# Why the Patriots suck... (not a rant) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717 "2007-10-31T15:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/41 "2007-11-04T22:45:16Z")
So, is anyone a bit less bullish on the Patriots right now? The Colts have played them amazingly well so far. There’s still 30 minutes left, but New England’s not quite as dominant as some of you folks were expecting. And i have Joseph Addai (187 total yards, 1 TD at half time) in my Fantasy league, so i’m happy no matter who wins the game. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/42 "2007-11-04T23:05:32Z")
The difference between the pass interference calls that the Colts are getting and the ones that the Patriots aren’t getting is absolutely ludicrous. The said, that Addai play was pretty studly, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/43 "2007-11-04T23:05:44Z")
So apparently pass interference rules only apply to the Patriots. I count 3 instances of pass interference by the Colts, 1 by the Pats, and yet the Pats have been called for it twice and the Colts haven’t been called once. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/44 "2007-11-04T23:43:23Z")
The NFL has apparently told the officials to make sure the Colts win. The Colts are being allowed to hang all over the Pats receivers all day long. That’s too bad. It would have been fun to see a fair game. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/45 "2007-11-04T23:51:50Z")
Did they SERIOUSLY just call offensive pass interference on THAT??!?!?!?!?! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/46 "2007-11-04T23:52:41Z")
What a bullshit offensive PI call that was on Moss. It’s really a shame that the League is not going to allow a legitimate game to be played. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/47 "2007-11-05T00:06:09Z")
Wow, there really have been some awful calls this game, and most of them have been in favor of the Colts. I’m not paranoid enough to assume that it’s some sort of NFL conspiracy (give me a break, **Dio** ), but it suck nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/48 "2007-11-05T00:22:33Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] Wow, there really have been some awful calls this game, and most of them have been in favor of the Colts. I’m not paranoid enough to assume that it’s some sort of NFL conspiracy (give me a break, **Dio** ), but it suck nonetheless. [/QUOTE] I’m not _really_ that paranoid either, but I do think the refs have it in for a few players in the league like Moss and T.O. I also think they might not like Belichick. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/49 "2007-11-05T00:29:09Z")
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so many BS calls go against one team. The NFL should investigate that crew. Congrats to the Pats for outplaying while outnumbered on the field. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/50 "2007-11-05T00:46:43Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so many BS calls go against one team. The NFL should investigate that crew. Congrats to the Pats for outplaying while outnumbered on the field. [/QUOTE] I’m glad there are non-Patriots fans here saying this stuff, because that was some baaaaaaaad officiating to my mind, but sometimes my bias gets in my eye and I can’t see clearly 😃 . I cannot believe we pulled that one out. Nice job hanging in by the Pats. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/51 "2007-11-05T01:24:01Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I’m not _really_ that paranoid either, but I do think the refs have it in for a few players in the league like Moss and T.O. I also think they might not like Belichick. [/QUOTE] The Pats are the LAST team on Earth that can complain about officiating., They’ve spent the last 6 years mugging receivers and never being called for it. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/52 "2007-11-05T01:28:22Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] The Pats are the LAST team on Earth that can complain about officiating., They’ve spent the last 6 years mugging receivers and never being called for it. [/QUOTE] But the NFL claims to offer officiating that’s fair over the course of a single game - we’re not supposed to have to wait several seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/53 "2007-11-05T08:48:33Z")
[QUOTE=SuaSponte] They suck because they are too good. From the POV of a spectator (and not a Patriots fan), there is absolutely no potential for drama. They are going to win each weekend, and they are going to win big. I’ve started to avoid watching their games, because the outcome is predetermined. They’ve had a grand total of one interesting half (against the Cowboys) - otherwise they’ve been a yawner. Until this season, I’ve been opposed to efforts to impose parity in sport. The Patriots have turned me around on the issue. It is no fun to watch them, hence, they suck. [/QUOTE] I’m as much of a hater as the next guy, well then again maybe not. But anybody who can put together such a dominant team in today’s NFL with the salary cap deserves every win they can get. Until video-gate their hands were pretty clean, but all in all they’ve done it the right way. Signing under appreciated talent and raising their own through the draft. That’s how it’s supposed to work. The Patriots are just about the only dominant team I’ve never hated on. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/54 "2007-11-05T15:14:42Z")
