Patriots Headed for a Fall?

[Bengals1690]

It happened to all the other super bowl losers (other than seattle) since the year 2000. I didnt look back any further than that.


rams missed the playoffs
oakland hasnt been the same sense
panthers missed the playoffs
bears missed the playoffs
giants missed the playoffs


anyone see it coming?

[bigbluedefense]

i only see it happening if Bellichick gets suspended one year.

[bigbluedefense]

and didnt Seattle make the playoffs the next year? The infamous Romo fumble game no? I couldve sworn that was the year following the SB.

I think only Indy, Pats, Seattle, and the Giants are the only 4 teams to make the playoffs each of the last 3 years.

[JagHombre22]

yea...don't see it happening in that division...

[Billingsley26]

Never, Not with the easiest schedule in the league next year. And especially not with Bellichek at the helm.

[Bengals1690]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

and didnt Seattle make the playoffs the next year? The infamous Romo fumble no?

whoops. missed that one.

[toddmlazarchick]

yes seattle went 9-7 and made the playoffs

[619]

This team is way too talented not to muster at the very least 10-12 wins next season. Unlike past Super Bowl losers this is one of the greatest teams of all time.

[Bengals1690]

I seriously can see it happening. The letdown after going almost perfect and getting beat by a wild card team might take a serious psychological toll. That defense is aging, too. Asante Samuel is likely gone, I belive Randy Moss is a free agent (either him or welker, Im not sure). And all of the spygate drama that is undoubtedly going to take place this summer will be wearysome.

[bigbluedefense]

I do see them however being less talented this upcoming year if that makes any sense. They have a lot of question marks.

1. Will they resign Randy Moss
2. Theyll probably lose Stallworth
3. Will they bring back Seau and Bruschi?
4. Vrabel continues to age as well as Thomas, and Colvin isn't that great to begin with (basically their whole LB core gets worse with time/age).
5. Theyll probably lose Samuel, unless they choose him over Moss
6. Matt Light gets one year older
7. Harrison gets older, and we don't know if Merriweather is suited for SS in their system

basically age is the main issue.

[PackerLegend]

I dont know about everyone else but I certainly hope so.

[DeathbyStat]

They will make the playoffs with their division even if they need to limp in at 8-8.

But that won't happen they will be 10-6 at the absolute worst...they will most likely go 13-3.


But i hope they are awfull

[Billingsley26]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

I do see them however being less talented this upcoming year if that makes any sense. They have a lot of question marks.

1. Will they resign Randy Moss
2. Theyll probably lose Stallworth
3. Will they bring back Seau and Bruschi?
4. Vrabel continues to age as well as Thomas, and Colvin isn't that great to begin with (basically their whole LB core gets worse with time/age).
5. Theyll probably lose Samuel, unless they choose him over Moss
6. Matt Light gets one year older
7. Harrison gets older, and we don't know if Merriweather is suited for SS in their system

basically age is the main issue.

1. Moss should be back, although Im not sold on him yet. He said he only want to play with the Patriots.
2. Stallworth should be gone. Chad Jackson and Jabar Gaffney should fill in.
3. Seau? Its a toss up. Bruschi, I think hes got at least one left.
4. Vrabel and Thomas are still good for a couple more years, I look for them to draft an OLB this year to get younger. Colvin is a solid OLB.
5. Samuel is great, but he is a zone cover corner, and can be replaced. Although it will be a loss that will be missed.
6. Matt Light is fine, as is the OL. Every year, everyone gets one year older.
7. Im most worried about the safeties. I thought higher of Gene WIlson before, but I dont know now. Woudnt be surprised to see Kenny Phillips or Reggie Smith get drafted this year. I think Merriweather will work out to be be a corner with NE.

[yodapoop]

They still got Tom Brady, so yes.

[bigbluedefense]

Originally Posted by Billingsley26

1. Moss should be back, although Im not sold on him yet. He said he only want to play with the Patriots.
2. Stallworth should be gone. Chad Jackson and Jabar Gaffney should fill in.
3. Seau? Its a toss up. Bruschi, I think hes got at least one left.
4. Vrabel and Thomas are still good for a couple more years, I look for them to draft an OLB this year to get younger. Colvin is a solid OLB.
5. Samuel is great, but he is a zone cover corner, and can be replaced. Although it will be a loss that will be missed.
6. Matt Light is fine, as is the OL. Every year, everyone gets one year older.
7. Im most worried about the safeties. I thought higher of Gene WIlson before, but I dont know now. Woudnt be surprised to see Kenny Phillips or Reggie Smith get drafted this year. I think Merriweather will work out to be be a corner with NE.

