Success

Thank you. Though, I am always prepared for the overreactions after a loss. I too was proud of the team. They played HARD. We focus on the mistakes today - but in any other game, it wouldn't have been many. It's just that the BB Pats make so few, so there is little margin for error. And Allen was spectacular, imo. I'm not like "we got this" today, but I'm on to the Bucs. It's an absolutely enormous game, against a team that - like KC - we're more built to compete w/ and beat. Take that game & the playoffs are back on the menu in a big way.

The way the Pats are constructed will only work for them in some games. I know that they have a 7-game win streak going - but I don't think they're built to go on a playoff run. KC will likely STILL be the team to beat next month. It's easy to fault the team construction after last night - but let's see how it plays out from here.

The only QB I think is really "better" is Rogers, and he's getting old - so I don't make that trade. Objectively, there isn't another QB in the league I'd rather have. He can literally do everything at this point - touch passes, bombs, playing in the wind & bad conditions, running, diagnosing defenses & changing plays at the line. HIs play is guts personified - he is fearless out there. Outside of Brady, I'd be hard-pressed to think of a QB who is more driven, competitive and obsessed w/ improving. Compared to Mac Jones? Please. We'll have the better QB as long as he's in NE, by a mile. Last night showed me that the hype is just that - hype. I know people will say they didn't have to pass, but they didn't WANT to pass. Jones is a game manager playing under the best coach & in one of the best systems. He'd be average at best anywhere else.

I'm not going to say we can't still make a SB run w/ this roster - because we can. But it feels like we're still a year away. The flaws are obvious, and I'm sure they'll get addressed - but we may fall short this year because of them.

Gotta beat the Pats or Bucs, and then make sure they don't have another unexpected loss. Tall order. Doable.

Their lines impressed me a bit. But their style probably isn't sustainable.

The Breida fumble was rough. If that turned into a scoring drive, it could have changed how the rest of the game was played.

It all kind of goes back to the biggest problem - we're built to beat KC. And we did. And I can't blame them for building the team that way - they looked like they would be our biggest hurdle for years. But we're small & finesse. The Pats looked like the Varsity out there.

You have a lot more faith in Jones than I do. Honestly, this game confirmed to me how hyped he is. That coaching staff doesn't trust him beyond the basics. Sure, they didn't need to run - but they definitely did not want to pass.

Well, maybe. I definitely don't think the Pats keep up w/ the Bills in a shootout. This is the kind of game that the Pats win against the Bills. If the Bills get up by 2 scores, the Pats are not a comeback team.

I'm focusing on what I'm encouraged by - and we have such a gamer in Allen. That dude WILL win a Lombardi. The competitive fire in him is something to behold. He just wills that whole team sometimes.

EVERYONE should take heart - the Jones hype is hype, and we'll likely always have the better QB by a mile. I know they didn't HAVE to throw. But they didn't trust him.

You're not wrong - but that's also the nature of a game against the BB Pats. They generally don't beat themselves, so teams have a smaller margin for error. The list of mistakes we made wouldn't look so bad in most games.

Thanks, PatsFanNH. The lines for NE are better - I'm not sure if that's something the Bills can truly overcome. But if they can take a good lead in a game, it tilts in their favor. I'd like to see that game the next time.

It was a tremendous football game. 2 strong teams - that was a heavyweight bout. We'll see what kind of team we have.

Well, I feel better about the FUTURE of the Jones/Allen rivalry. Unless it's always sunny. As for tonight, I'm 50/50. Gotta come out firing.

Every time I want a physical team, I have a speedy team. Then, when I want a speedy team, I have a physical team. Life, huh?

For what it's worth, the entire planet earth outside of NE is pulling for us. I believe there is life elsewhere in the universe. But if not, that's a pretty big deal.

Congrats that it's right before the game and not for the entire past week. Or the season.

I've been a Booger fan - but he's pretty cliched when talking about the Pats. It's the "safe" position for an announcer.

Hey, Mac - try not to think about the fact that you're replacing the GOAT, in a town that won't tolerate losing, and that you're currently hyped to be one of the best in the league.

Judon is one of the 1st Patriot players in awhile that I have a really hard time disliking.

This is like in "Cinderella Man," when the trainer asked the main character to stand up between rounds. The opponent was like, "why is he sitting? Isn't he tired?"

Belichick is eternally cranky.

I love our fans. They ARE better. Every team thinks theirs are - but ours really are. It's not disputable.