Road to Super Bowl XLVII (Ravens: Jan. 20th @ 6:30 EST)

[threrf23]

Now who's this game on. Brady, offense, defense, secondary, Ravens being too good, the whole team?

And for what it's worth I haven't watched anything since Baltimore's second TD because I'm too disgusted.

You sound like a real thick and thin fan. Anyways the Pats had momentum and a decent chance late. Then, (see the Youtube video above) Ridley took a vicious helmet to helmet hit, instantly lost consciousness, lost the ball, and the Ravens recovered with good field position. And then when the Pats still had at least some life, Brady throws a pass, deflected high at the line of scrimmage, and it falls right in the Ravens' hands. But if you need to pin it on anything, Wes Welker doesn't drop that pass on 3rd & 8 (or what not) and the game takes a different turn and those plays probably never occur.

[Joselo16]

Now was the Helmet to helmet no enforced because he's a running back, and not a defenseless receiver?! Cause it was very clear on the replay?! I hope Ridley is alright, he had a great season, as did Vareen, and Bolden.

Yeah the pass rush needs to be addressed further, its really the only way the secondary will look elite as well, How many times did Flacco just stand back and wait for the play to develop further?! You can only cover a guy for so long.

Gotta say I had a bad feeling as soon as Talib went out, which proved to be wrong, and while it sucks to waste another Brady year, we have to admit that our defense is still a work in progress. I really do hope we pick a pass rusher up, just a specialist if need be, but we need someone to harass passers all game.

[Joselo16]

Can't really fault anyone, as things just didnt seem to go our way. The Ridley hit/TO was the turning point, but who knew Bernard Pollard was out to hurt one of our guys again(JK) I say we sign him as a way to keep him from hurting our guys....he's our kryptonite:D

[Wingy]

Now was the Helmet to helmet no enforced because he's a running back, and not a defenseless receiver?! Cause it was very clear on the replay?! I hope Ridley is alright, he had a great season, as did Vareen, and Bolden.

I was calling out for a helmet to helmet hit myself, but then they showed another angle and Ridley lowered his head into the defender. Can't blame the defender for that.

[threrf23]

Now was the Helmet to helmet no enforced because he's a running back, and not a defenseless receiver?! Cause it was very clear on the replay?! I hope Ridley is alright, he had a great season, as did Vareen, and Bolden.

Yeah, I guess he wasn't defenseless. I am slacking on following the NFL and its rules, apparently. It was a tough play to watch, and then you realize that the Ravens have the ball, to add insult to injury...

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/mike ... ess-010513

[Wingy]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/01/20/nfl-bernard-pollard-knockout/1850321/

See the :23 second mark of the video that's on this page.

There's no way you can call that a dirty hit or even a penalty. It's pretty damn clear that Ridley lowers his head into the defender.

[Joselo16]

Definitely a tough play to watch....anytime a body just goes numb like that is no good. Then like you it hit me that it was also a TO, sadly we lost, but I hope there are no lingering ill effects with the concussion, especially for a running back.

[Geoffrey P]

You sound like a real thick and thin fan.

I get far too frustrated with the Pats. More than the Celtics/Sox/Bruins combined. Probably because Brady only has so many years left and who knows how long it will be before another QB like him comes along. That and the fact that they JUST started to try and fix the glaring holes on the defense. The Gronkowski/Edelman/Talib/Chung injuries hurt too. Hopefully they do better next year and add to that secondary and keep Talib.

Also did Chandler Jones even play? I wasn't really looking for him so I didn't notice and I didn't hear his name once.

[Joselo16]

I dont think Jones played, they showed him on the sidelines, but I failed to see him in game.

[Celtics_Champs]

Jones was hurt.

Injuries really derailed us this year too.

Seriously, we don't need many big changes. Draft a WR, let go of welker and gregory, sign a saftey. Sign Talib. Apparently Danny Amendola is a FA? Yes please. There is your welker guy.

[Wingy]

You sound like a real thick and thin fan.

I get far too frustrated with the Pats. More than the Celtics/Sox/Bruins combined. Probably because Brady only has so many years left and who knows how long it will be before another QB like him comes along. That and the fact that they JUST started to try and fix the glaring holes on the defense. The Gronkowski/Edelman/Talib/Chung injuries hurt too. Hopefully they do better next year and add to that secondary and keep Talib.

Also did Chandler Jones even play? I wasn't really looking for him so I didn't notice and I didn't hear his name once.

I've been frustrated by this too. The trading back...so many times and "winning" drafts by stock piling for the future. How many Brady years did we waste? Way too many IMO. I feel like by the time the job's done, Brady just won't be Brady anymore

[sunshinekids99]

This game falls at the feet of Tom Brady. Your the star and you didn't show up. Maybe his worst loss as a Patriot.

As for offseason. Bring in a big wr that can get over the top of a defense. Get a good safety. Sign Talib. Try to get another pass rusher to put on the other side of Jones. Bye bye Wes.

[FlatearthZorro]

Too bad the Pats didn't have Gronk/Talib/Jones. Very key players... Especially Talib and Gronk. Gronk's flat out the best TE in football, when healthy, and Talib looked like he's the best corner the Pats have had in years.

[threrf23]

I just want to add: I don't think Welker needs to go. Brady just needs to be much less dependent on him. He makes a great 3rd or 4th option but in his current role he takes too much of a beating to be sufficiently effective over the long haul.

[Geoffrey P]

On a side note what does everything think of Bill refusing to talk to the media after the loss?

[Celtics_Champs]

On a side note what does everything think of Bill refusing to talk to the media after the loss?

All he did was just not interview with Tasker directly after right? I was fine with that. It's such a silly concept, I first saw it be done when I was young with Ken Rosenthal after World Series losses, and even then I knew it was stupid. The interviewer always has a hushed voice and asks stupid questions like "how does this loss feel?" "Does it hurt?" while you can hear the other team in the background popping champagne and cheering like maniacs.

[Geoffrey P]

Yea that was it. Boomer was complaining about it and saying that's why it's so easy to hate the Patriots. No, you moron, it's so easy to hate the Patriots because they've been one of the model franchises for the past decade.

On a side note Brady got fined $10,000 for the leg extension while Frank Gore gets fined $10,500 for wearing socks that are not long enough.