Bill Belichick's guys have proven they can easily blow lesser teams out of the water, and now they've shown they can pull out the close games against formidable opponents. The question now becomes, how can this team be stopped from cruising through the rest of their schedule undefeated? Is there anyone that can beat the Patriots besides the Patriots?
Looking ahead at the seven remaining regular-season games, it certainly appears the Pats could run the table, but there are a few hurdles to clear. The Buffalo game (up next) has all the classic symptoms of a trap game with New England coming off an emotional win over a huge conference rival and having to travel to the stadium of a division rival who has been on a roll of late. Fortunately for the Patriots, they have a week off to refocus their efforts on the Bills.
New England could also be tested later in a two-game stretch early in December when they travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens before hosting the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers the following week. If they keep their unblemished record in tact through that point, though, they may not be tested again until they play the New York Giants on the final week of the regular season.
That's assuming, of course, the Patriots stay healthy and they have something to play for over the final few weeks of the season. Theoretically, New England could have everything, including home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, wrapped up by week 15, possibly, and certainly by week 16. If that's the case, it raises an interesting scenario in which the Miami Dolphins, history's only undefeated Super Bowl champion, would have a chance to defend that distinction against a team with a little less motivation and potentially less playing time by its star players than they would normally see. Against the Pats at full strength, the Dolphins would be no match for the Tom Brady juggernaut. With Matt Cassel at quarterback, they might have a chance. A Patriots team with little to play for and star players to protect for the playoffs could also be ripe for the upset by a quality team like the Giants during week 17.
There are a lot of factors to consider when analyzing the Patriots' chances, but now that the rival Colts have been dispatched, the potential for a perfect season is larger, and it will continue to grow with each week the team remains undefeated. It appears complacency, or perhaps their domination in the standings, is the only thing that can stop them from escaping the regular season without a loss.
But when you consider the pressure that will follow them into the post-season, should the Patriots even want to be undefeated heading into the playoffs?
Comments
this game was bull the score should have been much higher on the patriots side but thanx to the nfl refs and those BS calls it was close.i’m disgusted by the calls that came from the officiating crew……..they were absolutely bogus and it makes one wonder……….did vegas have anything to do with it because of the spread and all the betters and the money on the line? i think that the FBI needs to check into it
Steelers by 10 in the Super Bowl. That is who will stop the Patriots.
WFvB
Steelers advisor.
I got one thing to say to Walter Boehme’s comment… AMEN!!!
I don’t know if they’ll go undefeated, but I doubt complacency will be a problem the way this team is playing. I think this is a team that is playing with a chip on their shoulders, and wants to go down as the best ever. Will they? That remains to be seen.
Steelers! Pats better Watch out!
The Steelers just lost to the 1-8 Jets, the Patriots are going kill them.. especially since Hinze Wards stupid remarks earlier in the year.. and do you think that Tom Brady and the rest of the team are going to let Eli Manning’s Giants beat them…? me either..
I don’t know if they’ll go undefeated,waiting !!!!