2013 Patriots Football

[lightspeed5]

can we get a touchdown at least? amendola, can you catch a pass? maybe 1 good run?

Brady might finish these playoffs without a single touchdown pass.

I guess at the end of the day this just wasn't a very good Pats team.

lets see

[Roy H.]

The Pats overachieved this year , but were terrible today. The defense was bad, Brady was bad, and the running game stunk.

[aporel#18]

The Pats overachieved this year , but were terrible today. The defense was bad, Brady was bad, and the running game stunk.

Defense couldn't get a breath, they were good in the first Donkeys drive, held them to a FG on the second... Talib going down was bad, but D shouldn't be blamed for the loss.

Playcalling and overthrowing by Brady are a bigger reason. But as you said, they overachieved, and with all those season ending injuries to key guys no team could've done much better than they did. Next year (hopefully) will be better.

[KGs Knee]

The Pats overachieved this year , but were terrible today. The defense was bad, Brady was bad, and the running game stunk.

The game was certainly more one sided than the score would lead you to believe.

[PhoSita]

The Pats overachieved this year , but were terrible today. The defense was bad, Brady was bad, and the running game stunk.

Yep.  Spot on.

Did the Patriots overachieve?  Were they lucky to be in the game considering all of their injuries?  Yes and yes.

Regardless, they came out in the big game and had an awful day.  They weren't competitive until the game was already effectively out of reach.  A lot of people on the team / coaching staff have some questions to answer after this game.


Moving forward, I want to see the Pats move on from Talib unless it's a bargain deal.  I want to see them re-sign Edelman because he's the only reliable pass-catcher they have right now.  I want to see them look to get a solid TE in the draft or FA, because anything they get from Gronk at this point is a bonus. 

Brady only has a few years left.  Another season where he has such a woefully inadequate supply of targets has to be completely out of the question.

[PhoSita]

The Pats overachieved this year , but were terrible today. The defense was bad, Brady was bad, and the running game stunk.

Defense couldn't get a breath, they were good in the first Donkeys drive, held them to a FG on the second... Talib going down was bad, but D shouldn't be blamed for the loss.

Playcalling and overthrowing by Brady are a bigger reason. But as you said, they overachieved, and with all those season ending injuries to key guys no team could've done much better than they did. Next year (hopefully) will be better.

I agree, the D did everything that could be asked of them, except maybe forcing a single turnover.  They held the Broncos to 26.

The offense was just completely inept today except late in the 4th when the game was already practically over.  The offense had an awful game today. 

[RebusRankin]

Pats D played well, losing Talib hurt.

Need some targets for Brady.

[Cman]

The Pats overachieved this year , but were terrible today. The defense was bad, Brady was bad, and the running game stunk.

Yep.  Spot on.

Did the Patriots overachieve?  Were they lucky to be in the game considering all of their injuries?  Yes and yes.

Regardless, they came out in the big game and had an awful day.  They weren't competitive until the game was already effectively out of reach.  A lot of people on the team / coaching staff have some questions to answer after this game.


Moving forward, I want to see the Pats move on from Talib unless it's a bargain deal.  I want to see them re-sign Edelman because he's the only reliable pass-catcher they have right now.  I want to see them look to get a solid TE in the draft or FA, because anything they get from Gronk at this point is a bonus. 

Brady only has a few years left.  Another season where he has such a woefully inadequate supply of targets has to be completely out of the question.

I don't think the receiving situation is a dire as some would make out. Dobson, Thompkins, Boyce will be better next year. An offseason working with Brady, especially in Dobson's case, will work wonders for the passing game.

From a different point of view, paying a lot of money to bring in a big name FA rarely works out, IMHO. Just look at Miami and M. Wallace. I'm glad the Pats aren't going that route.

Big questions RE FAs:
(1) Talib
(2) Edelman
(3) Blount

How much to resign, who do you pick if you pick one?

