This last week, the New England Patriots decimated the Washington Redskins 52-7. The Redskins, running their mouth all week long featured the 5th rated defense in the league and the #1 defense in the NFC. Apres-Patriots, that number has now fallen to 12th in the League and 5th in the NFC.
The Patriots can do that to a team. Halfway through the season their Defense is rated #3 in the league, while the Offense is rated #1. Rating the offense at #1 does not really tell the story on how powerful this team is offensively. If you were adjust the rankings to factor in how much of a lead they have over Dallas, then Dallas would actually fall somewhere around 6th. Indianapolis is currently ranked 3rd in offense right behind Dallas, so compared to the Patriots, Indy is really ranked 7th
This game does not deserve any of the hype it is currently getting. The November 4th game should be another blowout by the Patriots. Indy and Dallas would be a far better game as those two teams are pretty much on the level. Statistics wise Dallas has the edge but in all fairness to the Colts, their schedule of playing back-up and past-prime teams has been tougher and when you adjust for that, the two even out.
Did you happen to see what the Patriots did to Dallas?
So now we have to call into question on whether or not the stats are skewed in favor of the Patriots because they have been running up the score, needlessly. Yes and No. Certainly Brady has been out on the field a couple of times when really not needed. But how many points does that really account for. The only 3 games when you can argue running up the score are during the Dallas game, the Dolphins and last week against the Redskins. In the Dallas game I don’t think that it was needless, given what Dallas had done the week before scoring twice in a mere 20 seconds. The Patriots ensured a 3 score lead and that is all. So we are down to 2 games.
The Dolphins game Brady comes back in the game after the Cassel interception to put the Patriots up by 3 scores. The drive eats up the clock and puts the lead back in the safe zone. Again I am not sure that this was intentionally running up of the score. You can come back (as Dallas did) from 2 scores down. 3 scores be it 17 or 21 points is the safe zone and the Patriots are again right at that point.
The Redskins game is the only game where you can really argue running up the points. But how much? At halftime the score was 24-0. Certainly you are not going to pull your quarterback at the half. Brady threw for one touchdown in the 3rd, the other touchdown comes from the defense, the score is now 38-0. The 4th quarter Brady throws another touchdown. That touchdown is the only one so far this season that Brady did not need to be in there for. That is not to say the Cassel would not have gotten the TD and the end score was the same, but it certainly seemed like it was done just so Brady could get his 3 touchdown passes for the game.
So with all the bad press for running up the score, in reality, Brady has only put 7 unnecessary points on the board. I still think the points end up on the scoreboard, but they should have padded Cassel’s stats, not Bradys. Even if you take the 7 points off the stats, the Patriots still stay right where they are, and are still that far ahead of anyone else in the NFL. And the vilification by NFL fans and the sports media is more unjustified than the 7 points the Patriots should not have scored.
There is another aspect to be looking at here. There has been a lot of talk about the Patriots no longer having any class, much because of the running up the points (which has been proven to be just the media and fans looking for news as proven here) and because of the way-overblown spygate scandal. The Patriots have been acting as they have for the last 6 seasons. Over the last 6 years they Patriots were repeated called the class of the NFL. During that time the Patriots made the playoffs in 5 of 6 seasons, made the Division championships 4 times, and won the Superbowl 3 times. Still they were underrepresented in the Pro-Bowl and the media still shined the spotlight on Manning, placing him and his stats on a pedestal.
So what did the fans and the media expect. When the Spygate story hit, and it called into question the Patriots numbers, you gave them something to prove. I think the mentality for this season has been to not win any games by 3 points, but rather 3 scores. I think Bellicheck is unleashing Brady to go and do what he has been capable of all these years. I still do not think that it will gain the Patriots any respect, not by fans anyway, except Patriot fans who already had that respect. The Media may be more apt to give Brady a fair shake next year, and that is really all New England, the organization and fans alike, have ever asked for.
