Improvement

[BigKen]

It does not suck...as much...to lose a close hard fought game.

Losing sucks whether by one point or 30 points.

I'm just preparing myself for a very difficult season.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Losing sucks whether by one point or 30 points.

I'm just preparing myself for a very difficult season.

As a former competitor...Sucks more when you have the win in hand and one boneheaded play ruins it.

 

[Southieinnc]

Their constant rebuild was better than the Patriots last year. Patriots are 5-6 in the past five years and three of those were with TB12. Pats are 1-3 since he left.

Patriots / Dolphins results the past five years:

Date	Visitor			Home		Result	Box Score
01/09/2022	New England Patriots	24	@	Miami Dolphins	33	L	Box
09/12/2021	Miami Dolphins	17	@	New England Patriots	16	L	Box
12/20/2020	New England Patriots	12	@	Miami Dolphins	22	L	Box
09/13/2020	Miami Dolphins	11	@	New England Patriots	21	W	Box
12/29/2019	Miami Dolphins	27	@	New England Patriots	24	L	Box
​
09/15/2019	New England Patriots	43	@	Miami Dolphins	0	W	Box
12/09/2018	New England Patriots	33	@	Miami Dolphins	34	L	Box
09/30/2018	Miami Dolphins	7	@	New England Patriots	38	W	Box
12/11/2017	New England Patriots	20	@	Miami Dolphins	27	L	Box
11/26/2017	Miami Dolphins	17	@	New England Patriots	35	W	Box
01/01/2017	New England Patriots	35	@	Miami Dolphins	14	W	Box
09/18/2016	Miami Dolphins	24	@	New England Patriots	31	W	Box
01/03/2016	New England Patriots	10	@	Miami Dolphins	20	L	Box

I saw all these games. I glanced at your chart and wonder what that has to do with your statement that Miami's rebuild has been better?
One year into a rebuild with a rookie QB we improved from 7-9 ti 10-7
Miami on the 20th year of a rebuild went from 10-6 to 7-9. How is that better?
We won games and lost games last year, please explain to me again how we are now going to lose more games to Miami!

 

[Yankee Traveler]

I saw all these games. I glanced at your chart and wonder what that has to do with your statement that Miami's rebuild has been better?
One year into a rebuild with a rookie QB we improved from 7-9 ti 10-7
Miami on the 20th year of a rebuild went from 10-6 to 7-9. How is that better?
We won games and lost games last year, please explain to me again how we are now going to lose more games to Miami!

I would argue...Not literally trying to jump your ass and start an argument...that every year is a rebuilding year for every team, at least since the start of Free Agency, Salary Cap and the CBA. Early 90's?
Some teams just do better "Maintenance" and therefore have easier "Renovations".

 

[BigKen]

We won games and lost games last year, please explain to me again how we are now going to lose more games to Miami!

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest over this. In my opinion, Miami has made more improvements to their team since 2021 ended than the Patriots have. The Dolphins beat the Patriots twice and the Patriots, as you have suggested, were markedly improved. With limited money and very little to draw players to NE, 2022 is going to be tough road to hoe. Miami still has money to spend and will most likely keep spending and trading.

That and Bill doesn't seem to want to bring on coordinators. I think that will also work against the Patriots in 2022.

Bill may be the greatest HC in NFL history but he also had the greatest QB/Player in NFL history running the offense for 20 of those years.

 

[nefansince75]

One of those was a last second fumble and another was a freak college play.

If a one point win is a W then any loss is and L

But YR, that is not the context of this thread. The context is just judging the Fins vs the Pats so YT's statement has full merit.

 

[nefansince75]

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest over this because I don't want to be pissed on. In my opinion, Miami has made more improvements to their team since 2021 ended than the Patriots have. The Dolphins beat the Patriots twice and the Patriots which means more to me than the fact the Pats made the playoffs and the fins did not, as you have suggested, were markedly improved. With limited money and very little to draw players to NE, 2022 is going to be tough road to hoe. Miami still has money to spend and will most likely keep spending and trading.

That and Bill doesn't seem to want to bring on coordinators. I think that will also work against the Patriots in 2022.

Bill may be the greatest HC in NFL history but he also had the greatest QB/Player in NFL history running the offense for 20 of those years.

FIFY

 

[sharkymcwrath]

Interesting take form an article I just read on why the Pats haven't spent big yet.

“Spending big could jeopardize the Patriots’ compensatory pick formula; cornerback J.C. Jackson and offensive lineman Ted Karras scoring big deals elsewhere can help the team secure a third-round pick or a combination of midround picks, for example.”

