Success

It's easier than Schlittler for any Yankees fans here.

I kind of like the uni's. After seeing some of the hideous throwback colors on some other teams, they look like they're from the future or something. I always wonder if certain colors are easier to see for the QB when he's looking downfield for a receiver. Seems like if there anything to that, these would stand out a bit.

Remember when we had Schwarz? THAT was a defense.

No - they'll be there. The AFC is not strong. They're still a great team.

I get that it's a division game, but I'm starting to think the Pats hype is a bit out of hand - both here & nationally. It just seems like a lot of that is based on scoring 42 last week. And some thought the Panthers had turned a corner because of their previous week. But that's a bad team. I watched the highlights - it almost looked like they hadn't practiced this year. The special teams play was abysmal, and Young didn't look like a pro QB. The Pats lost to Pittsburgh & the Raiders. If a guy doesn't step out of bounds by an inch or so, they would have lost to Miami. We're a mile better than them, we're at home, we usually play great in primetime, and we're coming off of a somewhat lackluster effort which should be motivating. I still think the jury is out on Maye. He plays great when the line protects him. Any team that can get pressure on him can cause turnovers, and I think our line will keep great pressure on him all day. Their O-line is weak in a few spots.

You know what? I still hate the New England Patriots.

All I'd say is this: During the drought, I felt like we always ended up on the wrong end of the officiating. PARTICULARLY against top teams like the Pats. Those games were often comical w/ the PI's & roughing calls against us. Now? I kind of figuratively blush at some of the calls we get, especially Allen & PF's.

I was worried when I saw how much the Pats scored on Sunday. But I just checked the game stats, and it wasn't like they were running all over the field. Pretty modest offensive #'s for 42 points. Looks like they really benefitted from some huge special teams plays and great field position, and an inept Carolina team. They lost to the Raiders and Steelers, and pulled it out against Miami in the final minutes. My take is that this is still an average team. It's also a much-improved division rival playing in the biggest game they've had in quite awhile, so I'm not taking them lightly. But we should win this one at home if we take care of the ball.

Cincy is really poorly constructed. No O-line, no defense, and 2 superstar receivers.

I don't know how anyone can hate the Jets. That team is a bottomless pit of misery for that fanbase, and has been for as long as I can remember.

Everybody eats here. We just need everybody to get open more.

Rapp is a backup. We should have picked up Peppers, imo.

Are Ed and Milano definitely back for the Pats? Any chance we see Hairston?

But do you pick a guy who isn't quite the guy you want just to keep that guy from landing w/ a rival?

Well, looking at our own game against the Ravens - wouldn't you say Coleman gave us as big of a spark? He was outstanding in that game.

Vrabel has always preferred this approach. I hope we don't defer if we win the toss. Best way to set the tone in this game is a long scoring drive to start it off & make them play catch-up.

What a week for Yankees/Bills fans and haters of all things Boston. First, we've got another hopefully classic matchup w/ the Red Sox in the playoffs, and then Bills/Pats on Sunday night. If the NY teams lose both, I will feel bad. However, the opposite of that would feel very good.

I still have some faith in Rousseau (though it's starting to wane a bit) - but it's hard to look back on that draft and not conclude we should have taken Barmore. That's exactly the kind of player our line needs.

This whole discussion is an excellent microcosm of what the sports commentary world has become. We almost need a better term than "hot take" - saying a take is hot still implies that there is any thought involved. I don't think this thread will ever go away. It will get bumped according to what you wrote above - from people on both sides of the question, depending on how Sunday went for both players.

Man, winning that 1st game was such a big deal. It seems like the Ravens have spiraled since then (and on paper, I think they're the better team). Feels like that could have been us, and instead we're sitting at 4-0.

I actually thought he was better last week. He had the turnovers, but he played really well otherwise. He has a great arm & can scramble/improvise really well. The key to his career (imo) is if he can get the turnovers under control, like Allen was able to. If he can't, he'll be more like Winston than Allen. But he's got talent.

Just watched the highlights of the Panthers/Pats game. A few observations: - That game was decided on special teams. Their returner is dynamic, and containing him has to be a focus. Of course, not needing to punt would help. - The Panthers are a genuinely bad team. I was worried when I saw the score, and the Pats were still impressive - but it's like they were playing a JV team. - Maye was solid, not great. He had some nice chunk throws, but on the ones they highlighted, receivers were wide open. It made me jealous to see WR's get that kind of separation I feel like the Bills took the Saints lightly today, and let them hang around longer than they should have. They have to go into next week's game w/ the mindset that this team is their biggest competition for the division. As someone said above, a W basically makes that a moot point. Glad we're home.

Sorry if there is something out there already on this - I didn't see it discussed. Timeouts in a close game are so important. It seemed like the one we called w/ a player running off the field was just panic, and the 2-point conversion one was unnecessary. I was watching where I couldn't hear the audio - were there any explanations for why the TO's were taken?

Man, I really hope the dudes coming back from suspension & Hairston can at least elevate us to the level of 'average' on defense. I hate that I'm even hoping for average. But average might be enough w/ Allen running the O.

The Pats are better this year, and Maye is pretty legit. We've gotta show up.