PatsPropaganda

Comes down to two things as I see it: Injuries and Finishing. Neither are very predictable.

Look at the Pats teams that went to the Super Bowls. All had a remarkable ability to stay healthy at the key spots, of course the Gronk AFCCG injury in 2011 was devastating, but the 2007 team really only lost Rosevelt Colvin and they had the LB depth to overcome that.

But the biggest difference between the three teams that won the Super Bowl and the two that didn’t was simply a matter of finishing. Both the 2007 and 2011 teams had a lead late in fourth quarter. Neither could make that last stop on Eli. The 2001, 2003 and 2004 made those late clutch plays to close the game out.

Does the 2014 team have that ability to close out the biggest game on the biggest stage? It certainly appears they have the talent at the right spots to do so. But it’s a game of inches and it’s impossible to know who will get that crucial bounce or make that impossible play (hello Brady’s final drives to set up Vinatieri’s GW FGs in 2001 and 2003, Rodney Harrison’s interception of McNabb in 2004, David Tyree’s helmet catch and Eli’s pinpoint throw to Manningham).

If this team stays healthy, especially Rob Gronkowski, they have to be considered to be neck and neck with the best teams in the NFL on paper. We’ll see how they look on paper come January, but I certainly like their chances and their experience across the board.

I know I’m probably in the minority, but the 16-0 banner doesn’t really bother me all that much. That season was insane and I think a team that was two minutes away from being the undisputed greatest of all time deserves some kind of acknowledgement even if they did fall short.

Let’s do a poll to see what you guys think…

I would hope so, but I think what we’ve learned is that it’s best to pick your spots with the no-huddle unless you’re down by a couple scores. The biggest thing is just getting everyone on the same page with the normal offense. 

For all those piling on Brady because he had some stats that were down last year, the simplest truth is that the passing game was very much in transition last year and the offensive line didn’t do them any favors with a up-and-down year.

Add in the injuries to Amendola, Dobson, Thompkins and Gronk and it’s actually amazing they were as good as they were. I think 2013 is a feath in Brady’s cap, not a sign of deterioration.

So yes, with a full year in the system for guys like Dobson/Thompkins/Boyce (the latter two have stood out already in OTAs while Dobson is still rehabbing), things should only get better. If they can get Gronk healthy that’s a huge piece.

As always, the season is a process, so I’d expect the amount of no huddle to slowly escalate as we get into the late fall and winter. But it’s best utilized in short spurts to really turn the screws on a defense at specific points in the game. 

Overuse it and the offense can lose it’s rhythm and get off track. I think we’ve seen quite a few instances of that in the last couple seasons. 2011 was a special collection of smart, experienced and versatile weapons that allowed them to do special things. I’m fine being a little more traditional now, they just need to stay healthy, but there are plenty of more potential weapons nows. Should be fun.