2007 New England Patriots

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3151217

Jets reportedly videotaped Patriots last season in Foxborough

There's a new wrinkle in the Spygate controversy between the Patriots and the Jets.

According to a published report, a Jets employee was asked to stop videotaping the Patriots sideline during the first quarter of a game in Foxborough last season. Jets officials claim everything was above board.

"All filming at last year's Patriots game was done with pre-approval from the Patriots and in accordance with NFL rules," Bruce Speight, the Jets' senior director of media relations, told Newsday.

The Jets employee at the stadium was removed but the camera was not confiscated, according to the report. The employee's filming took place on the mezzanine level of the stadium.

The newspaper also said there was some confusion as to which Patriots home game the videotaping occurred. New York played at New England twice, including a playoff game.

In Week 1 of this season, New England was santioned by the NFL for videotaping the Jets' sideline. The NFL took away the Patriots' first-round draft pick, fined the team $250,000 and fined head coach Bill Belichick another $500,000.

On Sunday, New England is looking to improve its record to 14-0 when they host the Jets at Foxborough. The Patriots can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win.

Mr. Mangini, what color would you say that kettle is??

sunday's weather forecast - snow to sleet to rain with wind gusts up to 40-50mph.

NY PJ1 wrote:

perfect for an upset

A very upset Eric Mangina when his team gets slapped by 6 touchdowns.

Solat13 wrote:

That forecast does not bode well for my fantasy team led by Brady.

Actually by game time much of the precip may have ended (forecast is changing constantly though).

from boston.com:

Still seriously concerned about the perceived lack of a running game, even considering the fact that the Patriots are, you know, 13-0?

Despite the perfect mark, New England is in the middle of the pack when it comes to the running game, 113.7 yards per contest, only 14th best in the NFL, and the old adage says that to win in the NFL, you have to be able to grind the football into the ground. No good team wins in January without a running game, no matter what Antowain Smith might have to say about it.

The fine folks over at Cold, Hard, Football Facts call this the greatest myth in football, presenting the Minnesota Vikings as Example A:

http://coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/11_1943_Icy_Issues%3A_busting_football%27s_greatest_myth.html

No. 1 in rushing offense (172.2 YPG)
No. 1 in average per rush (5.49 YPA, nearly a full yard better than No. 2 Philadelphia, 4.57 YPA)
No. 1 in rushing defense (70.7 YPG, more than 100 yards fewer per game than Minnesota generates on offense)
No. 2 in average per rush allowed (3.03 YPA, behind only 4-9 Baltimore at 2.78 YPA).
And yet, despite its running prowess, Minnesota is 7-6 and fighting for a wild card spot.

Kerry Byrne writes:

And if you're looking for a single-game example of the myth of running the ball and stopping the run, simply look at last week's Pittsburgh-New England AFC clash. Before the game, every "pundit" but the Cold, Hard Football Facts told you, like a series of cliche-spewing automatons, that the key to victory for Pittsburgh was to establish the run on offense and keep the ball out of Tom Brady's hands.

Well, the Steelers did exactly what the "pundits" called for them to do: They ran the ball 32 times for 181 yards and a nifty 5.7 average per attempt. They held the Patriots to 22 yards on 9 attempts, a woeful 2.4 average per attempt.

New England won, 34-13.

The Cold, Hard Football Facts, of course, told you in last week's Icy Issues that the key to victory for Pittsburgh was to pass the ball well. Naturally, the Cold, Hard Football Facts were correct and the passing game proved the big difference in the game: The Patriots averaged 8.7 yards per pass attempt. The Steelers averaged just 4.8 yards per pass attempt.

Of course, with a Nor'Easter predicted for the weekend, the Pats may find themselves running the ball a little more than they'd like to, which should finally appease those ready to give up on Laurence Maroney, who still averages 4.2 yards per carry. Compare that to LaDainian Tomlinson (4.5) and Joseph Addai (4.1) and it's clear that it's more a lack of carries and durability than anything else for the second-year back.

Poncier wrote:

The Jets have more incentive to take out their own Judas of a head coach who has turned them from a playoff team to the laughing stock of the league in one season than to injure an opponent.
At least Miami sucked last year, the Jets have taken a mighty fall from grace, and it falls on Mangina.

I don't even think NY PJ1 is really a Jet fan, but man the above comments kinda hurt me. Hope you're happy with yourself Ponc.:(

Just heard a Jets fan say on "J.T. the Brick" that the Jets could beat the Pats. All the Jets had to do, she said, was "sack Brady because he can't throw those touchdowns from his back."

Nice thought, but I jut watched my Steelers get no pressure on Brady after the first 10 minutes of the game and, statistically, tPGH has the No. 1 defense in the NFL. Dunno about all that, but I do know that the Jets better thaw out the New York Sack Exchange if they plan on putting Brady on his ass.

It's really looking as if only injury will stop the Pats from going 16-0. Who knows about the playoffs, but it's not looking good for anybody but those chowder-slurping bastards. Especially once the winter conditions roll in.

A healthy Indy, which we didn't even see in the first meeting, would have a shot against a healthy NE team. Indy has swagger and talent and their defensive line did a pretty good job of harassing ol' Tom.

A red-hot SD team similar to the run the Steelers were on in 2005 might have a chance, but I don't know about them playing in the elements of January Gillette. Tomlinson could definitely get some yards.

PGH would be a stretch, and I'm only giving them that much credit because I love 'em. Jacksonville? Dunno if they already played, but, pssh, please. Cleveland?!? Uh, next contestant.

NE already dispatched Dallas and would take down GB or SEA in a shootout, which supposes either of those teams could generate the offense to get into a shootout with the Pats. That's not saying they have bad offenses, but PGH shut out the 'Hawks (early in the season, yes, I know) and the Pack doesn't have the running game to keep NE's defense going backwards.

Now the world waits, and the anticipation (dread?) of another Pats title looms on the NFL horizon. When (if, please, just let me imagine an 'if' scenario) the Pats take the title, fans of the other 31 teams will grit their teeth as they offer half-hearted congratulations to Pats fans.

Until that one cocky asshole (just like some fans of the Steelers or Cowboys or Niners or Packers fans did in their heydays) makes us all remember just how insufferable the world seems when B. Bill and the boys are kissing the Lombardi Trophy on the Sports Illustrated commercials right after the damned game.

The world seems nicer when the Steelers are No. 1, but I could be biased.

that game was played like crap on both sides of the ball, granted the weather has be terrible here (not cleveland vs. buffalo terrible though). hats off to anyone that went to the game and stayed for the whole thing.

if i was a jets fan i would want to know why the hell mangini kept running the stupid option play and then brought pennington out for 3rd and long.