I would like to thank everyone who read and commented on this blog entry, it certainly generated a lot of interest yesterday and into today, more than I ever though. I thought I was doing good after 10 people commented. Anyway, I have another entry today, probably the last until the big game on sunday so please, take a look. Regardless of which side you are on, since lately you are either Pro or Anti Patriots (who does not love a good vs evil story?) the debate has been a blast.
Good analysis- hopefully will shut some people up. Thanks for writing it- we Pats fans need some intelligent postings to make up for the boneheads out there.
Just remember what happened last year in the AFC Championship game. The Pats were ahead by a big margin and they let it slip, so I think the more points you put up the better. I hope we learned a big lesson from last year.
I'm sorry, but I thought this was Pro Football. If you don't want points " Run up" then have your team stop them. The only mistake the Pats made was letting them score 7 points. Players get paid to play full speed all game, let them do their job.
yes because being up by three scores to the powerhouse that is the defeated Dolphins was not a safe lead. The best part about this, besides moronic Boston fans puffing their chests out a little more, is going to be when Brady gets seriously hurt when playing in these garbage time minutes. Also, saying the Colts are more close to the Cowboys than the Pats is laughable. Much better QB, better group of receivers, better RB, better O-line, better overall D, better Kicker. Colts and Pats are far and away better than anyone else in the league. I just hope Peyton takes down this team a notch. the teams smugness is getting annoying to watch.
The patriots remind me of that vikings team that set the scoring record.Yeah its all good scoring all them points but they will get beat come playoff time.I think the Steelers are a team that will take them out.Dallas had a shot but penalties killed them .Steelers are better defensively and can run the ball with Parker.
good point skisports, this is profootball.And as skisports pointed out, if you don't want them to score points, stop them. You can't tell a team to stop doing there job. This is n't youth football, these players are the best in the world and get paid millions of dollars. The Patriots just goout there and do their job. Indy's going down this week.
Personally, I'm getting disgusted by all the hate that most sports fans spew at all other teams, be it football, baseball, or any other sport. It is a game, and a fun one to watch sometimes. There is not a single fan out there who would complain if their team was doing exactly what the Pats were doing. But also, I bet a lot of Pats fans would be call them classless or "running up the score"
All that being said, this Sunday should be a great game. But my guess is that if the Colts win, it will be a close one. If the Pats win, it will be another blowout.
Go PATS!
The Pats have a great team. What they have done this season so far is amazing. Now that being said: there is no excuse for Brady being in so many late game situations with a 3 score lead- my count is 5 of 8 games.
The facts indicate they have run up the score on seven out of the eight teams they have played this season.
Note: I only counted offensive TDs in this list
Wk1 vs Jets-up by 17 under 2 minutes Pats score TD
Wk2 vs Chargers-up by 17 score TD with 3:18 left
Wk3 vs Bills-up by 17 late 3rd- 2 TDs to win by 31
Wk4 vs Cin-up by 14 score TD at 3:18 left in 4th
Wk5 vs Browns-Only game they didn't run the score
Wk6 vs Cowboys-up by 14 score TD 19 seconds left- all they needed was a knee to put Dallas out of their misery
WK7 vs Miami-up by 21 middle 4th Brady comes back in the game for his 6th TD pass to make it 28 point gm
Wk8 vs Skins-up by 38 start of 4th, Pats rack up 2 more TD to win by 45.
The Jets woke up a sleeping dog with "spygate" and now the Pats are out to prove that they are the best and by a wide margin. In every other aspect of life/business if you can crush your competition, you do it. You get into the rest of your competitor's heads. The Pats are a machine and all the other teams whether they admit it or not think about what they have done to their opponents. Football is ultimately a business - the business of winning and if you create fear in your opponents you have a leg up on winning - this is what Belichek and the Pats are doing. If you don't want a team to run up the score against you then PLAY BETTER - I pay to see both teams play their best for 60 minutes!
