I love Lewis, but that's nuts. i just ran it and he had 5 touchdowns, 3 rushing, 2 receiving. 220 total yards.Dion Lewis is a fuckin' monster at whatifsports. Hopefully that portends good things. Just had 160 receiving yards and 85 rushing.
2011 Giants were 27th in yards and 25th in points. But obviously their D was much different in the playoffs.Atlanta has a 27th Defensive Efficiency Rating. Have the Pats with BB and TB ever lost a playoff game to a worse defense?
Patriot playoff losses:Atlanta has a 27th Defensive Efficiency Rating. Have the Pats with BB and TB ever lost a playoff game to a worse defense?
Sunday night I was texting with a Ravens-fan co-worker who said she couldn't fully enjoy the throttling of their arch-rival Steelers because of the Pats-Trump connection. I replied that the sports and political parts of my brain are separated by impenetrable firewalls - sort of like the one she presumably used to justify rooting for a team with such model citizens as Lewis and Rice. She had to grudgingly concede that point.The Pats having their key guys be Trump supporters is just an excuse people will use to justify their hatred for New England. Just like "they are a bunch of cheaters" it will legitimize their hatred even if it doesn't make any sense--it will give them some form of moral high ground on to stand on.
Any person who asks me about the Pats/Trump I just say that since I'm not a fucking idiot I don't care about the political opinions of my favorite athletes, I like them because they are great at their jobs and have always carried themselves with grace.
Doesn't have to be Trump. Any racist misogynist can be emboldened by a public display of support.Also, the premise -- that their support emboldens Trump -- is ludicrous. Does anyone think that Trump's thoughts or actions would be altered by even .00000001% if BB, Kraft and Brady were not supporters?
Any tolerable football podcasts out there?
Word. There are so many other places to argue non-NFL politics like Snapface and Twitter. Please let us just discuss the Superbowl here.Please for the love of Pedro start another thread on the politics. Don't make these 2 weeks worse than they were 2 years ago.
You feel that strongly about it, go make another thread to tell us how our failure to discuss this always and everywhere makes us all "emboldening a racist misogynist". That way we can all ignore it. Just please, for the love of god, stop posting about it in this thread.Doesn't have to be Trump. Any racist misogynist can be emboldened by a public display of support.
I didn't level any accusations, I only pointed out what the concern is. The Patriots are going back into the national media and discourse. Trump himself makes mention of Brady and the Patriots unbidden. Why pretend that this can't be an issue?
Yeah, maybe the political posts can be excised and dumped into an isolated thread of their own. I'm trying to think less about politics especially as it relates to sports and the frequent references in here are not helping.Please for the love of Pedro start another thread on the politics. Don't make these 2 weeks worse than they were 2 years ago.
That's not bad, where are the tickets?Pats season tickets holders (those who haven't won the lottery like me) are being offered packages of $3,500+ for two tickets with hotel included.
Hogan, Lewis, and White due for more success? Trying to fgigure out who would be #1 and #2 receivers by their definition. Edelman and Mitchell?Per FO, Atlanta's pass defense versus "Other WRs" and "RBs" is AWFUL. Like, 29th and 26th, respectively.
Finest Sausage in Section 17 post I've seen in a while.Pats season tickets holders (those who haven't won the lottery like me) are being offered packages of $3,500+ for two tickets with hotel included.
I think this makes Brady happy in the pants. How many times has he put on a clinic of exploiting whichever receiver is poorly covered?Per FO, Atlanta's pass defense versus "Other WRs" and "RBs" is AWFUL. Like, 29th and 26th, respectively.
Ha, I think he's missing some punctuation or that's how I read it. He's including himself in the people that haven't won.Finest Sausage in Section 17 post I've seen in a while.
Not sure it matters. They can't cover #3/#4 or backs. Whether that's Amendola, Mitchell, or Hogan could be by our offensive set. Two of those 3 should feast.Hogan, Lewis, and White due for more success? Trying to fgigure out who would be #1 and #2 receivers by their definition. Edelman and Mitchell?
