The Nest

As well as New England finished up the season it just wasn’t enough. With the Jets losing to Miami and the Jaguars phoning in their game against the Ravens the Patriots saw any chance of backing into the post-season disappear.

The Patriots played inspired football for the last 4 games of the season but their shortfall came earlier in the season when they let a couple games (literally) slip through their fingers. They could’ve just as easily been 13-3 for the year and in full control of their destiny at season end if it weren’t for the 2 mid-season hiccups.

Now you can argue that teams with much worse records will be going to the post-season dance while the Patriots sit this one out and it just isn’t fair. Being a Pats fan I tend to agree but it’s not like the NFL changed the rules in the middle of the season. There was no bait and switch here. You knew going in that this kind of thing could happen. Will the powers that be take a look at different scenarios for the future?…we’ll have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, I read a couple post-game quotes from some of the Bills players and found these quite amusing.

Fred Jackson, the Bills RB had an interesting take on the end of the first half where Buffalo used poor time and game management to squander an opportunity to score a field goal:

There were some things going on that I think the refs missed and I think that had something to do with the chaos so to speak. It was just something and we have to be smarter in that situation. We didn’t let it affect us, we needed to come out and we had a whole other half football that we needed to worry about.

The Patriots evil plan: (again by Fred Jackson)

It was definitely part of what they were trying to do. Just keep us on the field as long as possible because they knew that we didn’t have any timeouts. It was something that I feel was planned; that’s why we just have to be smart about it and know that was something they were trying to do.

He sounds a little like me when the Pats do something stupid and I look for someone to blame. But after the dust settled and the refs came back with an explanation there were no fingers of blame to be pointed at the Pats. If you want to run the hurry-up offense Mr. Jackson, your team needs to settle their on-field differences elsewhere.

So the Pats will pack their bags and heal their wounds over what is now the off-season for them. They’ll have time to reflect on their season and find out where they can make some improvements and probably some changes. I can think of a slippery fingered wide receiver I’d let go of.

And of course, the issue with Matt Cassel. Will Brady be ready for the 2009 season? If so, what of Mr. Cassel? He surely won’t want to sit and watch any more now that he’s had a taste of the action. And you know there will be teams lining up to show him the money.

For the Patriots that means having to get a new back-up QB up to speed in a hurry in case the unthinkable happens…again.

patriots bills nfl cassel fred jackson