You honestly think this year's defense has not kept the Pats competitive? You think Brady, or any other experienced and collected QB couldn't have won the Eagles game? LV was only kicking field goals against us and that's on the 2023 defense? The only blow outs were DAL and NO with 3 turnovers each. 5-2 this year would have been in reach of many offenses. The force modifier isn't the defenses in this comparison. The question is where in this year's offense is the weak link.
Mac Jones threw for 300 yards, 3td's and 1 pick in the Eagles game, which included a drop by JuJu, a drop by Bourne, two passes in which Boutte couldn't keep his feet down. The last drive stalled, not because of Mac Jones.
And keeping them competitive is different than "winning them games." The 2006 defense gave up an AVERAGE of 12 points in the first 7 games. If the 2006 defense was on the field against the Eagles, maybe they don't give up 3 consecutive field goal drives.
The Pats scored a touchdown right before the half to make the score 16-14.
The Pats went 3 and out to open the 2nd half, a 3 and out mind you, because Mac hit Boutte with a deep throw down the sideline that any NFL receiver should be able to get his feet down.
The next possession, the Eagles went 10 plays and kicked a field goal.
Then the Pats went on a 13 play drive that ended with a punt.
That exhausted Pats defense that just got 6:00 of rest, then took the field and gave up an 11 play drive that resulted in a field goal.
Then the Pats went on a 10 play drive that resulted in a turnover on downs (where everyone, myself included, thought BB should have kicked a field goal)
The exhausted Pats defense took the field again, and gave up a 7 play drive, and another field goal. Now, that score that was 16-14 is 23-14.
The Pats scored a touchdown on the next drive.
Then the Pats defense, apparently now full of energy, got a turnover and the Pats took over on the Eagles 41.
Mac got buried by 2 guys right up the gut, leading to a 3rd and 12 play, he stood in the pocket, threw a dime down the middle to Kendrick Bourne, who couldn't make a catch that again, NFL receivers make all the time.
The Pats got the ball back, and again, on fourth and 11, Mac hit Boutte for a 12 yard completion, on the sideline, to save time on the clock, but again, Boutte couldn't keep his feet down, like every NFL receiver should be able to, and Boutte coincidentally hasn't seen the field since this.
Yes, the Pats fell behind early because of mistakes Mac made. I'm pretty confident that 2006 Tom Brady made plenty of mistakes too. The difference is I don't think that 2006 defense gives up 3 straight field goals to open the 2nd half, after having a ton of rest on the sidelines between series. As bad as Tom's receivers were in 2006, I'm confident that one of them comes down with a huge catch there that none of the Pats receivers in 2023 came down with.
Again, I'm granting the 2023 Pats at 4-3 (although not convinced of it) with Tom Brady, instead of 2-5 with Mac Jones. This is hardly out of line. But the idea that the 2006 roster, especially the defense, wasn't better than what we have now is fucking absurd. Jesus, a lot of that same roster went out and won 18 straight games the next year. I guess it's easy to overlook the 4th ranked defense in the NFL when you add Randy Moss and Welker to the offense though.