2013 Patriots Football

[kozlodoev]

Really?  The Bengals already manhandled the Pats this year, so that doesn't require explanation.  The Chiefs are like a supped-up version of the kind of team that rattles the Pats.  Physical D, good running game, mediocre QB who doesn't turn the ball over, etc.

You mean in week 5, when Brady posted a QB rating of 50, his top 3 passing targets were Amendola, Bolden, and Edelman, and Blount was the feature back?

The Bengals won the game scoring 13 points. Forgive me if I find it hard to consider that "manhandling" -- but I'm quite convinced a game like this is not going to happen again.

The Chiefs have played one of the softest schedules in the league, and have a QB that can't really win you a game throwing the ball. So until they prove they can win against good teams, I remain unimpressed.

[kozlodoev]

Unbelievable.

http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2013/11/19/referee-clete-blakeman-on-noncall-in-patriots-loss-i-believe-we-got-it-right/

Are these guys blind?

1. The primary contact occurred way before the ball was intercepted.

2. The primary contact occurred in the middle of the end zone.

3. The ball was underthrown. However, if Gronkowski was allowed to curl back to where the pass was going, the pass is catchable. It may have not been an automatic or an easy catch, but that's not the point here.

[Moranis]

Down by 1 fantasy point.  Brady INT at the buzzer.  Win by 1 fantasy point.

[PhoSita]

Really?  The Bengals already manhandled the Pats this year, so that doesn't require explanation.  The Chiefs are like a supped-up version of the kind of team that rattles the Pats.  Physical D, good running game, mediocre QB who doesn't turn the ball over, etc.

You mean in week 5, when Brady posted a QB rating of 50, his top 3 passing targets were Amendola, Bolden, and Edelman, and Blount was the feature back?

The Bengals won the game scoring 13 points. Forgive me if I find it hard to consider that "manhandling" -- but I'm quite convinced a game like this is not going to happen again.

The Chiefs have played one of the softest schedules in the league, and have a QB that can't really win you a game throwing the ball. So until they prove they can win against good teams, I remain unimpressed.

Everything you say has the ring of truth to it.

In theory, it makes sense that the Patriots could beat those teams.

But going on recent history, the Pats struggle mightily against teams that check off a certain list of attributes, and both the Bengals and the Chiefs qualify.

[kozlodoev]

But going on recent history, the Pats struggle mightily against teams that check off a certain list of attributes, and both the Bengals and the Chiefs qualify.

Perhaps, but these particular teams are just not that good. Of course the Patriots may still struggle and even lose. But to call these "true contenders" that you can't see us beating? I don't think so. Which is why I consider the bye important.

[Donoghus]

Really?  The Bengals already manhandled the Pats this year, so that doesn't require explanation.  The Chiefs are like a supped-up version of the kind of team that rattles the Pats.  Physical D, good running game, mediocre QB who doesn't turn the ball over, etc.

You mean in week 5, when Brady posted a QB rating of 50, his top 3 passing targets were Amendola, Bolden, and Edelman, and Blount was the feature back?

The Bengals won the game scoring 13 points. Forgive me if I find it hard to consider that "manhandling" -- but I'm quite convinced a game like this is not going to happen again.

The Chiefs have played one of the softest schedules in the league, and have a QB that can't really win you a game throwing the ball. So until they prove they can win against good teams, I remain unimpressed.

Everything you say has the ring of truth to it.

In theory, it makes sense that the Patriots could beat those teams.

But going on recent history, the Pats struggle mightily against teams that check off a certain list of attributes, and both the Bengals and the Chiefs qualify.

Without Atkins & Hall, that Bengals team is nowhere neat the same as it was a month & a half ago.

[Eja117]

If that last play was the other way round and Talib or McCourty are draped all over Steven Smith it's a penalty all day long, no need to discuss it at all

[kozlodoev]

If that last play was the other way round and Talib or McCourty are draped all over Steven Smith it's a penalty all day long, no need to discuss it at all

In fact, McCourty was draped all over someone in pretty much the same fashion on the other end of the field on the previous drive, and sure enough it was a penalty.

