The New England Patriots 2014 Playoffs Thread

Urlithani_sl said:

The pass could have been better too. A little bit lower or to the right and it's either a catch or incomplete.

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This is the big thing. Russ has to put the ball low or on Lockette's body instead of leading him. The other big thing from the Seahawks perspective is for that play to be really effective Kearse has to actually have the ability to pick/rub whatever Browner. There aren't many in the NFL that can and Bevell should have known that given that he was on the Seahawks last season.

All that however takes away from the fact that Butler played lights out ridiculous in the entire 4th quarter. The play on Lockette across the middle where they both tripped, the deep sideline ball that Kearse dropped or was forced out of his hands by Butler and then the INT on the goal line.

Gronk enjoying the parade

kam chancellor and k.j wright had such shitty games too. brady 10/11 against them

kearse's pick/rub assignment was not on browner..he had to get BROWNER to pick/rub BUTLER

but ....that didn't happen browner forced/allowed kearse to drive straight back and not enough to the side like he was supposed to go, while butler shot by without a rub- which allowed him to get to the receiver at about the same time (technically he got there a hair early)

even with what happened. say wilson threw the ball 2' "right" (closer to lockett)... leave the entire play alone except for ball placement. that is either a bone crushing incomplete pass or a complete pass- no touchdown due to the hit knocking him Backwards , no chance of that ball getting in the end zone.

that kearse play was awesome- by BOTH players- butler made an great play and BROKE IT UP, the problem was. the ball fell PERFECT for kearse to be able to get his hands on. hell that could have been the defensive play of the game- if not for the way the ball came down.

Let's not forget that Kearse is a fucking terrible receiver who got lucky at the end of the championship AND the Superbowl. At least two of Wilson's picks in the championship game were balls that Kearse tipped to a defender.

Azeth_sl said:

kam chancellor and k.j wright had such shitty games too. brady 10/11 against them

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I'll take it a step further and say I don't think their entire defense played great for most of the game, the exception being the 3rd quarter where I thought they locked them down pretty good. Now injuries do have something to do with that, I think the Lane injury was a much bigger deal than I initially thought. You just can't let Brady light you up like that in the 4th quarter, twice.

Vandyn_sl said:

I'll take it a step further and say I don't think their entire defense played great for most of the game, the exception being the 3rd quarter where I thought they locked them down pretty good. Now injuries do have something to do with that, I think the Lane injury was a much bigger deal than I initially thought. You just can't let Brady light you up like that in the 4th quarter, twice.

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I agree our defense didn't play as well as the standard they set. I think mostly due to injures. I think our biggest defensive weakness is to smaller quick nimble receivers like Edelman. Ty Hilton blew us up last year when we lost to the Colts as an example.

I think most of us view anything short of itlan/cathan levels of prick waving pretty tame after a super bowl victory.

I think the swings of the game make people more humble. Every semi sane pats fan realizes this game was on the razors edge, and even if we are happy and gloat a bit its not like last year where one team didn't even belong in the game and you can legitimately bash people who thought it would go the other way as dumb. Either team this year could have won and I won't bash anyone who picked the hawks because it easily could have gone that way, unlike last year where I bashed tons of people who thought that soft broncos team had a prayer.

I didn't see the Broncos getting blown out like that. Being shut down by the Seattle defense was one thing, but that anemic offense also being able to run up the score? Crazy.

the broncos meltdown was really something special. i mean, not a single thrown touchdown from peyton manning to what could be argued as the best receiving corps in the game

the seahawks D was somehow better last year though. could very well have just been perfect man matchups with what the seahawks fielded versus the broncos.

sometimes i worry about that when the pats play. Sure Gronk is indefensible for most players, but occasionally there's just a perfect guy(s) on a team that has an answer for small, fast, medium, large, hulking etc

Azeth_sl said:

the broncos meltdown was really something special. i mean, not a single thrown touchdown from peyton manning to what could be argued as the best receiving corps in the game

the seahawks D was somehow better last year though. could very well have just been perfect man matchups with what the seahawks fielded versus the broncos.

sometimes i worry about that when the pats play. Sure Gronk is indefensible for most players, but occasionally there's just a perfect guy(s) on a team that has an answer for small, fast, medium, large, hulking etc

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We had a lot more depth at D line last year than this year. Last year's defense was close in style to the Giants D that gave the Pats so much trouble in their 2 losses in the SB. We could essentially put in 4 DEs on passing downs and get to Manning fairly easily, and it allowed us to rotate to keep our guys fresh. We didn't have that luxury this year.

It was released yesterday Kam played in the SB with a torn MCL and still had 10 solo tackles. Sherman played with torn ligaments in his elbow, it hasn't come out yet how bad Earl's shoulder was but it was obvious he wasn't himself out there. However the 2 biggest injures were to Jordan Hill before the playoffs as if we had had him Brady would have had a much harder time stepping up in the pocket to convert a couple of the long third downs he did in the 4th quarter, also the concussion to Avril hurt us far more than I thought. Mike Sando tweet Brady's stats with Avirl on the field and without, and its like night and day. With Avril his QBR is like 24.9 and without it was like 97.9 or something.

Just adding it to the other Boston sports trophies. No big whoop.

Broncos didn't show any mental resilience in SB48. I mean, the very first play was a snap count fuck up ending in a safety. That already showed they were very jittery. They never showed any fighting spirit.

Compare that to SB49, where the Seahawks hang on in the first half despite a non-existent offense for the first 23 minutes of the game. Likewise, the Patriots 4th Q comeback was an exceptional feat of mental fortitude.

I just love that last minute of the game where it's

make the play..or LOSE. the pat's made the plays-on Defense- to win.

and heck. we're young.

sign revis (please please please please please)
make a few other good signing to solidify O and D lines
decent draft

and the patriots are the team to beat in the AFC next superbowl (provided injuries don't fubar it up)

colts imo need alot of work to take the next step- and they are the next closest team to the patriots in the afc -probably- in the past 4 meetings since 2012, the patriots have scored 59,43,42 and 45 points in each game....

1- D line is WAY to "soft" against the run. the past 4 meetings the patriots have just...ran over the colt's defense getting on average over 200yards rushing each game(except for 2012's game only had 120 yds rushing)..
2- luck himself has to improve his game he makes too many mental mistakes that cost turnovers.