PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Keeping the Patriots Win in Perspective

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As my Dad often said, and as BB practices, you can’t let your lows get too low, nor let your highs get too high. Clearly this was the tone Tom Brady took at the podium after the win over the Jets, keeping a level head while quickly turning the page to the already-behind preparations for the Chicago Bears.

So let’s take a deep breath and talk about what this win really means in the big picture.

Unfortunately the Patriots clinched neither the AFC East nor homefield advantage last night. Sure, it’s always nice to pound Rex and the Jets, but ultimately the division race is still very much alive. A one game lead with four to play isn’t enough. Especially when two of those four are inside the division.

The Patriots sit in first place, but the Jets are still very much alive folks. As you can see from the tie breaks procedure after head to head, division record the next factor is common games. The Pats loss to Cleveland (Jets beat them) and the Jets loss to the Ravens (Patriots beat them) cancel each other out. The Pats have games in hand having already beaten Pittsburgh, and still having a chance to beat the Packers. Chicago is the wild card as both the Pats and Jets have yet to play them.

So every game remains huge, starting with the divisional matchups, both of which the Jets have at home. The Patriots will have to go to Buffalo, while hosting Miami.

I don’t want to diminish last night’s win, but it was very much a “hold serve” victory. There is no breathing room for the Patriots. If they lose to Chicago and the Jets beat Miami it would go down to the 5th tiebreaker for the Pats to maintain first place.

Here’s how ties are broken:

Two Clubs

  1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
  2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
  3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
  4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
  5. Strength of victory.
  6. Strength of schedule.
  7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
  8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
  9. Best net points in common games.
  10. Best net points in all games.
  11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
  12. Coin toss

The Patriots Weren’t Losing on Tedy Bruschi Night

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Below is a fan-shot video from last night’s halftime presentation for Tedy Bruschi. I don’t know if Tedy said anything before the game to the team, or if they let him “break it down” in the locker room afterwards (the tradition he started), but it was clear that the Patriots played with a fire that was a defining characteristic of Bruschi’s career.

Some new twists for the New England Patriots defense

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It’s hard to know where to start when breaking down the New England Patriots dismantling of the New York Jets, so to kick it off here are some observations from the Pats defensive side of the ball.

The first player I’d like to talk about is Darius Butler who suddenly emerged as the teams nickelback last night. Patrick Chung had been playing that spot in place of Jonathan Wilhite, but it was not his strength. Putting Butler in forced Chung back into a rotation at safety, meaning less playing time for him.

Jarrad Page also suddenly emerged, making it a four man rotation at safety. I will need to look more closely at how exactly all of them were used, the snap counts should give some insight into it. Page looked like he was playing fast and physical last night, we forget that he was steadily getting more and more play time before getting hurt.

Dane Fletcher saw time as a 3-4 OLB for the first time this season. It wasn’t his traditional pass rush/spy role. This sheds a little more light on the decision to let Shawn Crable go. I’ve always been curious to see if Fletcher could play OLB in the base defense, it seems like he has the length and smarts needed. Hopefully he will continue to improve, but chalk another undrafted rookie up on Bill Belichick’s success list.

Devin McCourty… what can you say. I don’t think it’s too early to say we’ve finally got an elite corner. Partner him with Leigh Bodden next year and I guarantee this unit won’t be ranked last in anything. But that’s next year, for now McCourty is really the difference maker in the secondary.

Brandon Spikes’ interception is a huge sign of progress. Had he bit on the play action it would’ve been a touchdown. Instead he stayed in his zone and Sancheesy threw it right to him.

To think that this defense held the Jets to 3 points without Ty Warren, Leigh Bodden, Mike Wright, Myron Pryor and Jonathan Wilhite… wow.

More to come later…

And we’re back…

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When the Great Tumblr Crash of ‘10 just happened to fall on the Monday of Patriots – Jets I wasn’t sure how to interpret the complete shutdown of my all things Patriots blog. So I rode it out, mainly with Twitter as my methadone.

Well, it’s clear to say now that the Great Tumblr Crash of ’10 was indeed great. My thoughts on this win, and what it means coming soon. But first I must digest it. I leave this video as an appetizer.

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lolpats:

REX’S BEST MISTAKE YET

Who knew a 400 pound man could give us all a woody?

https://www.patspropaganda.com/rexs-best-mistake-yet/