The videotape thing is overblown and ridiculous. That Esterbrook article linked eralier was from mid-September. Since then, Goodell has done an interview with Bob Costas on Inside the NFL to discuss the whole thing. Goodell unequivocably stated that there were no videotapes affecting playoff games. He also explained that they destroyed them so quickly so that they could start off “fresh”, with no tapes in existance. If any tape should come to light in the future, it will be conclusive proof that the Patriots held onto tapes in defiance of the commissioner, which would draw severe penalties. last week on Inside the NFL, Dan Marino said that two different coaches told him that they lost games where they had every single defensive signal. His point was that stealing signals isn’t a panacea, (as if Marino even knows what that word means,) but what I took from it is that stealing signals isn’t particularly rare. I’d put stealing signals in the same category as holding. Everybody does it, and only a tiny minority of infractions get caught. Those who point it out in any context other than poking fun really should buy a clue about football. And I’m a (secondary) Jets fan. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/55 "2007-11-05T15:17:04Z")
Oh yeah, forgot about the officiating. That was most lopsided poorly-officiated game I’ve seen since the Steelers-Seahawks Superbowl. It started out early, too. That first challenge was ridiculous, with the Colts receiver CLEARLY landing out of bounds, and in the replay it clearly showed TWO officials staring directly at the receiver. And yet they called it in-bounds. Fucking ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/56 "2007-11-05T15:31:07Z")
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee] Oh yeah, forgot about the officiating. That was most lopsided poorly-officiated game I’ve seen since the Steelers-Seahawks Superbowl. It started out early, too. That first challenge was ridiculous, with the Colts receiver CLEARLY landing out of bounds, and in the replay it clearly showed TWO officials staring directly at the receiver. And yet they called it in-bounds. Fucking ridiculous. [/QUOTE] Wait, I thought the first challenge went the Pats’ way? I admit, I wasn’t paying much attention because it was obviously out-of-bounds, but I seem to recall the announcers saying that the refs were just conferring about where to set back the ball. Am I thinking of another challenge? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/57 "2007-11-05T15:34:39Z")
[OK, I’m not dreaming this](http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=271104011): > [@](#): > > 1st and 10 at NE 48 (12:43) P.Manning pass short right to A.Moorehead ran ob at NE 37 for 11 yards. > New England challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was REVERSED. That’s the first challenge in the first quarter of the game. It went the Pats way. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/58 "2007-11-05T15:44:25Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] [OK, I’m not dreaming this](http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=271104011): That’s the first challenge in the first quarter of the game. It went the Pats way. [/QUOTE] I think the allegation is that the refs intentionally threw the call before the challenge and forced a challenge to correct it. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/59 "2007-11-05T15:45:37Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] That’s the first challenge in the first quarter of the game. It went the Pats way. [/QUOTE] Yes, I know. I’m saying that it was a pathetic joke that the Patriots had to waste a challenge on such an incredibly blatant bad call. Which reminds me of the fumble soon after where the network didn’t bother showing a replay. I call bullshit on the sniveling excuse the announcers gave a couple plays later. The Patriots had to beat the combined efforts of the Colts, the officials, and the network. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717/60 "2007-11-05T15:50:24Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] I think the allegation is that the refs intentionally threw the call before the challenge and forced a challenge to correct it. [/QUOTE] I see. Yes, that I could agree with. It seemed an odd call for the refs to miss. Still, despite all the calls, I think the game shows that the Pats are vulnerable. Mind you, I don’t think they’ll lose another game in the regular season, but I don’t think we could crown them Super Bowl champs quite yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-patriots-suck-not-a-rant/424717.md?page=4)