11-14-08 Dale and Michael Recap Pats-Jets

I know all the normal tendency around here is that panic at the drop of a hat I know that. We live day to -- minute to minute quarter by quarter whatever you know cliche you want to use I know that's how we normally approach things. As sports fans in the Greater Boston or New England area. But when Michael and I got together early this morning on the phone and -- our little conference call we both had the exact same thought that the exact same time. Which is that ten days from now you'll be back tied for first place in the AFC east. That the Jets will in all likelihood lose to Tennessee and the Patriots in all likelihood would be the Miami Dolphins and you're right back where you were last night before the game.

Does that make you better. I would I told I didn't I -- or are you -- to make yourself Phil -- I didn't feel good about last night's game it did and yesterday you know what actually. Maybe you don't want this a pretty good calling your -- that it would be 2421. Jets missed like ten. At 31 Jets. He probably probably didn't see the Patriots scoring -- 12 that they -- On a ridiculous catch by Randy Moss. He probably didn't think that Matt Cassel would throw for 400 yards out for another sixty and have three touchdown passes I didn't Patriots offense. Give up that many points. And that you just deep -- should give up that many points Miami if you look at it. The the Patriots I think this is the second time this season. We look at it you say the Patriots. Despite playing competitively and being a close game it's the second three point loss. Where you could say overall. -- playoff that's mark. I'm still I'm still. A little confused by the Indianapolis game. There was some coaching mistakes and -- game obviously. Starting with the well ending with the decision to -- for field goal on fourth down from the seven yard line. Rather than just run it in on one of the worst defenses one of the worst run -- NFL. So. Then there was a fifteen yard penalty from David Thomas doing it against the crew that loves calling. Unnecessary roughness penalties but last night. Now there's errant snap from my ankle and there's a fifteen yard penalty that. I still haven't seen because we have high school network. Broadcasting these games table late. I mean this is a joke. I and -- about cable late in my town -- local access cable there there studio shows are great. Love listening to Steve Mariucci Deion Sanders rich Eisen all those guys love the game replays. But until you're ready mentally ready to Aurilia on a professional broadcast. The grown folks handled this -- unless CBS. And an NBC and fox. Handle the games because. This is this is amateur hour anyway I -- I haven't seen a fifteen yard penalty from Pierre Woods. Up there it was a good call bad call I don't know -- haven't -- it -- and -- there was the overthrow. As many. Great plays Matt Cassel made last night he missed. Randy Moss on a touchdown that set a goal and touchdown pass it was yet another pitcher up by Jabar Gaffney. It's gotta be psychological now for him I just. I admitted I was thinking last night. I am spoiled rotten. I'm spoilt rotten from watching this team since 2001 -- some great they don't make many mistakes do it I have not used to seeing a Patriots team twice in in weeks. --

There was couple of things to an end. I know how dumb this sounds for a team that's scored 31 points and racked up 500 yards in offense and threw for 400 yards and all last. I really thought the offense left some points out there as.

Yet there are some great opportunities remain. You want to talk about Deco opened play. That that totally change that series right there a -- ballot that was going to be good series. You -- 24 yards because. The quarterback in the in the -- are not on the same page. Inexcusable.

And as you said the missed -- Moss. You know he had beaten the defender and a I haven't had a chance to have to read it yet I heard John and Jerry referring to it -- computer issues that are almost fixed here but apparently. Michael Felger on WEEI dot com thinks Ty Law took Randy Moss out of the game yeah.

Yeah I actually and I have the same computer issues that you do I guess is just not. At Brighton landing but. I read it before my computer started started acting up. He is he is watching Natalie as you watch different games and then I was watching his watching a different place. He said last night wanted to any like he said last night. Randy Moss pretty much on 779. Plays made appeal. In the one play didn't Duke was the brilliant catch. With 12 to play but there was one line in there that kind of makes me laugh and and I am glad -- wrote it. Because it it gives me an opportunity to talk about something. That was brought up on the -- on the football -- Felger wrote. I'm paraphrasing cosmic computers out but -- people keep telling me.

