When the 2008 NFL schedule came out in April and Tom Brady still had his left ACL intact, the thought of the Patriots going 16-0 for a second consecutive season did not seem out of the question.
On paper, the Pats had the easiest schedule in the NFL, which seemed like a cruel joke after the way they laid waste to their 2007 opponents.
Of course, that all changed when Bernard Pollard bent Brady's leg like a pretzel and Matt Cassel was thrust into the starting quarterback spotlight, to the horror of Pats fans everywhere.
Cassel's improvement has been greater than, even the most ardent, Patriot supporters could have predicted. Despite his solid play, the Pats have still lost four games and the dreams of back-to-back undefeated regular seasons have faded into a distant memory. A memory that was tainted by a Super Bowl loss, anyway.
The Colts, Chargers, and Steelers represented the only iron of the Patriots' schedule before the season started. Of course, now we know, the Jets and Cardinals are both significantly better than anyone expected.
The Chargers and Colts, meanwhile, are significantly to moderately worse, but that didn't stop the Pats from losing to both of them.
Everyone knows how hard it is to win in the NFL. We can't make light of the Pats wins over the Chiefs, 49ers, Rams and Broncos, even if they do only have eleven total wins combined.
A lot of good NFL teams have lost to those four bottom-dwellers. (Yes, Bronco fans, I called you bottom-dwellers. That's what you get when you lose to the Raiders).
While upcoming games with the Seahawks, Raiders, Cardinals, and Bills will all be hard-fought, the Patriots should be expected to win all of them. Doesn't mean they will, but no one's moving the Pats into the top five of their power ranking for beating any of them, especially if New England loses this Sunday.
The Patriots' wins over the Dolphins and Jets, as well as their Monday night demolition of the Broncos (back when they were still considered good), sit as the three feathers in Cassel's cap. But when you look closer, they don't seem all that impressive.
Miami probably won't make the playoffs, Denver might only get in because the AFC West is so atrocious, and the Pats' win over the Jets came in Week Two, when Brett the Jet was still in his incubation phase.
Not to take anything away from Matt Cassel or his progression. He played admirably in losses to the peaking Jets and resurgent Colts, but moral victories don't get you into the playoffs.
Now, sitting at 7-4, the 2008 Patriots will have to beat the one elite team that actually lived up to their preseason billing if they want to be considered elite themselves.
It's a team they have owned for much of the decade. A team they have beaten twice in AFC Championships to get to Super Bowls. A team whose defense precedes them. A team that ended the Patriots' 21-game win streak: The Pittsburgh Steelers.
The black and gold enter Foxborough, Sunday, with the best defense in the NFL, providing the biggest test of Cassel's young career. The Steelers are ranked in the top five of most power rankings and are the highest ranked opponent the Pats have faced in 2008.
Should the Patriots win, it will put them back into the conversation of AFC contenders. If they lose, they will look more like the one-and-done Wild Card team most have them pegged as. A team who can beat the bottom half of the league, but comes up short when they face a playoff team.
Just who are the 2008 New England Patriots? We'll have a very good idea come Sunday night.
Mike Dussault is a Patriots Community Leader at Bleacher Report, and also a contributor at BostonSportz.com. His Patriots blog can be viewed here and he can be contacted at PatriotsPropaganda@gmail.com.
9 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Sam Rogers 7 months ago
i totally agree. if the miami game was a must win, this is on a whole new level. Cassel will have show every ounce of confidence and level headedness if he is to get past what can be considered a tricky Pittsburgh D. That said, with Big Ben under centre, the Steelers O hasn't exactly been firing on all cylinders, and they have given up a few sacks which will give us a chance.
I predict patriots to nick it by 2-3
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Erik Diana 7 months ago
Honestly, let me tell you something as a die-hard Steelers fan. This is the most overrated team they have had in my lifetime. Their defense is great, no question! But there offense is an abortion and Ben's shoulder is keeping him from being as effective as he could be. Also, his offensive line is an abortion. I think the Pats will win and win pretty handily to be honest.
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Mike Dussault 7 months ago
Thanks for your honesty, but far lesser QB/WR combos than Ben/Ward/Holmes have shredded our secondary so I'm not exactly feeling confident. Your O-Line stinks but our Pass Rush stinks. I guess it will come down to Pats O vs. Steelers D. Something's got to give.
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mike delucia 7 months ago
hey Mike nice piece. I think our pass rush or lack there of is from bill not wanting to blitz as frequently as he did last year. With our seconday being as bad as it is they drop back in coverage,and you know when you have linebacker on a wideout theres going to be trouble. but with the Steelers offensive woes, the Pats defense might have a shot,, PATRIOTS 21 STEELERS 17
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Don Cable 7 months ago
I don't agree that the Colts are worse than they were this time last year. In their current four game winning streak they have beaten all three of last year's division winners, including the Steelers and the Clargers on the road. If they don't have a meltdown against the any of the next four opponents, they can go into the final weeekend 11-4.
But the loser of this game is in big trouble. If the Pats lose, and the Jets put them another game behind in the division and the Colts and Ravens in the wild card.
If the Steelers lose, the Ravens can pull even in the division, wtth a head-to-fhead game, and Dallas on both their schedules.
Bottom line: of the Steelers, Patriots, Colts and Ravens, barring a collapse by the Titans or the Jets, one of them is not going to make the playoffs. And the Colts have beaten all three.
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Mike Dussault 7 months ago
I think it's going to be the Ravens on the outside looking in, a rookie quarterback with a tough schedule isn't a good combo. My predicted order of finish: Tenn, NYJ, Pitts, Den, Indy, NE.
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Doug Dwyer 7 months ago
As a Jets fan, who do I root for? A loss by the Steelers might get the Jets the #2 seed; but a loss by the Patriots would provide more comfort in the AFC East.
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Leo Hayes 7 months ago
Doug you gotta root for the Steelers, #2 seed only means an off week which could cool your team off, and if you lose another random game this season you might not win your division, and with the way the AFC is shaping up that will but you in a close playoff race with teams like Indy who have as already said beat some good teams.
That said, I think the Steelers D is the tiebreaker, one of the best defenses (statistically) since the merger, that will keep the Steelers in any game they play, and barring some big turnover or bad luck (see the tipped passes twice on third and long against Indy, both lead to touchdowns at some point in the drive) it will be a very good, likely close game.
I see the steelers winning 21-17, Ben and Matt both with 2 passing touchdowns, and probably Moore or Parker(Depending on whether or not he plays) on a breakout run with a touchdown.
It'll be a good game regardless, and one thing is for sure, Cassel isnt going to have another 400 yard passing game. :p
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jag off 7 months ago
If the Pats go 12-4 they are in. As Baltimore plays Pitt and that gives one of them 5 losses.
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