819 replies to this topic

[Dogman2]

Yep, it's Tuesday. I'm treating the gamethread rules like Brady treated Philly's defense.

Stage 1: The Turnaround. Complete.
Stage 2: The Momentum Builder. Complete.
Stage 3: The Defensive Posture. Complete.
Stage 4: The Don't Overlook Game.

Pats by 6.

[RedOctober3829]

Pats by 6??? God, I hope you're talking about the 1st quarter. This team should beat the Colts by at least 3 TDs. Dan Orlovsky is the new starter at QB and they just fired their D-coordinator. I hope it's a situation where Brady is kicking up his feet in the 3rd quarter.

[axx]

Dan Orlovsky you say?

[mikeford]

Pats by OVER 9000.


Ryan Mallet could start this game and we should still cover.

[ilol@u]

Yeah this reminds me of that Eagles game in 2007. I know the Patriots are going to win, but I expect it to be by a 6-10 point difference. They still have a talented defense (even though it hasn't been playing like it, allowing 30pts/game)

[epraz]

The Colts have lost each of their games by an average of 16 points per game. They haven't been in any games since the beginning of October but they've only been really blown out of the water by Houston and New Orleans. 41-17 Pats.

[drleather2001]

I just wish it was in Indy to help pad Brady's yardage stats.

[estreetfan]

Last three games: Pats 109 Opponents 39 I hope the Pats crush them!

[Rico Guapo]

Line opened with the Pats giving 21 points, I expect them to cover easily, Indy is terrible.

[loshjott]

Per Mike and Mike this AM, 9 games since 1970(?) have had a line of 21+ points. Favorites won each time but covered only twice.

[Rico Guapo]

Per Mike and Mike this AM, 9 games since 1970(?) have had a line of 21+ points. Favorites won each time but covered only twice.

How many of those games involved Dan Orlovsky?

[Zedia]

According to yesterday's WSJ, it's the 10th 20 point spread since 78, and the last four have been the Pats. They won all four, but are 0-4 vs. the spread.

[dcmissle]

This is via PFT.com. I think the sentiments are genuine and well grounded --

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was not happy when reporters suggested that his team has an easy game on Sunday against the Colts.

“There’s 16 games on the schedule and they’re all the same,” Belichick said, via the Boston Herald. “It’s our team versus that team that week. And we look at tape and learn about our opponent, scout them, and pick up tendencies. But how we match up against that team that day is all that matters. The rest of it, it’s a bunch of garbage. You guys can write about it all you want, it doesn’t matter. But, the winner of this game will be determined by which team plays better on Sunday, not what happened four weeks ago. And I know this is a news story, it’s like this every week. Every week.”

Reporters who pointed out that the Colts are 0-11 heard Belichick say what he’s probably saying to his players: They need to be focused on doing their jobs, not looking at how the Colts have played so far this year.

“What difference does it make? How somebody played two weeks go against somebody else,” Belichick said. “I mean, who cares? Us or anybody else. It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is how we and the Colts perform against each on Sunday. That’s all that matters. Who cares who won three weeks ago in some game with some other players? It doesn’t matter.”

For the record, three weeks ago the Patriots went to New York and pounded the Jets, while the Colts got whipped at home by the Jaguars. Surely, that tells us a little bit about the Patriots and the Colts, doesn’t it?

Not according to Belichick, who said he’s focused only on the game ahead. When one reporter started telling him that he wouldn’t be able to judge his team based on how they play against a bad opponent like the Colts, Belichick got upset.

“I don’t agree with that,” Belichick said. “So, you can go ahead on your soliloquy about that, but I just don’t agree with that. You don’t think you can gauge a team based on how a player blocks Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis? I mean, who else would you gauge it against? What? Are you kidding me? Covering Reggie Wayne, [Austin] Collie, and [Pierre] Garcon — you don’t think you can gauge your coverage based on those players? I don’t care what their record is. You don’t think there’s better receivers around than them? Better pass rushers than Freeney and Mathis? I mean, I’m not sure what games you’re watching here.”

I follow just two teams closely but have witnessed 4 shitshow losses -- the Pats @ Buffalo, and the Ravens @ Tenn, Jax and Sea. There is also a rumor that the Rams beat the Saints.

It would make Polian's season to pull off an upset. Anyone eating the 21 is foolish.

[koufax32]

My daughter will be born tomorrow.

My wife is a Colts fan.

Win it for baby Bella.

[Old Fart Tree]

Just checking: Yup, I still fucking hate these guys. I can't lay the points, but I hope they beat them by 15,000.

[jacklamabe65]

Just checking: Yup, I still fucking hate these guys. I can't lay the points, but I hope they beat them by 15,000.

You took the words right out of my mouth. Bill Fucking Polian wears a Canadians' shirt in my mind. He's the ultimate douch.

[epraz]

My daughter will be born tomorrow.

My wife is a Colts fan.

Win it for baby Bella.

Are you a vampire?

[TheoShmeo]

You took the words right out of my mouth. Bill Fucking Polian wears a Canadians' shirt in my mind. He's the ultimate douch.

