Boston All-Sports Thread

anyone want to predict # of Pats wins? I'm admittedly not following closely. I'm not optimistic, based on how the team is shaping up and the schedule. But I AM ready for Belichick to wow me and prove his GOATiness all over again. so: hopefully 10 wins. play defense, run it, and occasionally let Mac throw it downfield even if they're just drawing up plays in the dirt with some sticks.

Post #1831 » by **Bleeding Green** » Sun Sep 11, 2022 5:56 pm

6-8 wins if they get some luck I think. Just a terrible roster overall with poor coaching. I like the safeties and the running backs, but every other position group is bad or average at best. And the running backs have to deal with this crap offensive line anyway. And they don't even have an offensive coordinator? Gonna be really rough unless Mac Jones is somehow a top-5 QB or something. But ten passes into the season he has a pick, a fumble returned for a touchdown and then also a near pick as well.

But idk I'm still holding my Matt Stafford L from last season.

Post #1832 » by **Bleeding Green** » Sun Sep 11, 2022 6:24 pm

Just look at how bad the coaching is now. They just gave up a touchdown to the end the half when the other team is on 4th down at midfield with 10 seconds left. This franchise is doomed until they overhaul the front office and coaching. They don't have the greatest team sport athlete of all time to carry them anymore.

GoCeltics123 · Post #1833 » by **GoCeltics123** » Sun Sep 11, 2022 7:56 pm

What a **** disgrace

31to6 · Post #1834 » by **31to6** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 12:32 am

I mean... I guess the defense only gave up 13 points. I guess when your offensive coordinator is a defensive coordinator you should be at least decent on defense.

Then again, Tua was TRYING to give the Pats the ball most of the game, and McDaniel was trying to give them extra chances down the stretch with questionable-at-best offensive playcalling, and they couldn't make a game out of it.

First drive and a half were sort of promising, but if the OL is as bad as it seems to be nothing else is going to matter much until it gets better.

cl2117 · Post #1835 » by **cl2117** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 9:52 am

Oof that was ugly. Certainly not promising for the rest of the season, especially with Mac potentially injured.

That O-line just could not protect him. Would love to see a breakdown on some of those missed pass protection coverages to figure out exactly who was at fault. I don't think it's always clear from the initial review as to whether it's something Mac missed in his pre-snap reads or whether it was the O-line not being where they were supposed to be. It was really bad either way. Some wide open clean shots on Mac, one resulting in a TD, plus plenty of pressure even when Mac got it out in time.

I will say that it wasn't all doom and gloom. That first series of the game they had a great drive and could have capped it off with a TD had it not been for the missed PI call. That's either first and goal from the 1 or a TD catch for Parker. I think that changes the momentum massively. The defense played well enough for large swathes of the game but a Tua led Dolphins with a new HC probably isn't the bellwether for the league. The run game looked like that it could do some damage even behind an unimpressive offensive line.

Probably not a playoff team if that's a harbinger of what's to come, especially with the schedule we've got. Originally I thought we could be a 9-8 or 10-7 team this year if the offense could just get a bit more bite to them but it's not looking promising. We'd need a truly elite defense to be able to be have the ground and pound/game managing offensive identity we currently do, but we've lost too much talent to be in that stratosphere.

Steelers will be a good measuring stick for us. Good defense/mediocre offense, we should match up well enough.

1st banana · Post #1836 » by **1st banana** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 3:07 pm

Still think they’ll be fine 8-10 wins possibly 11 if they stay super healthy. Line play and play calling was somewhat alarming tho.

It’s Miami in Miami so this game means nothing in regards to how either team is this year. It could’ve been all of us playing for Miami and the pats would’ve still lost somehow.

cl2117 · Post #1837 » by **cl2117** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:13 am

That's a solid bounce back game for the Pats.

Until they can elevate the offense, this is what this team will be. Run heavy/game managed offense with a gritty defense and special teams. We'll compete for the wildcard and have some upside if everything is clicking. If it's not, well it could be a 6-11 or 7-10 type season. You're not going to be able to compete with the firepower that the Bills or Chiefs bring, but we should be able to beat the likes of the Steelers if we simply make less mistakes than them.

You look at the upcoming schedule and they've got the Ravens/Packers the next two weeks and then it softens up throughout the middle before getting much tougher to finish. Pats really need to be 6-3 or 7-2 going into the bye week if they want a chance at a playoff spot. If they can't come close to running the table against: DET/CLE/CHI/NYJ/IND, you're not going to right the ship after the bye with: NYJ/MIN/BUF/ARZ/LV/CIN/MIA/BUF. We're probably only favored against the Jets and maybe the Raiders down that final stretch. Gotta be 7-2 going in if we want a chance to make it to 9 or 10 wins this year. Either that or land some significant upsets.

Watching this team does make you look at what Brady did and elevate it even higher. Mac's got some solid weapons but nothing truly special, which is what the majority of Tom's career was like. The fact that Brady was able to make guys like Givens/Branch/Patten be the core guys for a Superbowl winning team is so impressive.

moonie_mcgee · Post #1838 » by **moonie_mcgee** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 3:15 am

Dugger is the man. Definitely my fav Patriot now.
A road win in Pitt is a much needed win.
Funny how so many experts were wrong about Josh Allen. Does anyone get fired over these misses.

threrf23 · Post #1839 » by **threrf23** » Sun Sep 25, 2022 5:08 pm

Not that it matters, but why is the Pats/Ravens game on Fox? Kind of odd

31to6 · Post #1840 » by **31to6** » Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:19 pm

Pats good enough to make their game against BAL interesting, but I think I hear Simon and Garfunkel warming up