Are the Patriots now the drought-era Bills?

[nucci]

let's see 17 years from now

[Ghost_002!]

5 hours ago, LikeIGiveADarn said:

 

6-7 and their loss tonight put a large dent in their playoff hopes.

 

They are an 9-7 team at best with the oldest coach in the NFL and no QB prospects to speak of.

 

 

 

And none of that speaks of a "drought ". Logically looking at it. They have been competitive in a down year. With a shot QB. 

 

 

[ProcessTruster]

always a pleasure to witness a Pats loss

[Kwai San]

5 hours ago, ganesh said:

They are 6-6 in the think of the playoffs and have won 4 of their last 5 games and were 5 yards away from beating us.   The demise of the Patriots are exaggerated

 

Uh 6-7.....and yeah they are thinking about playoffs but thats all they are doing......

[LabattBlue]

I think BB wants that all time regular season wins record for a HC.  He is 50 away from the #1 spot, and he will be 69 next year.  Probably going to have to coach until at least 75, maybe a couple years beyond.  

Edited December 11, 2020 by Back the Blue

[Captain Hindsight]

7 hours ago, NickelCity said:

All it takes is one good draft pick. I hope it never comes. ***** em.

It was so funny last night. They put Stidham in and Buck and Aikman are talking him up and then Stidham got decked

 

Couldn't happen to a more deserving organization

[Beerball]

Bills just won their first MNF game this century.  Enjoy the ride and take it for what it is.

[Big Turk]

Maybe for a year or two...that defense will be much improved once all those COVID opt outs come.back and they are not bad right now even with all of them.

[Just in Atlanta]

It only took 20 years for the Patriots to be saying "we could still make the playoffs!" at week 13. 

But it would take a whole new level of ineptitude to match our 20 years of chronic 6-10 mediocrity where we're never good enough to make the playoffs and never bad enough to get No. 1 draft picks and just good enough to keep fans in the seats with hope. 

 

 

[Ramza86]

Finding the right QB is the only thing that will keep them competitive in the future. 

 

Lets hope that never happens.

[Freddie's Dead]

We need lots more years of this for the Cheats to be in a drought.  It's definitely gratifing to see the same kinds of things we all used to do.  One play here, one play there, we'd be 11-5 and in the playoffs!  Shyeah, right.  Enjoy it Cheats fans, now you get to see how the other half lives.

[nero1]

56 minutes ago, RichRiderBills said:

They are a .500 team who had a ton of defensive talent opt out. They just need a decent QB of avg quality.  How and why they opted out on Bridgewater was a real head scratcher. 

 

They can work the draft here and be very competitive going forward. 

Very true, but players who miss a year don't usually come back the same. QB's as they and we have discovered look good in college, but not in NFL right away.

 

As long as Bill is coach, they will be formidable.  Also, he hinders the growth of assistant coaches.

[thenorthremembers]

I said this to a buddy a few weeks ago.   I see the Patriots, as long as Belichick is there, as a team that will be between 8-8 and 10-6 until he retires.  He is too stubborn to bottom out for a high pick, but his coaching methods only work so well without Brady.    The defense will have them in contention for a playoff spot every year, but unless he lucks into another dominant Quarterback their offensive gameplan is just bad enough for them to be a middle dweller.

 

The Belichick legend has reached incredible heights.  But he wasnt a winner before Brady, and he isnt a winning coach now.

Edited December 11, 2020 by thenorthremembers

[Coffeesforclosers]

I predict a dramatic decrease in the number of "Brady" and "Bruschi" jerseys at the Ralph, and a dramatic increase in the number "Allen" and "Diggs" jerseys at Foxboro.

 

Remember, this is the fan base that would walk out of Foxboro before halftime if B&B were down two scores.

[NoHuddleKelly12]

9 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

My Christmas wish for NE is 7-9 forever.

And a "heroic march to 7-9" it shall be, each time! 

 

Sully's favorite description of the Jauron years always included that phrasing IIRC, and it seems apt now to wish that on Hoodie's head. 

[DrDawkinstein]

9 hours ago, Success said:

It really struck me watching them play tonight:

 

 - Huge uncertainty at QB

 - Good defense & special teams, good RB

 - All-pro punter

 - Can't consistently score points

 - JAG WR corps

 - Occasional amazing game to give fans hope, but in general maintaining a near-.500 record 

 - Being just good enough to not make the playoffs & avoid the top 10 in the draft

 

It's been weird reading their boards, too - the same playoff possibility conversations we used to have at this point:  if x team loses twice, and beats y team, but if y team beats z team, etc.  

