TomTerrific said:
Yes, this one completely surprised me in that it's just a preparation thing, something Belichick & co seem to excel at. His absolute first instinct should be to kick it out of the endzone.
Was it just me, or were the announcers completely brain-damaged on this as well--it seemed like they were trying to defend what Allen tried to do.
yes, as Ghost said Post game that he will not be punting anymore, so its either Allen next game, or someone off the street (or PS)SeoulSoxFan said:
BB gave him bit of a pass during the press conference -- perhaps Allen thought defenders were not as close to him as they actually were.
The rookie has been solid all year, including holding for Ghost -- he should have kicked it out of bounds but ST game is worse w/o Allen on this team.
Ed Hillel said:Brandon Spikes, for showing up late and giving Collins more snaps.
That was the most explosive game we've seen from a linebacker on this team since Bruschi. I mentioned this in the game thread, but the thought of Mayo/Hightower/Collins for the rest of Brady's career brings the boner.
1. Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins is going to be a star. We can't think of many 250-pound linebackers that can rush the passer, blow up the running game, and cover tight ends in the passing game. Collins had three quarterback hits, 2 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and a pass defensed. His pick of Andrew Luck showed off his incredible athleticism.
This performance has been building for a while as Collins has opened eyes down the stretch. There's no way the Patriots are going to re-sign inside linebacker Brandon Spikes. (Even though they have very different playing styles.)
2. After struggling most of the day, give the Patriots defense credit for their play in the final 20 minutes. The Colts' last five drives: Three-and-out, 12 yards-and-punt, interception, three-and-out, interception.
@Leon_Washington: Seen Stephen Gastkowski Punt in Practice. He's more than capable.
“I don’t think coach Belichick and the Patriots get enough credit for winning every year,” Barkley said. “In 99 percent of the cities in every other sport, not just football, your team sucks.”
SeoulSoxFan said:Also extra point goes to BB for blowing off OC Pep Hamilton apparently trying to apologize/make excuses for himself after the game.
Still confused on that play. Wasn't that a forward pass? Hideous and two handed, but a forward pass none the less.( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) said:Technically he could have thrown it at Wilson's feet and it would have been an incomplete pass, colts ball at the 50. Right?
Stitch01 said:Can give the to anyone but Vereen and Aiken, but fuck was Collins impressive. From the 300s I Thought Talib had picked off that pass. Defense has missed a guy like him for years, feeling tingly thinking about what the defense looks like next year if Wilfork is still Wilfork and they find an interior DL that can rush.
Smiling Joe Hesketh said:Hoo-man made some awesome blocks tonight.
SeoulSoxFan said:
There was a great exchange between Cowher & BB, where Cowher says "you'll probably go down as the greatest coach ever" and BB pays it right back with "it means a lot coming from you".
There's no better in-between the games coach, as well as the in-game coach.
Among BB, Doc, Francona/Farrell, and Julien, this has been absolutely the best groups of coaches I've ever had the pleasure to watch in person.
Eddie Jurak said:Also, honorable mention to Pagano for punting in 4th and inches.
Eddie Jurak said:Blount, Collins, the OL, Ghost.
Goats: Allen. Not sure I want him back next week.
He brought up Spygate this weektims4wins said:What is the Pep Hamilton story?
Ah. Link? I will google around.jsinger121 said:He brought us Spygate this week
In week 5 (I think) in 2001 the punter Lee Johnson bumbled a play like that into a Chargers touchdown and was cut.Eddie Jurak said:The way Allen played it we were lucky not to give up a TD.
How dumb are people? I mean it is a fairly small network of coaches, you never know what job you're going to be looking for in three years. Even if you're never going to work for Belichick his disciples and friends are everywhere.jsinger121 said:He brought up Spygate this week
Three points there is guaranteed for the Colts, so you view the safety as saving a point. On the other hand, they still had to hold the Colts on the ensuing possession, which they did. If they had held the Colts to a FG, Pats would have received the ball on the next possession . It's not clear cut. I don 't like giving a team 4 cracks for the 1 or 2, so I was happy.RSFnFL said:
Am I the only one who thought the safety was the best outcome? The only blame I can give to Allen is that it wasn't his intention for a safety, looked like he was trying to run it, pass it..whatever that was. I know the announcers were bashing him for not downing it at the one to give the D a chance. If he did they at least give up a field goal, probably a touchdown. I would rather give them the 2 points and the ball back hoping our D can make a stop. To me the safety was a fortunate outcome of a kicker not sure what to do.
It's been already addressed up thread, but Allen has been outstanding all year punting and holding and I desperately want him back next week. He's only number two on the goat list:Eddie Jurak said:Goats: Allen. Not sure I want him back next week.
I'm with you that the safety was the best outcome, unless you really can intentionally ground it there and give the Colts the ball at the original line of scrimmage. However, it was accidental, lucky, and very close to a Colts TD.RSFnFL said:Am I the only one who thought the safety was the best outcome? The only blame I can give to Allen is that it wasn't his intention for a safety, looked like he was trying to run it, pass it..whatever that was. I know the announcers were bashing him for not downing it at the one to give the D a chance. If he did they at least give up a field goal, probably a touchdown. I would rather give them the 2 points and the ball back hoping our D can make a stop. To me the safety was a fortunate outcome of a kicker not sure what to do.
Ed Hillel said:Brandon Spikes, for showing up late and giving Collins more snaps.
That was the most explosive game we've seen from a linebacker on this team since Bruschi. I mentioned this in the game thread, but the thought of Mayo/Hightower/Collins for the rest of Brady's career brings the boner.
normstalls said:Still confused on that play. Wasn't that a forward pass? Hideous and two handed, but a forward pass none the less.
I think he was looking to pass but you can't assume that it is was and on replay it could only be called a fumble.Dernells Casket n Flagon said:It wasn't even close to a forward pass on the replay, there's no throw attempt and he loses control of the ball forward as he gets knocked back.
Super Nomario said:Great team win. a couple breakdowns in the secondary, but Luck completed fewer than half his passes and threw four picks. When the goat is Danny Aiken, the long snapper, you know you had a good night.
Blount, obviously
The run-blocking OL
Hightower and Collins were everywhere
I thought the good way, way outweighed the bad. They ran the ball aggressively and generally had effective playcalls on 3rd down - they were 11 of 18 on 3rds. The red zone performance was terrific. And they set up the two kill shots great - the counter action to Blount for the big run, and the long play-action pass to Amendola. I thought the playcalling was by-and-large excellent.
Also, major props to Belichick for the next-man-up preparation. Having guys like Collins and Cannon and Hoomananawanui and Siliga, etc. step in when they knew they would be playing is one thing, but they lost the punter partway through the game and dealt with it.
Doug Kyed @DougKyedNESN35m
Belichick says Gostkowski punts in practice. It was obvious.
Sometimes you win games on Sunday, but sometimes you win them on Wednesday and Thursday. That's the most underrated part of coaching, IMO, and where Belichick generally excels.
Deathofthebambino said:The work done by the offensive line, both in pass protection and in the running game, really can't be overstated. The running backs ran possessed and probably would have had good games no matter who they were running behind, but with that O Line blocking like that, I honestly don't think any team in the NFL could have beaten them today.
Brady still gets big credit from me for always doing the little things. No turnovers in a sloppy day, some big third down conversions (the one to Collie sticking out at the moment) with passing plays, and Edelman was fantastic every time he was involved in a play.
This really was one of the most impressive and enjoyable wins of the season. A true team effort. I thought aside from the fullback dive play call and the bad long snap, it was almost a perfect game from start to finish. Even the long pass plays that Indy made weren't really the Pats fault. On each of them, the Pats defense was a step away from labeling Luck for a sack, and the defenders were in good coverage, but simply got beat by perfect throws and/or great catches (how about the catch by Hilton diving with the ball coming over his outside shoulder).
Gostkowski stepping up in punt duties, Brady holding for extra points, Jamie Collins just HAVING A DAY, and Hightower having by far his best game in an NFL uniform...Man, what a game.
DeJesus Built My Hotrod said:Someone said it upthread but this truly was a team win. The coaching staff clearly focused on taking away Hilton and Fleener as Luck's two best options. And they contained him from making any big plays with his legs too (something some of the pundits cited as a way he might give the Patriots trouble).
That said, Collins, Blount, Edleman and Gostkowski (those punts were amazing) were the obvious stars of the game but the OL was fantastic (special love for Hoo-man who threw some amazing blocks). But right behind were guys like Amendola, Dennard, Ridley, Faulk 2.0, Talib, the Joneses and even Vellano.
Tonight was simply a fantastic effort by Patriots. I know I make comments in these threads like every single year but eight AFCG during the BB/Brady era is amazing, especially for those of us who were around when Scott Zolak was an actual QB for this team and part of a four-headed starting QB carousel.
Bring on whomever, for some reason I trust this hobbled, no-name squad to get it done next week.
PFF ups and downs:lexrageorge said:OL, esp. Mankins and Solder (if PFF grades either one a negative then I'll never be able to trust their methodology again)
+1dbn said:Jeff Demps/USA track
Collins. Please play like that always.
McDaniels for sticking with the game plan (other than the dive by Develin)
Great post and points. To my mind, this was a "realistically perfect" game, by which I mean nothing crazy happened: the Patriots were just better in every phase.Deathofthebambino said:I thought aside from the fullback dive play call and the bad long snap, it was almost a perfect game from start to finish. ... Gostkowski stepping up in punt duties, Brady holding for extra points, Jamie Collins just HAVING A DAY, and Hightower having by far his best game in an NFL uniform...Man, what a game.