New England's ability to make mediocre (or worse) teams look good is horribly good, today being just the latest example. Tennessee comes into the game only 4-4, has a mediocre QB and no legitimate offensive studs, and they put up 34 points. And the Pats looked terrible on offense. SMH
I know that I'm typically pessimistic with sports stuff, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm gonna just say it: This the end of the road for the successful Brady-era Patriots. Brady has declined. Gronk is too beat up. The defense is a joke. And it seems that Belichick has lost his ability to push the right buttons at the right time. I'm sure the Pats will make the playoffs, probably still win their division, maybe even get a home game in the first round, but that's as far as they'll go—I think there's a chance they could make the AFC title game, but they likely won't get even that far. Definitely no Super Bowl appearance. And the Pats might as well start looking for Brady's replacement for next season.
Nah to be honest, you're pretty spot on. I tend to be a very optimistic guy but also someone who is realistic in his line of thinking too.
I think we just have to accept what this Patriots team is, an above average team that will still have a great season (anywhere from 11-5 to 13-3) but will struggle against the elite and unique teams where the lack of true talent/weapons will show on both sides of the ball. And by unique, I mean a team that may have the mobile QB and/or an area in their game where they are underratedly good (for the Titans, they had the #1 scoring defense going into the game, no small feat at all, and of course a fast QB like Mariota who can make plays in many different ways).
Belichick and Brady may still drag this team to the AFC Championship Game again, but they probably aren't beating KC or LAC or PIT (even if the game is at Foxboro). Kind of like 2013 and 2015 where they still made the AFCCG but again, being on the road hurt them and they looked mediocre in those games too (lack of true talent, as I said above).
I do think NE will still finish with the 2 seed with a 12-4 record (which includes a win over Pittsburgh in December so they'll hold off PIT for home field as they finish 11-4-1 IMO), but KC should still finish 14-2 (or 13-3 at worst) and have the 1 seed. Chargers may sneak in and win the division instead of KC, but even if not, they will still be a very dangerous wild card team in the playoffs.
The defense is a joke and yes, I'm getting sick of Gronk too (I mean I love him but at some point they need to make a long-term decision on him, even if it means him just retiring for his health), but while Brady has understandably declined a little, I don't think he's horrible ("falling off a cliff"). He'll still win us games but this O-Line is also looking meh at times and getting injured, which is not good for Brady and the offense. Belichick didn't do a good job this offseason IMO and frankly I don't think this defense has improved much from the same unit that looked putrid in the Super Bowl (ugh...). It's improved a little but clearly not good enough still.
Also just in general, we look great at home but this year we actually look AWFUL on the road. 1-3 and frankly all 3 losses have been real ugly (and the 1 win was super close too).
