I’m not, in fact I am just loving every second of it and so should you. The 2007 Patriots are the greatest NFL team ever assembled. Their #1 rated Offense is going to shatter a lot of NFL records. Tom Brady is #1 for total yards, #1 in TDs, #1 in completion percentage and #1 in yards/attempt and has only thrown 4 picks. He has the #1 QB rating at 134. No one else is close. Randy Moss is #1 in total receiving yards and #1 in TDs
The Defense is not all that shabby either at #3. Vrabel leads the league in defense with 9.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. The defense would be a lot more impressive if the offense was not so dominant. Keep in mind that a lot of points that the Patriots have given up have come late in the game after many of the starters have been pulled. Belichick has been known to keep a few hidden rabbits in that magic hoodie of his, you can bet that a very understated defense (still at #3) is one of them
So this is where people start coming up with every excuse in the book as to WHY the patriots are so dominating this year, and why they really are not all that great
Spygate: Spygate was a non-issue that was blown into a media tsunami. The Patriots violated a rule (intentionally), one that offers no competitive advantage, one that whistle-blower Mangini himself had been guilty of just last year. Commissioner Goodell even stated that the violation offered no competitive advantage, the confiscated media did not offer one either and Goodell had no reason to call into question the validity of any of the past Patriot wins, including the 3 Superbowl wins in 2001, 2003 and 2004. Yet the media felt the need to crucify Belichick and the Patriots anyway. A bigger story should have been Soundgate, Audiogate or whatever you want to call it during week 9, Indy vs Pats. If anyone still has a doubt about Indy piping in crowd noise, please watch every Indy home game this season up to week 9… and then watch the Indy-Chiefs game from week 11. Sorry, they have been doing it for years and THAT offers an immediate competitive advantage
Soft Schedule: Early on it looked as if the Patriots would indeed have an easy schedule. The AFC East is a weak division, even with Buffalo gaining some steam mid way through the season. Still, the Patriots have faced some tough match-ups. During the season. The Colts @ Indianapolis, The Cowboys @ Dallas, and the Steelers @ NE to name a few. In fact, if the status Quo is maintained, then the Patriots will have faced 10 teams with .500 records or better with 5 of those teams with winning records. The Cowboys… ready for this: 10 teams with .500 or better, 5 with winning records. Indy, even though in arguably the toughest division will face 9 teams with .500 with 5 of those teams with a winning record. Can anyone say schedule parity. Jacksonville has the toughest schedule, playing 7 teams with a winning record. No wonder why they are not 9-1 right now. Green bay has the softest schedule of all the league leaders. Only 7 games agains .500 teams and only 3 games against winning records. Favre is a fan favorite inside of Green Bay and out. The Packers are not the same caliber as the Cowboys… however Favre offers 2 things right now, experience and heart that won’t show up in any schedule. Soft schedule or not, the Packers are a legit playoff contender.
Indy’s Injured: Who cares and what does that have to do with the Patriots. Throughout the 2006 season the Patriots had severl key players go down with injuries. No one whined back then about it especially the Patriots. You never heard Brady ever complain about injured players or not having receivers to throw to.Part of the game. Another part of the game is team depth, Indy has none, Steelers have little, Patriots have a lot. You want to tell me that Dungy is all that and a bag of chips with popcorn on the side? He was handed a prow bowl caliber team. My autistic 5 year old son could have won a Superbowl with that team
Patriots are not a complete team, they don’t have a run game: No kidding. The Patriots had an effective run game early in the season, then it got injured and the Patriots adjusted. Maroney is back but Maroney is only a GOOD running back, not a GREAT one. The Maroney/Morris pairing had some chemistry to it, and losing Morris was a definite hit on the running game. Faulk managed to step up and is anyone else keeping a watch on Eckel? Give him 2 more years and he will be one of those clutch backs that always manages to convert on 3rd down. He is the next Jerome Bettis. You heard it here first. So the Pats are working with a patched up run game, but they really do not need it. If you are a defensive coordinator and you are trying to develop a game plan, let me clue you in. The Pats are going to pass, and pass a lot. And there is not much you can do to stop it. You want to talk “team”, a team is one that covers for it’s weak areas and fills in gaps when necessary. Faulk, Evans and Eckel have all managed to offer a competitive ground option. They may not be turning heads but they are getting the job done. The Pats have the most complete and deep team in the league, on both sides of the ball.
