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 15, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I also was greiving early
But maybe it’s time to believe in the magic again
"These players, a lot of other people didn't believe in them, but they believe in themselves. And that is all that matters."- Bill Belichick
TULLY
That’s right folks BANTA is BACKA. I’m not sure what happened in SF but Tully loves the Pats and we love him back. He really likes the system and how he is used. He was never meant to be an every down player (which he was supposed to be in SF). He is a pass rusher that can cover the run if need be. Bill always knows how to get the most out of his players. I think Tully will get between 6-8 sacks this year and make us say Mike who? I wish Richard the best this year and hope he finds a home (black hole or otherwise). I also feel this was a classic Bill trade- roster move. In the fact that we secured a 1st rounder for a player we were not going to have a chance at resigning at the end of the season was just business. Here’s to Mayo may you find the field soon. We need you Mayo, more then Bill will lead on.
Jeffrey M Melhorn
Before we get ahead of ourselves
I distinctly remember discussions around this time last year of “Man, I’d love to see Brady throw 50 again.” I know jinxes are stupid… but…. haha.
by Comedic.Sans on Sep 15, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions
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