Is Patriot Dominance Over?

[skinsfan51]

Tonight the NY Giants held a 60-minute seminar on how to beat the Patriots. Namely, a ferocious, relentless pass rush. How many teams in the AFC are going to examine this game film and beef up their D-line and blitzing schemes to get into Brady's face every game next year? Jax just hired Gregg Williams. He'll get in Brady's face and the Jags are a very good team already. I see the rest of the AFC following suit. I'm thinking that the Patriots just peaked and it will be all downhill from here.

Don't get me wrong, they are still an awesome team. But I think the entire league just saw the key to beating them. It's no secret any more.

Anyone else agree?

[spjunkies]

They're going to have to be very thrifty this off season because that team is old, great but old.

[Drex]

As long as they have Brady, they are going to have a chance.

It's that simple.

[ddub52]

well Saeu vrabel and bruschi could all retire. Moss could go for his payday. who knows

[DGreenistheBest]

Too early to say.

[SlinginSammy HOF '63]

I think the empire died tonight. The O-line isn't getting younger. Moss could bolt. The defense is definitely aging. They'll be good next year, but this is their last Super Bowl with this unit.

[SUSkinsFan]

I don't think Moss will leave. NE is probably gonna throw money his way because having him there takes pressure off of Welker and Stallworth. It's partly because of Moss that Welker was open in the middle of the field all season.

[prophet]

The lb's are to old, and you could see cracks towards the end of the season.

I think the biggest problem is their Oline is don't as great as we thought.

[SonnyJ]

I think the biggest problem is their Oline is don't as great as we thought.

I've been saying this all season. The reason their OL is so highly acclaimed is Brady. Half of the OLs in the league would look just as good with him behind them. He reads defenses like an open book, gets rid of the ball lightning quick most of the time, and feels the rush and moves in the pocket better than anyone in the game. Their OL is another element of the team that is merely a decent unit propped up by Brady's brilliance.

Teams have been playing them tougher and tougher as the season has worn on. The book obviously has been to contain Moss and the big play, then concede the dinks to Welker and the RBs, making sure they get tackled with minimal YAC. Easier said then done, of course. This is exactly as the Redskins played them defensively, too, and we see how that worked out. Two big things that are different now, though. One, the Patriots were really clicking on all cylinders at that time. Two, most importantly, the Redskins couldn't do a thing offensively that day (which was a Redskin failing, IMO, not due to great Patriot defensive play, though that unit tailed off after Colvin's injury). Had the Redskins performed on offense as they did at the end of the season, it would have been a very competitive game.

But the Patriots will be in the mix every year as long as Brady is calling signals. It's that simple. As they did with the WRs last offseason, they'll do with the defense this offseason, making some aggressive moves to shore up problem areas. It'll be interesting to see how they handle Moss and Samuels.

They'll still be the favorites next season. I'd love to see them have to go a season w/o Brady, thus exposing Belichick as the most overrated coach in the history of the NFL. It just galls me that such a miserable person could get so lucky with a draft pick.

[VCDefectors]

Aside from the age factor, I don't think that is just something you just get up and dust off of your seat and go back to work. That has got to be the most devastating loss for a team in NFL history. This game will stick out like a huge sore thumb for most of these player's careers and how they will be remembered. Brady evened mentioned how this game was going to down in history as the most important game in his career, win or lose. Love or hate the Patriots, you got to feel for the kid.

[Clinton Portis # 26]

I hope so.

[aussieskin]

The reason the Pats lost was because they tried to win the SB with Offence and they have just about all been won with defence, but the pats will be back next season with roughly the same team so they should still do ok.

[ejay183]

Aside from the age factor, I don't think that is just something you just get up and dust off of your seat and go back to work. That has got to be the most devastating loss for a team in NFL history. This game will stick out like a huge sore thumb for most of these player's careers and how they will be remembered. Brady evened mentioned how this game was going to down in history as the most important game in his career, win or lose. Love or hate the Patriots, you got to feel for the kid.

Feel bad for him? Are you serious? The man was asked earlier in the season if he was trying to get the TD passing record and he said no, yet he ran up the score in the 4th quarter. I wont even get started with the whole cheating thing. Karma will get you back at the worst possible time and I hope the whole bottom falls out of the franchise now.

[pointyfootball]

The reason the Pats lost was because they tried to win the SB with Offence and they have just about all been won with defence, but the pats will be back next season with roughly the same team so they should still do ok.

