Stats on Pats Weekly Article by Joshua Bonneau, southcoast247.com correspondent
Pats End Season in Bizarre Fashion
The nay sayers would call it a loss plain and simple, but I for one see Sunday’s defeat vs. Miami (9-7) as a win win situation, not to mention a pretty entertaining game. I say this for mainly two reasons. The first being the team’s ability to allow some much needed rest to many of the starters going into the playoffs next week (yet still keeping them sharp with first quarter action). The second has to do with maintaining the fourth seed heading into the playoffs, which wouldn’t have happened had they won, but rather a victory would have determined Pittsburgh as the Patriot’s first round contenders in Foxboro.
Bill Belichick in his press conference after the game claimed that seeding and the prospect of facing the surging Steelers did not in any way effect his decision making in the game, which is obviously bullshit. Playing dumb, as they say. But don’t think that the Jacksonville Jaguars will come into Gillette and keel over. They are a solid football team with some explosive players like Smith and Stroud, and when coupled with the element of surprise (the Pats have played them not once this year) the Jags, with 6 wins on the road, become worthy adversaries. However, they are a warm weather team, not to mention infants when compared to the Patriots in playoff experience, figuratively speaking. But that’s nothing, right Bill?
Offense
The Pats closed up their regular season play (10-6) in tandem with the likely end of Doug Flutie’s long and illustrious career. If he indeed does retire at the end of this season, the 43 year old veteran would not have gone out without a bang, as he drop kicked a point after through the uprights in the final minutes of the game- a feat that has not been accomplished in more than 60 years. If this IS the end for the diminutive, fearless and greatly admired QB, his exit will be to the sound of raucous applause and smiles. Other notables include rookie QB Matt Cassel throwing two touchdown passes and a near comeback in the closing seconds of the game.
Defense
The D in this one, composed of mostly second and third string players through three quarters did as expected, maybe better. But some very promising young players, namely Bam Childress showed some real talent and versatility on the defensive side of the ball.
The nay sayers would call it a loss plain and simple, but I for one see Sunday’s defeat vs. Miami (9-7) as a win win situation, not to mention a pretty entertaining game. I say this for mainly two reasons. The first being the team’s ability to allow some much needed rest to many of the starters going into the playoffs next week (yet still keeping them sharp with first quarter action). The second has to do with maintaining the fourth seed heading into the playoffs, which wouldn’t have happened had they won, but rather a victory would have determined Pittsburgh as the Patriot’s first round contenders in Foxboro.
