OT: This was not the Patriots year. We knew that.

[upstater]

Saying 32nd ranked defense is a convenient excuse, sure they gave up a lot of yards all year but also gave up the 5th fewest amount of points. So 5th ranked defense where it actually matters

You didn't read the Barnwell piece. They faced fewer possessions and had better field positions than any other D. Other Ds faced 4 games worth of possessions more this year. And that's because of one reason: the Patriots offense. Puts that D in great position to defend, and gets them great field position. Patriots can gain 650 yards of O, the punter never punts the ball once, and they can still lose. That says everything about the defense. And it's not a surprise. Barnwell wrote that article before the Super Bowl and he was right.

 

[BugsyCT]

I knew some Pats fans in central CT growing up going back to the Steve Grogan days. Not a lot but some. In 1985 more popped up during their AFC title run. Then they went into hibernation until Parcells arrived. Since the Brady/Belichick era got rolling you can't go anywhere in this state without seeing someone with a Brady jersey or Pats hat.

 

[Travelman6]

Wow, nice shallow stereotypes there. But I do not take it personally as I have barley even lived in CT since I was 18 (maybe for 1 year total as well as 1 or 2 summers in the past 15 years)...

But I would suggest you read up on the history between the team and the state.

 

[uconnric]

It'll be interesting next year. I'm sure Belichick will be thinking about replacing Brady at some point when he decides that Brady is no longer his best option at qb. He's been a great qb but he isn't irreplaceable.

 

[Adios]

Patriots fans are not going to disappear now. We still have Cowboys, Dolphins, Steelers, etc, fans.

 

[Adios]

It'll be interesting next year. I'm sure Belichick will be thinking about replacing Brady at some point when he decides that Brady is no longer his best option at qb. He's been a great qb but he isn't irreplaceable.

It's going to be a loooooooooong time before any QB leads their team to at least 8 Super Bowls again, if ever....

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Are you from RI? The biggest leach state in the country? If it weren’t for Boston and the CT casinos the unemployment rate would hover around 87% in RI.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Nonsense. I grew up in CT and everyone I knew was a Patriots fan. 70's and 80's. UConn mid 80's was about 40% Giants, 35% Patriots and the rest Jets and other. Memo: Fairfield Cty. is not "Connecticut". It's in it, but it's the part least representative of the rest of the state.

Completely false.

 

[8893]

Are you from RI? The biggest leach state in the country? If it weren’t for Boston and the CT casinos the unemployment rate would hover around 87% in RI.

Not to mention, this is what they call pizza:

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Not to mention, this is what they call pizza:

Gross. Looks like Big Y pizza.

 

[Robertelamin]

Not to mention, this is what they call pizza:

Goes great with coffee milk.

 

[8893]

Gross. Looks like Big Y pizza.

Big Y pizza is far superior to the dreck that is RI party pizza.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

It'll be interesting next year. I'm sure Belichick will be thinking about replacing Brady at some point when he decides that Brady is no longer his best option at qb. He's been a great qb but he isn't irreplaceable.

Lmfao.

 

[TRest]

Not to mention, this is what they call pizza:

Garbage. Burn it down.

 

[J187Money]

To say that the Patriots fans "knew" it wasn't their year is preposterous. Everyone I saw in Minneapolis was convinced it would take an act of god for the Pats to lose. And half of them were crying during/after the game that the refs handed the game to Philly. Everyone was convinced that the early season defensive issues were solved.

The crowd was decidedly Philly - and Philly pushed it for 60 minutes, not 58.

Stadium was fantastic - except for egress. They didn't have all of the entrances open - it took nearly an hour to get outside. Had there been an issue - it would have been a stampede and people would have died. It was like Times Square on NYE - and that was with all of the Philly fans sitting in their seats to watch the trophy presentation.

Oddly - I was pretty happy for the Eagles fans. Doesn't mean I will ever attend a game in Philly in opposing colors, but for the most part they were respectful and truly happy. I was pretty much surrounded by them and the most obnoxious people were the two Pats fans behind me.

 

[CL82]

Strange take given that the Patriots were favored to win the Super Bowl from like last February, but all right.

And Tom Brady is still pretty good. Yes, he’d be the third-best quarterback on the Eagles and he’d have to play blocker or something at the Manning family flag football games, but there’s no shame in that. He’s still the best Tom Brady.

 

[Adios]

To say that the Patriots fans "knew" it wasn't their year is preposterous. Everyone I saw in Minneapolis was convinced it would take an act of god for the Pats to lose. And half of them were crying during/after the game that the refs handed the game to Philly. Everyone was convinced that the early season defensive issues were solved.

The crowd was decidedly Philly - and Philly pushed it for 60 minutes, not 58.

Stadium was fantastic - except for egress. They didn't have all of the entrances open - it took nearly an hour to get outside. Had there been an issue - it would have been a stampede and people would have died. It was like Times Square on NYE - and that was with all of the Philly fans sitting in their seats to watch the trophy presentation.

Oddly - I was pretty happy for the Eagles fans. Doesn't mean I will ever attend a game in Philly in opposing colors, but for the most part they were respectful and truly happy. I was pretty much surrounded by them and the most obnoxious people were the two Pats fans behind me.

That act of God was Brady's fumble. lol

 

[upstater]

To say that the Patriots fans "knew" it wasn't their year is preposterous. Everyone I saw in Minneapolis was convinced it would take an act of god for the Pats to lose. And half of them were crying during/after the game that the refs handed the game to Philly. Everyone was convinced that the early season defensive issues were solved.

The crowd was decidedly Philly - and Philly pushed it for 60 minutes, not 58.

Stadium was fantastic - except for egress. They didn't have all of the entrances open - it took nearly an hour to get outside. Had there been an issue - it would have been a stampede and people would have died. It was like Times Square on NYE - and that was with all of the Philly fans sitting in their seats to watch the trophy presentation.

Oddly - I was pretty happy for the Eagles fans. Doesn't mean I will ever attend a game in Philly in opposing colors, but for the most part they were respectful and truly happy. I was pretty much surrounded by them and the most obnoxious people were the two Pats fans behind me.

Would've loved to go to the game, but... on patsfans, it was different. There have been several year long threads on this issue. There is consensus this morning.

This was me back in December: How are the Pats 12-3 and on the verge of Home Field throughout ? Mind boggling defensive stats.

"Patriots have had a very weak schedule. They have 3 wins against playoff teams: Saints, Steelers, and Falcons. They've played a lot of very weak teams. People giving the defense kudos this weekend for stopping the Bills in the second half. Except has anyone looked to see how the Bills have played in the second half for the last few weeks?

Going backward: 3 points, 3 points, 0 points, 0 points, 3 points. That's 9 points in 5 second halfs. Less than a point per quarter."

This was me last week: "Expert" predictions thread

"The Patriots D scares me to death. I'm expecting a loss.

The recent Barnwell article summed up my feelings. The Patriots offense is putting the D is fantastic position. When I read that the Jags defense had to face 4 games worth of offensive possessions MORE than the Patriots D, it jibed with what I've been seeing. I have not been convinced by them all year, but couldn't really put my finger on it. Just team speed in the middle maybe? But then when I read the Barnwell article about how the D greatly benefits from the Patriots offense, unlike any other team in the league, it gave me pause. By comparison, the Jags D faced 4 games worth more offensive possessions than the Patriots D. And that's because of the Patriots O."

 

[mauconnfan]

Fair post, ok you're not as much of a ****head now.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Would've loved to go to the game, but... on patsfans, it was different. There have been several year long threads on this issue. There is consensus this morning.

This was me back in December: How are the Pats 12-3 and on the verge of Home Field throughout ? Mind boggling defensive stats.

"Patriots have had a very weak schedule. They have 3 wins against playoff teams: Saints, Steelers, and Falcons. They've played a lot of very weak teams. People giving the defense kudos this weekend for stopping the Bills in the second half. Except has anyone looked to see how the Bills have played in the second half for the last few weeks?

Going backward: 3 points, 3 points, 0 points, 0 points, 3 points. That's 9 points in 5 second halfs. Less than a point per quarter."

This was me last week: "Expert" predictions thread

"The Patriots D scares me to death. I'm expecting a loss.

The recent Barnwell article summed up my feelings. The Patriots offense is putting the D is fantastic position. When I read that the Jags defense had to face 4 games worth of offensive possessions MORE than the Patriots D, it jibed with what I've been seeing. I have not been convinced by them all year, but couldn't really put my finger on it. Just team speed in the middle maybe? But then when I read the Barnwell article about how the D greatly benefits from the Patriots offense, unlike any other team in the league, it gave me pause. By comparison, the Jags D faced 4 games worth more offensive possessions than the Patriots D. And that's because of the Patriots O."

I thought it was a toss up. But to the point some are making, many of my Pats fan friends were having none of it. They thought Philly would go down. I think they underrated Foles, even though Brady was a "backup" in our first superbowl win. When Philly thrashed a good Vikings defense, I knew this would be a very difficult game. With Edelman, McClellan and Hightower? Probably would have felt differently.