Patriots Game Week Thread

[Steptide]

I always get a little sad/depressed this time of year. The season is over this Sunday. While I'm excited for playoffs, I'm also terrified. I've said it all season, and I still feel the same, I'd be SHOCKED, if this was the bills team to get us to the superbowl. Obviously I hope I'm wrong. We have Allen, and that gives us a chance, but another divisional round exit... Eeeekk

[Buffalo4Life01]

5 minutes ago, Steptide said:

I always get a little sad/depressed this time of year. The season is over this Sunday. While I'm excited for playoffs, I'm also terrified. I've said it all season, and I still feel the same, I'd be SHOCKED, if this was the bills team to get us to the superbowl. Obviously I hope I'm wrong. We have Allen, and that gives us a chance, but another divisional round exit... Eeeekk

I had this same conversation with a buddy of mine earlier this week.  This season has been a heck of a ride and it's sad to think it's almost over.  However, I feel like Buffalo can absolutely win it all this year and I wouldn't be shocked in the least if they do.  I feel like the offense has the talent, coaching, and QB play to hit another gear in the playoffs and I really feel like they have held some things back over the last several weeks.  The defense will hopefully be healthy (assumes Bernard will be ready) and it probably does all boil down to can they create timely turnovers like they did earlier this season and even last week against the Jets.  With their bend but try not to break too badly defense, of course they are going to give up some points in the playoffs but if they can go in healthy and tighten the screws just a little bit, I feel like the team is primed to go on a magical run.  I believe we have yet to see the best of Cooper and Keon and that they will shine this playoffs.  Excited to see what happens.

Go Bills!!

[Don Otreply]

Don’t want to lose…, but…, keeping the pats from getting the 1st pick is appealing for sure, 

 

ain’t it great having a team with Josh Allen as  captain and QB with Beane and McDermott backing him up, 

 

We have the football version of first a first world problem with this up coming game, 😁👍

 

GO BILLS!!!

[Just in Atlanta]

Remember 11 or so years ago, it was the Patriots who had locked up a top seed by like September ... were playing their 30th string players ... trotted Brady out for only 1 drive against us in the last week ... and we were happy to finally beat them?

 

My only question is, do you like apples?
 

[Beck Water]

So Drake Maye will play, injured hand and all?  (Limited on Wednesday)

Mayo says "I've never been a part of a team as a player or as a coach going into a game not wanting to win. That's not going to change today. ... My message to the guys was we want to finish off the season strong."

 

Mcdermott says Winning is our #1 Priority and Mitch Trubisky will play most of the game <-----does not compute

#2 priority is coming out of the game healthy

 

Soooooooo I'm starting to think that coach speak at this time of year is like listening to general managers during the pre-draft process LOL

 

 

[dave mcbride]

35 minutes ago, Just in Atlanta said:

Remember 11 or so years ago, it was the Patriots who had locked up a top seed by like September ... were playing their 30th string players ... trotted Brady out for only 1 drive against us in the last week ... and we were happy to finally beat them?

 

My only question is, do you like apples?
 

Brady played the whole first half (Jimmy G played the second) and with the win the Bills got to 9-7, their first winning record in a decade: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201412280nwe.htm. The other interesting thing about that game is that Jerry Hughes had a full sack but the stat keeper only gave him a half-sack, leaving him at 9.5 -- short of the 10 he needed for a bonus to kick in. He and the Bills appealed afterward, and the league changed it to a full sack. He got his bonus.

Edited Thursday at 03:50 PM by dave mcbride

[JP51]

58 minutes ago, Buffalo4Life01 said:

I had this same conversation with a buddy of mine earlier this week.  This season has been a heck of a ride and it's sad to think it's almost over.  However, I feel like Buffalo can absolutely win it all this year and I wouldn't be shocked in the least if they do.  I feel like the offense has the talent, coaching, and QB play to hit another gear in the playoffs and I really feel like they have held some things back over the last several weeks.  The defense will hopefully be healthy (assumes Bernard will be ready) and it probably does all boil down to can they create timely turnovers like they did earlier this season and even last week against the Jets.  With their bend but try not to break too badly defense, of course they are going to give up some points in the playoffs but if they can go in healthy and tighten the screws just a little bit, I feel like the team is primed to go on a magical run.  I believe we have yet to see the best of Cooper and Keon and that they will shine this playoffs.  Excited to see what happens.

