Patriots Pre-Game Thread

[barrett]

I just saw Herm Edwards and Christian Fauria (I believe) outside Foxboro with some ESPN anchors making picks. They were reasonable about the game and all expected a closer score but still a Patriots win.

Then they pointed out that if both games turned out as picked, then we "all" get what we "all" want (Manning vs Brady). At this point they all started grinning and high fiving themselves at the thought of it.

I love a great matchup as much as the next guy, but I seriously hope that parade is rained on and everyone has to watch our boring Houston Texans for at least another week.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by barrett

I just saw Herm Edwards and Christian Fauria (I believe) outside Foxboro with some ESPN anchors making picks. They were reasonable about the game and all expected a closer score but still a Patriots win.

Then they pointed out that if both games turned out as picked, then we "all" get what we "all" want (Manning vs Brady). At this point they all started grinning and high fiving themselves at the thought of it.

I love a great matchup as much as the next guy, but I seriously hope that parade is rained on and everyone has to watch our boring Houston Texans for at least another week.

I know. Cause everybody loves Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, right? America wants this matchup!

NFLN has been getting a little unwatchable, lately....

"Did the Texans learn anything from their beatdown at the Pats?".

And then they will proceed to show all negative Texan stats from the first meeting with the Pats like the first game contains all the answers...

"Can Schaub do a better job this time?"

Then they'll show Schaub's stats "before beatdown" and "after beatdown".... and then they'll go to Willie McGinest for analysis "4 for 14 on 3rd down won't get it done" (penetrating insight, Willie!).

Let's play the game, already..... jeez...

[today]

Graham passed his concussion test and will play on Sunday... Phew!!!

[chuck]

I'm starting to feel a little better about this game. I saw somewhere that Quin was still nursing a shoulder. Is this a current concern or a hangover from a couple of weeks back?

[Arky]

Originally Posted by chuck

I'm starting to feel a little better about this game. I saw somewhere that Quin was still nursing a shoulder. Is this a current concern or a hangover from a couple of weeks back?

Looks like here he had a hip thing going on before the Vikes and Colts games, was "healthy" the week of the Bengals game and then dinged the shoulder in the Bengals game. Through all of this, none of the ailments kept him from participating in full practices....

[HPF Bob]

Well, we're now playing for home field advantage again. Baltimore nipped the Broncos in 2OT.

Anyone else get a little sick watching Jacoby Jones and Trindon Holliday scampering all over the field? That game was Holliday's first loss all year.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Well, we're now playing for home field advantage again. Baltimore nipped the Broncos in 2OT.

Anyone else get a little sick watching Jacoby Jones and Trindon Holliday scampering all over the field? That game was Holliday's first loss all year.

And then there were 3. Oh man, what an opportunity......

I'm watching Niners vs. Packers and after the 1st half, the Niners are ahead in TOP 21:47 to 8:13 yet only lead 24-21. Niners seem a bit like the Texans (ball hogs) and the Packers (quick strike) seem a bit like Pats....

Holliday is/was just as likely to be a goat as a hero. He sure hit a couple of home runs today, though...

Somewhat surprised Peyton is out of the race and that the Broncos/Ravens contest seemed fairly refereed for the most part...

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Anyone else get a little sick watching Jacoby Jones and Trindon Holliday scampering all over the field? That game was Holliday's first loss all year.

Nope. It just shows what anyone who's been paying attention has known for a decade. The Texans have the worst special teams coach in the NFL. And since he and the owner are jackoff buddies he's not going anywhere no matter how badly his units underperform.

It became clear to me a number of years back that to the owner winning is at best secondary. Marciano and his bullshit is as stark an example of that as you'd like to find.