PatsPropaganda

Well-put. There’s no question that there are a lot of what ifs…

• What kind of jump will Dobson, Boyce, Thompkins make in year two?
• Can Dobson get healthy and make up any ground he lost?
• What will a healthy Amendola look like in year two with Brady?
• How quick can LaFell pick up the offense and contribute?
• Can Edelman build on his breakout 2013 (which really might just come down to staying healthy)?
• What will the interior of the offensive line look like? Will there be an immediate youth movement with Halapio and Stork or will they be brought along slowly?
• Can Ridley and Vereen put their issues (fumbles/injuries) behind them and turn in a consistent and healthy season? And if not, are any of the rookies, led by James White, legitimate weapons?
• When does Gronk come back and what do they do until then or if he goes down again? As of now it’s pretty scary to imagine Hooman being our #1 TE for another season.

But ultimately you’re right, no matter what happens and who improves, regresses or is lost to injury, the Pats have a history of making things work. Brady is still Brady as far as we know so that alone should make this a top-10 offense.

Of course, we all see the potential. If the receivers develop, if the running backs find their consistency, if the interior offensive line solidifies… this could be an explosive and versatile offense. 

2013 was a reset year somewhat and they powered through it. No matter how things go this year, things should be better and we shouldn’t have the same kind of up-and-down start where they’re just not moving the ball.

It’s exciting to see how it will play out.

I think the Pats would’ve put up a better fight than the Broncos did, but it’s hard to say they’d have beaten the Seahawks, who were playing lights out ball. Even when the Pats get completely dominated, they don’t get blown out. See 2011’s eight-point loss to the Steelers as a prime example. 

The Pats also put up 475 yards of offense on Seattle in 2012, in Seattle. Granted they were a far different offense in 2013 but that at least shows that Brady and Belichick had an understanding of Seattle’s defensive scheme and were able to exploit it at least that one time.

Could they have done that again with the pieces they had by the end of last year? Probably not. But I don’t think we’d have seen the kind of implosion from the Pats that we saw out of the Broncos. They’re just not that kind of team under BB.

Nice list (and please keep questions/comments like this coming!!). Some commentary on each of these..

1. No question. Felt like the magic that the Pats had in their SB-winning years suddenly was with the Giants.

2. Big play, but this was 2nd-and-11. No question a touchdown there puts the game away, but if they’re held to a FG they still lose.

3. Can’t recall this play!! The one that sticks out to me is the Reche Caldwell drop. That was 3rd-and-7 from the Indy 10 with about 8 mins left in the 4th. Pats settle for a FG and a 31-28 lead. A touchdown would’ve really put the heat on Manning, but with our defense gassed, a victory still wouldn’t have been assured.

4. The Ridley fumble essentially put the game up for the Ravens’ taking, but even if he had hung on to it I’m not sure the Pats had it in them to win that game. I’ve never seen them thoroughly dominated like they were in the second half of that game.

5. Should’ve been a touchback, Patriots ball on the 20. Watson’s effort was insane on that play. Still waiting for end zone cameras…

6. I’d actually say Alge Crumpler’s dropped touchdown was pretty bad as well. The fake punt in the second quarter essentially made it 14-3 instead of 7-3 at the half. Or, if Crumpler catches it, we’re all tied at 7. Say what you will about Mark Sanchez but he was lights out in this game. Cotchery’s 58 yard catch-and-run at the start of the 4th quarter to set up a touchdown that gave the Jets a 21-11 lead was the last major dagger.

And if we’re going to throw this year’s AFC Championship into the mix I think the play that stands out was Brady missing Edelman deep in what could’ve been a first-half touchdown. That really could’ve changed the complexion of that game, though the Pats defense was essentially powerless to stop Manning without Talib.