Patriots won't go undefeated

2008-12-08T14:17:32-05:00

2007-11-04T21:35:08-05:00

211

2008-09-10T06:40:22-04:00

2007-12-30T20:43:51-05:00

nhpatsfan1

Candia 226602

You are very wise. Nice predictions. Don't quit your day job (they should fire you anyway for being so wrong). Go Pats!!!!!!!! 763886

2007-12-30T12:16:01-05:00

pwrmanone

Summerfield 226262

Andrew, have you ever considered writing sport comics? Your creative and fictional state of mind may lend you some credibility in that market.. Long live the NFL 762749

2007-12-30T11:36:50-05:00

ygor

Falls Church 226317

I am confident that no one will read this post, but this just has to be said. Andrew, you were wrong on every count. 1. Neither the Pats nor the Giants rested starters. Ya gotta love that in a game that was meaningless in terms of the play-offs. 2. We now know how the Pats have fared against the leagues best defenses...they have beaten them. 3. The emotional edge that other NFL teams seem to have coming into their games against the Pats have made a difference---for about three quarters. When the adrenalin wears off, the Pats accelerate to the finish line. 4. The lack of injuries to their most important players is a matter of Patriot luck. You couldn't have known how those chips would fall, nor should you have made such a confident prediction. 5. Strange things do happen in the NFL. However, what is "stranger" than a team going 16-0 in the age of parity? This was clearly a failure of imagination on your part. I am sure that now that the season is over, your well-known reputation for fairness will be upheld when you write a post acknowledging your uncharacteristic lapse in judgment and giving the Patriots credit for their accomplishments, while recognizing the essentially humble and classy nature of the the team. 762670

2007-12-30T02:29:26-05:00

caesarbear

No City 226089

Don't let the beak scratch your throat on the way down. 762078

2007-12-10T08:14:49-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/161/226/thumb/Infographic-Health_v2.jpg 8 MA

Fittstim

Stoneham 161526

That taste in your mouth is called "crow" 678531

2007-11-07T15:12:54-05:00

arlst8

Pittsburgh 186099

Great point DoneDunne in regards to the hybrid. Keep in mind everyone, that Tomlin is a student of the Cover 2 defense, as that is what he ran with the Vikings the previous year, which was one of the better defenses in the NFL. While Tomlin allowed Lebeau to stay on as Defensive Coordinator (who runs the 3-4), they have been throwing out a lot of curve balls by running hybrid forms of Cover 2 and 3-4. I am not sure about you all, but I would consider Polamalu a speed rusher. While the Steelers D-Line may not be full of speed rushers in the same class as the likes of Freeney (although Brett Kiesel is comparable), our linebackers bring both speed and power to the table. You never know who is going to come on a blitz when you are playing Pittsburgh defense. 550431

2007-11-07T14:21:24-05:00

DoneDunne

Alpharetta 186237

For those discounting Pittsburgh so early because of the front 4 quickness - they run a 3-4 base, which means the front line doesnt generate the pressure - the linebackers do. Also, for those saying that Pittsburgh doesnt run a cover 2 - they have been running a lot of cover 2 and 3-4 hybrid cover 2 this year. Its part of what Tomlin brings to the table. 550158

2007-11-07T13:54:57-05:00

arlst8

Pittsburgh 186099

If you have been watching these guys for years, as you said you have been, then how in the world can you say that the Steelers won't get to Brady! Have you watched any of the previous matchups between these teams??? Your boy Matt Light was there in 2004 when Tom Brady got pounded for 4 sacks, causing him to cough up three turnovers (two internceptions and one fumble recovery, one of those intereceptions which was returned for a touchdown). Even though the Pats demolished the Steelers in the AFC Championship later that year, the defense still racked up two sacks and numerous QB pressures. How about the last time these teams met, in 2005, when the Steelers sacked Tom Brady three times, all by linebackers which still currently play for the Steelers (Farrior, Harrison, and Haggans). Also, Tom Brady finished that game with 0 TD's and 1 INT, whereas Big Ben finished with 2 TD's and 0 INT. I know things will be different this time around, but don't come at me with this B.S. about Matt Light and company being able to prevent the Steelers blitz. The Steelers will bring it, and Tom Brady will be sacked numerous times. Let us not forget that while the Patriots have added numerous weapons since the last time these two teams have met, the Pittsburgh Steelers are a completely different team as well. Ben Roethlisberger has matured a great deal, and is second in both QB rating and TD's thrown only to Tom Brady. Also, the Pittsburgh has the number one defense, both overall and pass defense. They rank fourth in rush defense, and also have the fewest points allowed in the entire NFL. The Steelers rank second in rush offense, and somewhere around 6th or 7th in pass yards. Pittsburgh is one of the best teams in the league right now, and will give the Patriots a great match. I would also like to point out that I feel Ben Roethlisberger is much better than Tom Brady in one area, and that would be dealing with defensive pressure (i.e. avoiding the sack, rolling out, and making a play). It was hilarious watching Brady get pressured by the Colts, he looked clueless. I think you Pats fans that don't get to see many Steelers games will be quite surprised to see Big Ben shrug off Vrabel and Seymour and throw one 45 yards down field. 549992