Please. Like you didn't ask the first 243 times you were told that.I might tell the next poster who wants to talk politics in this thread to STFU ... and I don't even know what that stands for
Shut the fuck up. That's what it stands for, not me telling you to do so.I might tell the next poster who wants to talk politics in this thread to STFU ... and I don't even know what that stands for
Never saw them; I have you pinked ... whatever that meansPlease. Like you didn't ask the first 243 times you were told that.
You guys should probably take negative statistics about Atlanta's defense like this with huge grains of salt, for two reasons. One is that with the notable exception of the Chiefs game in Week 13, the defense - a young, well-coached unit which is learning all the time - has gotten progressively better as the season has gone along; three of its best four defensive performances by DVOA, all -10% or better, have come in three of its last four games. The other is that the Falcons have led so many games by so many points, they've wound up playing prevent-type schemes and/or been in "let's just get off the field and end this with no injuries" mode in the fourth and even third quarters quite a lot, and I think their overall stats are negatively skewed by their performance in low-impact situations. (Even since Week 13, this would include their games against the Rams, Saints and of course Packers.)Per FO, Atlanta's pass defense versus "Other WRs" and "RBs" is AWFUL. Like, 29th and 26th, respectively.
No Sausage for you!Yeah I ain't won shit. 7 bowls since I've been a season ticket holder and not a bone yet. Tickets are pretty much the cheapest in the stadium. I just checked and those are sold out. All that's left are $5,000+ packages.
The MMQB Podcast. Don't let the Peter King affiliation scare you off. The ones with Andy Benoit and Gary Gramling are great. I can't speak for the others as I don't listen to them. But Benoit has been one of my go-to's for X's and O's talk for a few years now. Any football podcast with him is probably going to be worth listening to.Any tolerable football podcasts out there?
You guys should probably take negative statistics about Atlanta's defense like this with huge grains of salt, for two reasons. One is that with the notable exception of the Chiefs game in Week 13, the defense - a young, well-coached unit which is learning all the time - has gotten progressively better as the season has gone along; three of its best four defensive performances by DVOA, all -10% or better, have come in three of its last four games. The other is that the Falcons have led so many games by so many points, they've wound up playing prevent-type schemes and/or been in "let's just get off the field and end this with no injuries" mode in the fourth and even third quarters quite a lot, and I think their overall stats are negatively skewed by their performance in low-impact situations. (Even since Week 13, this would include their games against the Rams, Saints and of course Packers.)
I'm not suggesting the Falcons are the '85 Bears, of course. But they did just hold St. Aaron of Lambeau to zero points in the first half on Sunday, in a game which saw Atlanta have its worst defensive performance by DVOA since Week 15 against the 49ers (see point 2, above). Demean and underestimate that defense at your own risk.
Not underestimating potential improvement (hell, for years the mantra here in certain seasons was that terrible Pats' defenses would get better), but I do wonder how a young D will do against Brady, who exploits a defense like nobody else. He's seen it all, while many of the players he'll be up against have not.You guys should probably take negative statistics about Atlanta's defense like this with huge grains of salt, for two reasons. One is that with the notable exception of the Chiefs game in Week 13, the defense - a young, well-coached unit which is learning all the time - has gotten progressively better as the season has gone along; three of its best four defensive performances by DVOA, all -10% or better, have come in three of its last four games. The other is that the Falcons have led so many games by so many points, they've wound up playing prevent-type schemes and/or been in "let's just get off the field and end this with no injuries" mode in the fourth and even third quarters quite a lot, and I think their overall stats are negatively skewed by their performance in low-impact situations. (Even since Week 13, this would include their games against the Rams, Saints and of course Packers.)
I'm not suggesting the Falcons are the '85 Bears, of course. But they did just hold St. Aaron of Lambeau to zero points in the first half on Sunday, in a game which saw Atlanta have its worst defensive performance by DVOA since Week 15 against the 49ers (see point 2, above). Demean and underestimate that defense at your own risk.
Absolutely...although to be fair, Dan Quinn has now been to three of the last four Super Bowls himself. Good coaching over a two-week period can make a big difference.Not underestimating potential improvement (hell, for years the mantra here in certain seasons was that terrible Pats' defenses would get better), but I do wonder how a young D will do against Brady, who exploits a defense like nobody else. He's seen it all, while many of the players he'll be up against have not.
