After Stephen Gostkowski missed a 40-yard FG in the 3rd quarter that would have given the Pats a 2-score lead over Denver, I knew this game was over. This Patriots team has none of the heart and character of the Super Bowl teams, and Brady looks like he is going to take a lot longer (if ever) to return to his "glory years" than the optimistic thought.

Brady looks bad. Just awful. He overthrew about 6 balls he never would have thrown like that two years ago. His timing is off, and he appears rattled.

The defense has no leader and can not rally from adversity. This team is in deep trouble.
Belichik is losing his edge as well, and his own off-field issues are beginning to show. This team lacks character because the head coach has lost his.

Sorry to say it, but there, I've said it....

Don't you think that you are being a little quick to judegement here?

Its only five games into the season and they have lost only 2 games. And those two games that they have lost were close.

Yeah Brady hasn't looked as good as he did two years ago, but this is he is coming back from knee surgery its going to take some time. Also don't forget that the season before he was hurt he was playing out of his mind. Even healthy it would be hard to match that production year in and year out. Throw in that the offensive coordinator for that year is now a head coach with another team.

The Patriots will be fine. They are a great organization with the people who are running it, know what they are doing. They will not panic, they still will contend with the Jets for the divison title and a playoff spot.

I said this over a year ago and I stand by it; the Dynasty period has ended, however the era of being a competitive, 10-6, 11-5 team, will continue until the current talent cycle clears, the once awesome depth of talent in the defensive and offensive frontlines is now just above average and those 2 units were always the real strength of the Patriots. Restocking on the fly it's hard to get all the way back, imploding the roster and rebuilding from scratch may soon be a real consideration, IMHO.

Brady may get back to more of a semblance of what he was a couple years ago, but that isn't my number one concern here. The team lacks chemistry, maturity, a winning psyche, and the defense--especially in the secondary where a somewhat unstable hothead (in Brandon Meriweather) may be their most talented player. UMaine's Brandon McGuire is playing great, but a tad over his head....The corners are aging cast-offs...

The D-line is not getting pressure, and showing how desperately they needed to get that deal done for Julius Peppers. The LBs--outside of Mayo--appear very average, and there are no big playmakers in the Bruschi/Vrabel mold in this bunch.

I think you all are just realizing what Belichik has known for a while now. That's why Seymour was traded...so they can start reloading for the next run. That's why they've played the draft the way they have the last couple of years. In order to stay on top in the NFL, you need to turn over your roster a bit. The real answer will come in about two or three years when they find out if they drafted wisely or not. If the players they've been stockpiling in the draft develop, and they hit it big with Oakland's pick, there could suddenly be another "dynasty" in New England for another 3-7 year period. If they over estimated their drafted players abilities, it will be someone else talking dynasty. A decent RB wouldn't hurt either.

OK.... 59-0 is a fairly good bounce back game, but this is Tennessee. And, they can't play in snow, AND our defense was still gouged on the ground...

OK.... 59-0 is a fairly good bounce back game, but this is Tennessee. And, they can't play in snow, AND our defense was still gouged on the ground...

6-2 is OK...especially since we have 4 picks in the top 64 in the 2010 draft and 2 in the top 32 in '11.

We may not be a SB contender this year, but we should be fully reloaded by 2012.

Yes, your D was gouged on the ground, but realistically speaking, Chris Johnson may be the best RB in the game, and you're no different than anyone who plays the Titans in that respect. On the positive side, Maroney came alive in that game for you guys, and has had decent stats ever since.

The defense has got to be the focus of our entire draft (with a mid round WR, OG and Rb thrown in) because we are finding that we have been signing a lot of busts and drafting poorly...and that began even before Piloi jumped ship.

The only 2nd round pick that panned out of our 4 (so far) is an offensive player...new LOT Sebastian Vollmer.

The Pats must stop being so darned cute in the draft, and just take low-risk guys who can play.

I think Chung, other than the penalty he got for that hit...and he did everything right there except not get his head to the side, has played very well in his chance with Merriwether hurting. 20 tackles, 2 sacks, and an int. aren't too bad for a rookie S in limited playing time. I think you've gained a lot of speed and athleticism in your recent drafts, especially on the defense, and all that remains is for those players to get some experience to see who the keepers are...then you fill in the blanks. Vollmer is a keeper.

I know this is going to sound weird, but when the Pats took a 13-point lead (34-21) in the 4th quarter instead of scoring the TD to go up 17, I said "Indy is going to beat us 35-34."

I wish I wasn't so darn prescient!

Talk about a total meltdown.

Oh, and don't even bring up the decision to go for it 4th and 2 on our own 28 with 2:18 left. That was the right call. The exact call I would have made. They were going to score even if we had punted them to their one yard line. Not to mention, of course, that we did pick up the first down--though the refs totally blew the spot, and ultimately cost us the game.

Still, you CAN NOT leave yourself in a position to be beaten on a last-second TD when playing the Colts in Indy...

I completely agree with you about going for it on 4th down. I think most fans wouldn't! But Manning is having an amazing year, it was at Indi and they had just drove on you and scored the previous possession. Of course there are going to be second guessers........ but if they punted and Indi went down and scored then people woulda said Patriots shouldn't have punted.

Steve...I really have to disagree with you here. I do think the refs did blow the spot. However, the call was just lame, even if they had made it. Call it gutsy if you want, but it's elementary football, my friend. Whether Indy may have scored or not after a punt, you are at your own 28 yard line...you punt the damn ball. Too many bad things can happen in that situation, and only two good things. Now, going up to the line and altering your cadence and trying to draw them offside, even taking a delay of game call before punting would have been better. Without revealing the entire entry I've written about this call for my blog, all I'll say is put the shoe on the other foot. Really a stupid call.

Well, we'll just agree to disagree then, my friend. If we'd gotten the correct spot, we win. It's that simple. If you can put the game away and keep Manning from touching the ball again, you do it. JMHO...I have no problem with the play call, but the fact that had it happened a few seconds later it would have been over-ruled by the booth is what is so irksome. Maybe booth reviews should be mandatory any time there is a one-TD or less lead in the final minutes of a ballgame?