Patriots 2022 Season

[gouki88]

Judon is a monster. I just hope he doesn't peter out at the end of the season again.

I think his dropoff last season was due to him getting COVID as much as anything.

[Moranis]

Detroit had the best offense in the game before today. D has dominated, though not going for 4 FGs because of a lack of a kicker might have something to do with the shutout

Yeah, all those turnover on downs in FG range, look weird, but they wouldn't have altered the outcome or take away from the superb defensive performance.  I'd expect the Patriots lose to Cleveland next week, but they should beat the Bears at home and Jets in NY.  Two more winnable games with the Colts and Jets at home, but after that, is when the schedule becomes very difficult.  If the Pats are going to do anything this year, they need to 4-1 over the next 5, I don't think they will, but they have to get to 6 wins before their last 7 if they have any shot at making the playoffs.

Moving the goal posts? You said they were going to win 6 games this year. You also said Belichick is a bad GM.

apparently you didn't actually read what I wrote.  That is ok, English is hard.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

I'm not close to giving up on Bill, though I think he's likely to find himself in an 0-4 hole to kick off the season. Won't surprise me if they are mathematically in the WC hunt in Week 15, but I definitely don't expect playoffs this season.  Building for good run next year seems logical to me and I hope that's the trajectory.

Why do you expect them to miss the playoffs this year (after making it last year) and having a good run next season?

It’s an expectation based primarily on starting the year with an offense that has ability but isn’t ready yet, an O-line that needs to make substantial growth, a better division and conference (2 pretty definite losses to Buffalo), and the slow start leading to a likely 0-4 hole.  I believe they’ll get getter but I don’t think they’ll be able to pass a bunch of solid teams in the AFC after starting 0-4.  If they manage to go 2-2 I’ll change my mind quickly and expect them to compete for a playoff spot.

Here's your problem....assuming an 0-4 start. I can easily see 2-2.

easily?  They are slight favorites at Pittsburgh, but Baltimore and Green Bay will both be favored and they already have a loss, so they have to win 2 of those 3 games, and that doesn't seem likely.  Heck the Lions in week 5 won't be easy and even without Watson it won't be easy to win in Cleveland either.  3 of the 4 after that should be wins, but then they go into their last 7 games and I don't think they will be favored in a single one.  I doubt they lose all 7, but it wouldn't be crazy either.  The Patriots offense is just bad, and they will need that offense to beat the high powered offenses they play down the stretch.  The Patriots are a 6 win team at best this year.

Yes, reading and remembering can be hard.

[Csfan1984]

Judon is a monster. I just hope he doesn't peter out at the end of the season again.

I think his dropoff last season was due to him getting COVID as much as anything.

Heard he had a rib injury which limited his movement. He couldn't bend at the waist freely.

[Moranis]

I'm not close to giving up on Bill, though I think he's likely to find himself in an 0-4 hole to kick off the season. Won't surprise me if they are mathematically in the WC hunt in Week 15, but I definitely don't expect playoffs this season.  Building for good run next year seems logical to me and I hope that's the trajectory.

Why do you expect them to miss the playoffs this year (after making it last year) and having a good run next season?

It’s an expectation based primarily on starting the year with an offense that has ability but isn’t ready yet, an O-line that needs to make substantial growth, a better division and conference (2 pretty definite losses to Buffalo), and the slow start leading to a likely 0-4 hole.  I believe they’ll get getter but I don’t think they’ll be able to pass a bunch of solid teams in the AFC after starting 0-4.  If they manage to go 2-2 I’ll change my mind quickly and expect them to compete for a playoff spot.

Here's your problem....assuming an 0-4 start. I can easily see 2-2.

easily?  They are slight favorites at Pittsburgh, but Baltimore and Green Bay will both be favored and they already have a loss, so they have to win 2 of those 3 games, and that doesn't seem likely.  Heck the Lions in week 5 won't be easy and even without Watson it won't be easy to win in Cleveland either.  3 of the 4 after that should be wins, but then they go into their last 7 games and I don't think they will be favored in a single one.  I doubt they lose all 7, but it wouldn't be crazy either.  The Patriots offense is just bad, and they will need that offense to beat the high powered offenses they play down the stretch.  The Patriots are a 6 win team at best this year.

Yes, reading and remembering can be hard.

Yes.  I believe that is still true.  My comment was not inconsistent and didn't move any goal posts.  The Patriots aren't good.  I think at this point they win 6 games, which you know is a 6 win team at best.

[nickagneta]

Teams with defenses as good as the Pats with a schedule as soft as the Pats and a coach as good as the Pats' coach don't lose 11 games a season. People with any real knowledge of football know this.

[celticsclay]

Teams with defenses as good as the Pats with a schedule as soft as the Pats and a coach as good as the Pats' coach don't lose 11 games a season. People with any real knowledge of football know this.

Agreed Nick. This is just straight up embarrassing posts at this point. They just won a game with their third string quarterback.

