Relax, New England Patriots are 1-1

by MaPatsFan on Sep 21, 2009 6:13 PM EDT in Opinion Comment 43 comments

We're doomed! The end of the world is nigh! We must not tarry my good people! Mount steads, ye Minutemen, O' protectors of all that is sacred! Master Tom Brady is not himself-eth...or something-eth...

Seriously, like chillax, K? You...are...bummin'...me...out!

Yes, we lost to a division rival. Yes, we can't tell Rex Ryan to stuff a sock in it. Yes, Tom Brady looks rusty. And yes, we were one Leodis McKelvin forced fumble away from an 0-2 season. The world is not coming to an end. You, YES YOU, can pull the blanket down from over your head and cancel the order for window bars. BTW, unload the 12 gauge, ok?

I give the Jets a huge amount of credit. They talked the talk and they walked the walk. IMO, pressure was the key, forcing Brady into some hurried throws. Fundamentals were also at play here. I mean, 11 penalties for 89 yards, 3 delay of game penalties, 2 of them back-to-back? 23 for 47 and a QB rating of 53.1? Like I said, I give the Jets a lot of credit, but our Patriots were only a few bad plays or penalties away from tying, possibly winning, this one. Don't believe me? Check the game log:

1-10-NYJ 17 (8:36) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 11-J.Edelman to NYJ 7 for 10 yards (36-J.Leonhard). PENALTY on NE-61-S.Neal, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at NYJ 17 - No Play. Turned into a field goal.
1-10-NE 41 (1:53) (No Huddle) 12-T.Brady pass deep right intended for 81-R.Moss INTERCEPTED by 24-D.Revis [52-D.Harris] at NYJ 16. 24-D.Revis to NYJ 16 for no gain (81-R.Moss). Luckily, Jets did nothing with this.
3-5-NYJ 7 (11:39) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete short left to 11-J.Edelman. Turned into a field goal.
2-3-NYJ 11 (:33) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete short left to 11-J.Edelman (21-D.Lowery).
3-3-NYJ 11 (:28) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete short left to 81-R.Moss (25-K.Rhodes). Turned into a field goal.
3-S.Gostkowski kicks 69 yards from NE 30 to NYJ 1. 29-L.Washington to NYJ 44 for 43 yards (3-S.Gostkowski, 88-S.Aiken). WATCH HIGHLIGHT
1-10-NYJ 44 (14:50) 6-M.Sanchez pass deep right to 89-J.Cotchery to NE 11 for 45 yards (59-G.Guyton). Turns into a Sanchez-to-Keller TD.

Get the Picture? Instead of going for the endzone with Edelman and Moss, get the 3 yards for another first down and pound the rock in. Stop Leon Washington from a 43 yard kickoff return and NY will likely not score.

As ugly as that loss was, I refuse...R.E.F.U.S.E. to believe this team is in trouble. Case in point: Peyton Manning. Remember how abysmal he looked at the start of 2008? Indy was 3-4 going into Game 8 against the Patriots. They eeked out an 18-15 win against a Matt Cassel led Patriots to begin their ascent to a wildcard playoff berth. That game, in my opinion, marked the recovery of Fivehead. The good news? Manning was practically hobbling onto the field. He spent most of training camp in his room, watching film, primarily because his surgery was so close to the start of the season. Brady's had a LONG time to recover. The only gotcha here is that Manning didn't have a year off the gridiron to contend with; we'll see how that plays out, but I think it's less of an issue than a healing knee.

Do not despair, ye faithful. Nigh is the time when Master Brady shall blanket the battlefield with his supreme skills and rain down upon the unwashed with reckless abandon. Or, beat the livin' snot out of everyone else.

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Comments

No worries…. It’s a LOOOONG season…..

by Nostradomus on Sep 21, 2009 6:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

we'll get together when it REALLY counts.

like when it’s getting close to the playoffs. right now, i think we’ll go 12-4.

by patriotguy on Sep 21, 2009 6:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

one loss during the season

wasn’t this what everyone said the Patriots should have done in 2007??? Lose one early? Silly, isn’t it.

Anyway, Mayo being out is forcing the defense to really step up – especially Gary Guyton. By the time he comes back, they’ll be a stronger unit.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Sep 21, 2009 6:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Patriots have not lost back-to-back games since December 2002.

Not even last year. The young guys have to learn to step up. The older guys (cough O-Line, Brady cough), have to remember that they need to lead by example. Belichick can only do so much. After all, he doesn’t suit up.

I didn’t get to see the game, but the thing that struck me most were the penalties. I mean this is the Patriots, they don’t make those kind of mental mistakes – rookie mistakes.

There are no easy wins in the NFL, they need to play 60 minutes as close to mistake free as they can every game.

