How Will Patriots Handle Meaningless Season Finale
Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 5:10 pm
This topic comes up nearly every season with one team or another. A team is locked into its playoff spot regardless of what happens in the final game. Do you play your top players and if so for how long.
A few thing one needs to remember about these Patriots.
First, they hate being embarrassed, and if they are embarrassed be sure that when given the chance they will do everything they can to exact revenge.
Evidence: In 2003 the Patriots went into the final game against Buffalo with a 13-2 record, the #1 overall seed was locked up and there was very little reason to play Brady and others much. However in the season opener the Bills embarassed the Patriots to the tune of a 31-0 beating.
Result: Brady played most of the game while throwing 4 touchdowns and Belichick sent his starting defense back out with under a minute to go after they had been removed from the earlier in order to preserve a shutout as Buffalo was at the Patriots 1 yard line
Aftermath: Buffalo hasn't beaten New England since that 31-0 opening day win in 2003.
Second, they hate being disrespected, and if they feel disrespected, that will take it out on you.
Evidence: 2007 Season, further explanation probably isn't required here.
Result: The Patriots tore through the regular season and while given many opportunities to take their foot of the throats of their opponents they usually didn't. Many around the league accused the Patriots of running up the score and being unsportsman which did nothing but make the Patriots feel even more disrespected.
Aftermath: When the Giants ended the hopes and dreams of 19-0 more than just the members of the 1972 Dolphins celebrated, never before had a Super Bowl upset brought so many people together to point at the Patriots and laugh.
Third, they never forget... EVER!
Evidence: New England 45 New York Jets 3 - Over the past 15 years or so, no drama between two teams has been as entertaining as that between the Patriots and Jets. Belichick continuing to embarass the Jets a few weeks back had as much to do with the early season loss as it did with them hiring away Mangini from him, and spygate, and yes... even his departure from the Jets to become the coach of the Patriots. Belichick never forgets, and as a result his players never forget, and so long as Belichick is the coach of the Patriots, he will embarass the Jets on the field as often as the opportunity arises.
Aftermath: The rivalry can be as entertaining off the field as that of the Red Sox and Yankees, so far though on the field the rivalry is as one sided as the Sox and Yankees was pre-2004 with the New York football team on the crappy side.
So where does that leave us this week?
2007 still stings for the Patriots and they want to atone for the embarasment they received when they lost to the Giants, along the road they would like to wipe out the demons they have met along the way and friends, that starts Sunday against Miami, afterall it was the Dolphins trashing of the Patriots early in 2008 more than anything that kept the 11-5 Patriots from the playoffs that year, with a Bye week anyway there is less reason to rest key players.
Prediction
Brady and Company play well into the second half of the game.
Other items on the line
With a win, Belichick becomes the first coach and Brady the first QB to lead a team to 14+ win seasons four times.
The Patriots look to set the NFL mark for least amount of turnovers in a season, through 15 games they have turned it over 9 times, the record is 13, so barring a massive job of butterfingers, the record should be theirs.
The Patriots with a clean turnover sheet will extend to 8 games their record of consecutive games without a turnover. If Brady fails to throw and INT he will have gone 11 games without an INT.. if he also throws two TDs he will extend to 11 games his NFL record for most games with atleast 2 TDs and 0 INT.
Brady looks to complete his 5th home unbeaten season in 9 seasons (excluding 2008 when he was injured early in the season opener and missed the rest of the season)
Brady is set to become the first person to win multiple League MVPs and Super Bowl MVPs.
A few thing one needs to remember about these Patriots.
First, they hate being embarrassed, and if they are embarrassed be sure that when given the chance they will do everything they can to exact revenge.
Evidence: In 2003 the Patriots went into the final game against Buffalo with a 13-2 record, the #1 overall seed was locked up and there was very little reason to play Brady and others much. However in the season opener the Bills embarassed the Patriots to the tune of a 31-0 beating.
Result: Brady played most of the game while throwing 4 touchdowns and Belichick sent his starting defense back out with under a minute to go after they had been removed from the earlier in order to preserve a shutout as Buffalo was at the Patriots 1 yard line
Aftermath: Buffalo hasn't beaten New England since that 31-0 opening day win in 2003.
Second, they hate being disrespected, and if they feel disrespected, that will take it out on you.
Evidence: 2007 Season, further explanation probably isn't required here.
Result: The Patriots tore through the regular season and while given many opportunities to take their foot of the throats of their opponents they usually didn't. Many around the league accused the Patriots of running up the score and being unsportsman which did nothing but make the Patriots feel even more disrespected.
Aftermath: When the Giants ended the hopes and dreams of 19-0 more than just the members of the 1972 Dolphins celebrated, never before had a Super Bowl upset brought so many people together to point at the Patriots and laugh.
Third, they never forget... EVER!
Evidence: New England 45 New York Jets 3 - Over the past 15 years or so, no drama between two teams has been as entertaining as that between the Patriots and Jets. Belichick continuing to embarass the Jets a few weeks back had as much to do with the early season loss as it did with them hiring away Mangini from him, and spygate, and yes... even his departure from the Jets to become the coach of the Patriots. Belichick never forgets, and as a result his players never forget, and so long as Belichick is the coach of the Patriots, he will embarass the Jets on the field as often as the opportunity arises.
Aftermath: The rivalry can be as entertaining off the field as that of the Red Sox and Yankees, so far though on the field the rivalry is as one sided as the Sox and Yankees was pre-2004 with the New York football team on the crappy side.
So where does that leave us this week?
2007 still stings for the Patriots and they want to atone for the embarasment they received when they lost to the Giants, along the road they would like to wipe out the demons they have met along the way and friends, that starts Sunday against Miami, afterall it was the Dolphins trashing of the Patriots early in 2008 more than anything that kept the 11-5 Patriots from the playoffs that year, with a Bye week anyway there is less reason to rest key players.
Prediction
Brady and Company play well into the second half of the game.
Other items on the line
With a win, Belichick becomes the first coach and Brady the first QB to lead a team to 14+ win seasons four times.
The Patriots look to set the NFL mark for least amount of turnovers in a season, through 15 games they have turned it over 9 times, the record is 13, so barring a massive job of butterfingers, the record should be theirs.
The Patriots with a clean turnover sheet will extend to 8 games their record of consecutive games without a turnover. If Brady fails to throw and INT he will have gone 11 games without an INT.. if he also throws two TDs he will extend to 11 games his NFL record for most games with atleast 2 TDs and 0 INT.
Brady looks to complete his 5th home unbeaten season in 9 seasons (excluding 2008 when he was injured early in the season opener and missed the rest of the season)
Brady is set to become the first person to win multiple League MVPs and Super Bowl MVPs.