 

I must say - I'm liking the role reversal.

 

 

I got the same feeling watching them last night. Looked all too familiar.

 

Even down to their new uniforms being ugly just like when Donahoe changed ours in 2001, and them bringing in a former star but now broken and ineffective QB (Bledsoe).

 

I love it.

[Seasons1992]

We still have to play them, on the road at night.

Let's save the *Pats bleep-talking until a potential victory over them.

[BuffaloBillies]

Yeah, it's not going to be a happy ending for anyone in that organization.

Well, almost everyone.

[Success]

57 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

Maybe for a year or two...that defense will be much improved once all those COVID opt outs come.back and they are not bad right now even with all of them.

 

The D is getting old, though. I heard Hightower may retire; Chung & the McCourteys are getting up there.  There is some question about whether they'll re-sign Gilmore (not their style to overpay for an aging CB).

 

BB is the equalizer, of course.  I'm convinced he could take any roster in the league and get to a .500 record at least.  

 

He did say at one time that he didn't want to be coaching in this 70's like Levy (or something like that).  That's the hope; that he has another season or 2 like this, gets tired of it and heads off to do some fishing.  

 

[mjd1001]

What can we expect from the Pats in the near (1-3 year) future?  It might be close to what the Drought Era Bills were:

 

-I think, overall, they are a SLIGHTLY above average team.  If I had to 'power rank' them in the NFL now, they would be someplace between 12-16.  Keep in mind they actually DID lose a ton from Covid opt outs on the defensive side of the ball, probably more than anyone else...and they had some key injuries this year too.  Without that would they be a top team?  No, but they will be getting 'more' back next year than most other teams.

 

-On the other hand, the D unit is aging.  Even with those players back, they have a good percentage of their key D players on the wrong side of 28 years of age. (most studies say a typical Defensive player production, especially in the back 7, drop off between age 28-30)

 

So, the biggest thing that may make you think they are like the drought era Bills is.....their biggest question has to do with QB.  There doesn't appear to be a long term star QB available for the taking for them...and they are going to likely be drafting in an area where they will miss out on the top prospects.

 

So, they are likely to be that team that is 'in the hunt' toward the end of the year...until they get their next great QB...who knows when that will be.

 

[corta765]

Get back to me in 10 years if every season is like this. An old aging Patriots team also lost some good defensive players and the lack of bluechip talent caught them. Plus without Brady even if he is at 75% they finally are not what they were. It shouldn't be a surprise it happens, but drought Bills you need to go like a decade of ineptitude, this wasn't ineptitude time just finally caught them thank god.

[DrDawkinstein]

13 minutes ago, Seasons1992 said:

We still have to play them, on the road at night.

Let's save the *Pats bleep-talking until a potential victory over them.

 

Good news, we already beat them once this year. And from the looks of how each team is playing currently, should be ready to beat them again.

 

***** the Pats

 

 

Edited December 11, 2020 by DrDawkinstein

[Jobot]

My only  nightmare right now is the Bills running into Brady in the Super Bowl.

 

I can handle anything else at this point in the season.

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

Boston .... love the city, HATE the sports teams. May a pox descend on them till eternity’s end

[Hapless Bills Fan]

9 hours ago, Success said:

It really struck me watching them play tonight:

 

 - Huge uncertainty at QB

 - Good defense & special teams, good RB

 - All-pro punter

 - Can't consistently score points

 - JAG WR corps

 - Occasional amazing game to give fans hope, but in general maintaining a near-.500 record 

 - Being just good enough to not make the playoffs & avoid the top 10 in the draft

 

It's been weird reading their boards, too - the same playoff possibility conversations we used to have at this point:  if x team loses twice, and beats y team, but if y team beats z team, etc.  

 

I must say - I'm liking the role reversal.

 

If they are, they're in Year 1 and it remains to be seen if their drought will persist or rebound.

 

They did have a huge number of Covid opt-outs.

[Runningaces]

7 hours ago, BruceVilanch said:

Yeah, I doubt it would happen, but at BB's age and the impending mediocrity they most likely will be mired in I would definitely be considering it if I were him.

You.mean 1 year of mediocrity. Team will be back.to.10+ wins next year.

[foreboding]

No QB = no long-term winning.
Now, if they manage to keep Belechik, they will win some wildcards, and are very unlikely to suffer through an historically inept drought as we did, but you ain't doin' shite without a quality signal caller. Cam seems to be a rudimentary backup QB at this point. I just hope Fitz doesn't end up there next year...or maybe I do.

 

An 8-win Pats team is never going to get much better. The other good thing, is they seem to be piss-poor at finding quality offensive skill players in the draft. Look at their last several years at drafting WR for example.