As a Sunday ticket subscriber, I try to catch the Pats for a little bit. Just to see a good offense take the field. Then I watch my Ravens on defense. It feels like I'm watching the most powerful team assembled when I do that.
Seriously, I don't think the Pats will lose in the regular season. Did they run up the score? Sure. Do the Redskins have a complaint? No. It's pro football. Ticket buying fans are owed 60 minutes of football. Should the Pats have taken a knee halfway throught the third quarter? To me, that's more insulting. "Haha. We don't even think we have to play the final 20 minutes to beat you."
The Pats vs Colts is a big game and well deserved of the hype so that comment by Torch is a little off center!
You have the only two undeafeted teams going head to head with two defined QB's and a modern day rivalry that is second to none so what's not to be hyped???
Good luck Pats and Go Colts!!!!
I have only deleted one post so far and only becasue of profanity and lewdness and honestly no substance. I welcome and respect everyone's opinion and like how both sides have spoken up. But please keep it civil and don't bother to post if you are not going to be at least semi-intelligent.
I love reading this back and forth about NE. This post is great at reminding everyone about how everyone was up on NE when they were kicking field goals to win games. Brady and Belichick still handle themselves with class and hold their heads up high regardless of the scrutiny.
Maybe they're not running up the score, they're getting quality practice time. There's only one game this season- the AFC Championship Game, probably against the Colts. Manning has had years to get to know his recievers, Brady has the 16 games to know what his. Advantage Colts! If I'm coaching this time I want Brady working with his recievers every minute he can before we play the Colts for the title.
I agree with what some of the others have said in that these players are paid well to do their jobs. If one team is capable of scoring points, oh well. Just in the same way the the Pats have endured both critizism and skeptisism regarding Spygate, they would be remiss to "allow" their oppoenents to be able to throw points on the board for the sake of hurt feelings. Its ridiculous that this would even be a sugject of controversy. The Pats are the number one team right now, and just like in other sports where you have a dominant figure ( take Nascar's Jeff Gordon for example), people will always start the hating.
this blog is bogus and very incorrect. Pats have run up the score everygame except one. see LilJBigD's comments. Nicely put. what are the pats trying to prove against a conference that includes the Jets, Dolphines, and Bills. they have the esiest schedual in NFL history. Think this has something to do with the fines at the beginning of the season?
Go ahead and keep Brady in and run up the score.I cant wait till he blows a knee,or seperates a shoulder so all the pats fans dreams of another super bowl can go away.
these constant running up the score articles are great...who cares, its the NFL. As a fan, i dont want to watch the backups play the 2nd half. I love watching the Pats score TD after TD after TD...its very entertaining. IF the other team has a problem with it, their defense is paid to stop their offense. So with that...these articles should actually be about how the redskins defense is horrendous and should be fired for not doing their job.
On next weeks game...should be a good one. I think the colts have looked a little inconsistant at times, but when manning gets hot he is pretty much unstoppable. I am not going to be ingnorant and say that the Colts dont have a chanse at winning, because they do....but I also would not be supprised if the Pats laid down a 48-21 beat down either...either way, i love the hype and these two teams never fail to provide an exciting game
the Pats should run the score up on every team they play so they can all cry about it at the same time like babies in a daycare !
if the other teams would keep their mouths shut, the Pats might have some mercy on them, but keep running their mouths and the Pats will shut it for them! it's all about jealousy of the best team in the NFL and none of the other teams are even close to being on their level.
I can't wait for the game on Sunday. I heard rumors that Fox will not broadcast the game, if that's the case, I guess I'll be in the bar!! (or as us New Englanders say .. the bah) GO PATS!!
I think the players and their fans are more upset that the Pat's don't do any trash talking, they let their playing on the field do the talking for them. I think this #### people off, because people love to trash talk but most of the time they can't back it up.