[celticsclay]

I'm not close to giving up on Bill, though I think he's likely to find himself in an 0-4 hole to kick off the season. Won't surprise me if they are mathematically in the WC hunt in Week 15, but I definitely don't expect playoffs this season.  Building for good run next year seems logical to me and I hope that's the trajectory.

Why do you expect them to miss the playoffs this year (after making it last year) and having a good run next season?

It’s an expectation based primarily on starting the year with an offense that has ability but isn’t ready yet, an O-line that needs to make substantial growth, a better division and conference (2 pretty definite losses to Buffalo), and the slow start leading to a likely 0-4 hole.  I believe they’ll get getter but I don’t think they’ll be able to pass a bunch of solid teams in the AFC after starting 0-4.  If they manage to go 2-2 I’ll change my mind quickly and expect them to compete for a playoff spot.

Here's your problem....assuming an 0-4 start. I can easily see 2-2.

easily?  They are slight favorites at Pittsburgh, but Baltimore and Green Bay will both be favored and they already have a loss, so they have to win 2 of those 3 games, and that doesn't seem likely.  Heck the Lions in week 5 won't be easy and even without Watson it won't be easy to win in Cleveland either.  3 of the 4 after that should be wins, but then they go into their last 7 games and I don't think they will be favored in a single one.  I doubt they lose all 7, but it wouldn't be crazy either.  The Patriots offense is just bad, and they will need that offense to beat the high powered offenses they play down the stretch.  The Patriots are a 6 win team at best this year.

Yes, reading and remembering can be hard.

Tommy point my brother. This is garbage from mo

[Moranis]

Teams with defenses as good as the Pats with a schedule as soft as the Pats and a coach as good as the Pats' coach don't lose 11 games a season. People with any real knowledge of football know this.

We will see won't we.  Their 2 wins are against teams with 2 total wins on the year.  The next 5 games are fairly easy, but they do close with a very difficult schedule down the stretch.  And games like Cleveland and the two against the Jets appear more difficult now than they did at the start of the year.  Bears should be a fairly easy victory and the Colts are a disjointed mess, but Taylor is really really good so if he is back, he can alter that game.  They might not be favored at all in any of the last 7 games they play and the Browns are favored next week.  Obviously that doesn't mean anything to the actual outcome of any game but it is a gauge as to what the professionals think. 

I'm a very big proponent of a schedule and I don't think the Patriots schedule is nearly as soft as you do, at least on the whole.  Next 5 are generally a bit easier (though the Jets are currently a playoff team and it is always hard to play in Cleveland), but after that they have a very tough 7-game stretch where their easiest opponents are on the road i.e. their 3 home games are the Bills, Dolphins, and Bengals with the 4 road games being the Vikings, Cardinals, Raiders, and Bills. 

The game against Cleveland next week might go a long way in figuring out which one of us is correct, because I think they lose that game.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

Teams with defenses as good as the Pats with a schedule as soft as the Pats and a coach as good as the Pats' coach don't lose 11 games a season. People with any real knowledge of football know this.

We will see won't we.  Their 2 wins are against teams with 2 total wins on the year.  The next 5 games are fairly easy, but they do close with a very difficult schedule down the stretch.  And games like Cleveland and the two against the Jets appear more difficult now than they did at the start of the year.  Bears should be a fairly easy victory and the Colts are a disjointed mess, but Taylor is really really good so if he is back, he can alter that game.  They might not be favored at all in any of the last 7 games they play and the Browns are favored next week.  Obviously that doesn't mean anything to the actual outcome of any game but it is a gauge as to what the professionals think. 

I'm a very big proponent of a schedule and I don't think the Patriots schedule is nearly as soft as you do, at least on the whole.  Next 5 are generally a bit easier (though the Jets are currently a playoff team and it is always hard to play in Cleveland), but after that they have a very tough 7-game stretch where their easiest opponents are on the road i.e. their 3 home games are the Bills, Dolphins, and Bengals with the 4 road games being the Vikings, Cardinals, Raiders, and Bills. 

The game against Cleveland next week might go a long way in figuring out which one of us is correct, because I think they lose that game.

What does that mean? You like schedules?

I wish I had your self confidence. I would have been a more successful salesperson in previous careers.

I just went through the rest of the schedule. “At best” they win all of those games. In reality, I think they win 8 more for 10-7. Minnesota, Arizona, Oakland and even Cincy are worse than I thought. Tua should be back but who knows.

It seems disingenuous to say that their best case scenario is to go 4-8. I’m not sure how many would agree that is their best case scenario.

[Phantom255x]

If I had to predict the rest of the season for the Pats as of October 10, 2022, I'd go:

@CLE - Win
CHI - Win
@NYJ - Win
IND - Win

BYE

NYJ - Win
@MIN - Loss
BUF - Loss
@AZ - Win
@LAV - Loss
CIN - Win
MIA - Win
@BUF - Loss (even if BUF just plays backups)

That puts them at 10-7 to finish the season which is also what I predicted before the season.

