• Welcome to PurpleFlock! Sign up here so that you can chat with your fellow Ravens fans.

The Random Thought Thread

rmcjacket23 said:
While I agree that it "helps" to play in a division that appears to be as soft as it usually is, generally speaking, this idea that New England's success is largely attributable to a "soft schedule" due to a bad division has largely been debunked.
https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/pa...atriots-dominance-over-teams-outside-afc-east

The key takeaways (evaluation covers from 2001 through at least 2017 or 2018 season (can't tell from the article):
Patriots W/L % against AFC East opponents (78.2%) is comparable to their W/L % against every other team in the league (75.3%)
Patriots have 25 more non-division wins during that period than any other individual team in the NFL.
Patriots have a 24-14 record against division winners (63.1%). No other team in the NFL has a winning record against division-winning teams during that timespan.
And probably the most damning stats:
The Patriots are 60-33 against playoff teams during that span (64.5%). The second best team during that span is the Steelers... who win just 48%.
The Patriots are 75-45 against teams with a winning record during that span (62.5%). The second best team during that span is the Steelers... who win just 44%.

Or, think of it this way...

If the Patriots played a schedule that didn't include any AFC East teams at all, they would, on average, finish with a record of 12-4.
If the Patriots played a schedule that included only playoff teams, they'd still, on average, go 10-6.
Click to expand...
I'm really not trying to downplay their success as I know they have been good against good teams as well, but it gives them an easier ride through the playoffs with home games when they play them in the playoffs and that helps tremendously.

One thing to take note of is that the 64.5% win rate vs. playoff teams is less then it has been during the actual playoffs, when they play them at home. I'm also not just saying AFC East teams, because two of those non AFC East teams are division winners. The years they have gone undefeated for a large amount of time has had the NFC East on the schedule and many times that has been a weak conference. Not all the time though.
 
Last edited:
rmcjacket23 said:
While I agree that it "helps" to play in a division that appears to be as soft as it usually is, generally speaking, this idea that New England's success is largely attributable to a "soft schedule" due to a bad division has largely been debunked.
https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/pa...atriots-dominance-over-teams-outside-afc-east

The key takeaways (evaluation covers from 2001 through at least 2017 or 2018 season (can't tell from the article):
Patriots W/L % against AFC East opponents (78.2%) is comparable to their W/L % against every other team in the league (75.3%)
Patriots have 25 more non-division wins during that period than any other individual team in the NFL.
Patriots have a 24-14 record against division winners (63.1%). No other team in the NFL has a winning record against division-winning teams during that timespan.
And probably the most damning stats:
The Patriots are 60-33 against playoff teams during that span (64.5%). The second best team during that span is the Steelers... who win just 48%.
The Patriots are 75-45 against teams with a winning record during that span (62.5%). The second best team during that span is the Steelers... who win just 44%.

Or, think of it this way...

If the Patriots played a schedule that didn't include any AFC East teams at all, they would, on average, finish with a record of 12-4.
If the Patriots played a schedule that included only playoff teams, they'd still, on average, go 10-6.
Click to expand...

im with you - i was saying above i normally dont agree with the idea that the soft schedule helps them do much better than they normally would
but i brought it up because this year feels a little different and maybe my opinion will change as they start playing better teams on their schedule but i just thought it was worth bringing up
 
Ludy51 said:
I’m still not convinced that I’m not dreaming with this offense. All the praise of it is weird
Click to expand...

we all were fairly skeptical in the offseason (and media kind of laughed at it) when Harbs said this was going to be an offensive revolution but he was legitimately not lying at all lol
 
rossihunter2 said:
im with you - i was saying above i normally dont agree with the idea that the soft schedule helps them do much better than they normally would
but i brought it up because this year feels a little different and maybe my opinion will change as they start playing better teams on their schedule but i just thought it was worth bringing up
Click to expand...
My main concept is this... fans should be evaluating teams based on the things the team can control, not the things they can't.
Like the Patriots have zero control over the fact that they play the Giants and Redskins, who are garbage, and they're playing the AFC North in a year where its the worst its been in easily over a decade. Its obviously not some huge conspiracy that the Pats get favorable home vs away games, play softer schedules, etc. Its all a rotation, and its pretty much just blind luck.

Plus the divisional argument falls flat because the other teams in the division play the same (or even an easier) schedule than they do. Patriots at least have to play all conference division winners from the prior year on basically an annual basis. None of the other teams in their division have to worry about that.

Strength of schedule has always been a failed argument.
 
RavensMania said:
I'm really not trying to downplay their success as I know they have been good against good teams as well, but it gives them an easier ride through the playoffs with home games when they play them in the playoffs and that helps tremendously.

