2011 NFL Season - A New Game

[gblews]

The utter devastation of going undefeated through a 16 regular season and making it to the Super Bowl, only to have a historic season snatched away should be enough motivation to push the Pats past the Giants. If it turns out not to be then Bellichick is going to have to answer a lot of sensitive and not easy to answer, questions.

However, on the surface the Giants do appear to be quite capable of once again spoiling the Pats' coronation. They can put pressure on Brady, control the ball on offense, and have a quarterback with the skills and poise to add yet another Patriot's pelt to his belt. In fact, were it not for the substantial psychological advantage that, I believe, belongs to the Pats, I'd pick the Giants by a 3 or less to win it.

The pressure is all on the Pats, they either win it and quell the demons created in 2007 or lose it and make their bitchdom to the Giants official. There is nothing in between, although I'm sure that if the Pats do lose to the Giants again a Pats fan or two will show up here to claim that there is.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

If it turns out not to be then Bellichick is going to have to answer a lot of sensitive and not easy to answer, questions.

Actually, the answer isn't all that hard. The Patriots have a porous defense susceptible both to the Giants run and pass. Also, no Quarterback, no matter how good, will do well in the face of a good rush by the front four and solid pass protection to prevent a quick throw. The Patriots' run game isn't good enough as an alternative. It's not an issue of desire, want, motivation, or effort. It's an issue of the Patriots not being as good as they were last time.

 

[archeryguy1701]

Huh, I'm almost thinking I should have watched the Pro Bowl. At some point during that whole thing, the coaches just said "Fuck it" and let the players doing whatever they want. Willis McGahee (Denver's RB) got to go in and play Saftey and Antonio Brown of the Steelers tweeted that he got to play all three phases.

 

[pork3]

If it turns out not to be then Bellichick is going to have to answer a lot of sensitive and not easy to answer, questions.

Sensitive questions? That one incited a bit of a chuckle...

The only thing Belichick has to answer to is Belichick the GM for questionnable picks in the wide receiver and especially secondary positions.

Let us take a look at the secondary that this team has manged to succeed in spite of:
1. A wide receiver/punt returner playing corner
2. A corner that was released by the Raiders, picked up by the Patriots, released by the Patriots, picked up again by the Patriots.
3. An undrafted free agent that was signed to the Practice Squad and promoted to the regular team 6 different times over the season.
4. A third round cornerback that was released by the Texans.
5. A first round cornerback that hit the second year slump and was converted to a safety.
6. A journeyman safety that was signed off the streets.
7. An undrafted free agent safety that singlehandedly gave the Giants game away during the regular season

The Patriots offense is predicated around short passing attack/misdirection/in-play route adjustment and yards after the catch.
With Gronkowski now hobbled due to that gruesome tackle, by who else, Pollard, I'm not entirely sure how this offense will perform.

In response to another poster, I would hardly categorize the Patriots running attack as a strength, but I certainly would avoid categorizing it as a weakness.
It was successful in the two touchdown drives against the Ravens, and the backfield handoffs to Hernandez against the Broncos proved lethal.
In addition, let us not forget that the Giants have traded a potent pass-rush for an average run defense.
If I recall correctly, they were near dead last during the regular season against the run.

In any event, this should be an outstanding game, and neither coach for their respective teams should have to answer to anyone in the event of a loss.

Coughlin, in eerily similar fashion to 2007, has managed to resurrect his team (and his career might I add) from ashes, after being nearly driven out of town mid-season.

And Belichick, his accomplishments throughout the last 10 years or so should quelch the need for questionning his abilities as a coach.

-Jamman

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yeah, you're right, their running game was pretty good against the Ravens. If that's how they win, it'll be very uncharacteristic.

Anyway, this sums up my feelings pretty well.

Reggie: Football fans are already bubbling with excitement for the chance to see the Giants or Patriots lose the biggest game of their lives.
Doc: This is why we love sports. Either we see a smug, tiresome super-dynasty miss their chance for revenge or a group of lazy upstarts who backed into the playoffs finally get their comeupance. I don't know who I want to see lose more.
Reggie: As long as its a poorly executed, clumsy game that leaves both teams feeling dead inside, I'm happy.
Doc: All that matters is seeing the hang-dog look on Eli's face or the petulant disbelief on Brady's.
Reggie: Of course, the downside is only one team can lose. Is it too much to ask for something terrible to happen to the winners?
Doc: I'd love to see legionnaires disease claim the lives of both squads regardless of the outcome.
Reggie: Ooh, a classic. Great choice.
Doc: You're not supposed to like things I say!

