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Patriots 2005 Season Discussion

Discussion in 'Archive: Boston, MA' started by Wildstar02301, Feb 12, 2005.

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  1. DarthWormie

    DarthWormie Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Jul 22, 2004
    Hey guys,
    Due to a last-minute invite to a Christmas party, I am unable to go to the Pats/Bucs game this weekend. If anyone is interested, please PM me ASAP. The game is this Saturday at 1:30 PM
    ?DW
     
  2. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 7, 2003
  3. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 7, 2003
    You wanted a statement game? Well, you got one yesterday in a 28-0 rout over the Buccs. The defense, once again, was the key to victory, sacking Chris Simms 7 times, once causing a fumble that led to a Patriots TD, and allowing the Buccs only 138 yards total offense. Offensively, David Givens had a big day, catching 6 balls for 137 yards and a TD, and Tom Ashworth (yes, Tom Ashworth, the offensive lineman) got into the scoring act w/ a TD catch as a fullback in the goal line offense. With the win, the Patriots clinch a spot in the playoffs by winning the AFC East.

    Next game will be the Monday night after Christmas @ the Meadowlands against the Jets. It will be interesting to see how Belichick handles Brady in these last two regular season games with next to nothing on the line.
     
  4. Jedi_Outcast77

    Jedi_Outcast77 Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Jun 10, 2003
    I can't believe that the Pats manhandled the Bucs like that :eek:. That was just a total domination effort by the champs all day long! The Pats didn't even let up a field goal and were relentless with scoring opportunities. Now that the Pats have won the AFC East they can kick back and relax a little bit as they have the Jets and Miami left to close out the season, one that has finally turned into what the expectations were of this team since the beginning.
     
  5. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    A big bit of news from yesterday...INDY LOST! Maybe this means the Colts will be more focused in the playoffs having the whole undefeated season thing off their backs now, but it's also kinda good news for the other teams in the playoffs now in that the Colts don't have that air of invincibility about them. Especially good news for the Patriots is that the Chargers were able to get pressure on Peyton Manning with their linebackers, which was the Pats' game plan against the Buccs.

    Michael Felger's report card

    About the grades you'd expect, but I would've thought the linebackers would get an A+ instead of just an A after getting 5 of the 7 sacks of Chris Simms the other day.
     
  6. Jedi_Outcast77

    Jedi_Outcast77 Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Jun 10, 2003
    It definately goes without saying that if the Pats meet up with the Colts in the playoffs Indy will be going up against a completely different team. With the return to Tedy Bruschi, a healthy Seymour, and a revitalized secondary the Pats will prove to be a much better opponent than they were during their loss to Indy earlier in the year.
     
  7. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    This week's power rankings:

    ESPN.com: #5
    CBS SportsLine: #7
    SI.com: #8
    FoxSports.com/Football Outsiders: #13

    The Patriots are clearly one of the "hot" teams right now, and becoming hot when it matters most. Pulling some of the comments:

    Dr. Z., Sports Illustrated: "But it'll be fun to watch this team battling its way through the playoffs as underdogs."

    Pete Prisco, CBS SportsLine: "The defense is starting to play better, which is not good news for the rest of the AFC."

    But a sobering comment from Aaron Schatz @ Fox Sports and Football Outsiders: "So while the Patriots may have slaughtered the Bucs, the rating also includes their losses to Indianapolis and Kansas City as well as close wins against bad teams like Buffalo and New Orleans. We can't ignore the trends from these games, even though the Patriots are now playing much better. Something made Tom Brady throw those four interceptions against Kansas City, and you can bet every defensive coordinator facing New England in the AFC playoffs will be looking at that tape."
     
  8. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    The rosters for the 2006 Pro Bowl were announced today, and QB Tom Brady, along with DE Richard Seymour, have been chosen to represent the Patriots and the AFC. This is Brady's third Pro Bowl selection, while Seymour will be going to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl. The game will be played on February 12 in Honolulu, HI.
     
  9. Jedi_Outcast77

    Jedi_Outcast77 Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Jun 10, 2003
    Despite their struggles that the many different players on this team had this season, I think that there were a couple of names left off the list, like Vrabel and Samuel. Maybe they'll get picked up as alternates. Also, not like it's a big surprize, there were 7 members of the Colts named to the Pro Bowl team, an NFL record.
     
  10. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    It seemed inevitable, but OT Matt Light was officially placed on the injured reserve list today. The Patriots were hoping his leg was feeling better by the playoffs, but apparently, he had shown no improvement.

    In other news affecting Monday night's game, the New York Jets today officially announced the retirement of WR Wayne Chrebet.
     
  11. hchristensenfan

    hchristensenfan Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Jul 24, 2003
  12. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Another good win for the Patriots last night, but the questions on everyone's minds today are the health of Tedy Bruschi, who suffered a leg injury, and Asante Samuel, who took a knee to the head. Both will probably sit out at least Sunday's game against Miami.
     
