I've been a Pats fan since the early nineties, back when they couldn't win a single game to save their lives. Back when they got their butts handed to them almost every single night.

The Bears v Patriots Superbowl XX was 46-10. Were the Bears "running up the score", or were the Pats just plain bad?

Washington Redskins (72) vs New York Giants (41) (11/27/66)... were the Redskins "piling on the points" or were they doing their JOB?

It's PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL. Their objective is to score.

If you whine and complain when a team takes a knee with 30 seconds left to play when they are up by three points, that's your business. But the team is supposed to win, because that is what they are paid to do.

Given the fact that teams have made miraculous comebacks from 32 points behind.... Buffalo Bills vs Houston Oilers (1/3/1993)(trailed 3-35, won 41-38, OT) "running up the score" is what you're SUPPOSED to do.

Everyone needs to stop the whining. There's always next year.

gherd-

Pointing out the illogic of complaining about "running up the score" is not the same as whining. I could return the same response to your own answer, which was an attempt to claim I was whining. It wouldn't make much sense, now would it?

Did you even think before you spoke up?

Lets see how you feel about that after the Colts return the favor this week, and at the end of the year I think you'll hear a lot of Patriot fans whining. "There's always next year" Again.

are you not whining now?

I think running up the score in pro football is disrespectful to a point ,but it's subjective. The Pats are the best team I've seen in a long time so it may be a way to earn respect. However, in college football, teams should do whatever they can to run up the score because of the subjectivity of the BCS and margin of victory matters.

No.

There's nothing to complain about it.

It's nothing but a dumb risk for a season ending injury. When you only need a couple of kneels to finish the game, why are you going to risk your defense or your best player to injuries?

With nothing to play for, somebody from the other team can easily do a dirty play at the end. He'll be fined and suspended for a couple of games, but it doesn't repair your team from losing a key player.

I think alot of fans are just pissed off because it's the PATRIOTS winning in that manner and not THEIR teams. If it was AMERICA'S TEAM, or MANNING'S COLTS, or ROTHLISBURGER'S STEELERS doing it,I'm sure that they wouldn't be complain too much. Running up the score isn't legitimate but they just want to complain for the sake of it.

They're paid to WIN games not LOSE them and if they can't stop someone's offense then they shouldn't play at all.

I aint even PATS fan...but oh yeah, PATS ARE the best team this decade...manning and colts gang gotta just hide themselves...pats gonna kick their rear...(again...i am not pats fan)

its not the job for the offense to stop the offense simply put.

no , our defense played like crap and we got drilled bottom line , but for the pats fans trying to say gibbs didnt shake hands at the end of the game you are liars , i watched joe shake hands and talk about his conversation with bill after the game in redskins post game ,so yeah the pats destroyed us ,but dont disrespect joe posting crap saying he never shook hands ,because gibbs has class and got his 3 super bowls without cheating so good luck in indy next week and take notes from gibbs on what having class is all about

No After all, Offensive players play to score points. People bring up what if Tom gets hurt .....a bunch of what if's.....that's how it is in life.....life is unpredictable. Too many people bring up scenarios that might not even happen. I just see a lot of Patriots bashing. A lot of holier than thou people pointing the finger at the team. A lot of teams have blown out people and weren't given crap about it like the Colts. This is NFL...this isn't pop warner. If they don't want the Patriots to score,then the defense should play better. Having starters in there is not necessarily bad...especially if they want to stay sharp. Also.....there is such thing as comebacks. Anything could happen in the NFL. Nobody expected a 6th round draft pick to replace Drew Bledsoe and lead the Patriots to win 3 Super Bowls.