One thing to take note of is that the 64.5% win rate vs. playoff teams is less then it has been during the actual playoffs, when they play them at home. I'm also not just saying AFC East teams, because two of those non AFC East teams are division winners. The years they have gone undefeated for a large amount of time has had the NFC East on the schedule and many times that has been a weak conference. Not all the time though.
Click to expand...
Not only playoffs, it makes their lives generally much easier playing in a soft division. I wonder how much success over other good teams would they've had if they were in AFC North instead of say the Browns. Physicality takes a toll on you - Brady would have never won 6 Super Bowls or be able to play at 42 yo. Can you count how many of his games would have been vs Reed, Ray, Suggs, Ngata, Steelers D, occasional Burfict hit for good measure?

Numbers aren't everything unless you also count the number of tackles, sacks and hits.
 
When Hollywood gets healthy, watch out. His development is going to take Lamar to the next level. He STILL does not look like he can go full speed yet and make cuts etc.
 
gtalk12 said:
When Hollywood gets healthy, watch out. His development is going to take Lamar to the next level. He STILL does not look like he can go full speed yet and make cuts etc.
Click to expand...
I hope and pray Both LJ and my boy Rodgers stay healthy the rest of the season.
 
airconteka said:
He was cut from KC for fumbling a punt return, not sure he's what we are looking for in a PR!
Click to expand...
Cyrus Jones has been pretty good up to this point in the fumbling department. He has had his shares of fumbling with the Patriots though. I do like that he has some use on offense as a WR though.
 
Ravensnation5220 said:
Yo....I want what they're smoking..these guys are high af like idk how this became a segment

Click to expand...

Wow ... I must say most of the commentary I've heard has been quite complimentary of us, but what the hell is up with this panel?

They are talking about 2 different things. 1 is ... Pats are fine. This was just a down game, they'll rebound and be the top of the AFC as usual and nothing has changed on that front. On that score, I agree wholeheartedly.

2 is ... I was more impressed with New England's performance in this game than I was impressed with the Ravens. WHAT? Exactly what game were you watching? I can't believe anyone associated with the game for ages like Gonzalez would say such a thing. There isn't a single man on the 53 of the Pats that would agree with that ... I can't even imagine how BB would respond to that notion.

It is also clear that we will be viewed as a gadget team that will always be beaten the second time that a team sees us, because of the SD playoff game. Before this game, it was "oh, nobody schemes to stop a team like the Pats" ... but since it failed, not they just a second shot at us to show they have it figured out.
 
JO_75 said:
Pats Schedule vs Ravens Schedule....

Pats Schedule
BYE
@ Eagles
vs Cowboys
@ Texans
vs Chiefs
@ Bengals
vs Bills
vs Dolphins

Ravens Schedule
@ Bengals
vs Texans
@ Rams (MNF)
vs 49ers
@ Bills
vs Jets (TNF)
@ Browns
vs Steelers
Click to expand...
Here’s my thoughts:

vs. Texans: similar QB and they’re coming off a bye. Slightly concerned with this game even if it is at home.
@ Rams: they play PIT in PIT then play CHICAGO at home then us. Good offense but defense has question marks except a few guys. They do have Wade Philips though.
vs. Niners: only good thing here is it’s here at home and they play GB the week before but they’re at home for that game sadly.
@ Bills: they go to Dallas the week prior and they also seem to be a better road team than home team with their losses coming from playing at home.
vs Browns: they gotta fly to Arizona then have their home game against us when they’ve probably already been eliminated. They don’t seem mentally tough so they may be ready to fold and enjoy Christmas by this point.
@ Steelers: they have an interesting stretch where they go to Arizona, play the Bills at home, then go to play the NYJ and Ravens away. Could be a good thing for us if BUF still fighting for a spot due to the frequent traveling even if it is close.
 
rmcjacket23 said:
My main concept is this... fans should be evaluating teams based on the things the team can control, not the things they can't.
Like the Patriots have zero control over the fact that they play the Giants and Redskins, who are garbage, and they're playing the AFC North in a year where its the worst its been in easily over a decade. Its obviously not some huge conspiracy that the Pats get favorable home vs away games, play softer schedules, etc. Its all a rotation, and its pretty much just blind luck.

Plus the divisional argument falls flat because the other teams in the division play the same (or even an easier) schedule than they do. Patriots at least have to play all conference division winners from the prior year on basically an annual basis. None of the other teams in their division have to worry about that.

Strength of schedule has always been a failed argument.
Click to expand...
Doesn't Bill Belichick make the schedule. Hell, I always blame Bill Belichick, even if it's not football related.
 
gtalk12 said:
When Hollywood gets healthy, watch out. His development is going to take Lamar to the next level. He STILL does not look like he can go full speed yet and make cuts etc.
Click to expand...

I think we have some leeway to rest him if we need too, as lethal as our conversion rate is we need the Hollywood option to stretch the field.
 
ESPN First Take: "Are the Ravens the biggest threat to the Patriots?"

Max: When Patrick Mahomes comes back, it's the Chiefs.
Marcus Spears: 100% agree, don't even have to talk.
Stephen A: Same here.

Also Stephen A: Says Russell Wilson will win MVP.

No respect at all. Ravens go to Seattle, handily beat the Seahawks on their turf. Destroy the myth of the Pats defense two weeks later. Yet still no respect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top