I don't feel like going into tons of detail in my current mood, but the meaningless 4th quarter gave me a decent amount of time to ponder. Although this probably cost us homefield, we might be a better team for it. - Both other losses were followed by 4-5 game winning streaks, one of them our best game of the year, the other Pats game. - This gives us a chance to go back to basics and reevaluate, and guys like Schottenheimer can pull their heads out of their asses, simplify, and use our superior talent to win games, rather than try to outthink ourselves like we do in EVERY SINGLE GAME WE HAVE EXTENDED PREP TIME FOR. - We're still 9-3. Momentum is not on our side at the moment, but if we started 2-3 and were 9-3 now, we'd feel like kings of the world. - This one will eat away at the players. Every man on this team, coach or player will say to himself, "I will do whatever it takes to not have this feeling again." - It was a Murphy's Law game, and doesn't have to signal anything past this game. Nothing worked, anywhere. Usually we have 2 out of 3 going. It was a dud, a stinker. The Giants did the same thing vs Tennessee this season where they looked lost, useless, undisciplined, and they responded with some of the more dominant games of this NFL season. I don't want to sugarcoat what was the worst beating we've been handed in a long time, but I just have a weird optimistic feeling... this coming from a fan that is usually reserved bordering on negative... that the team is going to find a new level of focus and dedication out of it.
I wish I could agree, but I think the fact is that we already knew a great deal about this team heading into the game and what contributed to this massacre. - Shittenheimer is a horrendous coordinator. - Eric Smith can't cover. - Dwight Lowery and Drew Coleman are both dogshit corners. There is not too much more we can learn about those things and change them.
Unfortunately, we need someone to carry us right now (like Brady). Sanchez obviously isn't ready to do that.
And we've won 9 games despite it. The Patriots smoked us with a team half-stocked with rookies. We have PLENTY of talent, being a bit below average in a couple areas is not enough to hold us back. Schottenheimer is too smart for his own good. I'm STILL convinced the guy is a decent football mind, but he needs some of Rex's mentality in the passing game, where we walk up to the line, knowing we're better, and just win with talent. We've got the players to do it. Christ, Jerricho Cotchery is our 4th best passing option!
Super Bowl winning teams don't get shut out at home (Following a bye of all things) or lose by 42 to a division rival. We are a playoff team, but not a SB team.
Agreed, good post Soss. Last year the Pats kicked our asses in Foxboro too and we responded well. We'll respond now too, just like we did after losing to the Ravens and Packers.
The story on offense was simple: Schittenheimer was his occasional horrible self and Sanchez played like shit. All season we've had one of the two working or both, with our 3 losses being the exception. As for the defense, if Brady has all day to sit in the pocket he'll pick you apart, our passrush is horrible and needs to be adressed. We need to right the ship next week.
You mean like the 2007 Giants, who started 0-2, lost 41-17 at home to the Vikings Week 12, stumbling into the playoffs losing 2 out of 3? The Saints lost twice in December. The 08 Steelers ate a 31-17 loss to the Titans in December. At most, you only need 4 playoff wins to wear a ring. We've had two 4 game streaks already.
I'm not saying it was a GOOD thing, but perhaps this shit talking team getting put in its place and being sent back to work isn't the WORST thing.
This is a veteran group, I have confidence they'll bounce back. If you wanna hop off the bandwagon, go ahead.
That's not getting shut out at home coming off a bye or losing by 42 to a division rival. Especially when this was the year we were supposed to overtake the Pats.
I see what you're saying, but that lesson comes at a steep cost: HFA/first-rd bye. No, the standings aren't set in stone but it looks like NE isn't finishing any worse than 13-3. The Jets would have to duplicate their road-warrior playoff run last year, only this time with the bullseye on them.
I agree we have a lot of talent on this team. MAJORLY disagree that Shittenheimer is smart and a good mind. He is a jackass, and I can't wait for him to be fired/hired away.
Lucky for us, points are pretty far down in the tiebreak column. All that matters is a 1-1 split with the Pats. Not what we wanted going into tonight, but in the grand scheme of things, not horrible. If we were in ANY other division in football with our record, we'd be feeling a decent bit better about ourselves tonight. This is our first road loss this year. We can still be road warriors. Sanchez has already proven that the windy (god does he suck in wind or what) Meadowlands don't really offer us much of a homefield advantage anyway.
We've never had a game this year where all 3 units shit the bed. Its usually just 1, while two play well. it was really the worst possible thing that could have happened. I don't know if it's a good thing but i don't expect us to play this crappy ever again
Again...I think they will make the playoffs, and once you are in, anything can happen. I just think they aren't a SB team based on how they have played this year. 1-3 vs "elite" teams (including the home shutout off a bye and a 42 point humiliation......also no TD's in all 3 of the losses).
I look at it this way. 1. We made the AFC Championship last year. 2. We are a better team right now than we were last year. Do not judge that by tonight. It was a dud. It will not happen again. I'm not giving up calling us contenders yet.
