Pats give up late on - Good or Bad move?

[Derrville]

What goes around, comes around.

[Vinsane]

I'm not against BB folding his hand and walking away from the table. On one hand it's viewed as cowardice, on the other it's viewed as smart. We're going into Week 13, Bill needs every weapon he can get this year, especially with the way the Colts are playing. If it was two scores, I could have an issue with it. This game was over, no matter if the Patriots pulled within two scores, they would've been right back down by 21.

Luckily they're in the AFC East so this wasn't a must win game, or a game they really needed. From the looks of it, they know they're going to be playing in the wild card round, Indianapolis will more then likely get HFA, while Cincy or SD will get the other bye. Patriots are conserving what they have left in the tank to get through the rest of the season, and into the postseason.

Although, the Saints provided the Blue Print for the remainder of the season, of how to tear apart the New England Patriots.

[Deviant]

I'm not against BB folding his hand and walking away from the table. On one hand it's viewed as cowardice, on the other it's viewed as smart. We're going into Week 13, Bill needs every weapon he can get this year, especially with the way the Colts are playing. If it was two scores, I could have an issue with it. This game was over, no matter if the Patriots pulled within two scores, they would've been right back down by 21.

Luckily they're in the AFC East so this wasn't a must win game, or a game they really needed. From the looks of it, they know they're going to be playing in the wild card round, Indianapolis will more then likely get HFA, while Cincy or SD will get the other bye. Patriots are conserving what they have left in the tank to get through the rest of the season, and into the postseason.

Although, the Saints provided the Blue Print for the remainder of the season, of how to tear apart the New England Patriots.

The key to that game: the signing of Mike McKenzie (originally drafted by the Packers specifically to defend Moss) and Chris McAlister. Excellent move.

I suppose my issue with all of this is that it is Belichick. It seems hypocritical that he folded.

[Scorask]

The key to that game: the signing of Mike McKenzie (originally drafted by the Packers specifically to defend Moss) and Chris McAlister. Excellent move.

I suppose my issue with all of this is that it is Belichick. It seems hypocritical that he folded.

They certainly were a big boost to the Saints secondary.

[Rayman]

Belichick is clearly trying to lull the rest of the AFC into a false sense of security.

He wants people to underestimate his team, ergo he'll "lose a battle" to "win the war".

[Nukleopatra]

Patriots can't compete with that secondary.

It's looking more like an Indy/SD champion this year.

[Tailback U]

I think Belichick pulled Brady and Moss in the same way that a hockey coach pulls his goalie or a manager pulls his pitcher when he's having an off night.

Brady is a very hot and cold QB when it comes to accuracy and he was off last night. The crowd and the Saints D got to him and threw him off his game and he just couldn't regroup after he threw that INT.

[Len B]

I don't agree with the move, but I do laugh out loud at the scrutiny this guy gets. Everyone waits for him to do just anything and as soon as he does they jizz all over themselves before they can yell "Belicheat!"

99.99% chance the Patriots don't come back to win, but you should still leave your guys out there to try and make some sort of momentum push. I don't know whether he cried foul or just felt like it was an unworthy cause at that point to play his guys, but either way it doesn't matter he can do what he wants to do he's an NFL coach. How far down the "I hate BB" checklist do you have to go to criticize him for his substitution philosophies?

That said, the way the Patriots played last night, they deserved to have the starters pulled in the third quarter. Brady was horrific, Moss was horrific, and the entire defense sucked complete balls.

[Len B]

Patriots can't compete with that secondary.

It's looking more like an Indy/SD champion this year.

Agreed. Will be really pissed if a team like Pittsburgh backs their way in, though.

[Esjay]

Patriots can't compete with that secondary.

It's looking more like an Indy/SD champion this year.

I don't think I could deal with that game. I might seriously go on a killing spree if we lost.

[Warner2BruceTD]

The big mistake Belichick made that is being overlooked, is going for it on 4th from the 5 with the score 31-17. That was really the end of the game.

Gotta take 3 and make it a two score game.

[dave]

Game was over.
Pats in mediocre division.
No point risking an injury.

[Deviant]

I don't agree with the move, but I do laugh out loud at the scrutiny this guy gets. Everyone waits for him to do just anything and as soon as he does they jizz all over themselves before they can yell "Belicheat!"

99.99% chance the Patriots don't come back to win, but you should still leave your guys out there to try and make some sort of momentum push. I don't know whether he cried foul or just felt like it was an unworthy cause at that point to play his guys, but either way it doesn't matter he can do what he wants to do he's an NFL coach. How far down the "I hate BB" checklist do you have to go to criticize him for his substitution philosophies?

That said, the way the Patriots played last night, they deserved to have the starters pulled in the third quarter. Brady was horrific, Moss was horrific, and the entire defense sucked complete balls.

I said that game was over at the end of the 2nd Quarter. They couldn't compete with the Saints that night. However, Belichick can't be a preacher of playing 60 minutes when he's blowing teams out 42-0 in the Fourth and then not want to play anymore when he's down 17 in the Fourth.

[BossMyShiiUp24]

The big mistake Belichick made that is being overlooked, is going for it on 4th from the 5 with the score 31-17. That was really the end of the game.

Gotta take 3 and make it a two score game.

31-17 is a two score game. They had to go for it the field goal is worthless in the situation the way the saints were playing

[Len B]

31-17 is a two score game. They had to go for it the field goal is worthless in the situation the way the saints were playing

Disagree... either way you're going to need three scores to beat the Saints. Kicking a FG there does you no harm at all considering it's the 3rd quarter. If your team can't stop the Saints you aren't going to win whether you get 7 or you get 3 there.