Boston Sports Then and Now

The AFC East will be a dogfight this year.

Is it football season yet?

Sun. Sept. 12 vs. Cincinnati, 1 PM
Sun. Sept. 19 at N.Y. Jets, 4 PM
Sun. Sept. 26 vs. Buffalo, 1 PM
Mon. Oct. 4 at Miami, 8:30 PM
Week 5 — Bye
Sun. Oct. 17 vs. Baltimore, 1 PM
Sun. Oct. 24 at San Diego, 4:15 PM
Sun. Oct. 31 vs. Minnesota, 4:15 PM
Sun. Nov. 7 at Cleveland, 1 PM
Sun. Nov. 14 at Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Sun. Nov. 21 vs. Indianapolis, 4:15 PM
Thu. Nov. 25 at Detroit, 12:30 PM
Mon. Dec. 6 vs. N.Y. Jets, 8:30 PM
Sun. Dec. 12 at Chicago, 1 PM
Sun. Dec. 19 vs. Green Bay, 8:20 PM
Sun. Dec. 26 at Buffalo, 1 PM
Sun. Jan. 2 vs. Miami, 1 PM

Thoughts:

• This is the NFL’s 6th toughest schedule based on the combined 2009 opponent’s records (136-120). However, that is a deceiving statistic because these teams have changed talent-wise during the off-season. In particular, the AFC East opponents have all improved immensely.
• The bye week is fairly early, but with the Thanksgiving matchup at Detroit in week 12, the Patriots will have 11 full days off before the take on the Jets December 6th at home on Monday Night Football.
• The farthest west that the team travels besides their week 7 game at San Diego is a matchup at Cleveland. Not bad.
• The Patriots catch the Browns off of their bye week.
• There will be two Monday Night Football matchups each versus a division opponent (week 4 at Miami and week 13 versus the Jets).
• It will be a tough two game set November 7th and November 14th with a game at Pittsburgh and then versus the Colts.
• The Patriots will have three home games in the last five weeks which could make for a good home field advantage in the cold weather.

In the wise words of Bill Belichick “it is what it is” and the Patriots will adapt to the quirks in their schedule.

Torry Holt should be a competent compliment to Randy Moss.

Today was a bittersweet day on Planet Patriots.

New England finally made a splash on the free agent market by signing wide receiver, Torry Holt. Holt played 15 games for the Jaguars last year while posting 51 catches and 722 yards with no touchdowns.

The Patriots wide receiving corps needed a shot in the arm after the injury to Wes Welker and the disaster that was Joey Galloway. Holt will be a competent compliment to Randy Moss and Julian Edelman. Tom Brady will have confidence throwing the ball to this proven veteran, something he did not have at times last season.

Torry Holt is not exactly Brandon Marshall or Santonio Holmes talent wise. However, he has a much better character and should fit into the “Patriot Way”. Holt also brings veteran leadership, the Patriots seriously lacked last year.

Torry Holt’s career numbers are as follows; 920 catches for 13,382 yards and 74 touchdowns. His best year was with the Rams in 2003. Holt hauled in 117 balls for 1,696 yards and 12 scores.

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Randy Moss and Tom Brady looked 2007-esque versus Jacksonville.

The Patriots took care of business and clinched the AFC East for the seventh time in ten years. There will be no playoff bye this year, but the Patriots look like they putting everything together.

It’s all about getting hot at the right time.

Remember those NY Giants that knocked off the undefeated Patriots in 2007?

Win and New England is in.

Pretty simple, right?

It looked simple against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacksonville was fighting for their playoff lives but they didn’t play like that.

New England dominated the Jags in every phase of the game.

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Bill Belichick doesn't care what you think.

The question jumps into your brain, “What was he thinking?” It’s what I’m thinking when Bill Belichick’s Patriots fail to get the needed yardage on fourth down.
Why is he always going for it on fourth down?
That is an easy question with a huge response that you would never get Bill to fully verbalize. And, why should he?
Bill has his allegiances squarely laid out and the media is not on his favored list. He answers to his franchise and the owner, Robert Kraft. He answers to the team and his coaching staff. He would probably answer to his family if they dared ask the same questions we do.
Robert Kraft trusts his head coach enough to have penned a contract that keeps him through at least 2013. If Bill says to Robert, “I’d go for it again on fourth in that situation.” The odds would be even money that Mr. Kraft would reply, “You go Bill!”
You’re talking about a coach who brought to New England, 6 AFC east titles and 3 Super Bowl wins; a coach who has garnered 2 “AP NFL Coach of the year” nods since he’s been with the Patriots organization.

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Despite early stumbles, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots appear to be back in control in the AFC East.

The Kings of the AFC East are alive and well, the rumor of their demise has been largely fabricated. I speak of none other than the New England Patriots.

We were only five games into the 2009 season and many pundits were writing a far too premature obituary for the perennial powerhouse. It is a favorite past time for many, trying to predict the downfall of the Pats.

Here’s the funny thing though. As much as I have read about the failings and weaknesses of this 2009 team the betting line usually holds the Patriots up as the victor in most match-ups.

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