2473 replies to this topic

[patinorange]

McCarthy makes BB look like Mr. Happy.

[Ed Hillel]

Funny enough, this game meant absolutely nothing nada zero in the standings, but I think it was a valuable learning experience for some of the young guys.

[Shelterdog]

Matt Flynn is the new Matt Schaub

Or Cassel. The physical requirements of the position aren't as hard to meet as the mental ones. You put a decently talented guy in a great system and have him work his ass off for a few years and you can develop a pretty decent QB.

[Mystic Merlin]

Green Bay is a good and desperate team.

I didn't like a lot in this game, but they got it done.

Gotta get it together next week, however. Can't let the game get away from them like this - the TOP was outrageous.

[Salva135]

Vick's transformative 8 minutes + Brady's unremarkable game = MVP discussion back in play. I still think Brady will get it pretty handily, but if these guys were stocks, they just rocketed in opposite directions today, from a media perspective. Vick will be fellated all week, Pats are going to be reluctant conference leaders with questionable flaws.

Edited by Salva135, 19 December 2010 - 11:53 PM.

[Kull]

I dunno, it wasn't the best game of the year, defensively, but the O worried me more after today.

Not so much. GB has a REALLY good D and the O put 24 on them even with all the penalties.

[MentalDisabldLst]

Great coaching by McCarthy and an awful, embarrassing scheme on the other side. Have to question whether this team has it

I do need to call out one lurker's repeated attempts to troll.

You're bad at trolling. Stop it. You got one semi-serious reply and then got ignored.

[Mystic Merlin]

Vick's transformative 8 minutes + Brady's unremarkable game = MVP discussion back in play. I still think Brady will get it pretty handily, but if these guys were stocks, they just rocketed in opposite directions today, from a media perspective.

Vick isn't winning the MVP.

[EdRalphRomero]

You think this game is on the defense?

They didn't play great, but at what point did the offense give them a break? Then, in the second half, they sort of hurt themselves with the Pick-6 because they had to get right back on the field, but it's not like they try to avoid taking the six.

I dunno, it wasn't the best game of the year, defensively, but the O worried me more after today.

The offense scored 24 points against arguably the best defense in football. This was on the D

[Ed Hillel]

Not so much. GB has a REALLY good D and the O put 24 on them even with all the penalties.

WEll, more like 17, but GB probably has the best defense in the game.

[C4CRVT]

You think this game is on the defense?

They didn't play great, but at what point did the offense give them a break? Then, in the second half, they sort of hurt themselves with the Pick-6 because they had to get right back on the field, but it's not like they try to avoid taking the six.

I dunno, it wasn't the best game of the year, defensively, but the O worried me more after today.

Green Bay has a very good defense (#4 DVOA going into the game) and a decent offense (#8 DVOA) but was without their starting quarterback. I'm not blaming either unit specifically (the whole team had some pretty bad stretches and the refs were fucking awful) but if I were him, I'd be getting ulcers worrying about the defense. I think there's more cause for optimism for the offense.

[PedroKsBambino]

Brady says this game shows they really need to have a good week of practice this week. Shocking, right?

He's better staying on-message than most national politicians.

[H78]

Not so much. GB has a REALLY good D and the O put 24 on them even with all the penalties.

Yeah, but the O had one really short drive because of the return before the half. They still got the points, but they caught a huge break and were a third down incompletion away from kicking for three there.

I know the Pack are a solid D, but this O has shred as good or better defenses this year (even on the road). The D gave up some ridiculous drives, but the O looks very, very inconsistent today and really benefited from a couple of big breaks.

[Andrew]

This is probably really dumb, but why didn't this win and the Steelers loss guarantee the Patriots homefield throughout the play offs? The only teams that can worst-case scenario catch the Patriots, Pittsburgh and New York, lose in tie-breakers, right?

The NFL broadcast at the end of the game said they need another win to guarantee the division. I'm confused.

