Looking at the Patriots - 2020

Just keep in mind this: The Pats are favorites tomorrow, as they should be compared to the NYJetes. If they win, they'll finish 7-9 on the year. I know it hasn't looked good, there are glaring issues, this is not me dismissing the very real problems that exist with the Patriots roster. That being said:

The Saints went 7-9 in 2016. With Drew Brees starting every game.
The Packers went 6-9-1 in 2018. With Aaron Rodgers starting every game.

And these were years where there were offseasons, not in the middle of a global pandemic. Despite the pandemic, the loss of the GOAT, the opt-out of 9 starters, the new QB getting COVID, and so forth, the Pats have a chance to finish just 1 game under 500. A handful of plays go differently, and we'd be looking at wins instead of losses in the Seattle, Buffalo, and Houston games, and a team potentially finishing 10-6. That being considered, I don't think we're that far off from being competitive, no matter how much it may seem otherwise. 2 years with minimal improvements spent building towards the future, to get together a roster able to legitimately compete for Super Bowls again? It could be worse.
Most excellent post.
 
Just keep in mind this: The Pats are favorites tomorrow, as they should be compared to the NYJetes. If they win, they'll finish 7-9 on the year. I know it hasn't looked good, there are glaring issues, this is not me dismissing the very real problems that exist with the Patriots roster. That being said:

The Saints went 7-9 in 2016. With Drew Brees starting every game.
The Packers went 6-9-1 in 2018. With Aaron Rodgers starting every game.

And these were years where there were offseasons, not in the middle of a global pandemic. Despite the pandemic, the loss of the GOAT, the opt-out of 9 starters, the new QB getting COVID, and so forth, the Pats have a chance to finish just 1 game under 500. A handful of plays go differently, and we'd be looking at wins instead of losses in the Seattle, Buffalo, and Houston games, and a team potentially finishing 10-6. That being considered, I don't think we're that far off from being competitive, no matter how much it may seem otherwise. 2 years with minimal improvements spent building towards the future, to get together a roster able to legitimately compete for Super Bowls again? It could be worse.
A loss would be better...draft wise.
 

Eh. I know. But I want to win super bowls again. Would rather suffer a few years and find the guy then sign a retread.
No need to suffer. Why not sign a reasonable FA QB and draft a QB who could be the future?
Just keep in mind this: The Pats are favorites tomorrow, as they should be compared to the NYJetes. If they win, they'll finish 7-9 on the year. I know it hasn't looked good, there are glaring issues, this is not me dismissing the very real problems that exist with the Patriots roster. That being said:

The Saints went 7-9 in 2016. With Drew Brees starting every game.
The Packers went 6-9-1 in 2018. With Aaron Rodgers starting every game.

And these were years where there were offseasons, not in the middle of a global pandemic. Despite the pandemic, the loss of the GOAT, the opt-out of 9 starters, the new QB getting COVID, and so forth, the Pats have a chance to finish just 1 game under 500. A handful of plays go differently, and we'd be looking at wins instead of losses in the Seattle, Buffalo, and Houston games, and a team potentially finishing 10-6. That being considered, I don't think we're that far off from being competitive, no matter how much it may seem otherwise. 2 years with minimal improvements spent building towards the future, to get together a roster able to legitimately compete for Super Bowls again? It could be worse.
Perspective is always good. Good post, GO.

All teams have bad years. It's inevitable. The Saints you mention were 7-9 in 3 consecutive years--> 2014, 2015 & 2016. The Packers were also 7-9 in 2017. In the last decade the Colts suffered through that 2-14 suck for luck season in 2011 and were 4-12 in 2017 and 7-9 in 2019. They also went 8-8 in '15 and '16. We could go on and on but the point is clear. The margin between good and bad seasons is narrow. The Pats were really good for 20 consecutive years but Brady had a 9-7 year and two 10-6 years; they weren't all 12-14 win seasons.

I also believe we're not that far off from being relevant again. We know our needs; everyone knows our needs. A good FA off season and draft this year and we're competitive again. With 2 in a row we should be back on top again by 2023.
 
No need to suffer. Why not sign a reasonable FA QB and draft a QB who could be the future?
I am all in for a reasonable FA QB. I don't want to spend draft capital and a lot of money on a Stafford or Ryan.
 
That game can be played all day long. We could have won against the Bills, Seahawks and Broncos. A play here or there and we'd be in. Games can come down to a single play.

I thought 9-7 this year would have been a fantastic result, I said it at the start of the season on one of the threads, and would see Bill in the running for COTY seeing how bad the team looked skill-wise and new QB, Covid etc.

So we may finish 7-9, am I really going to be downhearted with that? The concern will be QB going forward and skill positions on offense especially. That was always going to be the case though, no matter how this season went. If Cam had been stellar he could have demanded a huge contract that Bill wouldn't pay and we'd be back to square one.
 
It has been very stress-free, I've enjoyed it even if the Pats have lost games. I like Newton as a person and the good vibes he brought, it's just a shame he wasn't able to back it up on the field.

Bill can do it again, he was able to get a very good season in the bag in 2008 without Brady going 11-5 with Cassel. We had weapons like Welker, Moss, Gafney, Faulk, BJGE, Seymour, Vince, Rodney, Mayo, Vrable, Seau etc etc. That's a bunch of top-class players so we could cope with Brady out, The next season we went 10-6 with Tom back.
 
tb would not have made this team 5 games better.
Easily 5 games better with the much improved Oline and run game compared to last year. He beats the Bills the first time, Chiefs, Broncos, Texans, Niners. Also beats the Seahawks too so possibly 6 games better.
 
Easily 5 games better with the much improved Oline and run game compared to last year. He beats the Bills the first time, Chiefs, Broncos, Texans, Niners. Also beats the Seahawks too so possibly 6 games better.
That's ridiculous. I was being generous in saying Tom would have been 2 games better at best. The Bronco and Bills games, maybe. Cam's runs did the damage in Seattle, the Niners would have won as it was down to their run game. No Jules, no TEs. disruption on the O Line, no Develin any more, we could go on and on. And Tom was not better with Meyers or Harry last season.
 
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