Go Bills!!

I have this same take... what a ride, hate to see it end, it could be a WC loss at home or a Super Bowl Championship, heck if I know how this ultimately plays out... I do know we are not fodder... we have a chance.. things need to play out, people need to stay healthy, we must get turnovers, defense needs to really figure some things out, coaches need to be at their best... but i think it can be said for everyone in the tournament... whose gonna get hot... who despite talent differences on paper is going to be the best "Team" endless questions... maybe this is our year... maybe i am foolish... I dont know... but I will say this... no matter what happens its a heck of a ride...  Go Bills!

[Beck Water]

1 hour ago, Steptide said:

I always get a little sad/depressed this time of year. The season is over this Sunday. While I'm excited for playoffs, I'm also terrified. I've said it all season, and I still feel the same, I'd be SHOCKED, if this was the bills team to get us to the superbowl. Obviously I hope I'm wrong. We have Allen, and that gives us a chance, but another divisional round exit... Eeeekk

 

I don't know if this would work for you, but for me, I honestly went into the season feeling this was a rebuilding year and while, with Allen, there is always a good chance, we just didn't have the "hosses" on Defense and at Offensive Skill Positions to make it work.  And the guys I felt the best about (Samuel, then Cooper) haven't been the major contributors I'd hoped.

 

I've been delighted to be wrong on the W/L record, but I'm trying to remember that I didn't go into the season saying "Superbowl, Baby!"  

I went into the season saying "I hope we can be competitive in most games"

 

 

[JP51]

6 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

I don't know if this would work for you, but for me, I honestly went into the season feeling this was a rebuilding year and while, with Allen, there is always a good chance, we just didn't have the "hosses" on Defense and at Offensive Skill Positions to make it work.  And the guys I felt the best about (Samuel, then Cooper) haven't been the major contributors I'd hoped.

 

I've been delighted to be wrong on the W/L record, but I'm trying to remember that I didn't go into the season saying "Superbowl, Baby!"  

I went into the season saying "I hope we can be competitive in most games"

 

 

I was simlilar, I went in good with a re tool... get in better cap shape... and we can do it "IF" a lot of things happen... well... a lot of those IFs happened in the regular season... lets see what happens in the playoffs... 

[Steptide]

11 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

I don't know if this would work for you, but for me, I honestly went into the season feeling this was a rebuilding year and while, with Allen, there is always a good chance, we just didn't have the "hosses" on Defense and at Offensive Skill Positions to make it work.  And the guys I felt the best about (Samuel, then Cooper) haven't been the major contributors I'd hoped.

 

I've been delighted to be wrong on the W/L record, but I'm trying to remember that I didn't go into the season saying "Superbowl, Baby!"  

I went into the season saying "I hope we can be competitive in most games"

 

 

Ya that's kinda been my thoughts too. However, they turned out way better than expected, and now, as much as I wanna keep my expectations low for the playoffs, I've seen them beat Detroit and kc, so I know they're capable of getting to the superbowl. I just really hope McDermott has something up his sleeves for the playoffs. Defense needs to improve 

[VaMilBill]

19 hours ago, JP51 said:

Get some guys some reps who don't start vanilla game plan stay healthy get ready for the playoffs. Sounds like Mayo knows he is on a bit of a warm seat

I’m really hoping we do minimal game-planning. Just run our standard sets on offense and defense and see how our players match up

[frostbitmic]

Have the patriots thrown in the towel yet ?