The draft is gonna be key for them. They have the ammo, they can get better at pass rusher (Harvey or Gholston) and can nab a CB in round 2 (if Samuel is gone, they might need 2 CBs though). Oh and Colvin is good, solid, but for a team that doesn't blitz much, they need more pass rush than he offers.

ILB is easily replaceable. Safety though, like you said, might be an issue.

Come to think of it, with a good draft, they might actually get better with some youth.

I stand corrected, maybe, depending on their draft.

[Paranoidmoonduck]

We're going to have to see a major improvement from at least one other AFC East team for it to be possible. All good streaks end at some point, but the Pats are still a very talented, very well coached, and very motivated team (probably more now than ever).

I'm not sure if they'll produce another season like the one they just had, but they are still easily the best team in the AFC East.

[EdReedUnstoppable]

As long as Belicheck is there cheating then they'll continue to win.

[GB12]

They only needed half of the 16 games they won to win the division last year. I think it's pretty safe to say they're a lock.

[TitleTown088]

Originally Posted by Paranoidmoonduck

We're going to have to see a major improvement from at least one other AFC East team for it to be possible. All good streaks end at some point, but the Pats are still a very talented, very well coached, and very motivated team (probably more now than ever).

I'm not sure if they'll produce another season like the one they just had, but they are still easily the best team in the AFC East.

Exactly. No one in their division can challenge them. Unless they have some terrible terrible injuries it's not happening.

[Job]

Just a little reminder... Who saw the Browns coming last season? Or the Saints 2 years ago? There always seems to be one team that comes out of nowhere to make a push at the playoffs, I just can't see a reason to completely rule out that happening in the AFC East.

[Shiver]

They will make the playoffs, but I think they won't be great. Their team this year was built to win in the short term. They, uncharacteristically I might add, added big name players in order to win Super Bowl XLII. I think their offense will still be fantastic; however, I think that defense will hold them back from being as good as they were this year. You have an old and nonathletic LB corp. and a mediocre at best secondary that might lose its best player.

[Billingsley26]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

The draft is gonna be key for them. They have the ammo, they can get better at pass rusher (Harvey or Gholston) and can nab a CB in round 2 (if Samuel is gone, they might need 2 CBs though). Oh and Colvin is good, solid, but for a team that doesn't blitz much, they need more pass rush than he offers.

ILB is easily replaceable. Safety though, like you said, might be an issue.

Come to think of it, with a good draft, they might actually get better with some youth.

I stand corrected, maybe, depending on their draft.

Yeah, I agree. With a solid draft this year, I think they could easily revamp things. If they were able to nab a Chris Long or Vernon Gholston, that helps immediately, and alot. If they are able to grab a solid corner in round 2, that helps alot. Safety, Im up in the air about. Merriweather seems like hes slowly making the transition to CB, and in that case, I think safety needs to be adressed before CB.

Originally Posted by Shiver

They will make the playoffs, but I think they won't be great. Their team this year was built to win in the short term. They, uncharacteristically I might add, added big name players in order to win Super Bowl XLII. I think their offense will still be fantastic; however, I think that defense will hold them back from being as good as they were this year. You have an old and nonathletic LB corp. and a mediocre at best secondary that might lose its best player.

The LB's can get by with another year. Thomas and Bruschi in the middle, and Vrabel and Colvin outside (could be Gholston as well). The DL is fine. The secondary needs some looks regardless. Especially if Asante leaves. Safeties need adjusting. I think they need to draft a safety who they think can take over from Rodney.

[Twiddler]

They will be very good but not even near as good as they were this year. Seriously, the pieces were all aligned perfectly for them this year. Being in the free agency era it is simply amazing what they were able to fit in under the cap this year but there will be a few pieces from this year missing next year. I'm thinking 13-3 or 14-2. But like it was stated earlier, what they do with the draft makes a large difference.

[vatech=accdomination]

Originally Posted by EdReedUnstoppable

As long as Belicheck is there cheating then they'll continue to win.

ding ding ding ding ding. I cannot believe how easy Belicheat would have gotten off if it had not been for this guy coming to light recently, at least now Goodell cant help him get away with it.

[umphrey]

I think they tag Moss and try to make another final push before you start to notice a large drop off. I think it will happen not next year but the year after. I do think they lose some chemistry and momentum and lose the AFC championship game next year though.