He's such an ultimate douche that I'd be willing to buy you a vowel.

[Adrian's Dome]

If we lose, I'll kill myself.

[Mystic Merlin]

If we lose, I'll kill myself.

Oh.

[phragle]

If we lose, I'll kill myself.

Well now I'm conflicted.

[Jed Zeppelin]

Accidentally turned on ESPN and heard someone call the Patriots the 32nd ranked defense and the Packers the 30th ranked defense. CLICK.

[Mugsys Jock]

If we lose, I'll kill myself.

Pix?

[Adrian's Dome]

Well now I'm conflicted.

Cut me right where it hurts the most.

[snowmanny]

The Colts seem to be going for the winless season with a lot more determination than they had when they had a shot at an undefeated season. So that's helpful.

But on the other hand they generally fail to meet their goals and expectations. So that has me a little worried.

[dynomite]

The Colts are a bad team. A very bad team. According to DVOA, they're the 28th ranked offense and the 31st ranked defense.

While they've stayed in games of late, those games have been against some of the worst teams in the league: the Panthers, the Chiefs, the Jaguars. Crucially -- even against the Steelers -- they didn't go down early.

On an 0-11 team, going down by two or three scores in the first half can change the equation VERY quickly. For a number of players, I would imagine, injury concerns and mental fatigue play a role: is it really worth it to reach out for that ball over the middle? (See: Eagles, Philadelphia last week)

I think the Colts are going to go down early, and I think this game is going to get out of hand.

Prediction: Patriots, 45-10.

Edited by dynomite, 02 December 2011 - 11:30 AM.

[SeanBerry]

Pats 38
Colts 17

This game is a total fucking joke.

[Old Fart Tree]

It is. And I for one hope they take a page out of the Harbaugh playbook and are going for two up by 40.

[Al Zarilla]

It is. And I for one hope they take a page out of the Harbaugh playbook and are going for two up by 40.

Well, have to go up against that coach again next year. Or, do we.

[Jed Zeppelin]

Who is that guy.

[Al Zarilla]

Who is that guy.

It's not Jim Harbaugh.

[Royal Reader]

My daughter will be born tomorrow.

My wife is a Colts fan.

Win it for baby Bella.

Are you betting which team she grows up rooting for on the result of the game?

[Number45forever]

Thanks to One Red Seat, I'm taking Dad to this game and sitting six rows from the field.

I hope the Pats score 80.

[MentalDisabldLst]

"We're just trying to win a game!"

[Dick Pole Upside]

Jim Caldwell Face is almost as good as Manning Face. Almost.

Pats 38
Colts 24 (token Adam FG thrown in)

[sachmoney]

I bet we hear from Vegas after the game "we wanted to make the line 30, but we didn't think we'd get any action." Pats by a gagillion and 1.

[DukeSox]

"On top of all of their other woes, the Colts have the worst special teams in the N.F.L. Their punt returners average just 2.2 yards per return; factor in 14 fair catches, and that average drops to 1.3 yards. The primary return man, Blair White, is 2.06 yards tall, so he would be better off catching punts and falling straight forward than doing whatever he currently does. The punter-kickoff specialist Pat McAfee, meanwhile, leads the team in special teams tackles. It is good to know that one Colts player has not yet quit. Pick: Patriots. (http://fifthdown.blo...t-want-to-brag/)

[amlothi]

The primary return man, Blair White, is 2.06 yards tall, so he would be better off catching punts and falling straight forward than doing whatever he currently does.

That literally made me laugh out loud. Thanks for posting that.

[Turrable]

I got dumped for the first time in my life this week. A stone-cold beat down of these fuckers would be therapeutic. Please, make it so.

[koufax32]

I got dumped for the first time in my life this week.

That's turrable.

[Dollar]

Dan Orlovsky has played in 15 NFL games. His team has lost all 15.

Make it 16. 38-16 Pats.

[estreetfan]

Pats 41
Colts 17

[Judge Mental13]

Patriots 56

Colts 3


We will see Hoyer. We might see Mallett. Peyton will leave at halftime.

[Turrable]

That's turrable.

[MarcSullivaFan]

As bad as Orlovsky appears to be, he is an upgrade from Painter, who is one of the worst QBs I've seen play this extensively.

I expect the Pats to win by a couple TDs, but I also expect that the Colts--especially on defense--will play very hard--at least until they get a boot to the throat. Their coordinator just got s-canned, and this game still means a lot to guys like Freeney, Mathis, and Bethea.

Edited by MarcSullivaFan, 04 December 2011 - 09:12 AM.

[bball831]

Pats start out slow and we all freak out.

Pats still blow them out 34-17.

[MentalDisabldLst]

Hey Skrub, got any thoughts on today?

[PayrodsFirstClutchHit]

I would like thank the Colts for sucking enough to finally give us a 1:00 Pats game.

Now beat these pricks by 50.

[Dogman2]

I plan on starting the gamethread until sometime in 2012.

[phragle]

I plan on starting the gamethread until sometime in 2012.

Why stop there?