Report: Patriots may pursue WR trade after avoiding the position in free agency

The Patriots aren't giving up on a receiver acquisition. But they didn't like how the market came together in free agency.

www.yahoo.com

 

[YankeeRebel]

But YR, that is not the context of this thread. The context is just judging the Fins vs the Pats so YT's statement has full merit.

Well I am not getting into a pissing contest on this but if we lost 5 of the last 6 seems to me they are doing more to be the better team than we are.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

But YR, that is not the context of this thread. The context is just judging the Fins vs the Pats so YT's statement has full merit.

 

[nefansince75]

Well I am not getting into a pissing contest on this but if we lost 5 of the last 6 seems to me they are doing more to be the better team than we are.

Which do you think speaks louder, The Pats vs Dolphins over the past three years or The Pats and Dolphins vs the rest of the league? So sure, the Dolphins have done better head to head, but vs the entire league the Pats made the playoff two out of three, the dolphins pulled an O-fer...

 

[YankeeRebel]

Which do you think speaks louder, The Pats vs Dolphins over the past three years or The Pats and Dolphins vs the rest of the league? So sure, the Dolphins have done better head to head, but vs the entire league the Pats made the playoff two out of three, the dolphins pulled an O-fer...

True but the comment I was reacting to directly related to the Phins. Again don't really care nor do I want to debate it. I feel the Pats could finish third in this division this year and that's because I do not feel we are improving at the same rate as the Bills and Phins

 

[nefansince75]

True but the comment I was reacting to directly related to the Phins. Again don't really care nor do I want to debate it. I feel the Pats could finish third in this division this year and that's because I do not feel we are improving at the same rate as the Bills and Phins

Dropping the Phins vs Pats debate and moving on...

I don't disagree the Pats "have not improved at the same rate", but they tend to pick up momentum around the draft.

 

[BigKen]

True but the comment I was reacting to directly related to the Phins. Again don't really care nor do I want to debate it. I feel the Pats could finish third in this division this year and that's because I do not feel we are improving at the same rate as the Bills and Phins

Here's something else to consider when talking about performance and whether or not the Patriots are better than another team. They finished
10-7 in 2021. While you may believe that they are or were better than the Dolphins, were they also better than the Bills or Titans? They beat both teams. The Patriots made a huge jump from 2020 with Cam at the helm and a rookie actually taking control.

The biggest problem with finishing well in any given year is that the team picks later in the draft. Not that there aren't outstanding players late, overlooked or ignored. BB has had the disadvantage of picking in the late 20s or early 30s with the exception of two years, 2021 Draft being the most recent and he was picking 15th. This year it's 21st and it looks like there will be a lot of potentially good players. Hopefully it won't be another Harry or broken toy with a huge upside.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

True but the comment I was reacting to directly related to the Phins. Again don't really care nor do I want to debate it. I feel the Pats could finish third in this division this year and that's because I do not feel we are improving at the same rate as the Bills and Phins

Put into perspective though, BB had generous cap space last year, whereas he is up against the ceiling this year.
Next year he will have generous cap space again to do more with, be it FA or trades. It waxes and wanes.

 

[YankeeRebel]

Put into perspective though, BB had generous cap space last year, whereas he is up against the ceiling this year.
Next year he will have generous cap space again to do more with, be it FA or trades. It waxes and wanes.

More importantly it's part of the rebuild and part of his job managing the cap is paramount to success

 

[Yankee Traveler]

More importantly it's part of the rebuild and part of his job managing the cap is paramount to success

Undoubtedly.
And he is a master at it.

 

[Southieinnc]

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest over this. In my opinion, Miami has made more improvements to their team since 2021 ended than the Patriots have. The Dolphins beat the Patriots twice and the Patriots, as you have suggested, were markedly improved. With limited money and very little to draw players to NE, 2022 is going to be tough road to hoe. Miami still has money to spend and will most likely keep spending and trading.

That and Bill doesn't seem to want to bring on coordinators. I think that will also work against the Patriots in 2022.

Bill may be the greatest HC in NFL history but he also had the greatest QB/Player in NFL history running the offense for 20 of those years.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

View attachment 292447View attachment 292447

I can read that boys mind.

Blonde? Or Brunette?
Brunette? Or Blonde?

Orrr...Both?

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Dropping the Phins vs Pats debate and moving on...

I don't disagree the Pats "have not improved at the same rate", but they tend to pick up momentum around the draft.

We are also just getting into the 2nd stage of FA. Bargins to be had and Bill is a thrifty shopper.