Problem is Pats d Picks have been way off the mark recently. Things could get a lot harder for the Pats in 2021 also if Houston continue to sink given the trade way to Miami. That 1st and 2nd Rd pick is currently pick 5 and likely to be at worst pick 12 in Rds 1 and 2 along with Miamis on mid round picks to go with a fairly young and up and coming roster.

Bonkers to think that the Fins could be causing the Pats problems already but is just the harsh reality.

Yep agree with all that. Really rate Flores as a coach as well. The trades of Stills and Tunsil have worked out brilliantly like you say. Interested to see how Tua looks, if he is the player they think he is then the Fins will certainly be an AFC East contender for the next few years.

The Pats will sort themselves out, we always do. Just a big rebuild ahead, looking forward to how we go about it. Plenty of talent available in free agency this offseason.

The issue is the Patriots can’t ask people to take less money because they have Brady and Belichick. They just can’t.

Newton is a big part of the problem but the team is not talented and this was always going to happen when they mortgaged a lot of money on Antonio Brown, a 2nd rounder and money for Sanu and other issues last season.

Hell, I’d ask Dallas if they want Newton and go with Stidham.

Gilmore is nearing 30, one year left on his deal and there is depth there. Trade him to someone who badly needs a CB for a 1st. If you can get a 3rd for Thuney, do the deal.

Offer Edelman to Tampa for a 7th rounder too.

The 2 TEs will be better in year 2. That’s what happens with the Patriots. Gronk and Hernandez weren’t great in their first year either but they were involved.

The Defensive front 7 has no talent outside Guy.

It’s a rebuild. But, I trust Belichick to get it right with that much cap room.

I hope they don’t trade for anyone at the deadline, it’s a waste of assets and they need youth.

On the basis that I think the Seaweeds will win the Div (spit spit) and that the Div will be crazy close, that win sets the Cards up nicely for a wild card spot (2-0 in the Div to date)

The Seahawks - Cardinals game was amazing, really enjoyed that, I always particularly enjoy it when the kickers get redemption for an earlier miss

Bit harsh on Gronk. He had 10 TD’s in his rookie season and nearly 600 yards. Would say that’s a very decent return.

Agree with all your other points. It’s a really poor roster in terms of talent. Not sure we would be hugely better off had Hightower, Chung and Cannon not opted out.

The front 7 has lacked an out and out pass rusher for years. The last one we had was probably Chandler Jones. Since then we have relied on LB and Safety blitzing to put pressure on QB’s but losing KVN and Collins in the off-season as well as Hightower and we just aren’t putting any pressure on QB’s.

Cam’s arm looked shot on Sunday but he literally has nothing to throw to. Expect us to add a couple of players before the trade deadline to try and help him out.

I used my time travel powers to go to an alternate future where the Falcons attempted the FG.

https://i.imgur.com/6RcDOCT.gif

https://fivethirtyeight.com/wp-conte...x3-1.png?w=650

Thats a great stat!
Montana, Bono, Grbac and Alex Smith I remember but were there any others?

Maybe Funk has a graphic that shows how rare this stat is after 7 games.

Not sure, there have been divisions where every team had a non-losing record, but I don't think there has been one where every team had a winning record. Regarding after 7 games, I did find this:
Cleveland finished 7-9. There have been 3 NFC West games so far, so 9 more to go.
Steve DeBerg comes to mind.

I think I heard that it's only happened 4 times before after 7 games.

Agree - tried the trade approach and busted a 2nd round on Sanu who now isnt even in the league. Arguably the best 2 players that the Pats have drafted in Rd's 1 and 2 in recent years are neither on their roster, Jimmy G and Chandler Jones

Perhaps they need some of our VAR officials to go over and advise them.

I used to watch american football a lot in the 80's, and then I didn't but I love the actual sport itself. Do you guys actually support teams or just watch it like noone the neutral? I only ask cos the first game I ever saw was Raiders at Cowboys in about 1982, and I just liked the black and silver of the Raiders strip so started following them. Golf Boy, at the time, 'picked' the Redskins (closet racist :D) I'd like to find the time to start watching again, it's a fantastic sport, but does this mean I should root root root for the Raiders?

My brother, when he lived in America, got me into NFL. He followed the Seahawks. I did consider following a team of a city I had visited (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York etc) but ended up choosing the Eagles simply because of the obvious similarity to Palace. Many years later and I still find myself supporting Philly even though at times I wish I could change. Both Eagles often have parallels - horrid results and runs, some major upsets like the Super Bowl win and and funnily enough an injury list the size of your arm all of the time - just like Palace! :supergrin:

Both I guess - I support the Cardinals, (basically picked a team when i got into it and they were on the All or Nothing Series) and went from there. Saw they play in the International Series which was cool (despite a spanking) but i generally dont mind watching any game. Fantasy helps along with podcasts and just having a good knowledge of the game and what im watching is what I enjoy.

Not to everyones taste but I love the Around The Nfl podcasts, some great content. Bill Simmons Podcast also pretty good and I like his Guess The Lines & Million Dollar Picks from a gambling perspective

I think it's all a bit alien. The whole closed shop franchise system takes away any real loyalty. Take for example the Raiders, originally Oakland, then LA, then Oakland and now Las Vegas (in an amazing new stadium). Then there are completely new teams like the Jags and the Panthers, not to mention the teams that are old but new like Houston Oilers becoming the Tennessee Titans whilst keeping their history and 'retiring' any attempt to resurrect the Oilers again in Houston. How many teams are genuinely fixed and original? Packers, Steelers, Cowboys, Giants.....I suppose there are a lot, but you can't tell if they will really stay or not.

I tend to have a bunch of teams I like (normally because of their style of play, I love a mobile QB) such as the Bills, Ravens, Panthers and Eagles and a few that I actively dislike, tbf it's mainly just the Pats and I generally have in my head a sort of league table of where various teams sit in between these extremes. Then I just find that in most games there will be a team that I want to win so I root for them. That's the way I follow most US sports (except Hockey where its Canucks or bust).

I tend to see the franchise system as being about representing a city / area in the present day rather than worrying about the history of each entity, which is a bit different from the European model.

Carolina Panthers fan, because I struggled to pick a team when I first got into NFL, their colours are the same as Orlando Magic who I had been a fan of since the mid 90s (Black, Blue, White and Silver), and my Mum's name was Carol.

I do still keep a very keen eye on the Seahawks though ad the first NFL game I saw on Sky was them vs San Francisco, and that years Madden had Shaun Alexander (Seahawk player) on the cover. Also I do love Seattle as a sporting City.

I think it's the equivalent of people in the US following the Premier League, you watch the games like the sport and maybe have certain teams you like and want to win but you can never replicate that strong bond I don't think.

It's a great sport though. After Formula One it's probably the one I watch the most and I have a couple of teams I like (Giants are in Palace colours and NY was first place in US that I visited and 49ers because I've seen them live in one of the only games they lost last season) but because I am not really a fan of one particular franchise I can enjoy the games that they are not involved in.

It's a different experience but I enjoy it.