Guyton is improving, eventually, we’ll have an improved Guyton and a resurgent Mayo.
Edelman is learning, eventually, we’ll have Welkers I and II on the field.
Tom will not accept human frailty, he will get himself right mentally.

Round 2 of a 16 round fight is over, let’s see what round 3 brings.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 21, 2009 6:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Its only one game and it was at their home

They are definitely going to be in the playoffs with us, but we have Brady and they have a rookie so I am not worried

Jack of all trades-Master of None.....

by Peter Chung on Sep 21, 2009 6:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If I had to choose a picture,

It would be a phoenix rising from its ashes.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 21, 2009 7:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nice

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Sep 21, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol a bit dramatic yes?

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Sep 22, 2009 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Hindenburg's not?

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 22, 2009 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know, it's a wonderful thing to have to commiserate...

when the Pats are pretty much universally panned – bad QB play, poor running, bad catching, bad O-line run-paving, bad O-line pass protection, so-so D-line run-stuffing, dubious pass rush, so-so coverage, iffy special teams – against a playoff-worthy opposition… and they only lose by one touchdown. It sounds like nothing went right, yet they still almost won.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 21, 2009 8:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Meh Im not worried about us. We got close without playing anywhere near where we are capable.

Sure we are shaky in some very important areas, but I hardly think it will be a trend. Lets remember Brady didnt have his 2nd favorite target, putting nearly all the pressure on Moss. Moss is not gonna dissapear like he did yesterday.

Im only worried about our D, they werent terrible, but they certainly werent great, and in the past 2 games there doesnt seem to be alot of potential in their. Good news is that our D is young, and WILL get better once they find leadership.

So should we be worried? Yes and No. We played terrible vs 2 division rivals. It could be a blessing in suprise considering we are no forced to get our heads on straight and get back to basics and rebuild a strong foundation.

One worrisome note is that the Jets look like they got a D, and we wont be so lucky to get a JEts collapse near the end of the season. This is gonna be a truly enthralling season.

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Sep 21, 2009 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Defense

I think it will be excellent starting next year. However, the worry is over this year.

by A Guy on Sep 21, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not gonna lie I wanted the Pats to go undefeated...

but always the goal is to win a Super Bowl and we still have a GREAT shot at doing that.

by Mike-Dub on Sep 21, 2009 9:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not gonna lie I wanted the Pats to go undefeated and am very upset by the lost*...

by Mike-Dub on Sep 21, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha, the Lions have been begging for a win for over 18 months

and Pats fans wish to drown themselves after a one-TD loss to a fairly strong unit. Long-term success breeds a strange attitude.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 21, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

New England sports fans expect the best and nothing less.

by Mike-Dub on Sep 21, 2009 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Slow down there

We don’t want to sound like New Yorkers.

"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

by Mainiac on Sep 22, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If expecting my hometown teams to be the best makes me sound like a New Yorker then so be it.

by Mike-Dub on Sep 22, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was hoping against the pressure of 16-0

Especially when it ends in 18-Doh!

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 21, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

1-1 is an ok start

If we had been 0-2, I would have been a bit worried. We could have been, but at the end of the day, we are not.

The defense is pretty much doing as expected. It’s younger and faster, but it has hardly played together, so there are mental mistakes. I was prepared for that, and I believe they will gel during the season instead of falling apart like last year.

The offense is a bit disappointing, because the passing game isn’t clicking. I thought I was prepared for that as well, expecting Brady to be rusty in the first half of the season. However, actually seeing a rusty Brady in action is something different than I thought. Even though I expected rust, I’m still schocked when I see it, and it leads to a little overreaction.

by hythlodaeus on Sep 22, 2009 1:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2001 Season

The Pats started off 0-2 and on to a 1-3 start and we all know what happened that season. Again in 2003 they were 2-2 and won the Superbowl. I’m worried about Brady and his knee. He’s been pressured way worse than this Jets super defense that everyone is talking about and has handled it fine. He’s off on a lot of his throws. They also need to get rid of Galloway and put Nunn on the regular squad. Defensively they looked good so I’m not worried there. My worry is Brady and his knee. I think he’s more worried about it then he lets on. We shall see

by Patsfanlr32 on Sep 22, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't we

lose 31-0 to the Bills opening week and go on to win a SB?

There are issues that must be addressed. I think they will be addressed. Having your best defensive player and one of your top 3 offensive players hurt makes things much more difficult.

Warm up the Duck Boats!!!

by BabeParilli on Sep 22, 2009 2:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bear in mind that the players who aren't performing are the ones with the best pedigree

Galloway, Brady, Light, Taylor. Pro-bowlers all, just slightly out of whack. Form is temporary, class is permanent, and they ought to be able to tap at least a little of what has made them special the last few years in the next couple of months. As long as NE keeps ahead of the Bills or Dolphins and keeps in touch with the Jets, all should be fine.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 22, 2009 6:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We can handle poor play by a couple of players

Welker dropped some passes against the Bills, but Randy was a catching machine.
Light was a turnstile, Brady made quicker reads and faster passes.
Brady made bad throws, the receivers made fantastic catches.
When they needed to get it done in the last five minutes, they clicked.