[Smitty77]

Listen guys. I am NOT a Patriot fan, but I have the MOST RESPECT for what Bill Belichick did with this team that was ravaged by injuries and other situations this year.  What a testament to Bill and the coaching staff to get within one game of the Super Bowl with a defense savaged by injuries, not to mention the loss of Gronk and its effect on the offense.

I am a Cowboys fan and we had 19 guys in our front four on defense miss games this year, which is a likely record.  BUT, the Patriots had comparable injuries and won 12 games and a playoff game.  My team only won 8 games and then went fishing early AGAIN.

Any time you all wanna trade Garrett for Belichick, give Jerry (the worst GM in the NFL) at call:-))

Seriously, congrats on a truly amazing season.  Talk about over-achieving!!!

Smitty77

[Cman]

Here's an interesting read:
https://twitter.com/2swiftjohnson
It's Bethel Johnson's twitter account, and he offers up a bunch of sour grapes comments.

For example:

I said when the Pats traded me that they'll never win another championship. Say what you want about me, I was there 3yrs & left with 2 rings

and:

I have more rings than amendola

[PhoSita]

Big questions RE FAs:
(1) Talib
(2) Edelman
(3) Blount

How much to resign, who do you pick if you pick one?

If I have to pick one, I pick Edelman.

I don't know enough about NFL salaries to say how much each should get.

I'd pay market price (or a little bit above) to keep Edelman.  I'd only re-sign Talib if it's a bargain.  I'd pay market price to keep Blount if it's a short deal.

[Roy H.]

Pats D played well, losing Talib hurt.

I don't know.  Zero sacks, very little pressure, no turnovers.  The Pats let the Broncos score on every drive other than their first one, and the final one where the Broncos ran out the clock.

Allowing points on six straight possessions isn't impressive, regardless of them only allowing two TDs.

[Cman]

Pats D played well, losing Talib hurt.

I don't know.  Zero sacks, very little pressure, no turnovers.  The Pats let the Broncos score on every drive other than their first one, and the final one where the Broncos ran out the clock.

Allowing points on six straight possessions isn't impressive, regardless of them only allowing two TDs.

Agreed. It was a terrible game for the Pats, all around. They overcame a lot to get to this point, but in the end just spluttered out. Good learning experience for all the rookies and second year players though.

Upside: I get to focus 100% on Cs now.

[Cman]

Big questions RE FAs:
(1) Talib
(2) Edelman
(3) Blount

How much to resign, who do you pick if you pick one?

If I have to pick one, I pick Edelman.

I don't know enough about NFL salaries to say how much each should get.

I'd pay market price (or a little bit above) to keep Edelman.  I'd only re-sign Talib if it's a bargain.  I'd pay market price to keep Blount if it's a short deal.

Yeah it all comes down to salaries.
I think Edelman will be around $4m a year, which might be out of Pats range.
Blount maybe $2m?
Talib most expensive of them. Maybe $6-7m?
Pats can't afford all of them.
Other issue is draft. I'd like to see a huge defensive lineman, an explosive safety, and Gronk 2.0 in that order.

[PhoSita]

Big questions RE FAs:
(1) Talib
(2) Edelman
(3) Blount

How much to resign, who do you pick if you pick one?

If I have to pick one, I pick Edelman.

I don't know enough about NFL salaries to say how much each should get.

I'd pay market price (or a little bit above) to keep Edelman.  I'd only re-sign Talib if it's a bargain.  I'd pay market price to keep Blount if it's a short deal.

Yeah it all comes down to salaries.
I think Edelman will be around $4m a year, which might be out of Pats range.
Blount maybe $2m?
Talib most expensive of them. Maybe $6-7m?
Pats can't afford all of them.
Other issue is draft. I'd like to see a huge defensive lineman, an explosive safety, and Gronk 2.0 in that order.

To me it's essential that they keep Edelman because, as we've all seen, Brady really needs to have guys that he trusts.  He needs to have at least one or two targets that he has a history with.  Edelman and Gronk are the only guys left who fit the bill, and Gronk is perpetually injured.