If my team got scored on for 52 points I'd be pissed but not at the other team but my team. They're paid professionals. Do your job! Do the teams in the NFL really suck this badly, it's sad.
I've been a Pats fan for a very long time, when we were 1-15, and the laughing stock of the NFL. Just as good as we are right now, the power will change in the NFL and a few years from now people will be saying some one else is "Running up the score". I don't like Payton, I don't wish him any harm, he's a great QB, just plays for the enemy. So Fans GET OVER IT. The Pats are #1 RIGHT NOW, who knows about next year?
All of what you haters are saying, is exactly why the Pats are scoring at will, until the other team surrenders. If the Cowboys conceded that the game was over, why did they call time out in the last minute? Just curious. The Browns game was a 17 point margin of victory, 7 points came from a KW fumble, returned for a TD, with 4 minutes to play,so that is 10 points. Not really a blow out. The Jets, they get what they deserve, for being rats, and BB knew they were ratted on, and that is why they scored late. Anyways, back to my point. Fans across the country, many have popped up in here, have questioned the success of the Patriots. This is the Patriots way of answering your question. Did the "cheating" have any affect on the outcome of games? They are leaving you no doubt of their greatness. There is no place for morals in the NFL. That is why players get cut, injuries end careers, and coaches get fired. The arguement was always, Manning has better numbers than Brady. Colts fans werent saying anything about running up the score when they were doing it in 2004. Now that Brady is approaching Manning's records, Colts fans are jumping on the wagon, "the Pats should stop scoring". I dont want to see my team get beat by 40, but it happens to every team.
So I guess, I figure there are 3 reasons the Pats are scoring a lot
1) You all questioned them, now they are answering
2) Manning has long been considered better, because of his numbers, now Brady is going to go out and crush that argument
3) Shannon Sharpe needs to start calling the National Guard for who eve
oh come on you have to be brain dead not to see they are running up the score. Bill is and will always be a ahole, period. He has demonstrated all his coaching career a distain for others and when he got caught cheating well he just has to show up the nfl like any narcistic person would. I dont care if they are the best or win whatever i dont want my kids to watch someone who is unsportsman, ridicules the game and always have a chip on his shoulder.
I look at it the same way I do my job. If my competition was stepping on my throat, there is no way that they would let up. Why should we then let up in Professional Football?
To be honest, I have watched all the games and they easily could have run up the score more if they wanted to...
I can't wait until my competitors ease up on my because they are crushing me.
I ran out of space:
CONT.
3)Shannon Sharpe needs to start calling the National Guard for whoever the Pats are playing each week. For those that dont get it, back in the 90's when the Broncos were routinely beating the Pats by 35+ points every year, Shannon looked into a tv camera on the sideline, and requested the National Guard come in to help, because "We are killing these guys out here!"
ITS ALL TO DO ABOUT NOTHIN' THE WHINNERS SHOULD PLAY BETTER DEFENSE AND QUIT COMPLAININ' ABOUT THEIR MANHOOD... SEEMS TO ME THEIR WERE AT LEAST 30 LOPSIDED SUPER BOWLS ... PEOPLE ARE BECOMIN PRODUCTS OF OUR KIDS ATTITUDES ON DON'T MAKE US COMPETITIVE AND EVERY KID MUST PLAY AND THE SUPERIOR 10 YEAR OLDS SIT ... QUIT GIVEN RIBBONS FOR5TH PLACE AND FURTHER MORE LONG STANDING TICKET HOLDERS WHO PAY PART OF THE TAB DON'T NEEDTO SEE PLAYERS AT HALF MAST PLUS INJURIES OCCER MORE WHEN YOU DON'T GO ALL OUT
Interesting, but based completely on hubris and homerism. Pats fans unite at the "of course we didn't run up the score" blog.
The Pats fans all seem to be saying that its OK to run it up, 'cause this is pro football'. What a bunch of malarkey. Because you can run up the score doesn't mean you need to or can. The "professional" part of foot ball has to come into play at some point.
