NFL 2021 Season

[smokeablount]

Ya know what the naysayers will say. The Patriots ain't played no one yet!!! Anyone can feast on the AFC LEAST!!!

That’s a funny thing to mention when your last post was hyping up the Chiefs with their one quality win this year.

[JSD]

The Patriots could easily be 12-1 right now. 3 of their 4 losses were by 6 points or under. So now they’re the top seed, with a record of 3-4 at Home, and 6-0 Away, so far this season.

They’re even better than their top seeded status would indicate.

[ozgod]

The Patriots could easily be 12-1 right now. 3 of their 4 losses were by 6 points or under. So now they’re the top seed, with a record of 3-4 at Home, and 6-0 Away, so far this season.

They’re even better than their top seeded status would indicate.

Just like the Celtics could have been 19-5 if not for those 6 losses that we gave away from winning positions (vs NY in 2OT, vs Was in 2OT, vs Chi where we led by 25+ but collapsed in the 4th, vs Dallas where we got Doncic'd, vs Cle where the Cavs won with 2 last second free throws, and vs Spurs where we fell behind by 26, fought back to lead by 7 then were outscored by 15 to lose). Amazing how big a difference losing those moments in games makes.

Love Mac saying he didn't care if he never threw the football as long as they won. Right mentality!

[Billz401]

Totally happy with the result but we need to be serious with ourselves, that was a very lucky win they pulled out. Defense played great but there were a few too many arm tackle misses for my liking but at the end of the day those 10 points were gifted by the bone headed decision to put Harry at punt return and just a terrible late hit call to put Buffalo in field goal position so very happy with defensive performance.

Offensively I'm sorry but there's no way we couldn't even attempt a 7 yard slant or screen to a rb or wr, the wind was a factor but not that big of a factor on a throw that gets what 6 feet off the ground and 5-10 yards down the field. Josh Allen seemed to have no problems with passing. There were multiple times Buffalo put 10 in the box and we decided to run anyways and lose yards where a play action would've totally caught them slipping. To me that was a scared gameplan and we are kidding ourselves thinking that will work again in January where it's just as snowy/windy/cold

[mr. dee]

The Patriots could easily be 12-1 right now. 3 of their 4 losses were by 6 points or under. So now they’re the top seed, with a record of 3-4 at Home, and 6-0 Away, so far this season.

They’re even better than their top seeded status would indicate.

Just like the Celtics could have been 19-5 if not for those 6 losses that we gave away from winning positions (vs NY in 2OT, vs Was in 2OT, vs Chi where we led by 25+ but collapsed in the 4th, vs Dallas where we got Doncic'd, vs Cle where the Cavs won with 2 last second free throws, and vs Spurs where we fell behind by 26, fought back to lead by 7 then were outscored by 15 to lose). Amazing how big a difference losing those moments in games makes.

Love Mac saying he didn't care if he never threw the football as long as they won. Right mentality!

Our Celtic players can learn a thing or two from him.

[nickagneta]

I am kinda stupified that the Pats came out in horrible weather, in the cold and wind, on the road against a very good team that was in the AFC Championship last year, came up with a game plan Belichick thought could win the game, executed that game plan, won the game and people are complaining that the team didn't pass enough.

The team didn't have to pass any more than they did. They won running the ball down the throats of the Bills with the offense not turning the ball over. They won controlling the time of possession. They won by controlling the line of scrimmage.

This was never going to be a high scoring game. It was going to be a low scoring slugfest in that weather and the team that ran the ball the best was going to win. Bill saw that and the game plan shows that. The win shows he was right.

Throwing more doesn't mean the Pats would have won or won by more. Throwing more could easily have lead to less time of possession, with less yards made and more turnovers due to interceptions. It's not like Jones has much, if any, experience throwing the ball in high wind conditions with wind chill temperatures in the teens. There is a lot that could have gone wrong by throwing the ball more. What would passing more have accomplished? The team winning by more points than they did?

You don't get style points by throwing the ball x amount of times a game. The complaints about not passing in this game are just like the complaints you see in the Celtics game threads where people complain that the C's won but should have won by more points. A win is a win, whether you win by 1 point or 35 points or, in this case, by 4 points.

Belichick thought this game plan gave his team the best chance of winning and the team won. Not sure why people would second guess Belichick here given his history and the results of the game.

[Moranis]

Bill is basically the opposite of Harbaugh in philosophy i.e. Bill is uber conservative and John is uber aggressive.  Sometimes that strategy works (like the Pats yesterday) and sometimes it fails (like the Ravens Sunday).  We've also seen the inverse of that happen this year i.e. the Miami and Tampa losses that were there for the taking but for some conservative calls from the Pats or the Chiefs game the Ravens won being uber aggressive.  They both stay true to who they are and coach that way.  So when you stick to form and win a road game against the team most directly competing for you in the division, the only thing needed is a tip of the cap as you move on to the next game. 

