2018 Patriots Season Thread

I guess you're right. The WS ratings were down because the Red Sox waited too long to sign JDM.  It's all clear now.

I actually don't mind Jimed at all (I actually like the guy), but it's just I have gotten messages from other posters about him bullying people on here. I go out of my way sometimes to argue with him, just because I see it happening, even though I don't necessarily believe even what I'm defending.

Anyways the Patriots are losing this game most likely. That means we could be seeing more playoff games, which is better for entertainment, I guess.

I just don't understand the trolling that is going on. This is a place to discuss the Patriots, so I assume it is a place to make observations on games. Just as in the Red Sox threads, there will be different impressions on what we see. When discussions get shut down because of clear trolling - in some cases, clear hypocrisy ("only my opinions count, all others are invalid) it makes this place really suck.

If a team ever becomes above critique of what we see, then our work here is just done.

Interesting.  I'm not sure what kind of definition the word bullying has now, but I view what I do as disagreeing.  I certainly don't enjoy making people feel bad and I guess my mistake is expecting people to have thicker skin.

BTW, you're basically admitting that you're trolling me when you say you don't believe what you're arguing with me about.  I believe every single thing I argue and am never trying to make people angry on purpose.

The defense (in particular the defensive backs) hasn't been good enough, but they've been put in a tough spot with poor field position and the offense's inability to hold the ball for any type of sustained drive. This is the 2018 NFL, 10 points isn't good enough to win any type of game, but plenty of teams win games while allowing upper 20s/lower 30s in this environment.

Also, the kick coverage sucks for this team, they need to boot the ball out of the end zone for the rest of the year.

One final word - if anyone else would jump in for me after some of the crazy overreactions, I'd back out and let them take over. I do this all the time when they do. But way too often they don't, mostly because they don't want to get into a ridiculous 20 post argument. If I didn't take the overreactions on, they'd become completely normal here and the whole board would be different. They would be accepted as truth and the personality of the entire message board would be different if unchallenged. I do prefer balance and feel like if I didn't argue at times, there would be none. That's how I feel about it.

I do apologize to anyone who feels bullied by me if you're reading.  I never intended that and will try to do better.

At the very least, it is a lot closer than most years the Patriots play.

Basically what you're saying is the difference between a bye week and a extra playoff game, comes down to that game against the Steelers in week 14 or 15. That's a huge difference in the playoffs too.

Hopefully they can pull it off. Not rooting for them to lose certainly.

They are 2 losses away from being the worst team since Castle was at QB with 6 games to go.

It's not that the Pats are losing, it is the way they are losing. Brady is 41 and he's being dependent upon scoring 30 plus points a game or the Pats have a high chance of losing.

They aren't going to be the 1 seed this year like usual, and they have what a 50/50 shot at the BYE week in the playoffs as a 2 seed?

The Pats are losing to mediocre and bad teams too. They are playing down to their competition. Hey I'm rooting for them to win, but the problems are here and now they have to scratch and claw for that 2 seed with 6 games to go.

Can you imagine what a Browns fan or a Bills fan would think reading this? It's like Tom Brady going on a mission handing out food to people in an impoverished country trying to get sympathy for the fact that he couldn't deduct the miles on his private jet. 

I just wish that I could screenshot some of these conversations and put it up in an exhibit titled "Why other fanbases hate Patriots fans" And I say that as one. 

I can't remember Brady looking this out of sorts this late in a season. They tried managing his practice and training camp workload, he skipped OTAs, etc so he'd be fresh down the stretch. If it was a lack of reps issue, I'd assume he'd have hit his stride by now. Unsure if it's father time, the offensive talent is really lacking, or just a blip later in the season than normal, but it's gonna make the rest of the season a struggle.

This team doesn't have enough talent to survive Brady playing like a Top 10-12 QB instead of Top 2-3.

It's one game people, good lord. If Belichick sticks around this team will remain a contender and sleepwalk to an AFC East title. No one has won the SB yet, if the Patriots can get themselves right they'll be capable of beating any team.

I am concerned with Brady, he's looked like a mid-tier QB most of this season. He struggled down the stretch last year before getting right in the postseason.