Mike Dussault's New England Patriots fan blog

From bostonsportz.com: 

Well it all comes down to this. When Brady went down this is probably about as high as Pats fans' expectations could've been, needing a win in the last game of the season to even have a chance at the playoffs. 

Still, the enjoyment of a playoff race is something that we haven't seen in a while around here. If the Pats do indeed miss the playoffs there are three games that can be noted as those responsible: losses to the Chargers, Colts and Steelers. All three of those teams will be in the playoffs (I'm giving the Chargers the benefit of the doubt) and the Pats could not beat any of them. 

While the loss to the Dolphins in week three and the Jets in November certainly didn't help, 4-2 in the AFC East will not be what derailed the 2008 Patriots. It was their inability to beat a single AFC playoff team outside their division. 

Continue reading "5 Keyz: Patriots vs. Bills"

By now we all know what needs to happen for the Patriots to get into the playoffs, but what happens if and when they get there? 

There are four potential scenarios that could play out depending on what happens this weekend. Assuming the Patriots beat the Bills, which may be a foolish assumption but it's no fun to assume otherwise, here they are:

1. Dolphins and Ravens Win, Pats Out of Playoffs: The log jam at the top of the AFC East has a whole lot more to do with the weak schedules that the teams have played (AFC West, NFC West) than how improved the Dolphins or Jets are. The only playoff team that the Dolphins have beaten is whoever wins the AFC West.

Other than wins over San Diego and Denver, Miami has feasted on the easiest schedule in the NFL. Still impressive considering where they were last year, and when you look at the Jets 0-for-West Coast performance, but it remains to be seen how thePhins match up with top notch competition.

Continue reading "Potential Patriots Playoff Scenarios"

The Cardinals should provide the perfect test for the Patriots in their second to last game of the season. Their strengths on offense (throwing the ball) are the Pats biggest weaknesses and their weaknesses on offense (running the ball) are the Pats biggest strength. So expect them to spread the field and try to attack the Pats banged up secondary.

While the Pats need to win this game to stay in the playoff chase, if they can’t beat the Cardinals in Foxboro in December do they really belong in the playoffs anyway? Probably not.

So far the Patriots have yet to beat a team that will make the playoffs (unless you count that week 2 victory over the Jets should they get in, though I wouldn’t bet on it). No one’s moving the Pats into the top five teams in the NFL if the beat Arizona but it is a chance to prove that their pass defense isn’t the swiss cheese everyone makes it out to be.

Continue reading "5 Keyz: Patriots vs. Cardinals"

From bostonsportz.com: 

Here we are, only three games left in the demento 2008 season and the Pats are hanging on to their playoff hopes by a thread. Three things need to happen for New England to make the playoffs: Pats go 3-0, Jets lose one, Dolphins lose one. At least one of these is guaranteed since the Jets and Dolphins play in the regular season finale so it should be an exciting last few weeks of the season.

 Let’s not kid ourselves, a loss in Oakland would be the ultimate anticlimactic end to an anticlimactic season where the Pats can't seem to beat a really good team. Luckily the Raiders aren't really good and more the kind of team that the Pats typically shred – undisciplined, no passing attack (32nd in NFL) and just waiting for an excuse to pack it in. On to the Keyz…

Continue reading "5 Keyz: Pats vs. Raiders"

Dear Santa,

I know it's been a while since I've written to you, and I'm sorry about forgetting to put out milk and cookies the couple Christmases, but this year I really need your help. As you're probably aware due to all the New England Patriots schwag you've delivered to my house over the years, I'm quite a big fan of the team.

So, the reason I'm writing to you is that in lieu of any presents this year I am only asking for the scenario I lay out below to unfold. I don't know how much pull you have with the NFL, but I'm guessing given your Vince Wilfork-esque build you must've played some ball at some point, so you can understand my passion.

While my request comes at the expense of some other teams I can assure you that none of their fans or players believe in you like I do, plus most of them celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and even Festivus instead of Christmas!

Continue reading "All I Want for Christmas is the Patriots in the Playoffs"

When Tom Brady went down in the first quarter of the first game this season, the first thought of Patriots fans was if the team could still contend without their biggest star. What they didn't realize was that Brady's injury was a harbinger of things to come all season long.

