Patriots Pre-Game Thread

[Warren]

Boston's other paper doesn't seem as (over)confident:

Belichick’s Pats are 8-6 in playoff games against an opponent they played in the regular season, but 3-6 since their last Super Bowl title in 2004. All of the playoff losses under Belichick have come in a rematch.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by barrett

It is depressing that journalism has reached this point. Media outlets now employ professional pot stirrers to drive hits. And as long as they don't cross some racial, gender, or cultural line in the process they can write any drivel they like with as little basis in reality as possible. And it is all led of course by the 'worldwide leader.'

*cough* Richard Justice *cough*

[barrett]

Every paper has a few. It's sad when it's the old guy who once wanted to be a real journalist but now just wants to be noticed.

[today]

I just re-watched the first half of our first game with the Pats, pausing at different points in the middle of plays and assessing assignments. I'm a lot more confident in our ability to win this game because I don't think we make a lot of these mistakes again:

1. Pats got 3 3rd down conversions by penalty
2. Harris/Gardner missed 6-7 assignments that blew up plays
3. We dropped key passes
4. Schaub made several poor reads trying to force the ball to Andre
5. Our LBs were awful in coverage
6. JJo got beat a few times in coverage (coming off the groin issue)
7. Quin bit on a play action (leading to wide open TD pass).

I'm hoping that we correct all of the above problems, but I still expect Newton to miss a couple of assignments, and I expect that our LBs will still have major trouble in coverage.

Foster ran the ball well IMO, and with Newton in there to cut down on the RT mistakes, I bet we'll see Arian have at least 120 yards and be north of 4 yds/carry.

GO TEXANS!!!!!

[WMH]

If Phillips goes mostly man again, I hope that Quin has the type of game he did against the Bungles. He was all over Gresham. Did a real good job. Will be interesting to see if the Quin/Manning combo can contain those TE's.

Biggest thing I see is being able to get a rush from the front 4. Watt will be Watt, but the Ninja and the edges need to show up big too.

On O, I really hope Graham passes his concussion test on Saturday, and is able to go. NE's LB's can be abused. I also look for further develop/involvement from Posey. At the beginning of the year, I sure didn't see much, but he has come along really well. Talib will likely be shadowing AJ, which will leave the TE's and WR2/3 as prominent options.

Hope, hope, hope.

Keep it alive.

Any. Given. Sunday.

[Arky]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks

Cool. One of the ESPN "experts" actually gave the Texans a vote....

[HPF Bob]

Weather Underground's forecast as of Friday morning for Sunday in Foxboro:

"Mostly cloudy. Fog early. High of 52F. Winds less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 20%."

So damp but not too cold. Not windy. It ought to be good "football weather" for a playoff game.

[Keith]

On the surface that weather report sounds like good news for the Texans, but honestly I think their chances would improve with uglier weather. Anything that would limit the aerial attack of the Patriots would really help to negate their potential to score in bunches.

[cadams]

Originally Posted by barrett

I hope the NFL, the networks, the media, and everyone else lives a nightmare come true and by Sunday night, Brady vs Manning has turned into Schaub vs. Flacco.

this would be magnificant. would love to get to sit in my seats one more time before the end of the season.

[cadams]

Originally Posted by Keith

On the surface that weather report sounds like good news for the Texans, but honestly I think their chances would improve with uglier weather. Anything that would limit the aerial attack of the Patriots would really help to negate their potential to put of scores in bunches.

i would vote for a torrential downpour if i could.

[barrett]

I just saw Herm Edwards and Christian Fauria (I believe) outside Foxboro with some ESPN anchors making picks. They were reasonable about the game and all expected a closer score but still a Patriots win.

Then they pointed out that if both games turned out as picked, then we "all" get what we "all" want (Manning vs Brady). At this point they all started grinning and high fiving themselves at the thought of it.

I love a great matchup as much as the next guy, but I seriously hope that parade is rained on and everyone has to watch our boring Houston Texans for at least another week.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by barrett

I just saw Herm Edwards and Christian Fauria (I believe) outside Foxboro with some ESPN anchors making picks. They were reasonable about the game and all expected a closer score but still a Patriots win.

Then they pointed out that if both games turned out as picked, then we "all" get what we "all" want (Manning vs Brady). At this point they all started grinning and high fiving themselves at the thought of it.

I love a great matchup as much as the next guy, but I seriously hope that parade is rained on and everyone has to watch our boring Houston Texans for at least another week.

I know. Cause everybody loves Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, right? America wants this matchup!

NFLN has been getting a little unwatchable, lately....

"Did the Texans learn anything from their beatdown at the Pats?".

And then they will proceed to show all negative Texan stats from the first meeting with the Pats like the first game contains all the answers...

"Can Schaub do a better job this time?"

Then they'll show Schaub's stats "before beatdown" and "after beatdown".... and then they'll go to Willie McGinest for analysis "4 for 14 on 3rd down won't get it done" (penetrating insight, Willie!).

Let's play the game, already..... jeez...

[today]

Graham passed his concussion test and will play on Sunday... Phew!!!

[chuck]

I'm starting to feel a little better about this game. I saw somewhere that Quin was still nursing a shoulder. Is this a current concern or a hangover from a couple of weeks back?

[Arky]

Originally Posted by chuck

I'm starting to feel a little better about this game. I saw somewhere that Quin was still nursing a shoulder. Is this a current concern or a hangover from a couple of weeks back?

Looks like here he had a hip thing going on before the Vikes and Colts games, was "healthy" the week of the Bengals game and then dinged the shoulder in the Bengals game. Through all of this, none of the ailments kept him from participating in full practices....

[HPF Bob]

Well, we're now playing for home field advantage again. Baltimore nipped the Broncos in 2OT.

Anyone else get a little sick watching Jacoby Jones and Trindon Holliday scampering all over the field? That game was Holliday's first loss all year.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Well, we're now playing for home field advantage again. Baltimore nipped the Broncos in 2OT.

Anyone else get a little sick watching Jacoby Jones and Trindon Holliday scampering all over the field? That game was Holliday's first loss all year.

And then there were 3. Oh man, what an opportunity......

I'm watching Niners vs. Packers and after the 1st half, the Niners are ahead in TOP 21:47 to 8:13 yet only lead 24-21. Niners seem a bit like the Texans (ball hogs) and the Packers (quick strike) seem a bit like Pats....

Holliday is/was just as likely to be a goat as a hero. He sure hit a couple of home runs today, though...

Somewhat surprised Peyton is out of the race and that the Broncos/Ravens contest seemed fairly refereed for the most part...

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Anyone else get a little sick watching Jacoby Jones and Trindon Holliday scampering all over the field? That game was Holliday's first loss all year.

Nope. It just shows what anyone who's been paying attention has known for a decade. The Texans have the worst special teams coach in the NFL. And since he and the owner are jackoff buddies he's not going anywhere no matter how badly his units underperform.

It became clear to me a number of years back that to the owner winning is at best secondary. Marciano and his bullshit is as stark an example of that as you'd like to find.