The New England Patriots' 2009 season has been over for some time now, but I still wanted to bring some closure to the final four regular season games of the season and the playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens, while also keeping an eye on free agency and the draft. Keep in mind, these grades are not reflective of the entire season, only the finish. In my mind, the end of the season determines how a team should move forward in preparation for the next season anyway.
To refresh peoples' memories: After a loss to the Dolphins at Miami dropped the Patriots to 7-5, the Patriots won three games in a row. They broke their two game losing streak against the Carolina Panthers 20-10, won their first continental road game of the season at Buffalo 17-10, and had perhaps their most [...]
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There are only four weeks left in the 2009 NFL season, and the New England Patriots are 7-5 after 12 games. After starting the season 6-2, the Patriots have lost three of their last four games, with all of the losses on the road. They lost 35-34 to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football, won at home 31-14 against the New York Jets, lost to the New Orleans Saints 38-17 on Monday Night Football, and lost to the Miami Dolphins 22-21, the first time the Patriots lost two games in a row in over three years. They still lead the AFC East by one game.
The Patriots knew they were facing the most difficult portion of their schedule in the last four games, but to still perform like they did against quality competition is a disappointment. Here are the third quarter [...]
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The 2009 NFL season is half over, and the New England Patriots have a 6-2 record after eight games played. After starting the season 3-1, the Patriots lost on the road to the Denver Broncos 20-17 in overtime. They proceeded to go on a three game winning streak since: obliterating the Tennessee Titans 59-0 at home, going to London to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-7, and defeating the Miami Dolphins 27-17 at home, one week after the bye week. The New York Jets lost the AFC East division lead to the Patriots after losing four of their last five games.
While it seemed like the Patriots had an uncomfortable and challenging first month of the season, they appeared to get better in the last [...]
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After four games, the 2009 New England Patriots have come to the quarter mark of the schedule. They are 3-1: defeating the Buffalo Bills 25-24 at home on Monday Night Football, losing to the New York Jets 16-9 at the Meadowlands, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 26-10 at home, and defeating the Baltimore Ravens 27-21 at home. The loss to the Jets is the reason they are second in the AFC East.
I think it is an interesting time to evaluate the Patriots. At the optimist end of the spectrum, they look like an elite team. At the pessimist end of the spectrum, they look average. I'll go to the grades now:
PASS OFFENSE: B-. QB Tom Brady is coming back from reconstructive knee surgery and has taken some time to get comfortable again. The process is still ongoing, which is [...]
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