Should the Pats be running up the score on everybody in garbage time?

[mvoss]

I hate the Patriots as much as anyone but come on... what the [censored] is this. Pats offense is on the field to score points, if the opposing defense can't stop them then that's their problem. I don't know any other sport where a team has to stop playing just because they've effectively already won the game. If the losing team is so much worse that they can't stop the cheaters from "running up the score" then they just suck and have to take the "humiliation".

[Butcho22]

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i think the pats players really don't want to hear any more about how they get by with inferior talent because BB is such a good coach.

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While I agree with most of what you said, this is lol.

BB: "I think we're going to put some subs in, we're up 42-0"

Brady and Co. "But coach, we're sick of hearing about how it's all your scheme and us players don't really matter that much."

BB: "Ok, get back in there"

It's all BB, but I'm sure the players do back him up 100%.

[Butcho22]

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What is the reward for them running up the score?

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To prove how disgustingly dominant they are. They look like a team that wants to be known as the most dominant team of all time. If you don't see any value in that, then I can understand why it's not worth the risk, in your opinion, to have Brady out there, but I'm guessing that the players on this team do see value in that.

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Agreed.

I feel like some people who don't like them running up the score forget that the regular season is important too. Especially when talking about all-time great teams.

[gusmahler]

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If tiger woods is leading by 5 in match play with 6 holes to go and won't give the guy a 5 inch putt to halve the hole.

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I remember reading a story about some guy who dissed Tiger before match play. Tiger refused to give him any putts at all. I'm pretty sure this is the one he won 9 & 8.

[Vagos]

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It looks like getting caught cheating has somehow imbued Belichick with a misplaced sense of righteousness.

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This is the only problem that I really have with the whole "running up the points" thing - it's basically the Pats saying "screw you for doubting our accomplishments," when they brought it on themselves. You cheated, and you got caught. I don't know what dysfunctional logic allows you to be the victim in this scenario.

What annoys me about the Pats is that they are always playing the "nobody respects us" card - they need outside validation of their accomplishments to feel good about themselves. I don't recall the 90's cowboys, 80's 49ers, 70's steelers or whatever having a similar attitude. If you are constantly bitching about how no one respects you - don't be surprised when nobody does.

D

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This is a good post. They try to play the whole humble "We just go out there and get the job done professionally" role throughout the week, but come Sunday they are in there spiking footballs and looking like they won the Super Bowl on a TD that makes it 45-0 in the 4th quarter.

[Vagos]

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I hate the Patriots as much as anyone but come on... what the [censored] is this. Pats offense is on the field to score points, if the opposing defense can't stop them then that's their problem. I don't know any other sport where a team has to stop playing just because they've effectively already won the game. If the losing team is so much worse that they can't stop the cheaters from "running up the score" then they just suck and have to take the "humiliation".

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What is up with this whole "stop playing" canard? No one is saying they should stop playing. Why do 31 other teams in the NFL run the clock down when they have a massive 5 TD lead sewn up? How is trying to expire the game clock with a huge lead considered "not playing"?

I at least have respect for the Pats fans who admit that this is Belichick saying "F U NFL" and trying to make a statement. Everyone who tries to rationalize it with "you never stop playing in sports" and "no lead is safe" is just being obtuse.

And if you don't know any other sport where running up the score is frowned upon, see what happens in an MLB game if someone starts stealing bases late in the game with a 10 run lead. And basically, with a 38-0 lead in the 4th quarter, getting back in the shotgun and bombing downfield is the NFL equivalent of stealing bases up 12-0.

[RunDownHouse]

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I think the reasonable approach to watching the Pats (as a non-Pats fan) is to... save up energy for laughing at them when some key player gets hurt. Its not that I'm HOPING someone gets hurt, its just that they have absolutely no sympathy if it does happen since they brought it on themselves.

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And there's the rub. When Trent Green gets hurt, or Priest Holmes, or Marc Bulger, whoever, gets hurt, there's an outpouring of sympathy. Those guys are out there doing their best to win the game, and if something happens, it's unfortunate, but that's the risk they take.