2007-11-07T13:16:31-05:00

mlpats

Dunstable 186157

The Pats O-line can only be beaten this year by speed rushers. I've watched these guys close for years and Matt Light has a very hard time with speed like Jason Taylor and Dwight Freeney. Power rushing doesn't phase these guys, it's speed that hurts. The reason the Colts could pressure Brady was because they had speed from both sides in Freeney & Mathis and the Pats don't have two strong blocking tight ends to help (especially with Daniel Graham gone to Denver). The Pats gashed the Colts most in the 4th quarter when Freeney & Mathis were on the sidelines for a blow. The Steelers and Ravens don;t have that class of speed rushers, so don;t expect anyone else to get to Brady the rest of the way (till the AFC Championship Game). Another point, Bellichick is a fanatical NFL history fan. He put in Vinnie Testaverde last year on the goal line just so he could throw a TD in his 20th year and get into the books. He had Doug Flutie drop kick an extrapoint to get in the books. The books matter to him, a LOT. A part of him would rather have 16--0 than with another SB. He'll play the starters if they're 15-0, count on it. As to injuries, the Pats have depth to burn. Assuming Brady stays healthy, they can easily afford the loss of one (or even 2) receivers, a DL, a DB, or an OL guy. Look at their game day inactives this year, they have been missing multiple key starters in most of their games (Richard Seymour, Ben Watson, Rodney Harrison, Lawrence Maroney and others). They are a bit thin at LB and now RB with Morris gone. The only guy they absolutely can not afford to lose is Brady. Injuries elsewhere will not stop them. This team is famous for backups stepping up to the plate and hitting home runs. As to strange things happening in the NFL, well, yeah... So? 549750

2007-11-07T13:15:11-05:00

mlpats

Dunstable 186157

211

The perfect season talk surrounding the Patriots will be kicked up a notch after their win over the Colts on Sunday. New England will be favored by more than a touchdown in each of its remaining seven games, so the quest for 16-0 seems reasonable. I don't think the Pats can do it and I'll argue with any FanNation user who disagrees. Here are my key reasons. <ol><li>The Patriots will sit starters. If they go 15-0, they visit the Giants in Week 17. New York will almost certainly be playing for playoff position, and New England will have nothing at stake. As heartless as Bill Belichick is, he won't risk injuries for a record that is insignificant if they don't win the Super Bowl. Belichick has benched starters in similar situations through the years. </li><li>They face the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked defenses  in the NFL: Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The Colts proved you can get to Tom Brady, and they didn't need to blitz much to do it. The Ravens and Steelers will come up with creative ways to rush the passer and they'll try to rattle Randy Moss with big hits. Brady led Moss into some dangerous territory against Indy. Moss bounced off smallish Indy defenders like they were gnats. Not sure if he'll have the same luck against Baltimore and Pittsburgh. </li><li>The target on their back is even bigger. On paper, none of these teams should beat the Patriots. But emotionally, you have to give New England's opponents an edge. How long can Belichick convince his team everyone is against him because of Spy-gate? The Pats are now the evil empire. They're the new New York Yankees or Duke Blue Devils. </li><li>Injuries. They haven't had many. That will change. It always does. </li><li>Strange things happen in the NFL. Not a great reason, but for my money, it's the most compelling. The Patriots were vying with the Colts for homefield last season and got shut out by the Dolphins in Week 14. Explain that. Other teams that have gone late into the season undefeated have lost games they shouldn't have. New England won't prove to be an exception.</li></ol> 2573 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/397/2/thumb/Perloff.jpg 550 NY

Andrew Perloff

New York 3992