Gap Between Patriots And Rest Of AFC Is Closing

[Mr KLC]

The rest of the AFC is finally closing the gap the New England Patriots created over 17 dominant seasons. The team lacks playmakers at key positions and can't hang defensively, and even the brilliance of Bill Belichick and his staff has come into question.

New England tends to lay one or two eggs every season, but Sunday's 31-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars symbolized something more.

"I think for us it was [a statement game] because we're underdogs," Jaguars defensive lineman Malik Jackson said, per ESPN.com's Michael DiRocco. "Nobody really believed in us once again. They thought they were going to come in here and steamroll us, so for us I think it was a statement game for people to recognize us."

[Easy-Rider 66]

Agreed

[ikid2groove415]

Typical overreacting after 1 lost - Patriots play in the worst division in football - meaning the road 2 the Superbowl goes through Foxborough

[unusialsusp5]

Typical overreacting after 1 lost - Patriots play in the worst division in football - meaning the road 2 the Superbowl goes through Foxborough

not this year. patriots will be on the road for all playoffs games if they actually make the playoffs with their 9-7 or 10-6 record. miami wins east this season. they lost way too many players and didn't replace them.

[ikid2groove415]

not this year. patriots will be on the road for all playoffs games if they actually make the playoffs with their 9-7 or 10-6 record. miami wins east this season. they lost way too many players and didn't replace them.

Ridiculous- how do they lose 6-7 games on that schedule? Dolphins? - no other team in the NFL have the Jagz defense - doesn’t mean New England can’t beat them in the playoff with home field

[unusialsusp5]

Ridiculous- how do they lose 6-7 games on that schedule? Dolphins? - no other team in the NFL have the Jagz defense - doesn’t mean New England can’t beat them in the playoff with home field

they will never have the home field vs jacksonville this year. tough schedule also. they have 5 home games against mia, ind, k.c, min, gb i see 3 losses there. also tough road games at chi, ten, pit and mia. minimum of 2 losses with that group. gives them a 10-6 record which is their best case scenario. more like 9-7 is more likely.

[lakerboy]

Will they lose in Detroit next week?

[ikid2groove415]

they will never have the home field vs jacksonville this year. tough schedule also. they have 5 home games against mia, ind, k.c, min, gb i see 3 losses there. also tough road games at chi, ten, pit and mia. minimum of 2 losses with that group. gives them a 10-6 record which is their best case scenario. more like 9-7 is more likely.

So teams just goes into Foxborough
And easily win now? Don’t understand how is there schedule tough? They are hosting the good teams -

[unusialsusp5]

So teams just goes into Foxborough
And easily win now? Don’t understand how is there schedule tough? They are hosting the good teams -

they would have to go 6-0 in the division which is very unlikely. if they go 4-2 they are in trouble for home field playoff game beyond first one hosting a wild card game. then on the road and done. this team like most cannot afford any type of injury issue. they are thin throughout.

[unusialsusp5]

they would have to go 6-0 in the division which is very unlikely. if they go 4-2 they are in trouble for home field playoff game beyond first one hosting a wild card game. then on the road and done. this team like most cannot afford any type of injury issue. they are thin throughout.

they have been lucky at home in recent years pulling out games with late game heroics. teams coming in won't beat them easily but will beat them.