I think keeping a team to 17 points is pretty good defense. I truly believe the reason the Pats lost is they couldn't run the ball at all and had to rely on Brady. Teams in the SB are normally just too well balanced to be able to win a game one-dimensionally.

[steve57]

Dominance? Yes, I think so. But they will still be dangerous, but I think the mounting age problem in key positions will place the Patriots in a situation where there are not enough fingers to plug the holes in the NE dike. Teams like Jacksonville and San Diego will continue to rise, etc. However, what could turn the whole thing to ash is if another finding of cheating comes up -- and as a result a Belichick banishment. Suddenly, the mystique will be gone, and a shadow will fall over all they've accomplished. And that could destroy them, Brady or not.

[BurntToast]

it's sad that it took 19 games for a team to blitz Brady.

[ixcuincle]

The Patriots dominance is not over until Brady , Belichick , and Scott Pioli leave that organization. They will have players that age , retire , and leave , but they will simply be replaced. This is what the Patriots do , replace players and restock with underrated talent. When Milloy , Branch , Law all left the organization , they were all replaced. I assume the same would happen with the aging linebackers.

Perhaps the only irreplacable part of the organization is Vinitieri...think they kick it and don't go for it on 4th down if Vinitieri is still on that team? :laugh:

[Veretax]

NY had too things in this game that Washington has lacked in the entire tenure of Joe Gibbs 2.0.

A dominating Defensive Line. Not just rushing the passer, but stuffing the run, and stringing plays out.

A top notch wide receiver. If the Giants don't have Plax, they lose that game. We need a WR that will make defenses pay when they ignore him.

But I'd settle for D-Line help first.

[the burgundy and gold]

does anyone thing that the Patriots are gonna be really pissed off about this game, and just reload for another dominant run next year? I know Tom Brady hates losing, i think he'll do even better next year...

[pjfootballer]

No, they are still in the weak AFC East and the still have a good core of players. No way they go 16-0. My guess is they still win 12-14 games next year.

[Bacon]

Unlikely. They'll wax everyone in the regular season like always...

Then blow it in the playoffs. :D

[ntotoro]

does anyone thing that the Patriots are gonna be really pissed off about this game, and just reload for another dominant run next year? I know Tom Brady hates losing, i think he'll do even better next year...

They'll be good because of their Division, but have too many players next season who will be either replaced or in need of replacement to carry on like they did this season.

[onedrop]

I've been saying this all season. The reason their OL is so highly acclaimed is Brady. Half of the OLs in the league would look just as good with him behind them. He reads defenses like an open book, gets rid of the ball lightning quick most of the time, and feels the rush and moves in the pocket better than anyone in the game. Their OL is another element of the team that is merely a decent unit propped up by Brady's brilliance.

Teams have been playing them tougher and tougher as the season has worn on. The book obviously has been to contain Moss and the big play, then concede the dinks to Welker and the RBs, making sure they get tackled with minimal YAC. Easier said then done, of course. This is exactly as the Redskins played them defensively, too, and we see how that worked out. Two big things that are different now, though. One, the Patriots were really clicking on all cylinders at that time. Two, most importantly, the Redskins couldn't do a thing offensively that day (which was a Redskin failing, IMO, not due to great Patriot defensive play, though that unit tailed off after Colvin's injury). Had the Redskins performed on offense as they did at the end of the season, it would have been a very competitive game.

But the Patriots will be in the mix every year as long as Brady is calling signals. It's that simple. As they did with the WRs last offseason, they'll do with the defense this offseason, making some aggressive moves to shore up problem areas. It'll be interesting to see how they handle Moss and Samuels.

They'll still be the favorites next season. I'd love to see them have to go a season w/o Brady, thus exposing Belichick as the most overrated coach in the history of the NFL. It just galls me that such a miserable person could get so lucky with a draft pick.

well no sheet. for most of his career the defenses HAVE BEEN AN OPEN BOOK. literally. allow me to rephrase a bit......the pats will be in the mix every year that their cheating benefits them as it has for the last 7 years.

what we saw last night was straight up football. without the added benefit of bellichick and brady knowing what defense was coming the pats looked weak and inept. brady was inaccurate with the deep ball and they had no running game. now that the pats have lost the SB and couldnt complete the perfect season the NFL will not protect them as much from their self fueled controversy. watch and see.