Have not seen this show, but if you leave out Boogie Nights, not a major accomplishment.Atlanta, the TV show, is better than every Wahlberg’s career output combined.
But they will next season. The SB will decide whether the Pats go to Atlanta to open their new stadium on opening night in Sept or Atalanta comes to Foxboro then.Those who watch the schedule closely may notice that the Patriots did not play the Falcons this year.
This is incorrect. The game will be in Foxboro regardless. If the Pats win the SB, then they will likely schedule the rematch for opening night. But if Atlanta wins, my guess is they do a rematch of the NFCCG with Green Bay going to Atlanta.But they will next season. The SB will decide whether the Pats go to Atlanta to open their new stadium on opening night in Sept or Atalanta comes to Foxboro then.
If anything I think the roof being open helps the Pats. FWIW, the roof was closed in 2003.Between the lack of calls against the Pats in the AFCCG and the roof being open, I have this sick feeling that Goodell is saving the Ben Dreith Screw Job for the SB. Dare to dream that he's worried about being sussed out and is laying off as a result.
That's my point. We have two positive data points. Few calls against them last Sunday and now this roof decision.If anything I think the roof being open helps the Pats. FWIW, the roof was closed in 2003.
True, my bad.This is incorrect. The game will be in Foxboro regardless. If the Pats win the SB, then they will likely schedule the rematch for opening night. But if Atlanta wins, my guess is they do a rematch of the NFCCG with Green Bay going to Atlanta.
On the other hand, being ahead in games makes the other team one-dimensional and easier to defend. And GB moved the ball pretty well in the first, they just had a missed FG and a terrible fumble take away points, then a three and out and it was 17-0 and they had to start getting desperate.You guys should probably take negative statistics about Atlanta's defense like this with huge grains of salt, for two reasons. One is that with the notable exception of the Chiefs game in Week 13, the defense - a young, well-coached unit which is learning all the time - has gotten progressively better as the season has gone along; three of its best four defensive performances by DVOA, all -10% or better, have come in three of its last four games. The other is that the Falcons have led so many games by so many points, they've wound up playing prevent-type schemes and/or been in "let's just get off the field and end this with no injuries" mode in the fourth and even third quarters quite a lot, and I think their overall stats are negatively skewed by their performance in low-impact situations. (Even since Week 13, this would include their games against the Rams, Saints and of course Packers.)
I'm not suggesting the Falcons are the '85 Bears, of course. But they did just hold St. Aaron of Lambeau to zero points in the first half on Sunday, in a game which saw Atlanta have its worst defensive performance by DVOA since Week 15 against the 49ers (see point 2, above). Demean and underestimate that defense at your own risk.
I do believe that Smith's assertion is correct, namely that the Patriots will be picking up fans for just one day, and thanks for bringing that assertion to us here. I'm going to offer a very from-left-field guess as to what actually will go on. I would guess that the president will attend the game, with very little announcement if any beforehand for purposes of optimizing security. I believe that if, unfortunately, Atlanta should prevail, the commissioner will handle the presentation responsibilities as is customary. In the better case, namely if the Patriots should win, I believe that the president will ask the commissioner if the commissioner will permit the president to handle the duties of the trophy presentation, thus saving/enhancing the commissioner's ego by having deferred to the request of POTUS.In terms of neutral fan reaction to the Pats, Michael Smith of ESPN had an interesting viewpoint: He said that many fans who would normally be very anti Patriot are actually rooting for the Pats in the Super Bowl just to see the reaction of Goddell as he hands the trophy to Brady. Not sure how accurate this is considering the hatred against the Pats in the past but we shall see.
Goodell just wants his buddy Robert Kraft back. He's praying for a Superbowl win for the Patriots.That's my point. We have two positive data points. Few calls against them last Sunday and now this roof decision.
Waiting for the other shoe to drop...and hoping that Goodell has decided to avoid throwing any more chum into the water.
The Fighter was pretty good, but mostly on the strength of Amy Adams.Have not seen this show, but if you leave out Boogie Nights, not a major accomplishment.