[Kull]

Vick's transformative 8 minutes + Brady's unremarkable game = MVP discussion back in play. I still think Brady will get it pretty handily, but if these guys were stocks, they just rocketed in opposite directions today, from a media perspective.

Yes, it's a given that the media has the constancy of a drunk coed, but Brady had two more TDs (record), no interceptions (another record), and, ho-hum, a game winning drive at the end to win it. Are the expectations so high that this is a "step back"?

[Mystic Merlin]

This is probably really dumb, but why didn't this win and the Steelers loss guarantee the Patriots homefield throughout the play offs? The only teams that can worst-case scenario catch the Patriots, Pittsburgh and New York, lose in tie-breakers, right?

The NFL broadcast at the end of the game said they need another win to guarantee the division. I'm confused.

No, if the Pats lose both remaining games and the Jets win both of theirs, the Jets win the division based on div. record.

[koufax32]

This is probably really dumb, but why didn't this win and the Steelers loss guarantee the Patriots homefield throughout the play offs? The only teams that can worst-case scenario catch the Patriots, Pittsburgh and New York, lose in tie-breakers, right?

The NFL broadcast at the end of the game said they need another win to guarantee the division. I'm confused.

The Jets are still in play. I had the same question upthread.

[wesdustjon rondroiker]

Not so much. GB has a REALLY good D and the O put 24 on them even with all the penalties.

Agreed. GB is #1 on points allowed with ~14. I'd say its a pretty successful offensive game given the circumstances.

[jsinger121]

Good thing Devin McCourty played tonight

[PedroKsBambino]

You know, thinking about it a bit I could imagine the play called for fourth down in the third down huddle assumed they'd need 8-10 yards. So, Flynn gets to the line and isn't sure whether to keep the play or switch out since they actually only needed 1.

Total speculation, but that would be another 'blame Flynn' scenario.

[RoyHobbs]

Always enjoy the Trent Dilfer Pats Sploogefests.

[Maalox]

This is probably really dumb,

Dude that's really dumb.

[Andrew]

No, if the Pats lose both remaining games and the Jets win both of theirs, the Jets win the division based on div. record.

Oooh, because the next two games ARE divisional games. Duh. I gotcha now.

[twoBshorty]

They don't need to have Brady do post-game press conferences. Just wrap a tape recorder in a high-collared jacket with a lot of zippers and set it out on the podium. Same effect.

[cshea]

The D wasn't great, but they sure came to play in the 4th quarter when they were totally gassed. The goaline stand to start the quarter to hold the Packers to 3, then the stops following the Pats FG, and TD to take the lead. Not great early on (especially tackling) but they did pull together a pretty gutty performance in the 4th quarter after having spent practically the entire game on the field.

[Salva135]

Yes, it's a given that the media has the constancy of a drunk coed, but Brady had two more TDs (record), no interceptions (another record), and, ho-hum, a game winning drive at the end to win it. Are the expectations so high that this is a "step back"?

Did you see the Eagles comeback? Do you think anyone who covers the NFL will talk about anything other than this game and Vick all week? For the record, it took a performance as sick as Vick's 4th quarter to change the conversation, but that conversation will happen. Brady was unremarkable by his standards today, Vick blew everyone away by winning that game, and he was already in the back of the discussion. Will be interesting how this gets voted out.

[JBill]

Brady says this game shows they really need to have a good week of practice this week. Shocking, right?

He's better staying on-message than most national politicians.

I'm pretty sure at this point in his career he doesn't even listen to the questions.

"Tom, what do you think was behind the team's win tonight?"
"Well I think the main thing was we had a really good week of practice."
"Tom, how do you think this team can improve?"
"I think what we really need next week is to have good week of practice."

[Jed Zeppelin]

Did you see the Eagles comeback? Do you think anyone who covers the NFL will talk about anything other than this game and Vick all week? For the record, it took a performance as sick as Vick's 4th quarter to change the conversation, but that conversation will happen. Brady was unremarkable by his standards today, Vick blew everyone away by winning that game, and he was already in the back of the discussion. Will be interesting how this gets voted out.