Listen up people keep telling me that this is one of the greatest receivers of all time. And Michael. Those are smart people talking to -- good faith did -- Don't -- I think you might want to listen to those people were telling you that Randy Moss. Is one of the greatest receivers -- in the apparently things Randy Moss was a dog last night. Now. He didn't have that I guess he was here maybe in -- the benefit. The broadcaster you have the benefit of just seeing exactly. What the New York Jets were doing to Randy Moss there was no one on one coverage which like Jabar Gaffney at such a -- yeah I mean -- about that. No one on one coverage and in and during the times when Randy Moss was racing single coverage -- would throw his hand in the care. In a one of those times Matt Cassel missed him on another time. Scored a touchdown -- again Cassel misunderstood what Moss was doing -- is trying to set up the defensive back believe it was -- Trying to -- him just his predicament side. Knowing that he would bite on that inning going back out -- well. Cassel didn't account for the -- so he threw it as if Randy Moss was not going to make any adjustments to his -- And he overthrown by five or six yards but I talked about a conversation that was that was happened Sunday the -- They try to make the I can't remember who was -- know Perillo and -- try to make the argument that the loss. Donte' Stallworth. Who if you were paying attention in 2007. Lost his job to Jabar Gaffney right of the season was over yeah. The loss of freak and Donte' Stallworth. Is is affecting. The Patriots today that is nonsense and it -- something Randy Moss. Randy Moss may Donte' Stallworth -- must Jabar Gaffney. -- talked today Moss makes Wes Welker possible. Absolutely. --

I I didn't understand it -- as I said I haven't been able to read the whole piece I heard John and Jerry referring to Witten. We're still working on the computer things down here but it it just didn't make sense to me because a pilot didn't have him one on one except on. Ironically. They changed things up on the last play of regulation and almost wonder why.

Well that the last play of regulation. If this weren't the office. Ty Law would be fired for sexual harassment he was hoping Randy -- and -- he was -- and I have been -- You can't do that at bat was -- affairs they were going to call and I thought that was much more egregious and in my rental then the defensive holding call on Mike Vrabel. What a joke voted -- Hollandsworth is back to back off a terrible call.

And you know and and I know it's and -- used -- that. For some people it becomes -- you just making it. Refers whatever they want them applied to talk about what you see what I -- with eight terrible -- tobacco. You know they they were able to overcome it in terms of going down on the field scoring the tying touchdown so in that regard they overcame it. But gee do you think it would have been better if the Jets were kicking a field goal there instead of scoring -- let.

It -- you have to you have to give the Jets credit I have to give Brett Favre credit who continued. His his very. Efficient play. Against Bill Belichick games now. You know the guys in Seattle -- gap may have big game James and burger give him credit they came up with the yesterday they were wondering in the office. You know how Brett Favre had done against. Bill Belichick teams and in the first thing you think of Brett Favre gunslinger reckless with the ball must have eight touchdown passes and fifteen interceptions against Celtic games. And he's only thrown one interception in his career. And now seven game and that was to meriwether in the first meeting today in seven games. Against the Patriots it went very good game last night. And you really have to you have to scold the Patriots. I don't think they're bad football team but bad football team so one thing whether two things about. There are two things that make a team. They'll make you think they're bad and that drive a coach crazy one. Inability to stop the running game. What it would take it last night I mean they've the run the running game didn't kill him but number two this is what bad football teams -- they don't get off the field on third down. So to have a four iron play are active.

Team was the killer. I mean to -- that was if you hit point one play in the game where they you'd say that's not play at the bright able phantom penalty. It's not the overthrow walk Ernie and tell them it was third and fifteen and ironically even when they made the pass completion. Meriwether had a chance to stop and -- Andy just he'd get it done that in tackle.

It and tackle probably -- Meriweather. Is playing well a lot better had been playing a lot better last night. I don't know if it's if it decides issue for him he is not. He's not he's not. I'm not Rodney Harrison is not Thomas 61 right you know six want to have 210215. Pound guy. Here's a guy goes well Somalis. Of force safety complacent corner. So is that a size issue worry feels like. I can't wrap them up there because I won't have a chance I gotta go low to the hole Donnie Shell was it is -- Ortiz now I had to take a blow. I don't I don't know that is if that's the issue or is just a fundamental thing. But he did not have his finest game last night now what he lacks in. Tackling ability he definitely makes up for in his ability to cover ground. I mean they're faster team now I that's why I was baffled by mark -- statement earlier this week that they. They're old defense. Are fast defects there fast -- and now me Gary Guyton. He he lacks that the savvy in the exterior of of a -- is Thomas. He's just as fast is fast. Jerod Mayo stop.

He he is I mean every game you see him if think yourself just imagine when he actually knows everything that he's going to know Brett. I mean it it and most of what he's doing now I think is on just god given talent. He's getting great coaching he is supremely talented but you think about what he's going to know. A year from now two years from now when that knowledge base get spilled out. Think about what kind of.

Player this kid's gonna be Yancy got Jerod Mayo there you've got -- Guyton and you've got Meriweather despite that the missed tackles and and the the bad form last night. That is really. Contributed to a pretty fast defense and another guy who's fast you know music talk about a -- in this wait a while linebackers safeties and corners being passed. Mike Wright is fast -- Mike Wright doesn't have the bulk right of some of these guys I like like tie or Seymour obviously Wilfork. But he might be. The quickest the quickest linemen that they have so he played pretty good game last active.