If Brady, or Maroney, or Moss get hurt in the third when there is no reason for them to be out there... well, it's much easier to let anger be the overriding emotion. Brady isn't out there to win the game. The game has been won. All of the players are out there to appease Belicheck, Brady, Kraft, whoever. I'm sure some guys on the team are saying, "Undefeated and 60 pts/game, no matter the cost," but how many guys that don't have that mindset are playing anyways, simply because Bill Belichick is pissed off?

The biggest bull[censored] justification is, "Well, they might still lose!" We all know the stats for largest comeback ever, largest 4th quarter comeback, largest 2nd half comeback, etc. We all can also estimate the Pats' chances of getting home field advantage in the playoffs. It's ridiculous to play Brady et al on the parlay of both giving up the largest comeback in NFL history and that loss affecting the Pats in any way other than pride.

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If he gets injured because an opposition player puts an intentional, cheap shot on him then Patriots fans have every right to be angry as hell.

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Sure, they can be pissed. But say it's the last minute of the game, Brady runs a sneak from the 5 and scores to make it 100-0, the Pats kick onsides and recover, and then, on the last snap, Brady drops back to throw a Hail Mary... how much should the Pats be pissed and how much should they say, "We brought this on ourselves?" What if the game is still 100% won for the Pats, as before, but Belichick calls a screen, and a starting lineman gets his knee blown out trying to spring it for more points? The entire "Play to win the game" argument so far loved by Pats fans and media goes out the window in those cases, and all that's left is the careers of guys sacrificed by Bill. Sure, there's a small chance of those things happening. But how small is negligible, and how many small chances can you run before luck runs out?

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That and the fact that we can't blame Belicheck for Brady getting hurt

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Really? You admit Brady didn't need to be in last week. If he had gotten hurt, you wouldn't question his being in the game in the least? I don't get that. According to you, Brady shouldn't have been in the game. He went in, got hurt, and the person that decided to play him is blameless? I don't get it.

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I don't know any other sport where a team has to stop playing just because they've effectively already won the game.

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How about baseball? It's built into the structure, after all.

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I feel like some people who don't like them running up the score forget that the regular season is important too

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I really don't get this argument. In what scenario has point differential mattered? When was the last time playoff contention has gone past record, past head-to-head, and down to offensive points scored?

There are a bunch of valid reasons for those that argue the Pats should just take knees at the end of the game. I'd love to hear some for why they should be sneaking their HOF franchise QB when up 40 into the 3rd.

[Jay Riall]

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Why do 31 other teams in the NFL run the clock down when they have a massive 5 TD lead sewn up?

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The other 31 teams don't have a chance to go down in history as possibly the greatest and most dominating team in the history of football. And to people saying 'They will be considered the same if they grinded out a bunch of 14-10 wins rather than running up the score' - you are wrong. What is wrong in wanting glory and a disgustingly good legacy? I am sure as hell enjoying watching them do just this.

[Vagos]

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they are sick of taking all the blame for something lots of teams were doing

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I'm amazed that Pats fans (which I am not) continue to say this as if it were proven fact. You don't even say "probably doing", just "were doing". This is fascinating because I haven't seen any proof that any of the other 31 teams did this, but I'd be happy to look at any articles or evidence that someone can provide me.

Not only did Belichick get caught doing it against Green Bay last year, a memo was sent out basically saying "DONT DO IT!" and then he did it again in the first game of the season.

Playing the "Patriots as the victim" card is so ridiculous.

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The Patriots aren't victims, but they're not the villains everyone is trying to make them out to be.

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Tough to say. I agree the players' accomplishments and reputations were probably unfairly tarnished by their coach's decision to cheat. But I think Belichick is EVERY BIT the villain he is made out to be.

And if their reputation and accomplishments have been brought into question, they go out there and they're like "We're just gonna play football, do our thing" etc(humble pie), but then why are they jumping around and spiking footballs on a TD that makes it 45-0 in the 4th?

I almost get the vibe like Belichick has this wacked out mentality and it's starting to trickle down to the players.

[Vagos]

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Why do 31 other teams in the NFL run the clock down when they have a massive 5 TD lead sewn up?

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The other 31 teams don't have a chance to go down in history as possibly the greatest and most dominating team in the history of football...

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Yea but there have been teams in the past who have had chances to go down as the best team in history, and they didn't do what the Patriots are doing.