Pats peaked too soon? Or ate the cheese?

CoCo

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InmanRoshi;1811488 said:
People are going to go overboard predicting their demise this week, but I wonder how many people actually have the stones to put down $100 bucks against them at home against the Steelers. To me, last night pretty much showed the difference between the Steelers and Patriots, IMHO. Patriots are a team that can find a way to win when they're not playing good football. Steelers are a team that looks great when everything is clicking, but when they're not hitting on all cylinders they get beat by very average to below teams.

I don't think it necessarily takes stones to put up the $100. It takes either that or a passionate hatred that clouds good judgment and I think there is plenty of the latter.

I don't believe the Pats are invincable. Stranger things have happened than a very heavy favorite going down to defeat. But I also think people are confusing lack of invincability with likely to lose.

The Patriots are and should be the favorites to win the SB. But they are no lock. Teams rarely are. I think its going to be great playoff drama because I think we may have teams in both conferences who would be very worthy SB Champions/participants. I sure didn't feel that way about the Bears last year or the Steelers & Seahawks the year before.

I like that this talented Cowboy team has very worthy competition to play. Kind of wish there was more in the NFC.
 

theebs

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lonestar6;1811560 said:
The ways things are going now, Colts/Steelers would face off in the divisional round (2/3 seed), and I actually like Jacksonville to advance (beating San Diego) to face the Pats in the other divisional game. I see Jacksonville as a more disciplined and talented version of the Ravens, and seeing what the Ravens did last night I could see Jacksonville giving the Pats a handful in that game.


The ravens put 4 men on the line and run traditional defenses, that will not beat the pats.

The jags could out muscle them but they wont be able to score with them.

I dont think they can cover long enough with what it will take for them to get pressure and david gerrard in the snow probably is going to limit what they do.
 

theebs

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theogt;1811341 said:
Two things. First, over the past 2 weeks their defense has been been a little worse than "average." They've ranked in the 20s both weeks, so I'm sure over that time span they've been one of the worst defenses in the league. And this is against offense juggernauts such as the AJ Feeley led Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens.

If they continue to play like this, and there's no indication that they won't, the Colts will gash them on the ground and in the air.

Second, the Patriots won't be able to just line up and pound the ball if the weather dictates it. The weather dictated it last night and the Patriots couldn't get a ground game going.

I just don't see the Patriots making it through 2 games in the playoffs with that defense and no running game, unless they get lucky and get matchups like the Browns or Titans.

Yeah those are good points. I wont argue with any of that except the not being able to win 2 games in the playoffs.

I think they are going to be just fine. A tough stretch they are on. They will be able to get their defensive players some rest the last two games, I think the offense will play the starters all the way and the defense will rest some guys.

Not being able to rotate lb's is going to hurt them and they dont have the athletic linebackers to switch to a more 4-3 look.

That is Belichick's bread and butter though so when it counts I think he will put the defense in good position, whether or not they are too worn out or just too slow, I dont know.

I really dont see anyone going there in january and beating them though.
 

Nors

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It's just tough to win every week in the NFL.

How many teams in NFL history went 12-0. I doubt its more than 6-7.

We quitely are 11-1......
 
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