I just think -- and this was where we started this discussion and where we started this morning. Ten days from now. I think the Jets lose to the Tennessee Titans. And I think the Patriots beat the Dolphins and you're right back where you were at 730 last night. Which means a dogfight. From Thanksgiving to the end of the regular season to figure out which team wins the --

Yeah I mean there's some games and air for the Patriots. And these next two games are very you know Donna stretches of games and then make you nervous one on the Miami game. Miami got they've -- era guy that was articles game. Here at Gillette Stadium and the other one is a team that is always and it made it seem like hero isn't it the Steelers. They play the Steelers here. The play. -- that games and I was here last year let's check the schedule again but right beside computers right beside area in the book. The way it used to using books anymore are we matters as New England Patriots it's a pretty. Pretty cool thing. They play Pittsburgh here. Sunday November 30. So that they're next few games of -- really. They they've got three inning and never works its way but we'll see in -- that they've got three tough games left. At Miami. -- on the on the 23. They follow that up at Pittsburgh. And in my opinion the other tough game and fortunately for them mr. Gillette Stadium. The Cardinals. On December 21. I think I'm 28 at Buffalo. Upstart Buffalo got -- proved to me I don't think Buffalo. Can can beat the Patriots now think Buffalo believes is -- it can be Patriots.

I think you're right I've. Look not every game's going to be cakewalk they probably are gonna win every game dressed. Like the Jets are either. They are they are better offensively in this of what we talked about yesterday where I thought they were going to be better offensively than they were the first time. Defensively. Coming and Eric Mangini gotta be sitting in his offices down there going holy cross. At he would lead them to 500 yards against us yesterday. And he's he's got to be nervous about the way his defense played last night and it and it could've and -- been more.

Well you know 24 to six. They could have been out of the game going to knock them out of the game and they didn't I council. I Cassell really he really impressed me last night that thought. I thought he did something this this was the first time. -- Cassel. Has been down and out. And has brought a team back to back up you know you always thought before you -- Cassel he can't get down seven he can't get down ten and they got down against San Diego we didn't think. Matt Cassel had the ability. To bring them back from that deficit and he didn't. When they lost to the Chargers. Now he does mean he keeps adding something. Every week I think he EI crossed the threshold. When they beat the Rams -- about that was his best game of the year despite the fact that he got up -- player of the week against the Broncos. But he played better against the Rams and this is the best. I've seen him play.

He's also pretty darn good running quarterback I mean it's not the sort of thing you want to make your living on because sooner or later you won't make your living on it. But most rushing yardage since Steve Grogan in 1978. He's he's had he's had an impressive ability. To know when politico went to take off then and.

And -- have it -- have that before either. But there's something now I'm sure. You know Bill Belichick will get the bulk of the credit for this although he doesn't deserve all the credit for right. I think the players. Deserve a tremendous amount of credit and sodas the scouting department and that is this. Do you realize that the Patriots. Are the if you go one through 32. In terms of health. One being the most healthy team in the league and 32 being the least healthy team in the league. The Patriots are 31. 31 in the National Football League. Guys on injured reserve guys like games loss from regular personnel. You know the two healthiest teams in football. That to help his team as a football I don't they both resides in the AFC east number one. Your Miami Dolphins number -- your New York Jets. So I mean it says a lot that these guys. Have found it within themselves to compete these games.

It's funny you should say that because I'm listening to march Lara on this morning on ESP. And he's talking about finally. You know finally they didn't they they got the monkey off their back they beat this team make. You know they stared him in the guy they they gave up the lead but they you know they won the coin flip they marched down the field. Finally they put that behind them. And what -- they can is. With all the they've got over on that sideline. And what you got on your sideline if you're Eric Mangini in the Jets. You've got to be going home god if there helping we get killed in this game.

Well the question is in the and that's a big question what happens in the next ten days what happens on November 23. Between. Today is that the fourteen between November 14 and November 23. Do you start to get some of these guys back me Sammy Morris played last night wasn't really a factor in the game. Yeah -- Sammy -- are going to have LaMont Jordan back particularly popular Ty Warren back in part -- you know is Ty Warren -- ought to be back I don't think I saw the report from Chris Gasper. I'm not sure -- is Thomas you know you got to see him around anymore Terrence Wheatley apparently had surgery on that wrist you don't know how long that's going to be yeah are you gotta get some reinforcements. Down the stretch because that's going to be critical. A critical part of the season.