PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

The Patriots Aren’t Going Undefeated (and it’s a good thing)

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Does it go against my homer blog motif to say that the Patriots aren’t going undefeated? After 2007 I’m surprised if anyone still wants to. All anyone did was complain for seven years about the 16-0 banner, and now people are endlessly debating doing it again?

I get that it’s a talking point every season, especially for a team that hits 9-0, but realistically the Patriots are going to lose at least one game, and probably to a team that no one really expects.

No one thought the 2007 Patriots would lose to the Ravens but they should have. And really, a loss like that would’ve alleviated some pressure and probably would’ve helped the Pats get over the hump against the Giants in the Super Bowl rematch. Think about that. No pressure-packed season finale. Eli and Brady probably sitting out. The Giants getting no bead on what the Patriots were doing. Etc.

Obviously that was a specific opponent and things just happened to work out that they met again in the Super Bowl, but if you don’t care about hanging a 16-0 banner again what does one loss matter as long as it doesn’t cost a playoff seed?

The Patriots are not a perfect team. Injuries have cemented that and though Vollmer and Cannon returned to practice this week, it’s still very possible the offensive line have an off game that even Brady can’t overcome.

The third down defense has been the weak link for the defense in recent weeks, and though a lot of their struggles have been overstated, if they continue to be up around 50% on third down it won’t be long before a team makes them pay for it.

I’m not trying to rain on the Patriots parade, I prefer to be leading it, but I also think if 2007 taught us anything it’s the value of a loss. Of getting some weaknesses exposed. Of getting dragged through the media wringer a bit instead of only hearing how great you are and what your chances are of going 16-0.

There’s a good chance that loss is coming. And whatever weaknesses are exposed or revealed doesn’t suddenly mean that Patriots still aren’t Super Bowl contenders. We might have learned more about the Patriots in their last loss to the Packers than we did in most of the games last season. But it was also apparent that the mistakes were correctable and even on an off day in a tough place to play against one of the best teams in the NFL, they still hung tough and didn’t give up a second half touchdown.

Those are the games where you learn the most about your team. Not by blowing the doors off someone like the Redskins every week.

The Patriots will feel the impact of losing Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman at some point, but that will only help them evolve new methods of attack, methods that will be needed to take down the best teams in the playoffs.

Whenever it happens just remember, losses are a good thing for a team like ours.

Patriots vs. Giants All-22 Review – Offense Edition

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Got a chance to look at the offensive side of the ball on Tuesday, albeit briefly and on my iPhone but I picked up a few interesting observations to pass along.

– I thought Brady had an up and down game. There were some great throws. There were some that were off that he usually makes. And there were some bad mental decisions he usually doesn’t make. Still, the Pats won the game, but he doesn’t seem entirely lights out right now whether it’s due to the offensive line, the loss of Edelman/Lewis, or what. The bomb to LaFell was the best deep ball he’s thrown since last year’s GWTD vs. the Ravens to LaFell. The TD to Gronk was nails. The goal line interception is a throw he makes, like in the Super Bowl to LaFell for instance. 

– Now Brady has to face a Rex Ryan defense without his best anti-Rex receiver and a rag tag offensive line. If ever there was a week to get Cannon and Vollmer back, this would be a good one.

– James White didn’t flash like Dion Lewis did but he was solid in a limited role. They certainly aren’t ready to thrust him into the fire. Rather they’ll work him in and he’ll go off in one of these random late-season games. He blocked well and came through with a clutch catch in the fourth quarter that everyone seems to be forgetting about.

– Amendola played another heck of a game, sparking the team yet again with a  big play (punt return) then making the clutch catches at the end that Edelman usually does. I’m excited to see what he does in an expanded role over the last seven games.

– The offensive line competes hard, but they can’t avoid some tough breakdowns at times. All of them had instances of missed blocks and failed assignments. Again, Cannon and Vollmer asap please.

– I continue to believe Blount is better served in an early rotation as he never really got fully going against the Giants. I don’t know if there’s really an answer to that now with the roster decimated, but if they can’t get some quality carries out of Bolden or White, the run game could be vulnerable.

do you think we over exaggerate how prepared BB and JMcD are? When Edelman went down the offense seemed anemic. I’d hate to say it’s just because Gronk had to stay home and block but I don’t think they were as prepared for this as we may have hoped -M

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I can’t fault them that much. You lose your best third down receiver and things are going to sputter, but they still were able to move the ball to set up the game winning field goal. 

You can only be so “prepared” in terms of depth and while Amendola is a different receiver than Edelman, he’s a veteran receiver who’s made plenty of clutch catches and knows what he’s doing. 

This next game against the Bills will be interesting in terms of the game plan to replace the production of not only Lewis now, but Edelman too. Those two essentially were the entire offense against the Bills last time.

Patriots – Bills Tickets Caption Contest Finalists!

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Thanks to everyone who entered our @NRGEnergy #FanEnergy contest to give away two tickets to Patriots-Bills on Monday Night Football!

Voting will close at 9pm EST Wednesday. Here are the finalists:

Who had the best Rex-Brady Caption?

How much do you think Dane Fletcher’s return will shore up the linebacker depth issue?

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They could certainly use the player they let get away a couple years ago. My only question is how close Fletcher is to that player coming off an ACL tear. Usually takes two years to totally get back to normal with those, although he very well could come in and be effective.

I thought he was always a strong linebacker to have on the roster, aggressive against the run but also could move in space. I remember one year he did a lot of spying on Ray Rice and excelled.

Mayo and Freeny are targets. I thought Mayo had his best game of the season against the Giants, starting to make plays against the run and in coverage, but he still lacks that “pop” in him that he had before the injury.

But really if Collins and Hightower are healthy there’s not a huge need for the third linebacker, merely bringing in Freeny or Mayo or Fletcher in against the base defense.

I will say I’m interested to see how Fletcher fits in with Collins and Hightower. I think he’d be a good compliment because of his coverage ability, freeing the others up to attack the QB.