 

[SmoothieX]

Patriots trivia time. I'll start with Crappy Secondary for $200 Alex.

Let us take a look at the secondary that this team has manged to succeed in spite of:
1. A wide receiver/punt returner playing corner

You must mean Matthew Slater. Because Edelman on D is a QB converted to wide receiver/punt returner who has seen time at corner.

2. A corner that was released by the Raiders, picked up by the Patriots, released by the Patriots, picked up again by the Patriots.

Give Sterling Moore his props, he broke up a possible game winning TD in the title game.

3. An undrafted free agent that was signed to the Practice Squad and promoted to the regular team 6 different times over the season.

We've got a Ross Ventrone sighting! King of the waiver wire, master of the transaction ticker!

4. A third round cornerback that was released by the Texans.

I'm gonna guess Molden here?

5. A first round cornerback that hit the second year slump and was converted to a safety.

Devin McCourty was fighting injuries most of the year, but yeah, he couldn't keep my mom from a first down.

6. A journeyman safety that was signed off the streets.

Sergio Brown???

7. An undrafted free agent safety that singlehandedly gave the Giants game away during the regular season

Arrington also led the league (tied) in interceptions. I like him, but he goes for the big play too often and gets torched.

 

[Pegaritaville]

Huh, I'm almost thinking I should have watched the Pro Bowl. At some point during that whole thing, the coaches just said "Fuck it" and let the players doing whatever they want. Willis McGahee (Denver's RB) got to go in and play Saftey and Antonio Brown of the Steelers tweeted that he got to play all three phases.

Which explains the 59-41 score. While what I did watch was sort of entertaining, the fact that they didn't take it seriously kind of bugged me. Why bother having a Pro Bowl at all if no one involved cares? The Pro Bowl has been a joke for quite a while now, but this year they didn't even pretend to give a rat's ass.

 

[tighr]

On that last touchdown by Fitzgerald, one of the announcers called it as a touchdown before the ball was even in the air. Either he's psychic, or he knew that the wide open receiver was going to catch the easy pass. How's that for lack of suspense?

 

[pork3]

Patriots trivia time. I'll start with Crappy Secondary for $200 Alex.

Let us take a look at the secondary that this team has manged to succeed in spite of:
1. A wide receiver/punt returner playing corner

You must mean Matthew Slater. Because Edelman on D is a QB converted to wide receiver/punt returner who has seen time at corner.

2. A corner that was released by the Raiders, picked up by the Patriots, released by the Patriots, picked up again by the Patriots.

Give Sterling Moore his props, he broke up a possible game winning TD in the title game.

3. An undrafted free agent that was signed to the Practice Squad and promoted to the regular team 6 different times over the season.

We've got a Ross Ventrone sighting! King of the waiver wire, master of the transaction ticker!

4. A third round cornerback that was released by the Texans.

I'm gonna guess Molden here?

5. A first round cornerback that hit the second year slump and was converted to a safety.

Devin McCourty was fighting injuries most of the year, but yeah, he couldn't keep my mom from a first down.

6. A journeyman safety that was signed off the streets.

Sergio Brown???

7. An undrafted free agent safety that singlehandedly gave the Giants game away during the regular season

Arrington also led the league (tied) in interceptions. I like him, but he goes for the big play too often and gets torched.

#6
Nate Jones

#7
Sergio Brown.



-Jamman

 

[SmoothieX]

[Meatloaf] 5 outta 7 ain't bad... [/Meatloaf]

Who the hell is Nate Jones?!?!? I try to watch every snap, every week, and I don't think I've ever heard of the guy.

As for question 7, I was too busy trying to stuff my fingers into an electric socket during the Giants final drive redux to know who was playing on D.

 

[archeryguy1701]

[Meatloaf] 5 outta 7 ain't bad... [/Meatloaf]

Who the hell is Nate Jones?!?!? I try to watch every snap, every week, and I don't think I've ever heard of the guy.

As for question 7, I was too busy trying to stuff my fingers into an electric socket during the Giants final drive redux to know who was playing on D.

You know how iffy Denver's safety depth is after we get past Dawkins? Nate Jones was a Broncos player up until the start of this season that we didn't even want. He was even worse that our rookie safety who refused to tackle after getting fined. As it turns out, the Pats did want him for some reason.