[angryguy77]

Down by 1 fantasy point.  Brady INT at the buzzer.  Win by 1 fantasy point.

I was down thirty going in. But Cam came through!

[D.o.s.]

Unbelievable.

http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2013/11/19/referee-clete-blakeman-on-noncall-in-patriots-loss-i-believe-we-got-it-right/

Are these guys blind?

1. The primary contact occurred way before the ball was intercepted.

2. The primary contact occurred in the middle of the end zone.

3. The ball was underthrown. However, if Gronkowski was allowed to curl back to where the pass was going, the pass is catchable. It may have not been an automatic or an easy catch, but that's not the point here.

Related

. The flag on Kuechly, quickly picked up, was for defensive pass interference, and not the lesser fouls of illegal contact or defensive holding. This is very much an important distinction, because only a DPI call requires the ball to be catchable. Had one of the latter two been called, the ball's proximity to Gronkowski—or lack thereof—wouldn't have mattered, and the Patriots would have had one more shot. But as excellently broken down here (http://www.patspulpit.com/2013/11/19/5121100/rules-breaking-down-the-final-play), pass interference is the only penalty that could have been called correctly, since the ball was in the air when the contact occurred.

The back judge saw the contact between Kuechly and Gronkowski, and threw his flag. He wasn't paying attention to Tom Brady's release—that's not his job—or to the flight of the ball. Two other officials came in and overruled him, declaring that the ball couldn't and wouldn't have been caught anyway, and that was that.

So. The entire controversy hinges on a hypothetical. Had Kuechly not draped himself over Gronkowski, would Gronk have had a shot at the ball?

http://deadspin.com/why-officials-picked-up-the-flag-and-gave-carolina-the-1467358966


I don't care either way, but I agree with the Deadspin dudes--no way that flag's picked up if this game was in New England.



Full disclosure: I only watched the game because of Cam Newton, who won me my fantasy football matchup after I was down 25 last night. I don't have a dog in this fight.

[Donoghus]

I still don't know if Gronk would've had a realistic shot  at the ball (my actual inclination is to say no) but I will agree with the thought that there is no way that flag would've been picked up if the game was in Foxborough.

[D.o.s.]

I still don't know if Gronk would've had a realistic shot  at the ball (my actual inclination is to say no) but I will agree with the thought that there is no way that flag would've been picked up if the game was in Foxborough.

I don't think he gets to it, either, based on when he plants his right foot to cut back towards the ball and where the Panthers player goes down for the interception occurs in that gif.

[kozlodoev]

I still don't know if Gronk would've had a realistic shot  at the ball (my actual inclination is to say no) but I will agree with the thought that there is no way that flag would've been picked up if the game was in Foxborough.

I don't think he gets to it, either, based on when he plants his right foot to cut back towards the ball and where the Panthers player goes down for the interception occurs in that gif.

I don't think he was very likely to catch it, but I'm pretty sure he would have been able to make a very credible attempt on the ball (remember, the dude is 6'7, 265 lbs). Which should be enough for the flag to stay down.

[indeedproceed]

I still don't know if Gronk would've had a realistic shot  at the ball (my actual inclination is to say no) but I will agree with the thought that there is no way that flag would've been picked up if the game was in Foxborough.

I don't think he gets to it, either, based on when he plants his right foot to cut back towards the ball and where the Panthers player goes down for the interception occurs in that gif.

I don't think he was very likely to catch it, but I'm pretty sure he would have been able to make a very credible attempt on the ball (remember, the dude is 6'7, 265 lbs). Which should be enough for the flag to stay down.

Agree. He was probably not going to catch it, and likely wouldn't have disrupted the interception.

But he could've come close to reaching the play, pretty arbitrary thing to pickup the flag.

[kozlodoev]

Oh well, Broncos next. Good thing Peyton doesn't scramble much on third downs.