Officially renaming your coach: Bill "the 'ol ball coach" Belichick. He closes out games like Steve Spurrier did at Florida. Nothing like smoking Eastern Bumwater State City College 105-0. Shows how much of a man you are. Belichick has lacked class for a long, long time, and this does nothing to change that.
Seeing homers attempt to refute the 'run up' theory is quite humorous.
In 2000 a team Scored a ton of points and ran their way all the way to the superbowl. They were applauded and cherished. They outscored their opponents much like the Patriots are doing this Year. That team was called "the Greatest Show on Turf". Three years ago Indianappolis Scored a ton of points and Peyton threw for 49 Touchdowns. None of these games were "close".
These teams have "professional" players that are supposed to be able to defend other Professional players. The two teams salaries are the same and they have the same resources at hand to field a quality team.
I beleive it was the Redskins Players last week that were talking about how The Pats wouldn't be able to score on them.
Now they are crying about them running up the score.
Indy fans it will be a good game Sunday. The real match-up of the year. I think we have the team to beat in NE this year. Best of Luck, Bob Sanders is going to need his A Game sunday
Why is football a violent sport? I can understand someone saying it's a rough sport, but violent, that sounds to me like guys go out there with knives hidden in there cleats or guns in their waistband. Just sounds wrong!!!!
First off, I am a Steelers fan which means I cannot stand the F.*#K.%!G Patriots!!!!!!!
They have been scrutinized pretty heavily since they got caught cheating so I don't think they are still cheating which tells you that they are an awesome team they are doing everything right on both sides of the ball. As for running up the score
grab a box of tissues!!! Too bad you are a pro nfl team if you don't want someone running up the score, play better defense. There is no mercy rule
4 quarters of play 4 quarters to score.
That being said, I hope Brady gets his throwing hand slammed in a car door. Not a carreer ending injury, just a season ending one :)
Ski: Your argument of 'If you don't want points " Run up" then have your team stop them' is the classic excuse of a bully. That whole mindset of nothing short of outright humiliation is acceptable has no place in pro sports. Go watch college football if that's what you want to see.
Yes it is a business. Even along those lines the Pats have made very poor decisions concerning Brady- if he goes down, they are toast. He is by far their most valuable asset on the field and to risk him needlessly in blow out situations is not very wise. And don't tell me the Pats were scared that the Redskins would score 38 points in the 4th to force OT.
Please people! The Chowds have faced 5 of the worst defenses in the NFL!!! The only team ranked in the top ten they played was Dallas. Are you kidding me, there good, but they have played NOBODY and nobody seems to point this out. The total wins and losses for theire opponents 16-31 !! ARE YOU KIDDING ME.....THE BILLS....THE JETS...THE DOLPHINS....CHARGERS AFTER ADJUSTING TO NEW STAFF....THE BROWNS.....CINNCI.....COMMON PEOPLE ....NONE OF THESE TEAMS WILL BE 500 OR MAKE THE PLYOFFS EXCEPT FOR THE BOLTS. WAY TO EARLY......
I am not a Patriots fan, but I don't see anything wrong with what they are doing. All sports are just as much mental as they are physical. They are sending a message and you just know its making everyother team wonder if they stand a chance against an offense that scores at will. Its the coaches and players job to prepare for a game and knowing your facing a team that just scored 52 points on a top ranked defense has got to be dizzying. The way I see it all there doing is just playing a mind game with other teams which is more a part of the game than people think.
I can't believe some of these people that post are so hurt by the final score of a Pro football game. I think the article had a valid point that after "Spygate" the Pats are not only trying to win games to the best of their ability, but show that the wins are not just last minute field goals or cheating. In addition to that you are talking about a group of professional athletes that are not going to hurt stats and play down so that they can go 3 and out and move the game along. You don't see Brady sitting back a throwing bombs to Moss the entire 3rd and 4th quarter long do you! Is it classless to try and break records when your a great player? When Manning made the single season TD record was he classless in everyones eyes! No, he just did what his job was, throwing touchdowns. I look forward to the Colts / Pats match-up and I think it will be a great game. It also sets the Pats up for a huge upset for anyone that can beat them.
