Week four of the Patriots season has always seemed like a proving point where we get a sense of just what kind of team we’ve got this year.
Let’s take a look back at all the week four games since 2005, the last time the Pats closed the first quarter of their season out with a loss.
2005 – Pats are mauled at home by the Chargers 41-17, coming off a costly win in Pittsburgh that saw them lose both Matt Light and Rodney Harrison for the season. This set the tone of inconsistency as the Pats would go on to lose three of their next seven. This was arguably one of the worst Patriots teams in the Belichick era.
2006 – Coming off a disappointing loss at home to the Broncos 17-7 in what was supposed to be a “revenge game” the Pats had to go to Cincinnati to face a 3-0 Bengals team that had just beat the Steelers. Many were predicting this was the end for the Pats, but New England responded with a 38-13 beatdown of the Bengals, who had looked like an offensive juggernaut up to that point.
2007 – In hindsight it may be easy to overlook the 2007 Pats 34-13 win over the Bengals in this week four, but in the lead up to the game there were quite a few pundits who thought the Bengals would hold their own at home. Still, the 2007 Pats tend to be outliers regardless, but this was a big win on Monday Night Football that kept the undefeated train rolling.
2008 – The Pats had a bye in week four but they needed that extra week to regroup after the Wildcat coming out party that handed them a shocking 38-13 pounding at home from the Dolphins. The Pats played well enough to win, but it was clear that the Pats were just not the same without Tom Brady. The following week they looked listless in a 30-10 loss to the Chargers.
2009 – The Pats were coming off a home win against the Falcons, but the Ravens were undefeated and looked like the class of the AFC. The resulting 27-21 Pats win showed a toughness not demonstrated very often in 2009, but it was proof that the talent was there if they could just put it all together. Which they never did. If there was one year where week four wasn’t a sign of things to come, this was it.
2010 – The Pats looked really vulnerable in the three prior games. They squeaked out wins against the Bengals and Bills, and had looked lethargic in a 28-14 loss to the Jets. Going into Miami on Monday Night looked to be a tough match up, especially with the 2-1 Dolphins playing the Jets tougher than the Pats had. But the the Pats rolled on the back of their special teams and defensive play, coming out with a dominating 41-14 win that reminded the NFL they weren’t going anywhere.
2011 – The Pats were coming off game in Buffalo where they blew a 21-3 lead and the 2-1 Raiders had put up 69 points in their last two games. Raiders fans were confident as they always are, knowing Oakland is never an easy place to play. The Pats showed great focus and the kind of perseverance that would become a trademark of their 2011 season, pulling out a 31-19 win.
As you can see the Patriots almost always lose a game and/or have some shakiness in the first three weeks of the season, which has set up some pivotal battles in week four that more often than not reveal some of the characteristics of this year’s team.
In most cases the Patriots have responded, but either way we should have a better sense of just who the 2012 Patriots will be come Monday.
