Moss receives praise

My interpretation of "why we go for it on 4th and short close in" is that when choosing to kick the field goal, the Pats are saying "OK, we like our chances of kicking a field goal better than making the first." At this point, the Pats are extremely confident that they can pick up yards and they'd much rather keep their offense on the field than take the easy points and turn the game over to the defense. As good as they are, the defense is even better when they're on the sidelines.

As for the issue of so-called running up the score I am one who remembers the 52-0 score Miami conducted during the 1972 "perfect season" against the Pats.
As for last night's preformance by our Patriots, going for it on fourth down, I was reminded of how close the Bills made their game against "the so-called original 81" and his team. I for one was delighted to see BB and the offense go for it rather than kick a fieldgoal.

towards the end of the game around 3 min 45 sec or so to go... The Patriots had the ball 4th down and less then inches.... they punt the ball.. well i believe they did that... so they would not have to answer to the media on going for it for a third time... Ok.. so... we punt it to the Bills down by 45 ... they come out into the two minute drill trying to score.. and that is fine that is football... I have no problem with that ...great ....well jarvis green gets hurt on the last play... needed Xrays and all (hope he is ok) but why??? I will tell you why cuz we didn't go for the first down because we finaly gave into the media.... Like madden said last night look Buffalo is playing all out and there down 45 points... and that's why the Patriots should just play there game until the gun sound off... 60 full Minutes....regardless of the score

The reason they keep going for it on 4th downs is beacuse they are trying NOT to run up the score. Now granted I have no stats to back this up (Riess or Easterbrook can crunch the numbers if they want)

The other team has a shot of stopping a 4th down play and changing possesion Id say a typicall 4th and 2 is sucessful 40-50 % of the time?

They have virtually no shot at stopping a field goal of less than 30 yards, where I'd say the kick is good 75-80 % of the time.

Please go back to old format!

It's a testament to how great this team is that every week the Patriots have to explain to the media and the nfl why they scored so many points. I don't think any team in any sport has ever had to deal with being so good at what they do, that others deem it disrespectful that they are so good. Absolutely Incredible.

Trust that against the Bills the Pats could have easily hit the 70 pt. mark. If other teams can't stop what they know is coming, then either they need to adopt a stronger routine in practice, or get better players, or retire. Like TB said, we aren't out there with the idea of punting , we are there to score pts every time we touch the ball, just like every other team in the NFL...Guess the pats just do it better.

Is anyone else concerned about Lawrence Maroney ? My fear is this guy is a China doll.Heath Evans and Kyle Eckel...bless their hearts, glad to have 'em on the team but seems the Pats need to be better at RB if Maroney is going to be out yet again.

When playing football, there are two teams on the field--we went for it on fourth downs so as to give Buffalo a chance to stop us
Running up the score????? Who do they want us to put on the field-----the fans?

As long as the opposing team has not given up, why should the Patriots stop trying to score? If they want the Pats to stop, they should roll over, take every starter off the field on both sides of the ball. Give up. Take three knees and punt. Don't rush the passer, don't push at all. Give up. If you don't do that, then don't whine about it. Cudos to the Bills, they didn't whine. Shame on the rest of the Patriot's foes. Man up.

This format stinks. Go back to the old format.

OK,
If the winning offense doesn't 'try' but just runs up the middle and, in effect, tells the opposing defense where they are going, the ball turns over to the losing team ... who try like hell to score. So why shouldn't the offense, which has trained for months, go all out?

Im from Minnesota and i have to say randy moss is the best wide receiver to ever play football.

I think all of the conventional thinking about running up the score tends to go out the window considering how outright dominant the Patriots have been in quite a few of their games. I agree with D.man above, that going for it is normally an attempt to NOT run up the score, but because they are so good, people presume (and this is only true for the current Patriots, mind you) that they are going to score a touchdown instead. In ordinary games, fourth down plays are not gimmes like chip shot field goals are. I tend to think that the Patriots are really in a catch-22 about what is essentially people feeling pity for the losing teams.

In my opinion, the complaints are disingenuous. Should we also expect the opposing team also stop trying to score points if they are behind? If the Patriots simply spiked the ball 4 times and let the other team have a go at scoring would that be more sportsman-like? Does it then make it any better if they just "kind-of" stop trying to score? They might as well be patting the other team on the head and call them cute.

