Let's talk about the Patriots.

[Direckshun]

I've been encouraged by the fight in this Chiefs team over the past two games. I think we've got what it takes to take it to a Patriots squad that is truly reeling.

I think this is the first truly good opponent we beat since we upset New Orleans a couple years ago.

Let's take a look at the roster.

At QB, Tom Brady is having about as bad of a season as he's had -- just in time for me to have him in fantasy football. Thanks, Tom. Tom's got zero rapport with most of his receivers, and he's just flat missing throws. He looks unfocused, the skill positions around him are generally poor (with the one key exception of Julian Edelman), and they've struggled mightily through three weeks.

I like Shane Vereen, and I do wonder why they don't run him more. As of now it seems they're giving Stevan Ridley most of the carries, and he's got that great combo of size and speed, but his YPA has fallen for three years now, and he's only averaging 3.4/carry this year. Vereen's got a lot more wiggle to him, averaging nearly 5 yards a carry.

At receiver, I have no ****ing idea what's going on. You have the exceptional Julian Edelmen and nobody else. Danny Amendola has two week's worth of zero catches -- is he injured? Google doesn't turn up anything for me. Aaron Dobson, Brandon LaFell, and Kenbrell Thomkins round out the receivers corps. If it wasn't for Edelman, I'd say the Chiefs hands-down have the better WR corps -- which is ****ing saying something. And even with him...

The crown jewel of their passing attack, of course, was supposed to be Gronkowski at TE. Who, all told, has looked slower than Fasano.

Say it with me now: Alex Smith has better weapons at his disposal than Tom Brady does.

I have no idea what the Patriots were doing trading Logan Mankins away, because their OL is terrible. Solder and Vollmer are unremarkable at the tackles, I suppose they're good enough, but their interior of Cannon, Wendell, and Connolly are getting slaughtered this year. Poe, Bailey, Walker and Vickerson should feast.

Their defense is a ton better.

The best player on their team as of today is probably Vance Wilfork, who is going to make our guards look silly. I don't know what the Patriots gameplan on defense is, but it probably involves sending Wilfork screaming at McGlynn or Fulton. The Patriots also have two sneaky-good DTs complimenting him in Sealver Siliga (solid runstopper) and Joe Vellano (athletic 3-tech). Of course, they also have the potentially lethal Dominique Easley, who can play both DT and DE, and has an epic first step. He has struggled to get his footing so far, but he has made a couple plays that provide glimpses into the player he could become.

Chandler Jones is their primary rush threat off the edge, and he's done well so far this year. Rob Ninkovich has been around for what seems like 10 years or so, and is playing the best football of his life under Belichek the past three years -- which is to say, fairly okay passrushing and a couple sacks a month. And the Patriots have zero depth at passrusher.

They have one of the best LB corps in the league: Jamie Collins, Jerod Mayo, and Dont'a Hightower are all 1st and 2nd round picks, one of the only 4-3 teams in the league to actually do that -- which explains why they have zero playmakers. Collins is their finesse, Hightower is their power, and Mayo can do it all in the middle of the field. It will be extremely entertaining seeing Kelce try to matching up with them in his route-running and blocking. It will be a challenge.

Brandon Browner may be out, but the Pats are still stacked with talent at corner. We are going to have to win this game without Dwayne Bowe, as he will almost certainly disappear on Revis Island. Alonzo Dennard and Kyle Arrington are a good duo of backup CBs, and I love the potential of Logan Ryan.

Patrick Chung is terrible, but paired with the excellent Devin McCourty, you've got an alright safety lineup -- albeit with zero depth behind them.

Special teams feature one of the best kickers in the game in Gostowski, a middling punter in Ryan Allen, and the great Julian Edelmen returning punts.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by splatbass

Not my point, and you know it. Stats can be made to say anything you want them to say - and this is exactly what you do every day. You are a dishonest hack.

So you think our defense played well against Tennesee and Denver?

[Ragged Robin]

**** the patriots, we have Alex "The White Mamba" Smith on our side, we got this

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

So you think our defense played well against Tennesee and Denver?

I notice you ignored the rest of my post - because you know it is true. You use stats to deceive. This is what you do. This is all you do.

You're not even very good at it. You're a lightweight.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by splatbass

I notice you ignored the rest of my post - because you know it is true. You use stats to deceive. This is what you do. This is all you do.

I don't care about your example, since that's not what I do. Alex had only 186 passing yards last week but you didn't see me bashing him for it.

Anyone who watched that Denver came and came to the conclusion our defense was good, or played well, is delusional.

What was your conclusion?

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

I don't care about your example, since that's not what I do. Alex had only 186 passing yards last week but you didn't see me bashing him for it.

Anyone who watched that Denver came and came to the conclusion our defense was good, or played well, is delusional.

What was your conclusion?

It played well enough to hold them to 24 points. That is pretty good against the Mannings.

Oh, yeah - that is EXACTLY what you do.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by splatbass

It played well enough to hold them to 24 points. That is pretty good against the Mannings.

Do you think that if the Chiefs replicate their level of play from that game for the rest of the year, they will hold every team to 24 points?