[Redz]

Bill is basically the opposite of Harbaugh in philosophy i.e. Bill is uber conservative and John is uber aggressive.  Sometimes that strategy works (like the Pats yesterday) and sometimes it fails (like the Ravens Sunday).  We've also seen the inverse of that happen this year i.e. the Miami and Tampa losses that were there for the taking but for some conservative calls from the Pats or the Chiefs game the Ravens won being uber aggressive.  They both stay true to who they are and coach that way.  So when you stick to form and win a road game against the team most directly competing for you in the division, the only thing needed is a tip of the cap as you move on to the next game.

There's a very distinct impish smile that BB reserves for winning games like last night.  He really loves the oddities, and I think winning a game with 3 passes gets him extra tingly.

[ozgod]

Bill is basically the opposite of Harbaugh in philosophy i.e. Bill is uber conservative and John is uber aggressive.  Sometimes that strategy works (like the Pats yesterday) and sometimes it fails (like the Ravens Sunday).  We've also seen the inverse of that happen this year i.e. the Miami and Tampa losses that were there for the taking but for some conservative calls from the Pats or the Chiefs game the Ravens won being uber aggressive.  They both stay true to who they are and coach that way.  So when you stick to form and win a road game against the team most directly competing for you in the division, the only thing needed is a tip of the cap as you move on to the next game.

There's a very distinct impish smile that BB reserves for winning games like last night.  He really loves the oddities, and I think winning a game with 3 passes gets him extra tingly.

Even more so because it annoyed Sean McDermott.

McDermott told reporters after the game:

"Let's not give more credit than we need to give credit to Bill Belichick in this one. Whether it was Bill or anybody else, they beat us, right? But you sit here and you tell me when we start with an average starting field position of the 40-yard line and he starts with the 23-yard line—I'm rounding up in both cases—and we were 1-for-4 in the red zone and they were 0-for-1 in the red zone? You give me that ahead of time, I'd say I like my chances. I like my chances.

"I don't think, with all due respect, it's not a Bill Belichick-type thing. It's, what are you doing with the opportunities you got? What are you doing with the opportunities you got? We turned the ball over on the plus-30-something yard line. Sloppy football. Sloppy football. I'm very comfortable in that situation."

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10020202-bills-sean-mcdermott-lets-not-give-more-credit-than-we-need-to-give-bill-belichick

[Phantom255x]

I'm probably on the younger side in these forums so I don't have as much experience and historical knowledge as most here. But last night was probably the weirdest game I've witnessed lol. And it was also hilarious at times 

Of course that 2nd half was filled with a ton of heart-attack moments too.

Also just reading and hearing these postgame pressers, it already feels like Buffalo and McDermott are imploding lol. Their kick returner (McKenzie I think?) literally tweeted a reply saying "dang" after that McDermott quote about him not activating their 2-capable kick returners for the game and saying they didn't want a mistake to happen like it did with Harry in the 1st last night

No joke too, it felt like every time they showed McDermott on the sidelines he was just yelling at a ref. I don't think his face was red because of the winds and cold weather 

[Donoghus]

Last night gave me a little NE/DEN Monday Night Football '03 vibe.

[celticsclay]

I am kinda stupified that the Pats came out in horrible weather, in the cold and wind, on the road against a very good team that was in the AFC Championship last year, came up with a game plan Belichick thought could win the game, executed that game plan, won the game and people are complaining that the team didn't pass enough.

The team didn't have to pass any more than they did. They won running the ball down the throats of the Bills with the offense not turning the ball over. They won controlling the time of possession. They won by controlling the line of scrimmage.

This was never going to be a high scoring game. It was going to be a low scoring slugfest in that weather and the team that ran the ball the best was going to win. Bill saw that and the game plan shows that. The win shows he was right.

Throwing more doesn't mean the Pats would have won or won by more. Throwing more could easily have lead to less time of possession, with less yards made and more turnovers due to interceptions. It's not like Jones has much, if any, experience throwing the ball in high wind conditions with wind chill temperatures in the teens. There is a lot that could have gone wrong by throwing the ball more. What would passing more have accomplished? The team winning by more points than they did?

You don't get style points by throwing the ball x amount of times a game. The complaints about not passing in this game are just like the complaints you see in the Celtics game threads where people complain that the C's won but should have won by more points. A win is a win, whether you win by 1 point or 35 points or, in this case, by 4 points.

Belichick thought this game plan gave his team the best chance of winning and the team won. Not sure why people would second guess Belichick here given his history and the results of the game.

Nick I am very happy we won. And I think all of our fans are here. However do we really have to be a 100% results orientated? The 4th quarter yards were something like 110-5. It’s not fair to say we should have tried something a little different In the second half or 4th? Or that we had a decent amount of luck in that 4th quarter to win? Celtics have certainly had some wins over the years were they won and I didn’t like how they closed the game out also.

