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by Mark_Ockerbloom from Dedham

Last Post 1 day, 1 hour Ago


The Patriots may have a perfect record...but they are far from perfect. Close calls against the Colts, Eagles, Ravens and Giants show a team poised to lose, somehow finding a way to win. But the post-season will have even more formidable foes and personal fouls like the one called on Rodney Harrison Saturday night and the one not called on Vince Wilfork could mean the difference between winning and losing.

Right about now you're probably thinking I don't like their chances of going all the way...but that's not the case. I believe last night's narrow win came at the perfect time for Bill Belichick's squad and will only serve to heighten the teams' attention to detail going forward. I also like the fact that they have a week off to rest up and get healthy and then there's the home field advantage. It's now a three game season and Saturday night's scare in the Meadowlands helped set the table for what should be a successful run to a fourth Super Bowl title.
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Member Comments Total Comments: 15
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legendkiller34 read my blog
Dec 31, 2007 | 9:13 AM

Mark,
Come on now, the Patriots are 16-0
these weren't close games, see what a lot of people don't see is the Patriots are like
a Cat and every week they are playing with
wounded mice.
The wounded mice are the other teams, and just when the mice looks like it's coming to life, the Patriots go for the kill.

sirB read my blog
Dec 31, 2007 | 11:01 AM

Saturday nights game was one of the most exciting games I've ever watched. The Pats were looking at the biggest point deficit they faced this season, and once again, close call or not, they proved they know how to win games in any situation! It's been a hell of a ride so far, and I think they can hold on 3 more to bring to a dynasty!

sirB

Mark_Ockerbloom read my blog view my photos
Dec 31, 2007 | 11:19 AM

SirB,

Gotta agree...Saturday night's game was one of the best I've seen in years. Hard Hitting, crowd was into it...an electric atmosphere! Wouldn't it be great if the Super Bowl's were that good? legendkiller34...I realize the Pats are getting everyone's best shot...and I give them all the credit in the world...but they are not invincible and they know it and that's what will keep them on their toes 'til February.


Happy New Year!

Ock

legendkiller34 read my blog
Dec 31, 2007 | 1:06 PM

I don't know Mark,
I think and i maybe alone here, however i think Bill Belecheck, knows his team is the best.
He also knows how to beat these other teams,
and he is probobly still ticked off at loosing 500,000 at the begining of the year, so now he just lets these other teams think they have a chance then he drops the hammer.

legendkiller34 read my blog
Dec 31, 2007 | 1:12 PM

Oh yeah Mark i almost forgot,
Happy New Year to you and your family, let's all hope 2008 is BETTER THAN 2007

jovanone read my blog view my photos
Dec 31, 2007 | 2:15 PM

The Pats are very lucky to be 16-0. They could have easily been 12-4. Mark your 100% right, close calls against the Colts, Eagles, Ravens and Giants, shows just how vulnerable the Pats defense is.

The Giants game should have been an easy win for us, instead, the DEFENSE STRUGGLED, and has been for the last 3-4 games. The defense has let too many teams climb back into the game needlessly, which puts an enormous amount of pressure on the offense. They're lucky to have a guy like Tom Brady leading them, because he’s saved the defense’s butts a number of times by winning those last 4 games. The Giants should have never been thisclose to winning.

I want the Pats to win as much as anybody, but I have to be honest, I have my doubts. The defense has really got to step it up big time in order for that to happen.....I hope they prove me wrong.....

Happy New Year Mark!!!!

Graham_Cracker read my blog view my photos
Dec 31, 2007 | 5:48 PM

Ock,

You really took the words right out of my mouth with your blog here. I don't want to be pessimistic, but I think it's good to maintain a little humility. The Patriots have had their share of good fortune where the win just kind of fell on them and surprised most everyone at times - particularly the game against the Colts.
A big part of the reason for the success of the Patriots is because they've kept level heads by being the most humble bunch in the NFL. It would behoove the fans to follow their example.
Stay positive...but cool.

lafko06 read my blog view my photos
Jan 1, 2008 | 1:37 AM

If anyone thinks the defense the Pats showed in the Giants game is going to be comparable to what will be played in the playoffs....I've got some land to sell you in the everglades.

The Giants game was a get a win and get out healthy game. Sure I thought they'd have more pressure than was shown and when they brought it they we're successful. Why show blitz schemes in a meaningless game to playoff competitors when you can keep it under wraps and work on it for 2 weeks in practice?

The defense the PATS will show in the final 3 games will be a completely different animal than what was shown ending the season. It will be one of crushing pressure utilizing speed and power to shut down opposing offenses. The PATS haven't had to play a game that matters to their Superbowl run in over 3 weeks and Belechick won't show any aces in the hole without a gun to his head.

Any true fans would realize that what has been played is not what will be played. The Pats are a constantly changing team and that's why they are 16-0...able to change on a whim with success.

