"Membership in the family of God is neither inconsequential or something to be casually ignored. The church is God's agenda for the world. Jesus said, "I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." The church is indestructable and will exist for eternity. It will outlive this universe, and so will your role in it."
- Rick Warren
Monday, November 7, 2011
No, Eli Manning is not in the same class as Tom Brady, or big brother Peyton, or Aaron Rodgers, or even Ben Roethlisberger.
Here's what I think we saw:
Tom Brady had a terrible game. Alas, when giants stumble, and what-not. But a terrible game for Brady still involved coming back in the final minutes to essentially win the game. As in the Dallas game, the Pats needed their leader to stage a nailbiting comeback and Brady delivered. Even when he's off, he tends to end up being the guy who does his job.
In an off game for the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, his biggest mistake was being too good! What I mean is, his biggest mistake was winning the game too quickly.
Enter the Patriots' defense, which despite including the dude who leads the whole league in tackles (Jerod Mayo) is still the defense that leads the league in blowing ginormous chunks. So, what we had yesterday was Tom Brady snapping to life and winning the game too quickly, leaving us to trust a defense that could be improved by replacing everybody with some of those orange traffic barrels to hold back the Giants offense.
And the Giants offense isn't bad. But they're not great. 'Cept they were great yesterday because the Pats defense looks like cats chasing a laser pointer. Want some facts, Jack? Every single other quarterback the Patriots have played against this season, in both wins and losses, had a higher quarterback rating against the Patriots than Eli did yesterday.
What does this all mean? A few things:
Eli did a competent job, but let's not get crazy on this one.
The Patriots defense couldn't stop a nosebleed.
Tom Brady is human? We're looking into this. But yesterday he proved that even when he's off, he can be too on. Amazing.
Trackbacks:
Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/6541.
Comments on "Talking Sense about the Patriots' Loss to the Giants":
2. Jared
- 11/07/2011 8:06 pm CST
Well, as I mentioned more than once, he had an off game. My take that he was "too good" is just sort of tongue in cheek. I was astounded by him yet again, having the perseverance to come back from such mediocre play to lead that comeback. When it came down to it, he did what he needed to do. That he did it "too quickly" is just me trying to be clever about resenting the Patriots' defense and their dishonoring of Brady's recovery. And, really, even in their wins, it has been Brady outscoring the opposing team's offense, not the Patriots' defense matching the Patriots' offense in strength.
Where from here? I fear with this defense it's downhill. As the guest on Jim Rome said today, you can't ever count out the Patriots so long as Brady is on the team, but I think they are in a Colts-like position (in recent past seasons) -- elite quarterback leading a mediocre team.
6. Andrew
- 11/08/2011 1:59 am CST
Two things:
1) Bill Belichick needs to get more flak for the terrible personnel decisions he has made over the last few years. Given the number of high-round draft picks the Pats have had over the last few years, there is no justification for having a defense that atrocious.
2) The game plan for any team playing the Patriots should be threefold and very simple: 1) Throw the ball every single play. There is no reason that any team with a decent quarterback should not be able to amass upwards of 350 passing yards on that group of scrubs. 2) Batter Wes Welker. If you hit him hard enough at the line of scrimmage, he will be out of the play. 3) Put competent coverage men on the tight ends. If you do those three things, or even two of those three things, there is no reason that an NFL team should not beat the Patriots.
7. Evan
- 11/08/2011 7:41 am CST
As someone who has Jerod Mayo on my fantasy football team (yes, we play with independent defensive players), I can confirm he is nowhere close to leading the league in tackles (actually outside the top 100), in part because he's missed a couple of games with an injury. He did lead the league last year, but that isn't helping my team this year.
However, I add my fantasy QB is Aaron Rodgers, who is not only offsetting Mayo's lack of production, but is currently making even Tom Brady look like a junior college bench player.
8. Jared
- 11/08/2011 7:44 am CST
Evan, hmmm. One of the commentators made this claim during the last game. I am sorry I did not fact check it. Stupid me for assuming talking heads know what they're talking about! :-)
Maybe he meant last year?
I have Rodgers on one of my fantasy teams and am grateful for him. He is an elite quarterback. But I will overlook your Bradysphemy.
9. nhe
- 11/08/2011 9:33 am CST
Jared - 2 quick observations about the NE/NYG game - which I watched most of.
1. Brady has NO O-Line this year. Belichick is all about making sure the ball gets out quick - usually 3 step drops, sometimes 5, but never 7. This OL isn't even protecting Brady's 3-step drop very well. That's the real problem - I think even more so than the "D".......the Pats have had the ball control offense in the past to keep their "D" off the field, and they've won Super Bowls that way. This year, their time of possession is way down and their "D" is just out there more.
2. NYG won at NE without their best RB or their best WR. That's a tad scary if you're a Pats fan.
10. Jared
- 11/08/2011 4:13 pm CST
Brady has NO O-Line this year.
I feel like it was actually worse last year. He's had a little more time and hasn't seemed as rushed as he was last year. I think in particular of the 2nd game against the Jets last season, where he could get nothing going for this reason. He is of course now left to quick out passes, slant routes, etc., so he can't sit in the pocket and launch like he used to, but I *think* it's a little tighter than last season. Or he's getting less rattled about it, maybe.
NYG won at NE without their best RB or their best WR. That's a tad scary if you're a Pats fan.
Absolutely. And being completely honest about the Pats defense -- they are worse even than their ranking, which is worst in the NFL -- makes me realistic about the Pats chances the rest of the season or playoffs. With this defense as it is, there's no playoffs hopes.
Couldn't say that 2 years ago when they had a winning season without Brady.
11. Shrode
- 11/09/2011 8:48 am CST
On a only barely related note...
I can't see Tom Brady on TV anymore without immediately thinking of a certain human check question:
"Who's Jared's favorite quarterback? (Rhymes with Bom Trady)
Then I think to myself, "Yep, there's Bom Trady".
It happens to me EVERY SINGLE TIME. I see the guy and that question pops into my head immediately.
It's like blog free association, only it doesn't feel very free since my mind jumps there automatically with a mind of its own. Like it is enslaved. I think what I don't want to think, and I don't want to think what I want to think.
Oh who will free me from Bom Trady?
Leave a Comment:
While I am no fan of Eli, I don't think you can give credit for Brady being too good.
I realize there is no convincing you, but if he was too good, his final touchdown pass would not have come on a 4th down. If he were too good, he wouldn't have been in such a position. The game was almost over without Eli having to lead a game-winning drive.
That being said - I realize that the 2nd and 3rd down passes were catchable.
If your post is more about Eli not being great, I agree. If it is about Brady being too good for his team's good, I respectfully disagree.
What are your predictions for the Patriots going forward for the second half of the season? There's a three-way tie for first in their division, and at least one (if not two) of the teams will probably be left out of the playoffs. Where does Saint Thomas go from here?