While I think leaving Brady in during the Skins game was a bit reckless of BB, but I wonder if it was Brady requesting the extra field time? There's only one way to break Manning's record, and that's to throw touchdowns. As a spectator spending $200 or more for a ticket, I don't want to see the field filled up with 3rd string practice squad players. Play to win! Sorry '72 Dolphins, say good-bye to your record!
pats fans should savor this moment, because when the pats reach the other side of this high this team is riding in a couple of years i do not think any other nfl team will hesitate to run the score up on belegirl or his sucessors
Hmmmm...would I rather watch the Dolphins and Giants game...where taking a knee started with 1:56 remaining..really impressive show for the British fans, or watch the somewhat annoyed Pats demonstrate what "not cheating" can do.
I hear all this talk about Brady is accomplishing...but I have yet to see anyone mention what his offensive line did for him against Washington..giving him a 7 or 8 count to pick a reciever from around 5 great options on any given play. No question the Pats have more, better recievers than any other team in the NFL...They have at least 3 game breaking type recivers in Moss, Welker and Stallworth, and then they can switch off to Gaffnee as a Hines Ward type possession reciever, to Faulk who is also an excellent possiossion type reciever, Maroney who can catch it well, Washington, another rapidly developing wide receiver, Rivers another possession type tight end...Kyle brady an excellent reciever, and for good measure Vrabel when you need a little variety to confuse a defense.
If New England get's beaten by the Colts, it will be by the defensive line...not giving Brady the chance to check down like he did last Sunday..that was how Dallas ended up ahead of the Pats for a while in their game. This of course is not lost on Tony Dungee...I suspect to see a lot of screens and draw plays but to odd recievers for the Pat's on Sunday.
Pat's "D" will need to be on top of their game as Manning and Dungee are as good if not better at adapting than Belichek..however Belichek's past teams have never had the recieving options he does now to give Brad
Well, since all of you are on the classless side of the line, tell me this. BB got "caught cheating", and thus "lacks class". Would you change your mind, and decide, "I guess I was wrong, BB does have class", if the Pats took a knee on every play after half time? This isnt an arguement about what is right, or what is wrong. This is just an opportuntiy for the haters to hate. If the Pats werent winning by 20+ points every week, you would all be hating because of spygate. But since the Pats are scoring big, you want to hate about that. The only difference between the Colts in 02-05, and the Rams from 99-02 is that the Pats of 07 have a defense.
What irritates you all more, the fact that the Pats are winning, or the fact that Manning might lose his TD record? This is making an assumption that the Pats win the SB this year, etc. What will Colts fans say, if Brady has the TD record, has 4 SB rings, and Manning has only 1 ring? You all dread the fact that there is a chance you might only get one title. You all waited for a long time, I give the Colts fan credit for staying with their team, and being patient, you were rewaded last year with a title. Congrats. But now, you see the big bad Pats, the achilles heal of the Colts for many years, have reloaded, and as good as your team is, they might not win it all this year. I am all about having confidence in your team, but you have to be realistic as well. I'm a Pats fan, I think they are one of the best teams ever, but i'm not over looking the Colts, that is being realistic. If you are a Colts fan, and you think th
35 year old Bostonian and long time Boston sports fan.
Served 9 years in the US Army as an Airborne Pathfinder. Currently employed as a Graphic Artist for a medium sized specialty printing company.
MBUA Baseball Umpire and also a Little League coach. Besides being obsessed with Football and Baseball, I am a fanatical NASCAR and PBR fan. For some reason I also find Curling absolutly fascinating.