They’re Running up the Score, No Class: Every week each team tries to win by scoring as many points as possible, and stop the opposing team from scoring. Period. Patriots tickets, if you can by them are about $125 each… I am not shelling out that kind of money to watch a team score a few points and then go play tiddlywinks while the practice squad goes out there. I was at the Patriots-Dolphins game in 2002 when the Patriots came back from a 17 point deficit in the 4th quarter to tie the game, and then win it in OT. Glad neither team stopped playing that game, especially the Patriots. The Patriots blew the lead in the AFC championship in the 4th quarter in 2006 (with the admitted help of the referees). It should have never come down to that call though. The Patriots, tired and battered stopped playing and the results, well we all know the results. In the Week 11 game against Buffalo, Late in the 4th, buffalo threw in the towel and the Patriots punted. They laid up that game. They could have easily scored another touchdown or more even with the backups in. Who punts on the 30-something yard line? That is 4th down territory, it was short yardage and you could try for 3 if you had to. Nice try, but the Pats play, and play to win until the opposing team cries uncle. No more 2006s.
I do not begrudge the media and fans resorting to name calling and some wholesome good old-fashioned defamation. It’s part of what being a fan of the game is about. Often, the teams that I have hated most over the years are the teams that were the best and ultimately the ones I respect the most. I hated seeing Elway stick it to the Patriots year after year. I used to cringe at the mention of Favre and Greenbay, Aikman and Dallas not to mention the Greatest show on Turf. Looking back those were all fantasic teams. It’s time for New England and I am going to bask in the enjoyment all I can as this moment is truly a remarkable one and one that will remain in the record books for decades to come. One day the Patriots will fall from the brightness of the spotlight and it will be time for the moment to belong to some other team and some other fan. I hope that when that time comes, that you enjoy it as much as I am.
Happy Thanksgiving. - I will be enjoying mine with my wife, our 4 kids, my parents and 2 sisters along with my close cousin, his wife and his 2 boys. My cousin will be the chef, which is appropriate since he is actually... a chef. In fact the former Executive Chef for the New England Patriots and Gilette Stadium.
I am not tired of hearing about the pats....In fact, as a Cowboys fan, I'd just as soon keep hearing about the Pats and just let the Cowboys go through the season...What I am tired of hearing is how the Pats are running up the score, and all the other BS that many people, on this site as well, are spewing...it's simple; Stop them. Or lay Brady out. Otherwise, let it go.
Believe me, no disrespect to the Steel Curtain, the greatest DEFENSE ever assembled. Mean Joe, Greenwood, Holmes and Dwight White (I love that name). Superbowls in 75,76,79 and 80. When I was in elementary school we did a project where you could write a letter to anyone, I think all the boys wrote to the Steelers. I didn't, I was a pats fan even at 8 years old however that was a dominant team.
I think looking at the team, Pats still will come out on top. Patriots, late 70s Steelers and mid 90's Dallas, all very incredible teams.
But you do understand I am a Pats fan and have to bias the story that way?
The 70's Steelers couldn't score enough to hang with this years Patriots. And I doubt their D, as great as it was, could hold the Pats below say, 28 to 35 points. And I think the Pats D would totally control the Pittsburgh line (I mean Webster was only like 270 pounds!!!!!)....Fun debate though...But really, i think the 85 Bears D was the best, and the Pats would still hang 30 something on those guys.....
The media is just setting them up for the big fall. There's been plenty of "great" teams who failed to win the prize. All it takes is one bad play and Brady is out for the season. Always remember that your season is one play away from becoming a disaster.
Cygnus, And just remember, back in 2001 when Bledsoe was in, we were just one bad play away from success. Valid point though. I think you put Cassell in with the starters and he can hold his own right now... playoffs, no.
And when have the pats rested anyone? You kind of have a point. A lot of the patriots 2nd and some 3rd string players are known players. You ask any NFL fan who Kevin Faulk is and they are going to tell you he is a RB for NE.. but he is a 3rd down back, a 2nd/3rd string back. You take out Moss and Stallworth and put in Gaffney and you recognize him to, though again, not a starter. So there is an illusion of the Patriots never taking out their "starters" but it really is not the case. Brady, Moss, Stallworth, Vrabel, Bruschi, Maroney, Seau... they get pulled more than you think.
I wouldn't call them the greatest team ever assembled, because they haven't done anything yet. They have yet to win a championship this year, and despite what everybody will tell you, that is not a foregone conclusion. And yes I am sick of hearing of the Pats.
Torch, happy Thanksgiving to you too....great post - well-written, well thought-out. It's pretty much what I tried to say only better, nice job and I too am appreciating what's going on in Foxboro every single week....
HB - have not been on that much, been very busy with life (dammit), but I have to thank you for your kind words, considering you are one of the most well-spoken and entertaining to read bloggers out there. It is always a joy to read your stuff. You should be a contributer to Foxsports.com, you are better than most of the them. A very happy T-day to you and your family.
Torch- thanks for laying it out without being obnoxious. Now if we could only shut up all the annoying Pats fans who makes us look bad.....
Good assessment of the run Game. I've always been a fan of Evans, but for some reason Eckle's style seems to work better- not sure how the mechanics work, but that's what I see. The next Faulk, I guess.
And what you say is true about great teams- I still hate Dallas, because of how much I feared them as a Niner fan back in the day. Its just the way it is. ~ 2cg
I am tired of hearing about the Patriots running up the score. This could be the best team in history. Period. Appreciate it while it is happening. And I am a Dolphins fan that doesn't want to see the record get broken. I don't want to see any of their stars get injured while ahead by 28 points in the fourth quarter either. A Brady or Moss going down would change the discussions to why were they in there that long.
Torch511
Until this particular team wins something o merit. Then we'll just have to appreciate what they're achieving. Anything short of a Superbowl and their season will be seen as a bust. As for the unbeaten season if that should happen it'll be seen as an added bonus for the team.
I was sick of them about three years ago. These guys are a bad kicker away from being the Buffalo Bills if you think about it.
This year's version has been explosive, but calling Spygate a non-issue proves you are drinking the Kool-Aid. When was the last time the NFL took away a FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK? Come on now.
I agree with an above poster and wouldn't be surprised to see them go into the Super Bowl a 14 point favorite only to lose. I do believe they get there at 18-0 though. Pittsburgh was looking like a team who could upset them until looking horrible against the Jets.
The 2007 version of the New England Patriots is as good a team as ever assembled. I have seen the 66-67-68 Packers and being from Western Pennsylvania the Steelers of the 70's are near and dear. Sit back and enjoy this team for what they are...great...how ever you feel about them.
I am not now, nor will I be, tired of hearing about the Patriots. Maybe after February, I'll appreciate the respite from hearing all the "cheater, classless, and running up the score" comments. But lets face it. Spygate or otherwise, if they had either been a .500 team or tanked, it would have all been forgotten by two weeks after Goodell levied the fines on Belichick and the Patriots organization. But they'd still be the butt of humiliation because they'd be losing.
So given either situation, I'd much rather be supporting a winning team and hear all the comments from the peanut gallery than the other situation.
Off topic. Where did you serve when you were in the Army? I spend 3 years in the 509th in Italy, and the remaining 16 in the 82nd. Decided to retire at Fort Bragg. I don't count the two tours to Korea, as I was a Leg then.
Last edited by damnyankee57 on November 23rd at 1:20 PM.
Im from the Green Bay area and a die hard packers fan with that said....I love what New England is doing they are doing what they paid to do score points on offense and keep them out on defense. And I completely disagree with Shula I think NE doesnt need an asterisk because not even the '72 team won with dominance (Mind you Miami only had a 15.2 margin of difference not including playoffs of win in 72 and that includes a 52-0 whipping of the Pats). But I leave you with this the 72 Dolphins if you look back won most of there games with a backup Earl Morrall not Bob Griese would the same be true for a Brady-less Patriots
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.