 

We, on the other hand Brandon f@cking Beane for the next six years and that mo-fo can find players anywhere!

[BuffaloRebound]

As much as I can’t stand them and think they’re a bunch of cheaters, they’re too well run and will do whatever it takes including cheating to find a way to win.  
this year is most likely a blip for them.  

Edited December 11, 2020 by BuffaloRebound

[Success]

2 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

As much as I can’t stand them and think they’re a bunch of cheaters, they’re too well run and will do whatever it takes including cheating to find a way to win.  
this year is most likely a blip for them.  

 

That's conventional wisdom, and I don't necessarily disagree.

 

But I've always thought it was BB that makes them well run - not so much the Krafts, who got a bit lucky w/ him and Brady (yes, they made the moves to get them - but they had no idea they were getting the GOAT's.)

 

BB will be 70 next year.  I also don't think he's all that as a GM - he benefitted for many years from Brady taking pay cuts, and also making average players look great.  Can he do a rebuild in time to still be coaching when it comes to fruition?

 

And so much comes down to QB.  They might get lucky there, or not. They won't have a high draft pick to get one. They might be able to turn a QB like Darnold around, but who knows.  I have found it kind of funny on the Pats boards - some of the younger fans say things like, "We have a good young core - all we need to do is add a franchise QB and we're right back on top!", like it's a "just add water" thing.

 

[Chandler#81]

No such success, Success. I expect another tough tussle in 2 weeks and going forward -as long as Darth Vader lives.

[corta765]

15 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

If they are, they're in Year 1 and it remains to be seen if their drought will persist or rebound.

 

They did have a huge number of Covid opt-outs.

 

In a way I've appreciated BB's ability to get what he can out of a crappy roster. I also see him as a crappy GM lately so he also created that side of things haha

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Just now, corta765 said:

In a way I've appreciated BB's ability to get what he can out of a crappy roster. I also see him as a crappy GM lately so he also created that side of things haha

 

My point is I'll believe this is the start of a years-long Patriots drought when I see it.

[mabden]

Is it wrong to enjoy watching the pats*** lose?

[Ghost_002!]

1 hour ago, Success said:

 

The D is getting old, though. I heard Hightower may retire; Chung & the McCourteys are getting up there.  There is some question about whether they'll re-sign Gilmore (not their style to overpay for an aging CB).

 

BB is the equalizer, of course.  I'm convinced he could take any roster in the league and get to a .500 record at least.  

 

He did say at one time that he didn't want to be coaching in this 70's like Levy (or something like that).  That's the hope; that he has another season or 2 like this, gets tired of it and heads off to do some fishing.  

 

 

 

Defense is not getting old. Their oldest player besides McCourty is Chung who opted out 

 

They drafted a bunch of younger players on defense..

 

For all the GM talk. Its fair to point out his drafting offensive players. But on the defensive side he drafts pretty decent there.

 

chase winovich

Kyle Dugger

Josh uche

Michael Onwenu 

 

 

All look promising and have contributed 

 

oh and Damien Harris at RB is actually good in his first full season

Edited December 11, 2020 by Ghost_002!

[Success]

9 minutes ago, mabden said:

Is it wrong to enjoy watching the pats*** lose?

 

It's a cliche - but if it's wrong, I don't ever wanna be right...

 

[KCNC]

Not as long as they have BB.

[Big Blitz]

They will get their opt out guys back.  

 

And I'm sure they are going to move heaven and earth to get a QB and not let this offense be this bad again.  

 

And if that happens they are a playoff team bc the defense is good now.  

 

 

That being said it will be 2 years since the opt out guys will have played in a game.  And QBs don't grow on trees.  

[Ghost_002!]

Also to point out how this is a prisoners of the moment from both fans and media.

 

 

Bills struggle against the Chargers a bit to win. And gave up 17.

 

Just least week the Chargers put up a goose egg against the Pats, and BB probably helped get Anthony Lynn fired.

 

The Bills were able put up about 30 against the Rams and the pats did nothing...

 

Every week is something different.

Edited December 11, 2020 by Ghost_002!

[Captain Hindsight]

58 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

No such success, Success. I expect another tough tussle in 2 weeks and going forward -as long as Darth Vader lives.

You have got to finish the Return of the Jedi my friend

[Coffeesforclosers]

Why would the vets and opt outs come.back?  There's no reason to take BB's ass chewing film sessions and Patriot Way BS if they aren't a contender.  And they are not a contender let alone a dynasty anymore.  Retire, or go somewhere else and get paid what the market will bear.