Patriots Football - "We're on a mission"

[Bruins Fan]

The Pats really needed this win, not pretty but with all that is going on in the locker room a good win none the less

[rlmedic]

Ugly...but its a W

[baldanders]

Not pretty but I'll take it!

didn't get to see the game, but i will take the W

[VTDragon]

Ugly win, but we'll take it.

Some thoughts:

Wes Welker for MVP. He is the quintesential football player.

I again apologize to Laurence Maroney. Obviously he was either much more hurt during the past two seasons than anyone was allowed to know or he had a gigantic wake up call this year. It was a joy to watch him run vs the Panthers.

Brady is starting to look like he thinks he has to do it all by himself at times, thus some forced passes resulting in interceptions. He has to stop forcing the ball, especially to Mr Moss.

Regarding Mr Moss .... It seems he has reverted to the form that got him booted from Minnesota and Oakland. Time for another boot (probably at season's end)

Kudo's to Vince Wilfork. He was a beast while in there. I hope his leg/ankle injury proves to be minor. It is a very different defense when he is not in there.

This fourth down thing with Belicheck has gotten ridiculous. Come on Bill don't be so stuborn, get back to conventional wisdom.

As I said, ugly win , but we'll take it. Both the offense and defense are going to need to play better if they expect to beat Buffalo in the frozen north next week. I would run Mr. Moss downfield to clear out the defense on every play and never throw him the ball. Fantasy team owners will do well to start Maroney as I expect he will get the ball a lot. We can pretty much sew up the AFC East with a victory next week, but it is not going to be easy.

Originally Posted by VTDragon

Ugly win, but we'll take it.

Some thoughts:

Wes Welker for MVP. He is the quintesential football player.

I again apologize to Laurence Maroney. Obviously he was either much more hurt during the past two seasons than anyone was allowed to know or he had a gigantic wake up call this year. It was a joy to watch him run vs the Panthers.

Brady is starting to look like he thinks he has to do it all by himself at times, thus some forced passes resulting in interceptions. He has to stop forcing the ball, especially to Mr Moss.

Regarding Mr Moss .... It seems he has reverted to the form that got him booted from Minnesota and Oakland. Time for another boot (probably at season's end)

Kudo's to Vince Wilfork. He was a beast while in there. I hope his leg/ankle injury proves to be minor. It is a very different defense when he is not in there.

This fourth down thing with Belicheck has gotten ridiculous. Come on Bill don't be so stuborn, get back to conventional wisdom.

As I said, ugly win , but we'll take it. Both the offense and defense are going to need to play better if they expect to beat Buffalo in the frozen north next week. I would run Mr. Moss downfield to clear out the defense on every play and never throw him the ball. Fantasy team owners will do well to start Maroney as I expect he will get the ball a lot. We can pretty much sew up the AFC East with a victory next week, but it is not going to be easy.

You better hope not.

Welker is a fine #2 operating out of the slot, but lacks the size and skills to be a #1 receiver. If the Pats let Moss go they better have a plan to pick up a true #1 veteran receiver to replace him, or Welker and the Pats will be screwed next year.

[Starscream]

Brady has pissed me off for three weeks straight. How am I gonna win a fantasy game if he keeps throwing interceptions?

[VTDragon]

Ugly win again, but we'll take it.

Some thoughts:

The defense played better than I expected, especially considering that Wilfork and Warren were not there. Good game rushing the passer by Tully Banta-Cain.

Brady had a tough game. He is obviously really hurting right now. It sure would be nice to get him a week off prior to the playoffs, but I don't know if that is possible.

Moss had a good game. I hope he has a lot more before the end. Buffalo seemed to key on Welker and Moss benefited to some degree.

There was nothing pretty about this game. Buffalo looked inept at times and the Pats had a lot of their own issues, but with NY and Miami both losing the Pats are clearly in the drivers seat in the AFC East. I hope it is cold and snowing in Foxboro next week for Jacksonville. Those Florida boys don't seem to like the cold.

[Bruins Fan]

My take Buffalo stinks and the Pat benefited from some big penaltys.
On the up side Maroney is running hard,the got to start hitting him with some screens and get him out on the edge, he can be a load once gets around the corner.