  13. Jedi_Outcast77

    Jedi_Outcast77 Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Jun 10, 2003
    You're probably right. Since there's really no need for them to play it's not worth taking any chances over. Bruschi was seen walking out of the locker room after the game on his own two feet without any assistance or crutches. Samuel got his bell rung but should definately be OK.

    Next weeks game against Miami will still have some importance though. With their win the other day the Pats are teh No.3 seed in the playoffs and will play either Pittsburgh or Jacksonville in the 1st round.
     
  14. DarthWormie

    DarthWormie Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Jul 22, 2004
    Actually, they're still the #4 seed. They need to beat Miami AND have the Bengals lose their game this Sunday to move up to the #3 seed.
     
  15. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Gonna be a busy day of posting in this thread for me today. :D

    Michael Felger's report card

    All As to B-s, with the defensive line and coaching staff getting the As. :D
     
  16. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    This week's power rankings:

    ESPN.com: #4
    CBS SportsLine: #5
    SportsIllustrated.com: #6
    FoxSports.com/Football Outsiders: #12

    The Patriots are looking very respectable again, but the ESPN.com NFL staff and Dr. Z. at Sports Illustrated both note that they could lose a lot of momentum with Tedy Bruschi's injury. Aaron Schatz at Fox Sports has noted a trend, however: the Patriots have allowed the fewest rushing yards on runs of ten yards or more in each of the last three seasons, and no other team has even been in the top ten in that stat for all three seasons. The Patriots won the Super Bowl the previous two seasons where they have led the league in fewest yards on runs of ten yards or more.
     
  17. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Wednesday's injury report

    Tedy Bruschi, as expected, is "questionable", but everyone else listed for the Patriots, including Asante Samuel, is "probable". :D
     
  18. cmdrwillard

    cmdrwillard Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Apr 6, 2003
    As a Miami Dolphins fan, I am proud of my teams win today, but wish the Patriots the best in representing the AFC East in the playoffs. See you next year and good luck.
     
  19. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    As cmdrwillard said, the Dolphins won, but it should be noted that the Patriots' starters sat out most of the game, so it ended up being the Patriots' second and third stringers against Miami's starters, and it still came down to the last play of the game, so the Pats have nothing to be ashamed of. Backup quarterback Matt Cassel had a nice day, going 11/20 for 168 yards and 2 TDs, but was victimized by a strip sack in the end zone in the third quarter that resulted in the Dolphins scoring a safety. Adding to the entertainment value was the fact that Doug Flutie made the first drop kick in the NFL since 1941 about midway through the fourth quarter. The final score, if anyone is wondering, was Miami 28, New England 26. The Patriots finish the regular season with a 10-6 record and are the #4 seed in the AFC playoffs.

    The Patriots open up the post-season this Saturday night by hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars. The game will be on ABC, with an 8:00 PM ET start.
     
  20. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Michael Felger's report card

    A mixed bag...some As, some Ds, and some of everything else in between. I just wished Felger would've graded on the curve considering the Patriots' scrubs played most of this game. The coaches did get one of the As, and here's Felger's explanation why: "The Pats lost and everyone had a good time. Going all out for the game would have been counter-productive, and Belichick never came close. If anyone told Cassel to hit the mascot with his two-point attempt, that?s worth extra credit."
     
  21. Jedi_Outcast77

    Jedi_Outcast77 Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Jun 10, 2003
    Good news from practice the other day as both Tedy Bruschi and Corey Dillon were both in attendance and participating in drills. They will need both to help keep the Jags on their toes Saturday.
     
  22. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
  23. Jedi_Outcast77

    Jedi_Outcast77 Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Jun 10, 2003
    Riiiight o_O...
     
  24. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    With the regular season now over, it's time for the final set of power rankings for the season:

    ESPN.com: #4
    CBS SportsLine: #5
    SportsIllustrated.com: #6
    FoxSports.com/Football Outsiders: #11

    Good to see that the Patriots almost cracked the top 10 on Fox Sports' rankings, but Aaron Schatz notes that the Pats' pass defense DVOA only improved from 30th to 29th since the week 7 bye. The other rankings indicate that the "experts" consider the Pats a more-or-less serious playoff contender.

    In other news, Doug Flutie was named the AFC's Special Teams Player of the Week for converting the first drop kick in the NFL since 1941.
     
  25. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    For those interested in such things, here are the current odds to win the Super Bowl for all of the teams in the playoffs, according to the online sports betting site Bodog.com:

    Indianapolis 11/10
    Seattle 6/1
    New England 13/2
    Denver 15/2
    Chicago 10/1
    Pittsburgh 15/1
    Carolina 18/1
    New York Giants 23/1
    Cincinatti 25/1
    Tampa Bay 25/1
    Washington 26/1
    Jacksonville 60/1
     
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