Okay but here's my thing...who cares? If Vick gets it, good for him. The guy has been incredible and has done many miraculous things with the football in his hands this year. If Brady gets it, that would be pretty alright too.

Edited by Jed Zeppelin, 20 December 2010 - 12:07 AM.

[shawnrbu]

Did you see the Eagles comeback? Do you think anyone who covers the NFL will talk about anything other than this game and Vick all week? For the record, it took a performance as sick as Vick's 4th quarter to change the conversation, but that conversation will happen. Brady was unremarkable by his standards today, Vick blew everyone away by winning that game, and he was already in the back of the discussion. Will be interesting how this gets voted out.

Vick has missed 3 full games, half of the opener, and 3/4 of the Redskins game. That's 25% of the season.

Considering the track record of MVP winners in the playoffs since 2000, Vick can have the award, though.

[PedroKsBambino]

I'm pretty sure at this point in his career he doesn't even listen to the questions.

"Tom, what do you think was behind the team's win tonight?"
"Well I think the main thing was we had a really good week of practice."
"Tom, how do you think this team can improve?"
"I think what we really need next week is to have good week of practice."

The other thing that is amusing in the press conferences is every Patriot talks up the next team. Brady did it, Wilfork talked up Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson, etc.

"___ is a great team. They do a lot of things well. We're going to have a tough game next week"

[Mystic Merlin]

The other thing that is amusing in the press conferences is every Patriot talks up the next team. Brady did it, Wilfork talked up Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson, etc.

"___ is a great team. They do a lot of things well. We're going to have a tough game next week"

Thing is, they aren't bullshitting. Every game is tough.

[mikeford]

Nevermind, that was very wrong.

Edited by mikeford, 20 December 2010 - 12:11 AM.

[Mystic Merlin]

No MVP has ever won the Super Bowl

Let Vick win it.

Double

Edited by Mystic Merlin, 20 December 2010 - 12:13 AM.

[Oogies Loogies]

The only two things I take out of this game are:

1. The defense is still a work in progress.

2. Somebody needs to slit Brandon Merriwether's Achilles. Both of them.


Anybody who puts this on the offense isn't paying attention. This is the first legitimate defense they've faced in awhile. The Jets and Bears are imposters. The defensive playcalling was uneven. They didn't put nearly enough pressure on Flynn for the first three quarters. Every time they rushed three guys it was a 15-yard pass waiting to happen.

I'll be generous and chalk the rushing yardage up to the dearth of defensive linemen, but making Matt Flynn look like Bart Starr (when facially, he looks like Jason McElwain) is inexcusable.

I'm confident they'll win the next two. I think Buffalo's offense can provide a little bit of a test. Miami is pathetic. But regardless of what happens the rest of the regular season, the defense is still going to be as much a question mark going into the playoffs as it was a month ago.

And that's with Arrington making a fantastic INT return.

[Mystic Merlin]

No MVP has ever won the Super Bowl

Let Vick win it.

Favre, '96.

Young, '94

T. Davis, '98

K. Warner, '99

'89 Montana

EDIT - Pretty sure Emmitt Smith won one, too. And LT in '86.

Off the top of my head.

Edited by Mystic Merlin, 20 December 2010 - 12:14 AM.

[Andrew]

So if the Patriots have 3 or less turnovers in the next 2 games they set the NFL record for fewest turnovers in the 16 game season.

[Jed Zeppelin]

So if the Patriots have 3 or less turnovers in the next 2 games they set the NFL record for fewest turnovers in the 16 game season.

It's nice to have a QB who is perfect and a RB who hasn't fumbled since the womb.

[Reverend]

I actually like the sequencing that they pull in press conferences. Tonight's narrative was great.

Belichick comes out with the downtrodden mother routine--no, no, this is my fault, I just raised you wrong.