One of the most unrecognized factors in the almost-perfect 2007 season was the lack of injuries. The only major losses were Rosevelt Colvin and Sammie Morris, both of which were somewhat easily overcame.

But 2008 has been the worst year of injuries the Patriots dynasty has ever faced, which is saying a lot when you consider Troy Brown was playing cornerback in 2004. The fact that they are still in the running for the AFC East Division title is a testament to the organization.

By now everyone knows who the Patriots have lost, how much three rookies are playing on defense, and where Rosevelt Colvin and Junior Seau were two weeks ago at this time. I don't need to rehash all of it, because the only thing that matters is winning football games and that is what the Patriots have continued to do.

Continue reading "Patriots Enter the Home Stretch Battered and Bruised, But Not Dead Yet"

I was going to write about the atrocity that took place on the field of Gillette Stadium on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I couldn't write a sentence without vomiting in my own mouth. So instead I choose to sum up where the Pats are as they head into the final quarter of the 2008 season.

The defining characteristic of 2008 is the fact that it's Matt Cassel under center and not Tom Brady. We knew that would be the case within the first ten minutes of the season's start. While Cassel has been better than most expected it still remains to be seen if he can beat a top notch team.

Last week, following back-to-back 400 yard games, Cassel vs. Brady was the talk of Bleacher Report. However, after another loss to another AFC playoff team, that talk should be squelched. Instead, we should be left wondering if Matt Cassel is anything more than an average NFL quarterback.

Continue reading "Patriots 2008 Three-Quarters Report"

When the 2008 NFL schedule came out in April and Tom Brady still his left ACL intact, the thought of the Patriots going 16-0 for a second consecutive season did not seem out of the question.

On paper, the Pats had the easiest schedule in the NFL. Which seemed like a cruel joke after the way they laid waste to their 2007 opponents.

Of course that all changed when Bernard Pollard bent like Brady's leg like pretzel and Matt Cassel was thrust into the starting quarterback spotlight to the horror of Pats fans everywhere.

Cassel's improvement has been greater than even the most ardent Patriot supporters could have predicted, but despite his solid play the Pats have still lost four games and the dreams of back-to-back undefeated regular seasons have faded into a distant memory. A memory that was tainted by a Super Bowl loss anyway.

Continue reading "Patriots Must Beat The Steelers If They Want To Be Contenders"

It was a must-win for the Patriots and thank Belichick we have Matt Cassel. Holy crap, I never thought I'd type those words but welcome to 2008. It still doesn't make me miss Tom Brady any less.

So by now you know that Cassel posted back-to-back 400 passing yard games and is now among rare company that excludes even Brady. Those that were calling for Cassel's head after the first Dolphin debacle are now left trying to explain how they were behind Cassel all along. Suddenly the 2008 Pats offense looks like the peaking 2007 offense.

And it's a good thing because yet again the Patriots pass defense was shredded. Is it me or are the 2008 Patriots the anti-Ravens? All O, no D. When you're excited for a third-down stop you know how low your expectations have fallen for the defense.

Continue reading "Patriots-Dolphins: Notes on the Taming of the Wildcat"

It’s been a while since the Patriots have faced a regular season game as big as this weekend’s rematch in Miami. And it's been even longer since the Pats were tied in the division... for SECOND.

We all remember what happened the first time these two teams met, which can be summed up in two words: “Wildcat” and “booing”. If you had a third word to add it would have to be “embarrassment” because the Pats were blown off their home turf in week three. So now the Patriots are facing what is basically a “must-win” game in a place where they're 10-32 all-time.

Both the 2001 and 2004 Super Bowl winning Pats teams lost in Miami. The 2003 team needed overtime to dispatch of a 4-1 Dolphin team.

The point is that no matter how good or bad these teams appear on paper, Miami always plays New England hard when they're playing in Florida.Both teams badly need this game to keep their playoff hopes alive so expect a cage fight. So we should be in for a great football game.

Continue reading "5 Keyz: New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins"