Reason #2 why these ain't the "Patriots" they are the Pastriots

padre31 · Sep 25, 2010

Back then, the Patriots were like vintage Jonathan Papelbon. Give them a late lead and you could forget about it. Since then? Well, have you tuned in to a Red Sox game lately?

From 2002-08, there were 371 NFL games in which a team led at halftime but went on to lose. The Patriots suffered just one of those losses -- a 2004 second-half comeback by the Miami Dolphins.

New England did this despite leading at halftime more than any other team. In all, they were 66-1 with a lead at intermission. If anything was a sure thing, you could bet on the Patriots holding a late lead.
Click to expand...

Impressive, and I think what most people recall about the Pasts:

Since 2009, the results have not been nearly as favorable. The Patriots have led at the half 14 times, tied with the Packers for most in the NFL, but they are just 9-5 with a halftime lead, the 24th-best winning percentage in the NFL. Only the lowly Rams match that loss total.

Patriots When Leading at HalftimeSeason W-L Win pct NFL rank
2009-10 9-5 .643 24th
2002-08 66-1 .985 1st

Now, perhaps margin has something to do with it. Were those dominant Patriots squads putting up such large halftime margins that losing wasn't much of an option?

Not exactly.

Granted, the Patriots are 6-0 with a halftime lead of more than 10 since the start of last season. From 2002 to 2008, they were 27-0 in such contests.

But back then, even with a halftime lead of 10 points or fewer, the Patriots were 39-1, best in the NFL. Over the past two seasons, they are 3-5, the 28th-best winning percentage in
Click to expand...

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/columns/story?columnist=lundblad_jeremy&id=5606325

A top notch article that explains what I've been saying since the season ended last yr, these are not the "Patriots" who owned the AFCE and NFL for 7 or 8 seasons, these are the "Pastriots" a team with a good passing game, no running game and a mediocre defense that has gotten worse with the loss of Dan Peas this past offseason.

Audio version:

http://985thesportshub.cbslocal.com/2010/09/24/audio-track-records-brady-v-defense/

Fan version:

http://www.patriotsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=58003

And they know it..:D

Thoughts?

FinFan_Est.1984 · Sep 26, 2010

Here is to hoping the Miami Dolphins with the Wolf Pack defense have moved into the pole position on the half time lead stat. This defense if it continues to play like it did the first two weeks will be able to replicate the Pastriots.

MonstBlitz · Sep 26, 2010

I wonder if all of this correlates to the multiple times they have been pinched cheating.

My thoughts on it: There was earth shattering stuff on those tapes that the league destroyed. Implicating the Patsies in all sorts of horrible shenanigans. The league couldn't / wouldn't unleash that kind of hell. So they told Belichick just one more **** up out of you and you're done. And now we see a much less "dominating" Patriots team.

padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

FinFan_Est.1984 Get Aggressive!!!

MonstBlitz Nobody's Fart Catcher

Share This Page