Success

Pats fans disdainfully say that “this is your Super Bowl” when teams play them. This year, this game, they’re right. I will consider it a successful season if we mess up their chances for a bye by beating them at Gillette. And it will be a good preview for their fans of how the next decade+ will go.

Let’s get into the mindset of the rules committee: what outcome best benefits the New England Patriots?

If a 41 year old Brady can take this team - no Gordon, no D, a broken down Gronk - to the Super Bowl, then there will no longer be any doubt whatsoever: clearly, he has a deal with the devil.

We could probably list hundreds, for every team. That’s really the nature of the draft. You’re just rolling dice most of the time - very few sure things, all kinds of guys with “upside” but flaws or injury histories, players from small schools, etc. Sometimes we talk about it like it’s a more exact science. Hindsight is just that.

Time for Josh to start his 2 decade winning streak against the Pats. We have to even things back up with that team.

I saw so many Pats fans on the internet use the way he’s played the past month to further ridicule Cleveland, and talk about him being saved because of being in a “real” team and the “Patriot Way.” Hard not to see this news and be glad to see those fools humbled. But it’s even harder not to feel bad for Gordon. Not sure what happened, but if it’s related to addiction, that thing is the devil. I will hope for the best for him.

I guess that’s the nature of the rookie contract...

It sounds weird, but it’s been the best losing season ever. I never lost interest - the development of Allen has made every game fun. And I think we can all feel it. The division IS about to change hands. It’s not some dreamy fantasy.

Allen is awesome.

Well, he’ll get the flag regardless, so...

Tannehill had 37 yards against us once. I love Tannehill by comparison.

Shaq gets a good swat or 2 a game. Those are big plays. Love his game now...

This sentiment is everywhere. Pats fans - dismayed as they are at such a “tough” season - are relieved about the last 2 games and assume 11-5. We’re actually a pretty good team now. So are the Jets. Especially against a Pats team that isn’t all that. I want my Xmas present early this year. Our team can do it.

I’ve always thought that Brady was one of the smartest players ever. But the smart move was to announce at the end of the biggest SB comeback of all time, with 5 rings, his health and nothing left to prove that he was leaving the game. On top. Turns out that he’s pretty dumb. He’s going to hang around while his play gets worse, risking injury, and allow those of us who he has tormented rejoice in his decline while he gets less and less fearsome and more sad. Two thumbs up!

Huh?

No doubt. I still expect to see them in the SB.

Some keep pointing out that “we say this every year,” but he’s clearly declining now. Still one of the best in the league, but he’s no longer the terminator. His last 4 passes the other day, with the game on the line, were a revelation.

Don’t forget Moorman. Moorman will not be forgotten.

We finally went all in in the QB position. Sure, Losman and Manuel were technically first rounders, but c’mon. I was more excited about Darnold in the draft, and think he has great potential, but I’m so glad we got Allen. He just has that Buffalo intangible - a toughness that Kelly had and has, and a fierce will to win. The endless search since Todd Collins took his first snap is over. We found the guy.

There is sort of a collective sentiment over there that “at least we have the Bills and Jets now.” It would be the best Christmas ever if Allen and Darnold ushered in the new AFCE era and put 2 more losses on that team - knocking them out if the playoffs. Let it happen, football gods. We’ve earned this.

There are fans there who have never known a losing season. I’ll never be jealous of that. They’ll have to adjust a bit.

I hate it when I don’t think.

I saw him smartly throw a few balls out of bounds intentionally. Not saying he had no errant throws at all, but who doesn’t? Brady’s last 4 sailed...

No more than the average QB - I disagree with the characterization that for every drop there is a “severe” overthrow or underthrow

I didn’t see the latter yesterday at all.