Go New England Patriots!

[LT COL KILGORE]

 

[alanp]

Go New England Cheaters!

Sorry to rain on your parade, Kilgore, (I seriously doubt my post will take away your enthusiasm )
The Pats didn't lose my respect when they and their coach were fined for cheating.

They lost my respect when, early in the season, they were ahead in a game by two scores (IIRC) with seconds/minutes(?) to go and they purposely ran the score up against a hapless team. (sorry, I can't remember who they were playing.)

Super Bowl = *yawn*

 

[Dr Zaius]

I was sorry to see the season end like that for Green Bay. They had an extraordinary year and Favre would have been interesting to see against the Patriots. But Green Bay didn't look good at all.

New York better play at 110% because the Patriots have already shown they can handle every team in the league. They made it look easy yesterday, even though they made a couple of mistakes.

If the Pats win, and I believe they will, they will have claim to being the best team in the history of the NFL. When Miami had their perfect year in '72 there were only 14 games per season, and the Pats will exceed that by 2. Miami also didn't have to struggle against free agency, salary caps, and revenue sharing schemes designed to keep teams like the Patriots from doing what they are doing. If they win Super Bowl 42, they will stand alone.

And I am definitely not a Patriots fan.

 

[Foggy]

I was sorry to see the season end like that for Green Bay. They had an extraordinary year and Favre would have been interesting to see against the Patriots. But Green Bay didn't look good at all.

New York better play at 110% because the Patriots have already shown they can handle every team in the league. They made it look easy yesterday, even though they made a couple of mistakes.

If the Pats win, and I believe they will, they will have claim to being the best team in the history of the NFL. When Miami had their perfect year in '72 there were only 14 games per season, and the Pats will exceed that by 2. Miami also didn't have to struggle against free agency, salary caps, and revenue sharing schemes designed to keep teams like the Patriots from doing what they are doing. If they win Super Bowl 42, they will stand alone.

And I am definitely not a Patriots fan.

Sorry Don - you actually think a NY team can stop our beloved PATS - can't wait to see the point spread

 

[Dr Zaius]

Sorry Don - you actually think a NY team can stop our beloved PATS - can't wait to see the point spread.

No, I don't think NY will win unless they have a really good day and NE has a bad one. Not likely.

Considering how young a lot of NE's team is, I wonder how long they can keep this up.

 

[Foggy]

No, I don't think NY will win unless they have a really good day and NE has a bad one. Not likely.

Considering how young a lot of NE's team is, I wonder how long they can keep this up.

It's not the player's Don - it's BB's staff's itself - think about it

 

[alanp]

Don, while no team has ever won 19 games in a season it's not possible to objectively compare teams from different eras.

Think about this: the NFL, with 32 teams, is a weaker league overall than a league with 22, 26 or 28 teams. It takes getting some of the best players (of that year) in a few key positions on one team for that one team to be able to dominate a league for that year. (The Pats have certainly dominated the NFL this year.) 2007 Pats=best team ever? A meaningless statement.

 

[Markdv5208]

I'm torn

I'm torn...

I root usually for the NFC teams ie Lions (ok, that's a lost cause) Bears ( not much better this year) and Packers.

I like the Cinderalla nature of the Giants...

But I also like the idea of a 19-0 season. they had luck against the Ravens, they had skill against nearly everyone, everything EVERYTHING about them to me screams that they are a machine to be stopped, yet, I find that it would be cool to watch them win.

There, I just talked out of both ends of my piehole.

IF PUSHED...GO PATRIOTS

Mark DV
Ada, MI

 

[Marty Ward]

Don, while no team has ever won 19 games in a season it's not possible to objectively compare teams from different eras.

It would be fair to say they are the greatest team ever if they do it. I mean it would be a perfect season, how can they be any better? And it's not like they beat up on a bunch of weak teams, they played good teams and beat them all. You could argue that the Dolphins were their equals even that team had some advantages the Pats didn't, shorter schedule, better weather in home games, weaker schedule etc.