When they all play poorly at the same time, we have problems. If someone is playing poorly or getting beat, someone else needs to step up and be the playmaker. Since 2007, that’s largely been always open, great hands, Welker saving the play. He’s broken, time for someone else to be the hero.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 22, 2009 9:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good to have multiple options

This is a wakeup call, IMO. I’m not saying Welker’s presence would’ve changed the outcome, but ya gotta imagine a guy like that can be a game changer. It just shows how dependent this offense is on a few key players. It was good to see Edelman get some reps.

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Sep 22, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Edelman is getting reps, and when Welker comes back we have two good SRs.
Guyton is getting reps, and when Mayo comes back we have two good MLBs.
Galloway isn’t the Galloway of old, but he actually caught some passes this week. It’s a step.
Moss stunk up the place in Pittsburgh last year, but when he’s on, watch out.
If Tom remembers how to throw the ball again, we’re golden. His mechanics stink right now, he needs practice reps.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 22, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about the other chain-moving drive-saver, Kevin Faulk?

I didn’t see the game, but he didn’t seem to have the stats I’d expect if Welker’s out of action. He wasn’t involved? Injured? Even if Edelman’s having a stunning game, I’d still have thought Faulk would bleed off some of that pressure the Jets were bringing.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 23, 2009 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was picking up the blitz blocking as I understand it

I don’t know why they didn’t drop him in the slot and throw another back in for blitz blocking, though.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 23, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The running game worries me

I see all the people talking about how good brady, moss and welker are, and how good our D and our OL can be, but I don’t see the running game in this team.

We have good runners, right? Why they just don’t… run?

by kleitonsc on Sep 22, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Belichick

They ran reasonably well against the Bills, but they abandoned the run when they were behind.
They ran reasonably well against the Jets, but they abandoned the run for no apparent reason.

Run blocking is easier than pass blocking, so it gives the O-line a break. I don’t understand it either.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 22, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Couple of thoughts

Overall, I wouldn’t classify us as a running team. We’ve never had a single superstar (Leon Washington or Adrian Peterson, for example) that “screams” to the coaching staff, “Give me the ball!” We’re more of a passing team of late. That being said, our backfield by committee in 2008 was #1 in the AFC East and the #6 in the NFL. It’s used, primarily, to balance out the aerial assault and keep rivals on their toes.

As far as the Jets are concerned, I think the running backs were fairly consumed with pass protection, keeping Brady upright. The Jets’ D was blitzing and rushing a lot, so they need to block rather than run.

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Sep 22, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

But one of the ways to beat the blitz is the screen pass.

Where were they? Gone with the Welker.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 22, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

funny... they used to live by the screen

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Sep 22, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NYJ Pats game

so much for embarassing us, we lost by a touchdown. an embarrassment wood b 3-4 touchdown loss.

by new england pats on Sep 22, 2009 1:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Sep 22, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

of course

it was embarrassing just to lose to them at all. But that wasn’t what Kerry Rhodes meant.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Sep 22, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pre Game Prognostication

Ma: I’m sure you want that pre-game blog back. It’s one thing to be faithful, but another to be blindered. Look. The Pats lost a lot of pieces to grow younger, while staying affordable. This will take some time to gel up. Master or not. Meanwhile, the Jets are for real and look to give the Pats all they can handle this year. Give props where props be due.

by I. Gotta Haddock on Sep 22, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

just like no one should be predicting Super Bowl contenders just yet...

props should be given where props are earned and it takes more than one game to make a trend. Let’s just see where it goes. Remember Buffalo last year?

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Sep 22, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Remember Buffalo last year?

yup – but some of us saw it coming….. because even if you beat inferior teams – they are just that – inferior – it’s a long season – in order to be the best you gotta beat the best. which is why DJ fails – his record sucks against any team over .500

but then again here we are staring a ridiculous offense in the face – hopefully those thrashing’s you guys gave us in 2007 made Fewell a little wiser.

I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying

by J2 on Sep 22, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There were also the analysts predicting the Jersey Bowl, remember that?

the NY papers were already hand-wringing about how the Giants and Jets would both be able to play their conference championship games in the same stadium. It’s TOO EARLY.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Sep 22, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They've looked good... thus far. Week 2.

Yet Jets players are calling a week 2 game their Superbowl?

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 23, 2009 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a reflection of their coach

We’re used to the quiet, calculating, “humble pie” eating Belichick. Rex is a different animal. They’re successful right now, but it remains to be seen if they’re built for the long haul.

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Sep 23, 2009 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs