Patriots vs. Titans Divisional Playoff: The Buildup

tims4wins

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I have great sympathy for Eisen, a level headed guy far removed from a troll.

Wild card weekend sucked. This week we're looking at two likely mismatches. The attractiveness of Philly/Atl is greatly diminished by the injury to Wentz. That leaves us with one game to get really excited about out of the first eight.

This comes on the heels of a season marred by Trump/anthem nonsense and a debilitating string of injuries that sidelined stars and took out two likely playoff teams.

This is s bad as I can recall. Eisen has his wok cut out for him.
I totally disagree that Wild Card weekend sucked. Last year sucked. 27-14 Texans over a QB-less Raiders team. 26-6 Seahawks over a terrible Detroit team. 30-12 Steelers over Phins, 38-13 Packers over NYG. That was a shitty WC weekend.

Last weekend we had the classic KC-TEN game; a decent and intriguing 26-13 Atlanta win in LA; a 31-26 exciting game between NO and CAR, including a controversial failed 4th and 2 call; and a smashmouth 10-3 game that was tight all the way. That's as solid an opening weekend as we have seen in a while.
 

johnmd20

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I have great sympathy for Eisen, a level headed guy far removed from a troll.

Wild card weekend sucked.
Wild card weekend most certainly did not suck. Every game was close and came down to the end. The Tennesse/KC was excellent, some incredible plays by KC in the first half and then some totally insane plays by Tenn in the 2nd half. The game came down to the end.

Atlanta upsetting the Rams was kind of exciting, probably the worst game of the weekend and it was still close until the Rams failed on 4th down. The Jags and Bills was a defensive slug fest with lousy QB play but it was a close game that came down to literally the last play. And Carolina had the ball with a chance to win the game with seconds left on the clock, so it also came down to the last play.

It was an excellent slate of Wild Card games. For reference, take a look at the games last year. Four complete blow outs, all over in the 3rd quarter. Not a fun game in the bunch.

edit - or what Tim4wins said immediately before me. :)
 

Curt S Loew

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I totally disagree that Wild Card weekend sucked. Last year sucked. 27-14 Texans over a QB-less Raiders team. 26-6 Seahawks over a terrible Detroit team. 30-12 Steelers over Phins, 38-13 Packers over NYG. That was a shitty WC weekend.

Last weekend we had the classic KC-TEN game; a decent and intriguing 26-13 Atlanta win in LA; a 31-26 exciting game between NO and CAR, including a controversial failed 4th and 2 call; and a smashmouth 10-3 game that was tight all the way. That's as solid an opening weekend as we have seen in a while.
Are you writing copy for the NFL?;) I'll give you some style points for 3 of those, but the bolded game was just plain hot garbage.
 

tims4wins

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It was a garbage game, but it was contested until the last play. I know a bunch of us were watching that last drive.
 

luckiestman

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Are you writing copy for the NFL?;) I'll give you some style points for 3 of those, but the bolded game was just plain hot garbage.

I can’t see what’s bolded but I’ll guess and say I loved that Jags game. It was like a pitchers duel. Every play meant so much because no team was coming back from a large deficit. Contrast that to NO Carolina. If that game was 2 scores with 6 minutes left it was still wide open. You didn’t even have to watch the first 3 quarters.

I thought it was a good WC weekend
 

johnmd20

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Are you writing copy for the NFL?;) I'll give you some style points for 3 of those, but the bolded game was just plain hot garbage.
It was a defensive slug fest that came down to the last possession. How in the world does that mean it's hot garbage? That's way better than a 42-7 blow out any day, especially during a time where you cannot switch to another game.
 

TheoShmeo

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I have great sympathy for Eisen, a level headed guy far removed from a troll.
I also sympathize with Eisen. But that's because he's a Jets fan. THAT must really suck.

Other than that, he gets paid quite well to talk about football and is not a former player or coach. The guy hit the jackpot, even if wild card weekend games weren't good (which is inaccurate, as pointed out already).

And if he wants to talk about interesting and likely close games, the Saints-Vikings game looks really interesting, as does Eagles- Falcons.
 

Curt S Loew

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It was a defensive slug fest that came down to the last possession. How in the world does that mean it's hot garbage? That's way better than a 42-7 blow out any day, especially during a time where you cannot switch to another game.
Alluding more to your own QB play comment. It was painful to watch.
 

TFisNEXT

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I loved the JAX/BUF game...felt old school. Like an old late 80s or early 90s Bears/Redskins playoff game or similar where the QBs are not very good and you're looking at the running game and defense.

I say that fully aware that neither of them had a shot at going to the superbowl, but it still was fun to watch.
 

johnmd20

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I loved the JAX/BUF game...felt old school. Like an old late 80s or early 90s Bears/Redskins playoff game or similar where the QBs are not very good and you're looking at the running game and defense.

I say that fully aware that neither of them had a shot at going to the superbowl, but it still was fun to watch.
The Bills were certainly not making the Super Bowl, but Jacksonville could certainly beat Pitt and then the Pats.(assuming they get by Tennessee) Yes, they will be big underdogs in both games, but with a few breaks and that ball hawking D, they could win two straight games. It is just two games.

Bortles just can't play like they did last week, which might be asking too much.
 

BigJimEd

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I thought the Jax-Buf game was bad. I like a good defensive game but that was more inept offensive play than good defensive play.
 

InstaFace

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That Jax Buff game was quite entertaining actually.
I started out thinking it was ugly, but I came to appreciate that both sides were playing excellent defense. Not that there weren't ugly execution errors by the offenses, but it was an impressive effort in that everybody not named Bortles was very much Doing Their Job.

Who wasn't rooting for Peterman out there once Taylor got dismembered? Who didn't cheer a little bit when he somehow converted that 4th down (but before he threw a perfect pass to the other team)? The biggest thing you could criticize about the game was that it was not between two stellar offenses. So what.
 

tims4wins

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Let's not forget that once upon a time, Mark Sanchez won back to back road playoff games against Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. That actually happened.

Career comparison
Bortles:
59.1% completions
4.0% TD
2.9% INT
6.7 Y/A
5.83 NY/A
5.38 ANY/A
80.8 rating

Sanchez:
56.7% completions
3.8% TD
3.8% INT
6.7 Y/A
5.79 NY/A
4.91 ANY/A
73.9 rating
 

Reverend

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I was actually thinking of the 59-0 game vs Titans in the snow in 2009 when I was reading about bad weather. Patriots seem to thrive in bad weather. The two playoff victories over the Colts in 2003 and 2004 also come to mind.
Brady has specifically articulated a preference for slushy conditions etc. that slow the pass rush. Other than that, I dunno how much he cares.
 

McBride11

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I also sympathize with Eisen. But that's because he's a Jets fan. THAT must really suck.

Other than that, he gets paid quite well to talk about football and is not a former player or coach. The guy hit the jackpot, even if wild card weekend games weren't good (which is inaccurate, as pointed out already).

And if he wants to talk about interesting and likely close games, the Saints-Vikings game looks really interesting, as does Eagles- Falcons.
So does the Jax - Pitt game. Bortles is Bortles, but the Steelers D sux and the strength of the Jax D is their DBs who matchup nicely vs the Pitt O. Plus is AB fully recovered? Lest we forget, the Steelers lost 2x at home all year, to the Pats in a close one and to the Jags in a blowout aided by that same defensive backfield making 2 pick 6s.
 

DJnVa

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Assuming the wind isn't ridiculous, the Brady simply has to ID where the single coverage is among Lewis/White, Cooks, Gronk, Amendola, Hogan...if the Titans can't disguise the coverage all game long, there should be chunk plays available.

And Brady usually can't be fooled for long. That, and decent OL play and I don't see how it stays close.

Any given Sunday (Saturday!), but still.
 

kenneycb

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I literally fell asleep for a quarter during the first half of the JAX/BUF game. And I missed nothing. Defenses had nothing to do with Blake Bortles inability to throw an accurate pass to a RB in the flat. Holy shit that game sucked. I watched it because it’s gootball and it was close. But anyone who tries to say it was a good game is crazy. That game was more akin to the BC-Wake Forest 3-0 game than anything else I’ve seen. And that game was a comedy of errors.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I loved the JAX/BUF game...felt old school. Like an old late 80s or early 90s Bears/Redskins playoff game or similar where the QBs are not very good and you're looking at the running game and defense.

I say that fully aware that neither of them had a shot at going to the superbowl, but it still was fun to watch.
To me it was old school in the “watching really bad replacement players” sense not the “great defenses battle” sense.

But to each their own
 

wiffleballhero

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In the simulacrum
By Sunday night trying to remember the Buffalo Jacksonville game will seem like trying to recall a game from the 70s. It was fine, but also hardly dynamic and interesting other than the fact that one team was going home.
 

joe dokes

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I agree, especially if White does actually see the field.
Adding White and Hogan back to to the offense, and a fully functional Van Noy and Branch and a more adapted harrison to the defense helps tamp down the concerns over their recent spotty (relatively speaking) play.
 

johnmd20

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Much MUCH colder than expected, which once again proves that trying to predict the weather for Saturday on a Tuesday is a useless endeavor. Temps will be below 25, feels like below 15.

9 mph wind. But clear.
 

BigSoxFan

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Much MUCH colder than expected, which once again proves that trying to predict the weather for Saturday on a Tuesday is a useless endeavor. Temps will be below 25, feels like below 15.

9 mph wind. But clear.
I’m ok with a little extra cold for the Hawaiian QB.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Much MUCH colder than expected, which once again proves that trying to predict the weather for Saturday on a Tuesday is a useless endeavor. Temps will be below 25, feels like below 15.

9 mph wind. But clear.
I'll tell you this, it is most certainly not a 9 mph wind right now. It's blowing consistently 20+ around here since the cold front moved in overnight. If it continues like this, it will most definitely affect the passing game, and if the Pats win, and Brady has a game like he had in week 16 (2 touchdowns, no picks, couple hundred yards), we'll be treated to another week of bullshit from the likes of Felger, Mazz, Reimer, etc. on sports radio about how Brady isn't playing well.

Nobody ever mentions the fucking guy is playing games while wearing a Scuba diving suit under his pads because of the cold, or the rain in Pittsburgh, etc. People are actually making the argument this week that Drew Brees is the better QB. Stick Brady in a dome for 10+ games a year, and have him avoid playing in the conditions we have here, and then tell me if Brees is better. God, I'm so fucking sick of this theme lately about Brady struggling. Football games aren't played under the same conditions every week, teams sometimes focus on taking away the pass. Brady doesn't pull 'the Manning' and throw for touchdowns every time he gets a first and goal, and that seems to be held against him because people are so captivated by the numbers that they seemingly don't even watch the games. It's insanity.
 

johnmd20

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I'll tell you this, it is most certainly not a 9 mph wind right now. It's blowing consistently 20+ around here since the cold front moved in overnight. If it continues like this, it will most definitely affect the passing game, and if the Pats win, and Brady has a game like he had in week 16 (2 touchdowns, no picks, couple hundred yards), we'll be treated to another week of bullshit from the likes of Felger, Mazz, Reimer, etc. on sports radio about how Brady isn't playing well.

Nobody ever mentions the fucking guy is playing games while wearing a Scuba diving suit under his pads because of the cold, or the rain in Pittsburgh, etc. People are actually making the argument this week that Drew Brees is the better QB. Stick Brady in a dome for 10+ games a year, and have him avoid playing in the conditions we have here, and then tell me if Brees is better. God, I'm so fucking sick of this theme lately about Brady struggling. Football games aren't played under the same conditions every week, teams sometimes focus on taking away the pass. Brady doesn't pull 'the Manning' and throw for touchdowns every time he gets a first and goal, and that seems to be held against him because people are so captivated by the numbers that they seemingly don't even watch the games. It's insanity.
Weather channel has the winds in Foxboro at 12 mph right now, which is a pretty hard wind.

And I completely agree with your second paragraph. Everyone wants to be the first person to throw dirt on Brady's football career. And I kind of wish Brady did throw more on 1st and 1, just to shut everyone up. The Pats had a tremendous rushing attack in the past 4-5 games. And somehow that's a knock on Brady. It's odd.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Weather channel has the winds in Foxboro at 12 mph right now, which is a pretty hard wind.

And I completely agree with your second paragraph. Everyone wants to be the first person to throw dirt on Brady's football career. And I kind of wish Brady did throw more on 1st and 1, just to shut everyone up. The Pats had a tremendous rushing attack in the past 4-5 games. And somehow that's a knock on Brady. It's odd.
Admittedly, I'm in Andover, so conditions might be different in Foxboro, but here, 12mph seems to be the constant wind. The gusts, which are every 20-30 seconds or so, are at least double that. You can hear the wind blowing while inside the house, which typically doesn't happen unless it's gusting over 25.
 

dcmissle

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I'll tell you this, it is most certainly not a 9 mph wind right now. It's blowing consistently 20+ around here since the cold front moved in overnight. If it continues like this, it will most definitely affect the passing game, and if the Pats win, and Brady has a game like he had in week 16 (2 touchdowns, no picks, couple hundred yards), we'll be treated to another week of bullshit from the likes of Felger, Mazz, Reimer, etc. on sports radio about how Brady isn't playing well.

Nobody ever mentions the fucking guy is playing games while wearing a Scuba diving suit under his pads because of the cold, or the rain in Pittsburgh, etc. People are actually making the argument this week that Drew Brees is the better QB. Stick Brady in a dome for 10+ games a year, and have him avoid playing in the conditions we have here, and then tell me if Brees is better. God, I'm so fucking sick of this theme lately about Brady struggling. Football games aren't played under the same conditions every week, teams sometimes focus on taking away the pass. Brady doesn't pull 'the Manning' and throw for touchdowns every time he gets a first and goal, and that seems to be held against him because people are so captivated by the numbers that they seemingly don't even watch the games. It's insanity.
Take this from WaPost scribe and if you don't feel better, call me in the morning:

http://www.sunjournal.com/nfl-analysts-cant-seem-to-find-signs-that-tom-brady-is-aging/

At this point, who cares? A win is a win, and were they to lose with him throwing for 400 yards and multiple TD -- impossible, I know -- it would be a world class debacle.

We know one thing. TB has played well beyond a Jim Brown/Barry Sanders mic drop departure. If we're fortunate -- and he's smart -- we'll get an Elway departure some day. But if he plays long enough, someday "they" will be right -- and the longer he plays, the greater chance "they" will have their moment in the sun.

But it does not matter. Just win as much as we can as long as we can.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Take this from WaPost scribe and if you don't feel better, call me in the morning:

http://www.sunjournal.com/nfl-analysts-cant-seem-to-find-signs-that-tom-brady-is-aging/

At this point, who cares? A win is a win, and were they to lose with him throwing for 400 yards and multiple TD -- impossible, I know -- it would be a world class debacle.

We know one thing. TB has played well beyond a Jim Brown/Barry Sanders mic drop departure. If we're fortunate -- and he's smart -- we'll get an Elway departure some day. But if he plays long enough, someday "they" will be right -- and the longer he plays, the greater chance "they" will have their moment in the sun.

But it does not matter. Just win as much as we can as long as we can.
Thank you for that. And you'll get no argument for me. A win is a win, just win.
 

Reverend

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Thank you for that. And you'll get no argument for me. A win is a win, just win.
I don’t do the sports talk thing...

Has there been any talk of how the Pats had the #1 rushing attack the last six weeks and how that might have influenced some of the offensive stats over this supposed period of Brady’s decline?

Who gives a shit how they get into the end zone? They went 5-1.

Game on.
 

johnmd20

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I don’t do the sports talk thing...

Has there been any talk of how the Pats had the #1 rushing attack the last six weeks and how that might have influenced some of the offensive stats over this supposed period of Brady’s decline?

Who gives a shit how they get into the end zone? They went 5-1.

Game on.
No, there literally has been no talk about that. It's been all "Patriots in disarray," "Brady is in decline," and "Jimmy G caused an irreparable rift in New England."
 

Reverend

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No, there literally has been no talk about that. It's been all "Patriots in disarray," "Brady is in decline," and "Jimmy G caused an irreparable rift in New England."
Well, allow me then, by way of The Ringer’s Danny Kelly:

The uptick in Lewis’s usage coincides with the improvement in the Patriots’ run game late in the season. New England tied for the league high in rushing touchdowns over the final six weeks, a stretch in which the Patriots ranked second in rush yards (829) and third in yards per carry (4.66).
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2018/1/10/16870638/dion-lewis-patriots-x-factor

Any narrative of disarray needs to account to account for an offense that may actually be humming along on a newly developed gear.
 

Deathofthebambino

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I don’t do the sports talk thing...

Has there been any talk of how the Pats had the #1 rushing attack the last six weeks and how that might have influenced some of the offensive stats over this supposed period of Brady’s decline?

Who gives a shit how they get into the end zone? They went 5-1.

Game on.
I probably spent 40 hours in my car this week, and had sports radio on the entire time (having issues with my satellite radio, so unfortunately, not my usual Howard Stern time), and there are at least a half dozen regulars and another half dozen guest hosts beating the "Brady is in decline" drum over the week, and I didn't hear a single, not one, mention of the Pats running game during any of it. Also, never heard them discuss the weather conditions, the opponents, the game plans, nothing. Just Brady has a shitty QB rating, like Manning did a year before he went to shit, Brees is better, yada yada yada...Caller after caller, I would wait for someone to put something in context, and they were worse than the hosts. It's been infuriating. And our game threads around here, particularly in the early part of the games the last month and a half have said a lot of the same shit. I would love to see the Pats come out with a hurry up (which Tennessee struggles to defend) and Brady throw the ball all over the field, and blow them out early, but alas, that probably won't happen, and we'll be subjected to another week (or God forbid, and entire off-season) of the same.
 

Reverend

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I probably spent 40 hours in my car this week, and had sports radio on the entire time (having issues with my satellite radio, so unfortunately, not my usual Howard Stern time), and there are at least a half dozen regulars and another half dozen guest hosts beating the "Brady is in decline" drum over the week, and I didn't hear a single, not one, mention of the Pats running game during any of it. Also, never heard them discuss the weather conditions, the opponents, the game plans, nothing. Just Brady has a shitty QB rating, like Manning did a year before he went to shit, Brees is better, yada yada yada...Caller after caller, I would wait for someone to put something in context, and they were worse than the hosts. It's been infuriating. And our game threads around here, particularly in the early part of the games the last month and a half have said a lot of the same shit. I would love to see the Pats come out with a hurry up (which Tennessee struggles to defend) and Brady throw the ball all over the field, and blow them out early, but alas, that probably won't happen, and we'll be subjected to another week (or God forbid, and entire off-season) of the same.
This is what I now find myself hearing whenever Death gets going on this subject:

 

JohnnyTheBone

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Brady doesn't pull 'the Manning' and throw for touchdowns every time he gets a first and goal, and that seems to be held against him because people are so captivated by the numbers that they seemingly don't even watch the games. It's insanity.
Death, man, great post. Could not possibly agree with you any more. You articulated the fuck out of that point. Thank you.