Or if they honestly think that there should be no dominant wins in the NFL they should lobby the league to enact a mercy rule and cancel the 4th quarter to spare the players feelings.

The only time you will see BB and The Pats intentionally run up the score will be on December 16 when we punch that punk Eric Mangini and the Jets in the mouth.

I am glad this team is playing for 60 minutes. Maybe some one should point out some of the lopsided scores that have happened in the NFL and where were the silly questions or comments then.... I realize that to do it on a week in and week out basis is unusual but as long time Pats fan; I am enjoying the ride.
keep it up boys

Isn't there an ethical consideration involved? All of the NFL Division Tiebreaking Procedures include "Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed." In theory, by scoring three points instead of seven (or by intentionally scoring zero points) you can allow your downtrodden opponent make the playoffs. Is that fair to the other teams in contention?

I think the answer is no. Every other type of multiple-team competition in which I've been involved has a standard of ethics that requires that you continue to play to the best of your ability until the game is over. So does that mean you should go for it on fourth? I think it depends on how you estimate your chances of making the first down. If you think you would score more points in the long run by going for it, then that's what you must do.

Of course, it was okay for the Ptriots to go for it on fourth down. It is the job of the offensive team to score touchdowns. Going for a field goal is like giving up. Going for a field goal is showing a lack of confidence in the offense to make the play.

As far as running up the score. That's nonsense. Have you checked on some BCS scores lately? NFL players get paid the big bucks to score, and the defense also gets paid the big bucks to stop the opponent from scoring. They get paid to do a job, and well the Patriots are certainly doing their job.

Ever since they were caught stealing defensive signals from the other teams, Belichick has just been afraid to leave the defensive unit on the field. He's got keep the offense in and win the time of possession battle. Scoring more points is just a bonus.

What no one ever seems to bring up is that this is the same team the saw a 21 point lead evaporate last year during the AFC championship game...that's gotta leave a mark.

What others view as "running up the score" is probably just, even unconciously, "for god's sake let's not let that happen again."

Please go back to the old format, this is terrible.

Does anyone know what the chant that the crowd was chanting after the Pats scored on forth and one is? The chant that reportedly used an "unprintable body part".

One question: what exactly do the critics want the Patriots to do when they have a commanding lead? Unless the NFL decides to introduce the mercy rule when the Pats are up by 30 points, my understanding is that both teams on the field are professionals trying to do their best. It seems unfair to tell one team that they have to stop trying their best - and unfair to the fans. The situation now is such that there is no point in continuing to watch the game once the Patriots get a big lead since they are not supposed to continue trying. Apart from the opposition fans of the day, I suspect that most people would rather see Brady and Moss connect for 6 TDs than a game that resembles a pre -season exhibition.

The Patriot's don't owe an apology to anyone for 'running up the score. When Manning and Indy were on their offensive roll in '04, the media were gushing about how impressive and a 'thing of beauty' it was to watch them operate surgically on opponents while crushing them. And as I recall, there was a segmant of the media and national fans who discounted the notion of a Patriot's dynasty after winning three SB's in 4 years, because 'they only won all those games by 3 points.' That was when the Patriots were employing a game management/ball control style of play, and only doing as much as necessary to beat each opponent, with minimal risk. Yet supposedly they did not qualify as a 'real' dynasty because they hadn't been dominant enough. Add this lingering disrespect to this year's 'they won by cheating' crap, and the rest of the NFL is just getting what they deserve. How's this for domination!?! Hope the J-E-T-S, JETS enjoyed their fun in Pittsburgh yesterday, because I can't wait to see their visit to Foxborough, and what's in store for them!

If we're just supposed to stop scoring on other teams, in a professional football game, not a scrimmage or a high school or what have you, why even keep going? The other team should then forfeit.

These teams should get some heart and soul and self-respect and play pro football.

To crunch the numbers, you'd have to run an expected value calculation for the outcome of that fourth down play: (probability of converting 4th down) * (probability of scoring a TD down-the-road) * 7 vs. (probability of field goal being good) * 3.

Which is greater? Riessy could probably fill in the variables after a couple hours on Stats, Inc., or Belichick could based on intuition formed by years of experience. Regardless, the media debate about the issue is pretty childish and simplistic.

