Defense hit hard with injuries---Brady throwing 53 passes---Bill"s Scoring 24---

[trumad]

If I were Pat's fan---I'd be worried.

[madinmaryland]

1. Not much of a running game for the Pats. Only about 60 yards.

[trumad]

2. I see problems with the defense...

And I don't care how great T. Brady is---- you simply can't rely on passing 50 times per game to win games especially at the end of the season...

[brendan120678]

3. Forget the end of the season...

Next week will be a tough one for the Pats....

J - E - T - S

Jets!

Jets!

Jets!

[Arkana]

12. We're gonna make Mark Sanchez not so pretty anymore.

[Forkboy]

4. Depends on the extent of Mayo's injury, I guess.

I'm a little worried anyways due the lack of depth to start with.

The Pats got lucky last night. A better team than the Bills doesn't allow that comeback.

[Arkana]

11. It's not serious.

According to some of the players, he was in good spirits at halftime, and would tell anyone who asked that "It's not serious".

Chances are he was kept out because he was just a little stiff and Belichick didn't want to risk it. His injury didn't look ANYTHING like what happened to Brady last year, and he was walking on the sidelines right afterwards.

[joeybee12]

5. To quote Gertrude Stein, a win is a win is a win...

...America's Team knew going in their defense was a problem...they can only get better...people say they were lucky, and they were, but after 19 straight losses Buffalo was fired up to win...it's not like the Pats didn't play a tough opponent last night.

[trumad]

6. I think it is deeper than that...

Believe me---the PAT'S are still good... but I see underlying problems that could creep up and get them. Fork mentioned depth---which is dead on...Injuries deplete depth big time. Again---Brady cannot throw 50 passes a game---because defenses will prepare for it.

Just an observation.

[joeybee12]

7. I'm not concerned...

...not yet...the season is young and time will tell how serious the problems are.

[Arkana]

14. Exactly. I recall a season opener a few years ago...

We had just traded a big-name defensive player and we opened the season with the Buffalo Bills. They promptly raped us, 31-0.

What did we do?

This was the 2003-2004 season, and we went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl, reciprocating the gesture to Buffalo by stomping them 31-0 in the last game of the season.

[joeybee12]

25. You can't really get a handle on any team until at least a few weeks

into the season...so at this point getting a win even like this is just fine with me!

[Upton]

9. Just an observation?

You're just hoping the Pats will take a step backwards such as your feminine like Dolphins offense did on Sunday. Let's see, I believe that was 4 turnovers against the Falcons, after committing 13 all of last year....up until the 5 they coughed up in the playoff humiliation against the Ravens that is.

Of course this year "Chad" and the girls are playing a REAL schedule...just an observation.

[KamaAina]

18. Got sexism?

"feminine like"? "the girls"?

PSA: At least one regular hereabouts is very definitely female.

edit: when hockey season starts in a couple of weeks, it'll be two.

[madinmaryland]

20. You're a female? All this time, and I thought you were a guy!

I guess I pulled a CreekDog!

[KamaAina]

22. That's right. I'm really Jessica Simpson.

Oh, the stories I could tell about your boy Tony... :P

[joeybee12]

23. Apparently he was at least decent...since you're

now stalking him!

[trumad]

26. Dude--- stepped in it there didn't you...

On a progressive board it's not to nice to swing your small dick around and disrespect women like that.... say what you want about my team---I have no problem with the smack... but when you act like a freeper scumbag and spout your Misogyny---well you're a scumbag.

[madinmaryland]

8. Of course. But why do you reference the Dallas Cowboys who put a thumping

on the Tampa Bay Bucs?

:wtf:

[joeybee12]

10. I didn't...I said America's Team, not America's Convicts! n/t

[madinmaryland]

13. Dude...

Always America's Team!

[joeybee12]

15. Someone's living in the past!

:smoke:

[TZ]

17. I have a feeling both of the mentioned teams

are gonna finish out of the top spot in their division.

[madinmaryland]

19. What's that, Snyder? Last place, Deadskins??

:D

[TZ]

21. 3rd place to you, Cerrato....

[madinmaryland]

24. I suppose the Eaglets could finish in last.

:D

[JonLP24]

16. I thought Brady's 50 passes

had something to do with the Bills running fewer snaps. I'm sure time of possession was heavily in the Pats favor.

[bluedigger]

27. If you were a Pats fan, I'd be horrified!

j/k, trumad! Somebody had to go there.

As for legitimate concerns about the Pats?

1. Brady.

Never mind.

2. Too much passing.

BB's big picture offensive strategy is simple (you know, like madinmaryland). Pass when behind, run when ahead, balanced to start the game. Exactly what we saw, and sound strategy. Had they led at the half, the Pats would have run, run, run in the second.

3. Defense, defense, defense.

OK, here we have legitimate concerns. I think BB's goal is for the offense to cover for the defense this season, as it transitions from the many great departed to the fresh young blood. The fact that it didn't collapse after Mayo went out in the first quarter is hugh! But we need Mayo back asap. He is the captain and play caller, and his absence was missed. I'm not aware of any other injuries. Defensive play will determine how far the Patriots go in the postseason (and go they will), and by then, this will be a much improved defense (I hope).