SirAndrew

I thought the same on the final 4th down play with the smaller Beasley trying so desperately to make a play. The problem is, size doesn’t always equal talent. Some of those contested catches are not just made by big guys, but by big guys with elite talent. Size alone doesn’t make those plays, and it’s tough to find elite big WR’s. With that said, I don’t see any reason not to activate Duke with other guys doing nothing. At least we’d have a chance in those situations. It might have been nice to have him on that final play for example.

Yeah, it shows how it can be situational. When a coach picks the right spots to be conservative or aggressive, that’s what makes a great coach. No coach should demonstrate only one specific trait. It’s a matter of adapting, and knowing when to take risks, even if it’s not in ones nature.

Marty Schottenheimer, he always made the playoffs fun.

You are correct from a historical standpoint, but who has he picked apart this season? Today was maybe his most efficient game of the year. If I’m a DC, I’m at least going to test him against the blitz. If he proves he could beat it, I’d stand back, but I would no longer avoid the blitz out of reverence for Brady.

They called a style of D that showed fear and respect for Brady imo. I’m not certain why, because Brady hasn’t shown much this season. We needed to make him prove he can beat pressure, because Tommy has never dealt well with pressure (Giants Super Bowls), and now has a weak oline. Instead, we opted to play it safe.

Seemed that way to me as well. Maybe, they weren’t as bad as I thought with mixing things up, I just hate to see any three and out with all run plays. That’s just not how modern offense is played. I think that probably skewed my view of the actual play calling today.

I agree, you just need to mix it up. Having a four point lead in the third quarter isn’t the time to simplify the offense imo.

I agree, I’d had rather signed someone off the street then continue to have them both active each week.

This board would crash if Duke Williams came in and played like Jerry Rice. Some on this board seem to have those dreams on a daily basis.

I don’t disagree with your thoughts on forth down, but I have a bigger issue with something else. When you’re up 4 points in Foxboro after getting a big stop, you don’t call a series of run, run, run. That seldom works in the NFL, unless you are trying to milk the clock. It was far too early in the game for that.

These young guys need reps. Josh Allen doesn’t need to sit on the bench before a big playoff game. They need to continue to learn. This isn’t a veteran playoff experienced team, they need the reps imo.

I thought the same during the game, but I’m not going to blame the Pats. They are trying to win, and I truly believe most guys want to be in the game (even with a head injury). It’s up to the NFL to ensure the player safety they preach so adamantly. If Edelman can suffer what appeared to be head a injury, and the Pats can game the system, then something is wrong with that system.

They could have been better, and I’m not a Daboll fan. However, the Pats D has been very good all season, and I’m not using this game to showcase why Daboll is a bad OC. To that point, I completely agree with you. Why is no one pointing to the fact that Brady went 26-33, and looked like the Brady of old? Brady has not been a good QB this season, and our D was destroyed by him. That’s the story of the game for me.

Good job by the offense. D needs to step up.

Is this real, or was this a NE thing? All is well though.

I didn’t know that was a thing.

None, but anything can happen, and it would make the last week of the season very exciting if we win this week.

I agree, but I think what you state points to the QB position meaning everything in today’s NFL. The best plans mean nothing without a QB in today’s NFL. Short term success can built upon being a complete team, but long term success is determined by whether or not you have a QB.

Beasley is a mess

These teams are evenly matched defensively. Allen should be the difference. You draft a first round QB so he can beat guys like Hodges. Time to prove it Josh.

I’m going with Hodges. It’s crazy how people are comparing Allen and Hodges like they are similar. Hodges was a third stringer, while Allen is a first rounder with out of this world talent.

Fair enough, you make great points. Money certainly doesn’t buy class, and being able to afford good seats as opposed to those who can’t doesn’t say anything about a persons behavior. I’m not on the older side at all, but I’ve just noticed I’m always surrounded by college age fans in the nosebleeds, and for whatever reason they are generally a crowd that gets on my nerves. I’ve seen stupid drunken behavior everywhere, and great fans as well. So I definitely agree with that.

I’ve sat in the nosebleeds in Buffalo a few times, and I’m just not into being around the younger crowd that inhabits the area. It’s naive to think that every fan doesn’t have different experiences. Just because you’ve have great experiences in the nosebleeds, doesn’t mean that others have. There’s also a difference between the upper and lower rows of the 300 section. The lower rows are great seats with many season ticket holders. The upper rows are generally a bunch of younger drunks who bought cheap tickets.

This is why it’s so difficult to maintain a great defensive team in today’s league imo. It’s tough to keep everyone together for a significant amount of time. That’s why the blueprint for success is taking advantage of having a great defense while developing a young QB. Eventually the QB who benefited from the great defense needs to become capable of taking over games. That’s why Allen’s development in the immediate future is critical.

I understand it’s difficult to regulate everyone who’s around a stadium in gameday, but’s it’s absurd the league can’t put better measures in place to prevent this. There was some interesting stuff in that article. Stuff like stealing play sheets out of the opposing locker room doesn’t seem like something that should be able to happen.