The Malaise Of The New England Patriots

On this sixth day of December, it is a sad day for those of us formally aligned with and identified as bona fide New England Patriots fans. A heartbreaking loss to the Miami Dolphins has perhaps defined the real parameters for success of this 2009 -2010 New England Patriots football team.

The lustre is gone, as continual losses on the road by the Patriots have dulled the once impenetrable shine affixed to the Patriots throughout this decade. The team seems to have not only lost direction, but its essence and soul are conspicuously absent. The hallmark of a Belichick football team is defense. The defense is the heartbeat and the epicenter from which all success emanates. Even with the presence of one of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game and a complimentary cadre of talented receivers and running backs, the defense remains the foundation for Super Bowl aspirations that begin in summer training camps.

The heartbeat of the New England Patriots is close to cardiac arest as a pattern of mediocre and very good opponent offenses ravage its fragile state, by moving at will and scoring points at the most opportune moments of their football contests against the fledgling New England defense. Not only is the heart of the team close to cardiac arrest, but the heart itself is hemorrhaging and no one seems to know how to stop the bleeding and keep the heart beating.

This team is a team that never had to question its character. This was a team that had more character and heart than the majority of their counterparts. This was a team that never quit. This was a team that always believed in itself and goals were attainable via a one game at a time mindset. The Patriots are a combination of players operating as a team, rather than an association of select, gifted , particular grandstanding athletes acting as a singular enterprise. The mantra was always the team psyche and not that of an individual player or two.

I verbalize "is" and "are" because these are perhaps in the wrong tense. Perhaps, a more viable anaylsis at this juncture would be to suggest that the aforementioned represents the past rather than the present. The competitive fire of the New England Patriots seems to be something less than eternal afterall. A kind of malaise seems to permeate this football team of late. Patriot pride seems has to have evaporated this season. Last season, even under duress and extreme challenges, the Patriots exhibited extreme pride and resolve in attaining a winning record. It was criminal to be shut out of the playoffs with 11 victories, but that only detracts from the true meaning of last season's real accomplishment. Without their team skipper and cheerleader at the helm, the Patriots fought hard and managed a winning season without their franchise quarterback. This reality is the epitome of heart and never saying die. What has happened to this football team?

Is it the loss of Seymour, Vrabel or perhaps Bruschi retiring? Is the impotence just a reality of free agency, multi-million dollar deals and maintaining the bottom line? Could it simply be that the New England Patriots are simply a second tiered team at this point and to expect improved performance is unfair to the management and players of this team?

Next week Carolina comes to town and the margin for error is simply non-existent. This football team simply has to win the remainder of its games to launch a realistic and viable bid into the post season scheme. However, if we prevail and reach the playoffs, are we really a championship caliber team?

The Patriots are a good football team, but superior teams in the NFL exist and I think our encounter with New Orleans and Indianapolis reinforces this hypothesis. Compounding this assertion is the ever present willingness of Coach Bilichick to gamble away fourth down decisions in a sometimes reckless manner. No doubt, hindsight is a wonderful tool and loses credibility when you are not the individual on the hot seat and making tough decisions in a limited time frame. However, one wonders whether deciding to take the field goal in the red zone of Miami would have been enough to win the game as we lost by one point. Instead of taking the field goal, we walked away with no points , by failing to convert on fourth down.

What has happened to the magic of Tom Brady's triumphant last minute marches down the field that culminate in an exhibition of choreographed cool, calm, victorious symphonies of athletic prowess, determination and ultimate victory? Perhaps, we expect too much from Mr. Brady week in and week out. Mr Brady is not flawless. He threw a potential game altering interception in the red zone that would have positioned us with a more comfortable nine point lead. He is human and we can cut him a break. Tom can't be perfect for every occasion.

However, I guess what I find alarming is how complacent he has become. You don't see that fire and the unmistakable glare of determination that has become the hallmark of Tom Brady. He appears almost robotic, detached and programmed,in post game interviews, as the repetitive mantra of we need to play better is presented.

In fairness to Tom, he needs help from his supporting cast and though Aiken completed an outstanding catch, he also failed to hang on to two pivotal catches in the game. Speaking of Tom, when are we going to give him a break and really develop our running game? It appears in recent games that as soon as we are rolling down the field with Maroney and company, we lose interest and focus exclusively on a passing attack, often to our detriment.

This is a team that has lost its identity. I hope we can reclaim it, because time is running out. The engine is most definitely not firing on all cyclinders, but in the mechanics of football, we have some of the best mechanics and trouble shooters in the game. Maybe it is time to change the oil. Perhaps Coach Bilichick has to start revamping stagnant game plans and wholly inadequate adjustments during the game. The Patriots have utilized no huddle offenses in the past. The Patriots have been more creative in their defensive schemes. We have to start putting pressure on the opposing quarterback!

This is a team that has always believed it could. It was simply the team that could, whether it was heralded as an underdog or a champion. All of sports is very much a mental exercise as well as a frenzy of physical activity and accomplishment. If the Patriots start really believing that they can, maybe, just maybe, they can build confidence and determination in the forthcoming games to launch a respectable showing and journey through the playoffs. Its time to start thinking and acting like winners, both on and off the football field! Lets go guys! Time is running out!