[K-9]

1 hour ago, Just in Atlanta said:

Remember 11 or so years ago, it was the Patriots who had locked up a top seed by like September ... were playing their 30th string players ... trotted Brady out for only 1 drive against us in the last week ... and we were happy to finally beat them?

 

My only question is, do you like apples?
 

[Captain Hindsight]

2 hours ago, Steptide said:

I always get a little sad/depressed this time of year. The season is over this Sunday. While I'm excited for playoffs, I'm also terrified. I've said it all season, and I still feel the same, I'd be SHOCKED, if this was the bills team to get us to the superbowl. Obviously I hope I'm wrong. We have Allen, and that gives us a chance, but another divisional round exit... Eeeekk

Last year after the chiefs game, I walked to car in silence and finally my wife grabbed my hand and asked if I was ok. I said "No, this is my thing, this is my hobby and just like that its over." 

[theAteam]

1 hour ago, Just in Atlanta said:

Remember 11 or so years ago, it was the Patriots who had locked up a top seed by like September ... were playing their 30th string players ... trotted Brady out for only 1 drive against us in the last week ... and we were happy to finally beat them?

 

My only question is, do you like apples?
 

 

I remember that they won the Super Bowl that year so we got that going for us.

[Boatdrinks]

2 hours ago, Buffalo4Life01 said:

I had this same conversation with a buddy of mine earlier this week.  This season has been a heck of a ride and it's sad to think it's almost over.  However, I feel like Buffalo can absolutely win it all this year and I wouldn't be shocked in the least if they do.  I feel like the offense has the talent, coaching, and QB play to hit another gear in the playoffs and I really feel like they have held some things back over the last several weeks.  The defense will hopefully be healthy (assumes Bernard will be ready) and it probably does all boil down to can they create timely turnovers like they did earlier this season and even last week against the Jets.  With their bend but try not to break too badly defense, of course they are going to give up some points in the playoffs but if they can go in healthy and tighten the screws just a little bit, I feel like the team is primed to go on a magical run.  I believe we have yet to see the best of Cooper and Keon and that they will shine this playoffs.  Excited to see what happens.

Go Bills!!

I think the Bills definitely can win it all this season, but I’d still be shocked if they did. The franchise has never been able to accomplish the feat, so it would be a shocking result. 

[JohnNord]

20 hours ago, HOUSE said:

I am hoping for some Mike White. 

Not a huge fan but he does have some big games from time to time.

IMO, he is a borderline starter in this league. 

I’m fine with White taking more snaps on Sunday.  Between his stint in Pittsburgh and his play on the preseason, I’m not really encouraged by what I’ve seen of Trubisky.  If he plays the majority of the game, I think there’s a decent chance that the offense doesn’t find the endzone.  
 

Of course it won’t matter, but it would be fun to watch White take some shots downfield.  Mitch is just going to scramble and check the ball down every play.  

[Beck Water]

11 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

I’m fine with White taking more snaps on Sunday.  Between his stint in Pittsburgh and his play on the preseason, I’m not really encouraged by what I’ve seen of Trubisky.  If he plays the majority of the game, I think there’s a decent chance that the offense doesn’t find the endzone.  
 

Of course it won’t matter, but it would be fun to watch White take some shots downfield.  Mitch is just going to scramble and check the ball down every play.  

 

I agree with your concern about Trubisky, but McDermott has said they are going to find it difficult to elevate White due to "numbers".

[Cash]

8 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

I agree with your concern about Trubisky, but McDermott has said they are going to find it difficult to elevate White due to "numbers".

 

If that's the case, I'd be fine with having just Trubisky & Allen.  If Mitch gets hurt, Josh can come in and exclusively hand off for the rest of the game.  If that means a bunch of 3 and outs, so be it.

[Beck Water]

3 minutes ago, Cash said:

 

If that's the case, I'd be fine with having just Trubisky & Allen.  If Mitch gets hurt, Josh can come in and exclusively hand off for the rest of the game.  If that means a bunch of 3 and outs, so be it.

 

If we're playing the 2nd string OL I don't want Allen on the field, even handing off.