Their 2nd half schedule is definitely brutal but I do think this 6-game stretch they have here is a big one. Already 1-0 in it with the next 5 against CLE, CHI, NYJ (2x), IND.

I think the Pats could surprise some people though with some signature wins late in the year against Miami and Cincinnati at home. Or maybe they lose one of the MIA/CIN games but beat Buffalo in Week 18 because by then Buffalo might already have a seed clinched and will play only backups.

Like others, I'd be stunned if they finished 6-11 this season but if they do, then hey I'll admit I was dead wrong.

[Donoghus]

I'm not sure if they'll make the the playoffs but they're sure as hell better than a 6 win ceiling team.

[Vermont Green]

Zappe looked very good.  My criticism from Green Bay was that he stayed in the pocket too long a few times and took sacks.  He did not do that in the Detroit game.  He stepped up nicely a few times and was able to avoid a sack and complete a pass.  It was clear that he was much better prepared and much more comfortable.

Another thing I noted was how much of a difference Jakobi Meyers makes.  I can't figure out what it is that makes him so good.  He changes the game though when he is on the field.

As to the defense, yes, they shut out a team that had been scoring points in bunches but I am not ready to declare this a great defense.  I see a solid defense.  Typical Belichick defense that is balanced and consistent.  Pats defenses remind me of Don Shula defenses.  Not a lot of star power, but good solid, consistent units that don't have weaknesses.  Solid is still good though, and probably getting a little better every week.

I hate to try and predict how many wins.  The Pats are unpredictable to start and then some of these other teams, like the Jets and Miami for example, and also hard to say how good they are.  I will say that I think the playoffs are still a reasonable stretch goal for them.

[Redz]

If I had to predict the rest of the season for the Pats as of October 10, 2022, I'd go:

@CLE - Win
CHI - Win
@NYJ - Win
IND - Win

BYE

NYJ - Win
@MIN - Loss
BUF - Loss
@AZ - Win
@LAV - Loss
CIN - Win
MIA - Win
@BUF - Loss (even if BUF just plays backups)

That puts them at 10-7 to finish the season which is also what I predicted before the season.

Their 2nd half schedule is definitely brutal but I do think this 6-game stretch they have here is a big one. Already 1-0 in it with the next 5 against CLE, CHI, NYJ (2x), IND.

I think the Pats could surprise some people though with some signature wins late in the year against Miami and Cincinnati at home. Or maybe they lose one of the MIA/CIN games but beat Buffalo in Week 18 because by then Buffalo might already have a seed clinched and will play only backups.

Like others, I'd be stunned if they finished 6-11 this season but if they do, then hey I'll admit I was dead wrong.

I can see them splitting with the Jets.  They don’t seem to be the doormats of last year. 

I’d just like to see them fit into that mold of Patriots teams that continues to improve and develop their identity over the season.

The Zappe stuff is fun.  A little fire under Mack’s rear end is not a bad thing.

[Moranis]

Teams with defenses as good as the Pats with a schedule as soft as the Pats and a coach as good as the Pats' coach don't lose 11 games a season. People with any real knowledge of football know this.

We will see won't we.  Their 2 wins are against teams with 2 total wins on the year.  The next 5 games are fairly easy, but they do close with a very difficult schedule down the stretch.  And games like Cleveland and the two against the Jets appear more difficult now than they did at the start of the year.  Bears should be a fairly easy victory and the Colts are a disjointed mess, but Taylor is really really good so if he is back, he can alter that game.  They might not be favored at all in any of the last 7 games they play and the Browns are favored next week.  Obviously that doesn't mean anything to the actual outcome of any game but it is a gauge as to what the professionals think. 

I'm a very big proponent of a schedule and I don't think the Patriots schedule is nearly as soft as you do, at least on the whole.  Next 5 are generally a bit easier (though the Jets are currently a playoff team and it is always hard to play in Cleveland), but after that they have a very tough 7-game stretch where their easiest opponents are on the road i.e. their 3 home games are the Bills, Dolphins, and Bengals with the 4 road games being the Vikings, Cardinals, Raiders, and Bills. 

The game against Cleveland next week might go a long way in figuring out which one of us is correct, because I think they lose that game.

What does that mean? You like schedules?

I wish I had your self confidence. I would have been a more successful salesperson in previous careers.

I just went through the rest of the schedule. “At best” they win all of those games. In reality, I think they win 8 more for 10-7. Minnesota, Arizona, Oakland and even Cincy are worse than I thought. Tua should be back but who knows.

It seems disingenuous to say that their best case scenario is to go 4-8. I’m not sure how many would agree that is their best case scenario.

I look at the schedule and analyze it.  I think they lose this weekend and split with the Jets.  I think they will win 1 of the indy, Miami, cinci games, beat the Bears, and pick up 1 other win along the way.  Now if Buffalo benches everyone the last game that might give them 7 wins, but I don't think they beat a Buffalo team that is trying so I l'm counting it as a loss at this point.

The offense just isn't good enough to beat the offensive oriented teams they play down the stretch, it isn't going to be pretty.