Don't let the vanilla defense that has been shown for 2+ weeks cloud you view as to how superior this team really is.

jovanone read my blog view my photos
Jan 1, 2008 | 10:06 AM

lafko06,
where’s the defense been for the last 4 games? Not just for the Giants game. They were extremely lucky to win all four of those games. They could have easily been 12-4. If the defense is so good and so "superior", why then did they let these other teams climb back into the game? Was it because they just wanted to scare us? Test their offense? What pray tell???
Be honest guy, they were lucky to win those 4 games, especially the Ravens game, a game they should have lost.
Let’s hope the defense plays better in the playoffs…

lafko06 read my blog view my photos
Jan 1, 2008 | 11:29 AM

Jova,
Are you a Pats fan? Where has the defense been the last 4 games? They we're extremely lucky to win the last 4 games? Do you watch the games or just listen to all the Patriot haters on National Football shows both TV and Radio?

The Ravens and Eagles games we're played in bad weather and that is a equalizer for a lesser talented team going up against the Pats.

A neutral example is the Steelers and Dolphins game that ended 3-0. Do you think the Dolphins could man up and play the Steelers staight up on a dry track? I think not.

The last 4 games? Here are numbers:

Steelers score 13 points Pats 34
Jets score 10 points Pats 20

Dolphins score 7 points Pats 28
Giants score 35 points. Pats 38

I'd say the defense played damn good allowing a average of 16 points a game. I'd take that going into the playoffs anyday.

Is 16 points a game good enough for you or do you want say 12 a game?

Get your facts straight before you come a'knockin.

jovanone read my blog view my photos
Jan 1, 2008 | 8:46 PM

lafko06,

I am a big Pats fan and I would love to see them win the Super Bowl. What I'm saying is the Pats defense is a little suspect. A game like the Giants should have never been that close. The Ravens, the Pats were lucky to win that game. It was 4th and short yardage and the Ravens stopped them cold, game over and all of a sudden there was a late time out called by the Ravens bench, and then the penalties. The weather didn't win the game for the Pats; penalties against the Ravens won it for them. The Eagles was another lucky win for them, again penalties. If the Pats have such a "superior" defense they should be able to execute in any type of weather, after all the Ravens did the Eagles did and the Giants did, so what happened to them during these games? The weather had nothing to do with the game against the Giants, and Eli Manning is not the player his brother is, and yet he almost became the spoiler. That would have been one bitter pill for them to swallow, as well as for everyone else if that ever happened. Again that game should have never been that close.

UMAN read my blog
Jan 1, 2008 | 9:44 PM

PERSONALLY I DO NOT THINK THE PATS WILL WIN THE SUPER BOWL THIS YEAR. ALL THEY NEED IS A TEAM WHO CAN PICK UP THE SLACK IN THE SECOND HALF AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONVERT. TOO MANNY CLOSE CALLS EVEN THOUGH BELICHEK HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE WEAKNESSES AND EXPLOITS THEM IN THE LAST QUARTER. IT IS VERY TOUGH TO PLAY FROM BEHIND IN THE SUPER BOWL. I AGREE WITH JOVANONE THT ELI MANNING IS NOT OF THE SAME CALIBER OF HIS BROTHER BUT WAS TOO EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE PATS. IF THEY CONTINUE TO PLAY AS THEY HAVE I AM AFRAID THEY WILL NOT REMAIN UNDEFEATED.

jovanone read my blog view my photos
Jan 2, 2008 | 11:49 AM

AMEN UMAN!!!! Thank You!!!!

lafko06 read my blog view my photos
Jan 2, 2008 | 7:35 PM

Jova,
If you want to talk about the Ravens and Eagles thats one thing but you went off about the "Last 4 Games". Every Game was a mini Superbowl and the level of play they faced supports that fact and in games following the Patriots the opposing teams went in the tank.

My comments about the weather weren't towards the Pats but to the opponents they face. What do you think about the Pittsburgh-Miami game that shows how weather affects and equalizes the teams.

We're they supposed to blow out a playoff caliber Team on the road when they played the Giants? They we're in a playoff caliber game and withstood the challenge under the biggest pressure. The hardest thing to do in Football is win on the road. I knew the game was going to be a tough one due to the hard hitting defense and big RB they have. The game plan they used I think was to take Jacobs away and make Eli beat them which he almost did. The plan still worked and if they game plan against a certain part of a offense they are always effective in it. Along with that they made the big play against Eli when needed as they almost always do in situational Football.

I have the utmost confidence in Belechick and Pee's to find their way through 3 more games of Defense genius.

One last thing is that the "superior" word your so hooked on was a compliment to the TEAM. you have twisted it to be applied to the defense only.

jovanone read my blog view my photos
Jan 2, 2008 | 10:36 PM

lafko06,

I want the Pats to win more then anyone. I love the Pats and would love to see them win the Super Bowl just to shut Don Schula up.
I think the defense is very suspect right now, and hope the rest will do them all a lot of good, and when they do play, they'll play with the same intensity they showed in the beginning of the season. So for me, I'm just going to sit and wait and see what happens....

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Mark_Ockerbloom

I anchor the Fox 25 News at 5, 10 & 11pm and want to hear from you. Feel free to drop me a line anytime.

Member Since: 10/17/2006