Patriots lose, out of playoffs?
I haven't written much about my beloved Patriots this year, mostly because they haven't looked much like my beloved Patriots this year. Since Brady went down, everything has been a crapshoot. This week the Patriots proved what I've been saying along: they are an average team at best. As such, they do what average teams do. They win against the crappy teams most of the time, they win against the other average teams 50% of the time, and they can't win against the good teams. With today's loss to the Steelers, the Patriots have lost to all of the good teams on their schedule this year so far.
Anyone who has suggested that the Patriots trade Brady and keep Cassell is a complete idiot. There's always a fair amount of that whenever a backup steps in and does well. News flash: Cassell is the quarterback of an average team...a team that was spectacular last year under Brady. For those who said that anyone could've done what Brady did with Moss and Welker, I submit this season as evidence to the contrary. Great players don't make a great team, great leaders do. Brady is a great player and a great leader, Cassell is a decent player and an okay leader. There's really no decision here.
At this point, the Patriots chances at making the playoffs are incredibly thin. Their best chance is to win the division, and this week would've been the week to pull even with the Jets. The Jets got pounded...but so did the Patriots, so no ground was gained although Miami is hot on the Patriots' heels. The Patriots will likely have to win out in order to even have a chance because the Jets' remaining schedule is pretty light. The wildcard picture is very competitive, and since the Patriots already lost to the Colts, they would get the nod if the two teams ended up tied.
In our weekly Patriots analysis phone call, my Dad and I have been discussing this issue: the Patriots seem to move the ball okay initially but can't get any points or have to settle for a field goal. They did that against the Jets and the Colts, and also did that against the Dolphins before pulling ahead to win. They did that once again this week. The difference is that when you do that against good teams, the good teams punish you for it. Randy Moss had at least two big drops in the first half that could've kept a drive going or scored a touch down. You need to convert those in a game against a good team. And of course they didn't, so the Steelers took advantage, which is what good teams do. Too many issues, too many mistakes, and you lose against good teams.
I started writing this with 9 minutes left to go in the fourth quarter and the game just now ended...and I don't need to go back and edit anything I've already written. So sad. I guess there's always next year.
December 2nd, 2008 - 08:41
Don’t know if you’ll have heard yet, but the Pats are coming to Wembley next year, to play Tampa Bay, on October 25th 2009.
This year’s Wembley game was awesome, so it will have a lot to live up to.
December 28th, 2008 - 20:59
it’s not the patriots fault this year!, I honestly saw a great team this year that pulled through impactful injuries.They played good football and cassell stepped up huge!
11-5 and not making the playoffs is a huge slap in the face a deserving team. the jets gave up in thier game on sunday man-gina hates new england and coach Bill. New england had a shot this year to at least go 2 rounds in the playoffs, but now we get to watch bull-crap teams like the dolphins get blown out by baltimore. the worst outcome ever!!!