[Goldstar88]

I am kinda stupified that the Pats came out in horrible weather, in the cold and wind, on the road against a very good team that was in the AFC Championship last year, came up with a game plan Belichick thought could win the game, executed that game plan, won the game and people are complaining that the team didn't pass enough.

The team didn't have to pass any more than they did. They won running the ball down the throats of the Bills with the offense not turning the ball over. They won controlling the time of possession. They won by controlling the line of scrimmage.

This was never going to be a high scoring game. It was going to be a low scoring slugfest in that weather and the team that ran the ball the best was going to win. Bill saw that and the game plan shows that. The win shows he was right.

Throwing more doesn't mean the Pats would have won or won by more. Throwing more could easily have lead to less time of possession, with less yards made and more turnovers due to interceptions. It's not like Jones has much, if any, experience throwing the ball in high wind conditions with wind chill temperatures in the teens. There is a lot that could have gone wrong by throwing the ball more. What would passing more have accomplished? The team winning by more points than they did?

You don't get style points by throwing the ball x amount of times a game. The complaints about not passing in this game are just like the complaints you see in the Celtics game threads where people complain that the C's won but should have won by more points. A win is a win, whether you win by 1 point or 35 points or, in this case, by 4 points.

Belichick thought this game plan gave his team the best chance of winning and the team won. Not sure why people would second guess Belichick here given his history and the results of the game.

Nick I am very happy we won. And I think all of our fans are here. However do we really have to be a 100% results orientated? The 4th quarter yards were something like 110-5. It’s not fair to say we should have tried something a little different In the second half or 4th? Or that we had a decent amount of luck in that 4th quarter to win? Celtics have certainly had some wins over the years were they won and I didn’t like how they closed the game out also.

That game could have gone either way and everyone would have been killing Bill if they didn’t eke out the victory. I’m glad the Pats are winning, but I’ve only felt like they’ve had one or two convincing wins against good opponents all season. If you can’t throw in the playoffs, it’s going to be a first round exit. 

[Moranis]

I am kinda stupified that the Pats came out in horrible weather, in the cold and wind, on the road against a very good team that was in the AFC Championship last year, came up with a game plan Belichick thought could win the game, executed that game plan, won the game and people are complaining that the team didn't pass enough.

The team didn't have to pass any more than they did. They won running the ball down the throats of the Bills with the offense not turning the ball over. They won controlling the time of possession. They won by controlling the line of scrimmage.

This was never going to be a high scoring game. It was going to be a low scoring slugfest in that weather and the team that ran the ball the best was going to win. Bill saw that and the game plan shows that. The win shows he was right.

Throwing more doesn't mean the Pats would have won or won by more. Throwing more could easily have lead to less time of possession, with less yards made and more turnovers due to interceptions. It's not like Jones has much, if any, experience throwing the ball in high wind conditions with wind chill temperatures in the teens. There is a lot that could have gone wrong by throwing the ball more. What would passing more have accomplished? The team winning by more points than they did?

You don't get style points by throwing the ball x amount of times a game. The complaints about not passing in this game are just like the complaints you see in the Celtics game threads where people complain that the C's won but should have won by more points. A win is a win, whether you win by 1 point or 35 points or, in this case, by 4 points.

Belichick thought this game plan gave his team the best chance of winning and the team won. Not sure why people would second guess Belichick here given his history and the results of the game.

Nick I am very happy we won. And I think all of our fans are here. However do we really have to be a 100% results orientated? The 4th quarter yards were something like 110-5. It’s not fair to say we should have tried something a little different In the second half or 4th? Or that we had a decent amount of luck in that 4th quarter to win? Celtics have certainly had some wins over the years were they won and I didn’t like how they closed the game out also.

That game could have gone either way and everyone would have been killing Bill if they didn’t eke out the victory. I’m glad the Pats are winning, but I’ve only felt like they’ve had one or two convincing wins against good opponents all season. If you can’t throw in the playoffs, it’s going to be a first round exit.

Tthat is just developing your QB the correct way.  QB's don't need to throw.

[Amonkey]

I think this was brilliant gameplan. I think Bill trusts the defense enough and knew that he could just keep on running until they figured out how to stop them. Once they adjusted, I feel that Bill already had a move up his sleeve to those adjustments (including throwing if they made enough stops). However, it never got down to it and he kept running down the clock and controlling the pace instead of forcing a throw into the wind that could lead to a INT.

Just think about it, they sealed the game after the 2 minute warning because they kept the clock running. If they had thrown even a few times, Bills would probably have enough time to make a drive in the end.

Lastly, this just shows how mentally tough this team is, especially compared to the beginning of the season. These guys are playing smash down football in an extremely physical game coming onto their bye week which is the latest bye week ever. Any player could have been looking forward to their break but instead they hit the Bills in the mouth and kept going at it.

Not sure how far they'll go but this has been a fun team to watch.