Patriots vs. Chargers - how should a team play when blowing out the opponent?

Question

The Patriots have been criticized for continuing to pile on the points after they've already blown a team out. They did it again this week, with Brady throwing his 3rd TD pass when they were already up 38-0 on the Redskins.

In comparison, the Chargers led the Texans 35-3 at halftime. In the second half they threw a total of 3 passes and didn't score again.

Rivers threw 11 passes. Brady threw 38.

So what do you think is the appropriate way to play when an opponent is being blown out? Should a team continue to pile on points, as this is a professional league? Or should they go easy, knowing the game is in hand?

Answer 1

i believe the chargers handled it in a much more classy way, this isnt new, the patriots in the past couple of years have become infamous for beeing jerks

all the patriots needed to do was run the ball down the middle and run out the clock, and take out your starters if you are winning by 45 points!

Answer 2

The reason people are upset with the Pats is not that they continued to throw the ball. Its that with 10 mins left, up 38-0 in field goal range on 4th and 2 they went for it. This against a team that has not shown any offense all season let alone in the game.

The appropriate way to play is to win. The Chargers have an outstanding running game and feature their running back. The Pats are a passing team. I have no problem with them passing like they did, but there were actually two 4th down plays that they went for already up by 40. I would think a 41 point lead is as good as 45 points with 10 mins left, apparently thats not how Belichek sees it.

Answer 3

This is a team vs team sport.. The purpose of this game is to win by OUTSCORING your opponent. Of course they should try to score as much as they can. If I were the head coach of the Pats,I would have them trying to score up until the last second of the fourt quarter. I dont know why so many people are getting on the Patriots for this, when you see college football games every single weekend, that end up being 60 point blowouts. I dont see anyone yelling at them that they are running up the score.. Also, dont forget that people pay tickets to see a full 4 quarter football game. That means that fans spend there hard- earned money to watch a full game without anyone not giving 100%. To me, the Chargers did not play 100% the second half. They just coasted. To me that is totally wrong, and I think it ripped off the fine folks of San Diego, who paid to watch 60 minutes of hard nosed football.

Answer 4

Rivers not throwing passes is the Key for the chargers to move the ball, if you re handing off to LT instead, youre not giving the other team a chance. When Joan Rivers throws one of her passes it has the same chance of being caught by a Texan as it does a charger so I think they were running it up on the Texans.

Answer 5

Come on! This is professional football, not middle school football! Each of those players are making millions of dollars. If the score is 91-0, then so be it. As a professional football player, you should never play so badly that a team blows you out like that. The Redskins did NOTHING last night until the last 4 minutes of the game. Embarassing!

Answer 6

The difference is the Texans were'nt coming back in that game they are aweful...Plus Norv Turner did'nt know what to do he has never been up that much

The Redskins down 24 -0 at the half every Pats hater last week said the Redskins had the #1 defense in the league
they will upset the patriots ...
The Pats made sure there was No Upset in sight

Answer 7

if the pats are trying to work on plays from halftime on, up by 45, the plays they should be "working on" should be the running plays. they spend the bulk of the first half throwing

in the course of the game, when bellichick sees his team is up 45 in the fourth quarter, he calls what... another pass.... why? are they going for stats? are they being "professional"? are they taunting the league (or whoever) for their spygate? who knows. what will be curious is when the shoe is on the other foot, and his team is down big, and the other team goes in for "one more touchdown" late. i bet bellichick refuses to shake hands, runs off the field and is a pissy little crybaby in the locker room -- see his tantrums the last few years when they lose.

Answer 8

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Au0vXgWvWyYTUtUE3zRti8vsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071025123053AALmTxU

- if a game is already “decided” before the clock runs out, then why is the loser still given chances to score? Get off the field then. Obviously the game is NOT decided.

- Several teams have shown the ability to orchestrate jaw – dropping comebacks, implying that a game isn’t over until the clock has expired.

Answer 9

I would run the ball as the Chargers did, as a fantasy player I love the Pats and their continual scoring.

Answer 10

It is Pro sports and you should play to win. Starters are paid considerably more than reserves and you are not paying them to sit on the bench.

I think NE is trying to shove it in the face of every person who criticizes their moves and the more that is said the more they will continue to do it. NE looks like they want to break all the records they can and they don't care what anyone says. Good for them but they should know that pay backs are a b#%$@&.