I agree with comment #5 as I too prefer the "old" format!!

I hereby promise that, years from now, long after Tom Brady and Randy Moss have retired and the Patriots return to being a pedestrian NFL team, I will not whine about some other team "running up the score." The only way a team can "run up the score" is if the opposing defense can't stop them. Period.

Hate this format, please go back....

i am pretty tired of people lamenting how unsportsmanlike it is to go on forth down, as opposed to kicking a field goal. what is the difference between 56-10 and 48-10? would it make the other team sleep better at night? come on this is the NFL!!!

At least give us a choice of whether we want the old (normal) blog format or this new page by page format. How about a user preference so everyone can have it the way they like it.

Now this is what i would consider the greatest show on earth.As for running up the score,stop us and you would not have to worry about.

I love to see the Pats run up the score -- it makes the "cheating" complaint so meaningless.
NO ONE has yet explained how "cheating" helped the Pats win, and a high score on every game just shows how empty-headed that cokmplaint is.

I'd like to see the Pats score 100 points , like the Celtics.

Can you imagine the effect these high scores may be having on future opponents? Beaten in the locker room, I'd bet.

Just let them nail the mark up so high that no one will ever be able to touch it.

But maybe they could change this format back.

Whatever on your old format......

I am so happy to see the commercial-machine lose his weapons. Watching peyton with pedestrian recievers is probably the most rewarding thing of this whole season.

Don't get me wrong; I'm happy right now because of the Brady/Moss lovefest. I also enjoy every second of the beat-down they put on any team who gets in the way.

But seeing Brady get the praise he deserves, is more rewarding than seeing Pedroia get the R.O.Y.......and believe me, I wanted that kid to do SOOOO well last year.

So all in all, the Brady/Moss tandem is the most dynamic thing is sports in the last 5-10 years. Other than Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, and Michael Schumacher; who else can express domination in the 21st century ??

I hope that Rosie Colvin doesnt take my head off in week 17....

Bill and Pats please pile on the points ... there is no joy watching if Brady and Moss do not play after the 3rd qtr.

PFFI

I would personally like to see the Jets and Dolphins pay for Mangini and Shula disrespecting the current Patriots team and coaching staff. When next playing these two teams, and the Pats are up by 40-50 points, take a knee FOUR times, not three-and-punt! GIVE the opponents field position instead of punting or going for it on fourth down. That would burn the message to opposing teams and all complainers out there: 'You can't stop this'! The New England Patriots are thee best team that has ever played the game of professional football! Give them credit or get over it! They paid their dues!

Pile it up!

These cry babies moaning about running up the score should go home. Talk ablut getting your butt handed to you, and now you cry about it? Have you no self respect?

Jeez, get over all this running up the score stuff. When you have a big lead, you are supposed to run out the clock. You can't run out the clock unless your offense is on the field. The offense can't stay on the field unless they get first downs. If they keep getting first downs, they eventually run out of field. Then it's score or fall down.

Plus, everyone forgets the fans, who pay an awful lot of money to see their team play, not to see them drink gatorade on the sidelines. I like watching good football as much in the 4th quarter as in the first.

I'm with Bob K. (#48) here. One small issue, though -- even with Brady and Moss on the field, Pats fourth quarters lately (other than the Indy game) haven't been exactly what I'd call "great football". Dominant, impressive, overwhelming, sure... but not great.

Here's what I'm predicting: in last few minutes of the Giants game, the unbeaten Pats are up by 37. They drive the ball the length of the field and get a first down on the Giants' eleven yard line. Then they punt. Belichick smiles.

As great as our O is, the key is keeping the D off the field. The comment by #3 is right on. Wasn't so long ago when Troy Brown was playing in the dime because of injuries, and our linebackers aren't getting any younger. Between that and the blown lead in the AFC champ game, the critics can go to hell. Keep the O on the field and let the other team stop them or not.

Remember, everything starts with the O Line! It's great that Tom has such awesome tools now, but they wouldn't be much good if he was sitting on his butt all the time.

This format is much easier to read than the previous format. Stick with it please! Must be the MySpace contingency complaining. We can do without the comment bugs though (text disappears when clicking out of textarea - though an undo brings it back, preview clears Name and Email address fields).