 

[pork3]

[Meatloaf] 5 outta 7 ain't bad... [/Meatloaf]

Who the hell is Nate Jones?!?!? I try to watch every snap, every week, and I don't think I've ever heard of the guy.

As for question 7, I was too busy trying to stuff my fingers into an electric socket during the Giants final drive redux to know who was playing on D.

You know how iffy Denver's safety depth is after we get past Dawkins? Nate Jones was a Broncos player up until the start of this season that we didn't even want. He was even worse that our rookie safety who refused to tackle after getting fined. As it turns out, the Pats did want him for some reason.

This isn't the first time the Pats have picked up on the Broncos has beens. Who can forget Deltha O'Neal, who couldn't jam the receiver if his life depended on it, and there's a classic video on youtube of him trying.

As for Nate Jones, he actually was surprisingly serviceable against the Jets, but completely faded away after that...

-Jamman

 

[archeryguy1701]

I call it payback... we seem to pick up all of the Patriot castoffs, so it's only fair that they take some of our trash too.

 

[pork3]

I'm hardly complaining, I actually find it more amusing than anything.
-Jamman

 

[gblews]

Sensitive questions? That one incited a bit of a chuckle...

The only thing Belichick has to answer to is Belichick the GM for questionnable picks in the wide receiver and especially secondary positions.

Let us take a look at the secondary that this team has manged to succeed in spite of:
1. A wide receiver/punt returner playing corner
2. A corner that was released by the Raiders, picked up by the Patriots, released by the Patriots, picked up again by the Patriots.
3. An undrafted free agent that was signed to the Practice Squad and promoted to the regular team 6 different times over the season.
4. A third round cornerback that was released by the Texans.
5. A first round cornerback that hit the second year slump and was converted to a safety.
6. A journeyman safety that was signed off the streets.
7. An undrafted free agent safety that singlehandedly gave the Giants game away during the regular season

The Patriots offense is predicated around short passing attack/misdirection/in-play route adjustment and yards after the catch.
With Gronkowski now hobbled due to that gruesome tackle, by who else, Pollard, I'm not entirely sure how this offense will perform.

One of the steadfast rules of poor mouthing is that it usually ends when the team that is being poor mouthed wins. The Pats did make it to the Super Bowl after all.

 

[Captain Mike]

Patriots trivia time. I'll start with Crappy Secondary for $200 Alex.

Not to rub salt in old wounds Smoothie, but if Eli's O-line gives him the protection, you might see them resorting to what happened in the Steelers/Pats match-up..and we know who won that one...

 

[Skywalker]

Patriots trivia time. I'll start with Crappy Secondary for $200 Alex.

Not to rub salt in old wounds Smoothie, but if Eli's O-line gives him the protection, you might see them resorting to what happened in the Steelers/Pats match-up..and we know who won that one...

The team that was eliminated by the Denver Broncos, who were then eliminated by the Patriots.

 

[tighr]

The team that was eliminated by the Denver Broncos, who were then eliminated by the Patriots.

Everyone knows the Steelers weren't at 100% for that game.

But, if you wanna play the transitive property game, its much easier to just say the Giants with a banged-up defense beat a full strength Patriots in the regular season, and that the Giants are full strength now, and the Patriots aren't going to be full strength for this game (Gronk).

 

[archeryguy1701]

The team that was eliminated by the Denver Broncos, who were then eliminated by the Patriots.

Everyone knows the Steelers weren't at 100% for that game.

I'm still calling that irrelevant. Keep in mind that not only were the Steelers favored by 9 points even with those injuries, but the general concensus was, "The Steelers should kick the crap out of the Broncos, even with the injuries.". That fact that everyone said the injuries should be a nonissue before the game means that they can't be used as an excuse afterwards.

We all must face the facts- The Steelers got demoted from the ranks of being a "Real Team" (because that's what we've all been doing to teams that lost to Denver, right?).

 

[Tom Servo]

Patriots trivia time. I'll start with Crappy Secondary for $200 Alex.

Not to rub salt in old wounds Smoothie, but if Eli's O-line gives him the protection, you might see them resorting to what happened in the Steelers/Pats match-up..and we know who won that one...

Old wounds? That was a mid season game. They Steelers are at home, the Pats are in the Superbowl. There aren't any old wounds at all.