[VTDragon]

Good win over the Jaguars today. Brady and the offense looked better than they have since London and the defense made a couple of key turnovers at key times. Looked like the 2007 Pats today. Nice for that to happen in a "Hats & T-Shirt" game.

Some thoughts:

Maroney ran very well early on but didn't play after he fumbled at the goal line. It will be interesting to see if there is any fall out from that.

Moss looked like he had something to prove, good I hope he feels that way the rest of the way. By the way, notice how Moss is Brady's first look in the end zone but Welker seems to be everywhere else.

I thought they would miss big Vince on run defense. I was wrong.

Tully Banta-Cain continues to improve week to week.

Nice to see Seau in the mix later in the game.

Welker is still my MVP.

AFC EAST Champs. Ahhh... that's nice , the world is back to spinning evenly on its' axis. Hope you all had a nice Christmas.

[Bruins Fan]

Nice win today. Maroneys fumble on the goal line was to much, he cost us the colts game doing that?
Morris was running like a man that was good to see.

[MikeyC]

Originally Posted by VTDragon

Moss looked like he had something to prove, good I hope he feels that way the rest of the way. By the way, notice how Moss is Brady's first look in the end zone but Welker seems to be everywhere else.

That makes perfect sense. Welker is a little guy and gets open by finding space in the defense. When the play starts on or near the goal line the defense is tighter because there is less space to play in. So, it's harder for Welker to get open in these situations.

Moss on the other hand has height and can jump. So, even when he's covered . . . he's not covered. Smaller spaces don't affect him like they do Welker.

Originally Posted by VTDragon

I thought they would miss big Vince on run defense. I was wrong.

My mother-in-law was at the game today and said Vince was up in the Fidelity Clubhouse with his wife. She asked for an autograph and was told "if I give you one I have to give everyone one." Vince is my favorite player and I can understand he wants some level of privacy but if a fan asks for an autograph it should be given. If you don't want people bothering you go watch from Kraft's box or at home. If there were no fans willing to pay for tickets and paraphenalia, Vince would not be able to make a living playing a game.

[Starscream]

Brady did quite well today for my fantasy team.

[chachee52]

Was at the game today!! It was good to see the defense look that good!!
I loved Bellichick's answer to why Maroney was not in the rest of the game!! Classic!! "All the running backs were having a good day"
Hopefully the defense can continue to play at this level and we can make it through the first round of the playoffs.
May I add, I met my fiance at a Pats game 5 years ago last week. Bucs vs Pats 28-0 score. Since then we have gone to the game closest to that date and every year the PAts have won hands down!! So we are proud to be 5-0 record since we met.

[chachee52]

I'll turn it on and check it out. I love watching people babble on about sports when they don't know what they are talking about!!!

[chachee52]

Great video!! He is very photogenic!!! Made my day!! Thanks for the heads up!!
I always will remember the teams that have the longest regular season winning streak but don't win all the games in one season........ ummmmmm?

Welker.... Noooooooooooo!

[Bruins Fan]

I hate to say it that don't look good

[chachee52]

Bad loss with Welker. He's out for the long hall with a blown ACL possible MCL (same as Brady last year). As for "resting Mauroney, if you remember he didn't play after the first series of last game because he fumbled the ball. I personally don't like that decision, he needs reps mentally because he needs to play or he shuts down!!
As for not starting other starters: they are in a routine, they need to play at least part of the game. I disagree totally with what the Colts are doing. Basically they are "resting" players for almost 4 weeks!!!!! They get out of rhythem by then.
Now Pats fans just hope that Mauroney can step it up, Faulk and Edleman can pick up Welker's weight!! Which the Pats have done in the past with other players!!!!!

[VTDragon]

Patriots Football -Mission Failed.

Congratulations Baltimore. You wanted it more. You came into Gillette and punched us in the mouth and we folded. Today we did nothing right. Brady was at his worst, and most everyone else, (except Kevin Faulk and Julien Edleman) was just as bad.

It was an interesting season for us Pats fans. Lots of exciting moments and a lot of fun games but in the end we were just not good enough.

I just hope the Jets get their butts kicked in San Diego. Beyond that I have no rooting interest in any of the teams left in the hunt except who I get in our local Super Bowl pool in a couple of weeks.

How about those offseason moves by the Red Sox?