 

[Psycho]

72 Dolphins:

opponents' winning percentage of .396 (one of the easiest since 1950)
faced two teams with winning records (both 8-6)
didn't face a playoff team in regular season

20-10 KC (8-6)
34-13 HOU (1-13)
16-14 MIN (7-7)
27-17 NYJ (7-7)
24-10 SD (4-9-1)
24-23 BUF (4-9-1)
23-0 BAL (5-9)
30-16 BUF (4-9-1)
52-0 NE (3-11)
28-24 NYJ (7-7)
31-10 STL (4-9-1)
37-21 NE (3-11)
23-13 NYG (8-6)
16-0 BAL (5-9)

20-14 CLE (10-4) led by QB Mike Phipps
21-17 PIT (11-3) Bradshaw missed at least half the game
14-7 WAS (11-3)

07 Pats:

opponents' winning percentage of .469
faced seven teams with winning records (two 13-3)
faced six playoff teams plus CLE who just missed playoffs (beat NFC #1 by 3 td, NFC #6 by 45, AFC #3 by 24, and AFC #4 by 3 td)

38-14 NYJ (4-12)
38-14 SD (11-5)
38-7 BUF (7-9)
34-13 CIN (7-9)
34-17 CLE (10-6)
48-27 DAL (13-3)
49-28 MIA (1-15)
52-7 WAS (9-7)
24-20 IND (13-3)
56-10 BUF (7-9)
31-28 PHI (8-8)
27-24 BAL (5-11)
34-13 PIT (10-6)
20-10 NYJ (4-12)
28-7 MIA (1-15)
38-35 NYG (10-6)

31-20 JAX (11-5)
21-12 SD (11-5)

Throw in the fact that there is parity now to keep teams from loading up (NE & IND seem to be exceptions though). NE easily the much better team then the overrated Dolphins. :hurray:

 

[Markdv5208]

WEll, I'm convinced based on Psychos contribution that the Patriots are the best team in NFL history. Maybe the best football team ever?

Mark DV
Ada, MI

 

[Marty Ward]

WEll, I'm convinced based on Psychos contribution that the Patriots are the best team in NFL history. Maybe the best football team ever?

Mark DV
Ada, MI

It's not like the Dolphins were patsys. They played the schedule they were given and didn't lose a game. It's not their fault that they had a relatively easy schedule that year. Plenty of other teams have had easiers schedules and lost games.
But all things considered I'd have to give the edge to NE IF they do it simply because they had to win 2 more games.

 

[Dave68124]

WEll, I'm convinced based on Psychos contribution that the Patriots are the best team in NFL history. Maybe the best football team ever?

Mark DV
Ada, MI

I would probably wait until the final judgement comes in before making proclaimations of greatness. I recall the same being said about the 2003 Oklahoma team as well until K-State whipped their arses 35-7 in the Big 12 Championship and they laid another egg in the BCS game.

No doubt NE is a good team (win or lose), but they do still have one more game to play before the next level of greatness can be conferred upon them.

 

[Psycho]

WEll, I'm convinced based on Psychos contribution that the Patriots are the best team in NFL history. Maybe the best football team ever?

Mark DV
Ada, MI

Hold on there buckaroo! That makes 07 NE better than 72 MIA IMO. There are some teams that have lost a few games that had a harder schedule or that I would just consider a better overall team. Top teams IMO would be:

50s CLE (46-49 had 4 champs in AAFC then 6 straight appearances in NFL Champ Game but went 3-3)
60s GB (mainly 61-67 - 5 Championships in 7 years)
70s PIT (mainly 72-79 - 4 Championships in 6 years)
80s SF (4 Championships in 9 years, from 81 to 98 they had one losing season and it was a strike year)
00s NE (going for 4th Championship in 7 years during salary cap era)

 

[Sparafucil3]

Here is the part that is hard to argue with about New England:

2 Sep 16 SD 14 @ NE 38 FINAL
6 Oct 14 NE 48 @ DAL 27 FINAL
8 Oct 28 WAS 7 @ NE 52 FINAL
9 Nov 04 NE 24 @ IND 20 FINAL
14 Dec 09 PIT 13 @ NE 34 FINAL
17 Dec 29 NE 38 @ NYG 35 FINAL

All playoff teams that NE beat during the regular season. I think the G-men can hang with them, and if I was betting man, I would take the points, but I would not be suprised if NE won by 30 either. They have been that dominating. -- jim

PS: I am a long time Giant fan so be prepared to mock me later (or now as the case may be). -- jim

 

[Psycho]

Here is the part that is hard to argue with about New England:

2 Sep 16 SD 14 @ NE 38 FINAL
6 Oct 14 NE 48 @ DAL 27 FINAL
8 Oct 28 WAS 7 @ NE 52 FINAL
9 Nov 04 NE 24 @ IND 20 FINAL
14 Dec 09 PIT 13 @ NE 34 FINAL
17 Dec 29 NE 38 @ NYG 35 FINAL

All playoff teams that NE beat during the regular season. I think the G-men can hang with them, and if I was betting man, I would take the points, but I would not be suprised if NE won by 30 either. They have been that dominating. -- jim

PS: I am a long time Giant fan so be prepared to mock me later (or now as the case may be). -- jim

Right. Notice the beatdowns put on many of them. The two close games were won by NE in the 4th Q in crunch time. Even if you can hang with them, you can't put them away. If someone finds a way to do that then I'll stop picking NE to win.

Before the SD game the ESPN "experts" said that SD had a plan for stopping NE. They were going to disguise their coverages and jump around before the snap to confuse Brady. Gee, nobody has ever thought of or tried that before. Morons! :laugh:

 

[Sparafucil3]

Before the SD game the ESPN "experts" said that SD had a plan for stopping NE. They were going to disguise their coverages and jump around before the snap to confuse Brady. Gee, nobody has ever thought of or tried that before. Morons! :laugh:

The two keys to beating NE (besides Tonya Harding, a lead pipe, and Tom Brady all occupying the same room for a few minutes which is really three keys but I digress):

• NE's linebacking corps is suspect. That are a pale shadow of their former self. If a team can run the ball effectively and keep the NE offense off the field, they have a chance. I am not sure the Giants have what it takes, but they can not afford to allow NE to score and then go three-and-out. It will be 30 - 0 faster than you can say "Belichick is a cheater."
• Pressure Brady up the middle. This makes Brady uncomfortable and will help to cover up for a secondary that simply is not good enough to cover the NE receivers.

As you said though, "Gee, nobody has ever thought of or tried that before. Morons! :laugh:" -- jim

 

[Psycho]

The two keys to beating NE (besides Tonya Harding, a lead pipe, and Tom Brady all occupying the same room for a few minutes which is really three keys but I digress):

• NE's linebacking corps is suspect. That are a pale shadow of their former self. If a team can run the ball effectively and keep the NE offense off the field, they have a chance. I am not sure the Giants have what it takes, but they can not afford to allow NE to score and then go three-and-out. It will be 30 - 0 faster than you can say "Belichick is a cheater."
• Pressure Brady up the middle. This makes Brady uncomfortable and will help to cover up for a secondary that simply is not good enough to cover the NE receivers.

As you said though, "Gee, nobody has ever thought of or tried that before. Morons! :laugh:" -- jim

All those teams that came close to winning were running the ball well. In the 4th Q when it mattered though, those teams weren't able to convert on 3rd down when running. NE can stop the run when it matters most.

 

[Bob Holmstrom]

I'm afraid this will be one of those 42-10 Superbowls. I hope Tom Petty brings his A game.

While personally i despise the Patriots, mostly because of their beating the Rams in 2002, they are the best football team ever. I don't see how people can argue against it considering their soon to be perfect record, their level of offensive play, their crunch time playmaking both offensively and defensively, their coaching and game planning, and their margin of victories over quality teams. And they've done it in the salary cap era.

 

[trevpr1]

Pats deserve to lose for being cheats.