Aftermath, Forward Thinking

They blew it. No other way to put it. They. Blew. It. In Spanish it’s lo soplaron. Different language, same point.

This wasn’t like the butt-whupping they took at the hands of Baltimore last year. New England had a shot at winning this game, but mistakes and poor execution cost them the game.

Losing in the playoffs hurts. But when the team has the conference’s best record and a first round bye, you’re not supposed to lose your first playoff game. Losing to a hated division rival is excruciating. Losing to the annoying, loud-mouth, wanna-be bullies New York Jets is unbearable.

Who would had thought the talk would get under the Patriots’ skin? In years past the team publicly let the chatter roll off their back until the game was over. Then they’d tell the press those claims and predictions inspired them to shut the opponent up.

It seemed innocent enough when WR Wes Welker made several “foot” clichés during his press conference as a sly way to get digs on Jets head coach Rex Ryan. But it was the first crack that some Pats were irritated. The Jets won the mental game.

The distraction manifested into loss of poise, dumb penalties, emotional loss of control, missed assignments, lack of patience. Watching WR Deion Branch jawing at New York’s sideline and hearing him call the Jets “classless” is sour grapes and a white flag that New England fell for the Jets’ trash talk.

Lack of health also played a role for the Patriots. They played without DL Ron Brace, Mike Wright, and Myron Pryor. The unit of Brace, Vince Wilfork and Brandon Deaderick was the team’s best run-stopping unit. Wright and Pryor were effective pass rushers. Without the full rotation, the Jets gained 120 rushing yards and QB Mark Sanchez wasn’t sacked.

There is a silver lining in the loss for Patriot fans. They know the Jets are built to win now. Not just a two-to-three year window. This year. NOW. Key players become free agents at the end of the year and it’s unlikely the Jets will be able to keep them all. If these free agents leave, New York crashes back to earth quickly.

As for New England, the Pats are bubbling with youth that should mature and improve with experience. If all goes well, the Patriots will become a championship-caliber team on both sides of the ball possibly as soon as next season and for a long time.

In all honesty, the Pats were ahead of schedule. There was a reason few predicted a 14-2 record. The roster was turned over dramatically on defense. Four games into the season the offense traded two weapons expected to play large roles. Injuries affected depth (DL Ty Warren and CB Leigh Bodden were on IR for the season; RB Kevin Faulk missed most of the year). New England would had been a better team.

But the Pats won’t be the exact same team next year. Faulk and DL Gerard Warren are two of 17 free agents and their return isn’t guaranteed. That’s not necessarily a negative. There’s room for improvement that experience might not take care of. Free agency can shore up a weakness quickly. And if New England continues their success in NFL Draft, some rookies will play from day one.

Considering New England lost three straight playoff games in similar manners screams out changes needed. The New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, and Jets combined for 13 sacks in those games. Change could come to the offensive line, whether they find improvements or if LT Matt Light and LG Logan Mankins leave as free agents.

Bill Belichick can’t help but notice what crippled his offense three years straight. Hopefully Bill is not too proud to borrow from successful game plans and add an OLB that can rush the passer. Belichick’s first desire is an OLB that can hold the edge on run downs and make tackles for loss.

For Belichick, sacks are overrated. I disagree somewhat. Great quarterbacks can complete passes when under presser. No QB completes passes when they’re sacked. Hopefully Belichick won’t be stubborn and gives in to finding an edge rusher like sinners give in to the Lord and find Religion.

The players already packed up and headed home. The coaches and scouts are barricaded in their offices reviewing films of veterans (do they sign WR Chad Ochocinco?) and potential draft picks, so there won’t be any shortage of talk.

Losing in the Divisionals means the Pats have the 17^th and 28^th picks in the first round of the draft. Already DEs J.J. Watts/Ryan Kerrigan and RBs Mark Ingram/Mikel Leshoure have been projected in two mock drafts.

It will be a long wait to wash the aftertaste from the Divisional loss. Come next season, the Patriots will be hungry to take a bite out of the Jets.