Patriots are coming back to the pack

[ethurst2]

First of all, I have nothing against the Pats.

But even if Tom Brady would have played today, I had the feeling that the Dolphins would win...the game would have been closer but Miami would have won.

Brady has his toughest games against Miami. With the exception of last year, Brady has always had tough outings against the Dolphins for some reason.

The Patriots actually came back to Earth during the last game of the season last year vs the Giants. The points that the offense scored covered up for a slow and suspect defense. From today, it's safe to assume that the Patriots HAD to score the points that they did last year to cover up lack of defensive speed because they did look old and slow today.

They got through the playoffs but Brady and Moss didn't really stand out. Moss disappeared and it was guys like Welker and Maroney carrying the load.

By the time the Super Bowl came around, they had run out of gas but Brady, was clearly not the same quarterback.

The Patriots looked tired from the beginning of the game. Age has caught up to the defense and you can just see it. Every time Ronnie Brown got the ball, it was as if they got out of the way (he ran through Ellis Hobbs and Rodney Harrison).

In this game, Tom Brady would have probably faired WORSE than Cassel. At least Cassel can move. Brady still has problems with his foot and now he's out with a knee. With the pressure that Miami's front four was coming with, Brady could have got derailed too.

Belchick will reload. The Patriots won't bottom out like Miami did because they have Scott Pioli.

But they are simply not what they use to be.

[Tepop84]

I don't know.  I mean if Brady was still in there Moss wouldn't have quit like he did and I don't think the dolphins secondary is good enough to stop him.

[Pats2006]

Brady in Miami dont win that game.

[stinkfish]

Dolphins would have won that game regardless of who the Patsies QB was. The Patriots never had a chance today.

[simeon]

I am with Joey Porter on this one, it doesn't bother me if they have Brady or not because a win is a win.

[StL FinFan]

True, Brady doesn't play defense, but I think it would have been a lot closer if he were playing.

[TEKGOD]

The loss of Brady cannot be underestimated. If anything this will show what kind of Coach Belichick is most people insist on personnel there being products of the system.

[Sunstroke]

I think it would have been an entirely different game...

[Dave Gray]

The game would've been different, yes.  But the story of this game is the 38 points that the Dolphins scored.  Brady wouldn't be in there on D, so they still have problems as a team.