Woodhead comes out looking like a teenage street hockey skate punk trying to remember formulas for geometry class long enough to write them down exactly.

Brady comes out and says, yeah, we need to do better, grins wistfully and offers a steady hand.

Wilfork comes out and talks a bit of football, playing the cagey vet who knows it's a long campaign.

They are so fucked this week in practice, by the way.

[Ed Hillel]

Patriots essentially just locked up #1 seed. Big picture, its been an insane season.

The Pats quest at the #1 seed was essentially unaffected by this game. The only impact this game had on the standings was that Pitt cannot now overcome the Pats, but that could only have happened if the Pats lost the last 3 games anyway.

[dynomite]

Okay but here's my thing...who cares? If Vick gets it, good for him. The guy has been incredible and has done many miraculous things with the football in his hands this year. If Brady gets it, that would be pretty alright too.

Tom Brady won the NFL MVP in 2007. Don't know about you guys, when I think back on that year that's the first thing that sticks in my brain.

And boy, 2003 and 2004 sucked. I was so jealous of Jamal Lewis and Peyton Manning, respectively, that those years were just black marks.

[Ed Hillel]

Favre, '96.

Young, '94

T. Davis, '98

K. Warner, '99

'89 Montana

EDIT - Pretty sure Emmitt Smith won one, too. And LT in '86.

Off the top of my head.

Manning in 06?

[Jnai]

The Pats quest at the #1 seed was essentially unaffected by this game. The only impact this game had on the standings was that Pitt cannot now overcome the Pats, but that could only have happened if the Pats lost the last 3 games anyway.

Seen you say similar things in this thread; does this imply that the game was essentially meaningless for the division standings?

[Mystic Merlin]

Manning in 06?

LDT won it in '06, I believe.

[shawnrbu]

LDT won it in '06, I believe.

Yep. Warner in 99 is the last MVP winner to win the Super Bowl during that season.

[mikeford]

He did.

[Ed Hillel]

Seen you say similar things in this thread; does this imply that the game was essentially meaningless for the division standings?

With the Jets win today, tonight's game meant zero to the division standings. Either way, the Jets would have to win out and the Pats would have to lose out.

[Kull]

Tom Brady won the NFL MVP in 2007. Don't know about you guys, when I think back on that year that's the first thing that sticks in my brain.

And boy, 2003 and 2004 sucked. I was so jealous of Jamal Lewis and Peyton Manning, respectively, that those years were just black marks.

This shit is stupid. Anybody who thinks that "winning the MVP = losing the Super Bowl" also believes that wearing "that shirt" or sitting on "that side of the couch" has an impact on the game's outcome. Superstition is bullshit.

(Not pickin' on you dynomite, just the whole meme)

[Jed Zeppelin]

This shit is stupid. Anybody who thinks that "winning the MVP = losing the Super Bowl" also believes that wearing "that shirt" or sitting on "that side of the couch" has an impact on the game's outcome. Superstition is bullshit.

(Not pickin' on you dynomite, just the whole meme)

So you're saying I can go back to shaving my balls? I stopped after the Cleveland game.

[C4CRVT]

So you're saying I can go back to shaving my balls? I stopped after the Cleveland game.

Please don't shave your balls.

[Doctor G]

I actually like the sequencing that they pull in press conferences. Tonight's narrative was great.

Belichick comes out with the downtrodden mother routine--no, no, this is my fault, I just raised you wrong.

Woodhead comes out looking like a teenage street hockey skate punk trying to remember formulas for geometry class long enough to write them down exactly.

Brady comes out and says, yeah, we need to do better, grins wistfully and offers a steady hand.

Wilfork comes out and talks a bit of football, playing the cagey vet who knows it's a long campaign.

They are so fucked this week in practice, by the way.

Woodhead could pass for a 21 year old Eric Burdon.

Edited by Doctor G, 20 December 2010 - 12:31 AM.