Cbz40
The Grand Poobah
- Messages
- 31,387
- Reaction score
- 39
[SIZE=+2]Pats hoping to stake claim as best ever
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]11:33 PM CST on Tuesday, November 13, 2007
[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_rgosselin.jpg
• E-mail
The New England Patriots are attempting to become the best team in franchise history. That might make them the best team in NFL history.
With three Lombardi Trophies since 2001 on display at their facility, the Patriots have set the bar ridiculously high for themselves. They won an NFL-record 18 consecutive games during one stretch this decade and became only the seventh franchise to win back-to-back Super Bowls, in 2003-04.
But the Patriots had never started a season 9-0 – until now. And the toughest part of their schedule is already behind them. New England went on the road and beat the best team in the NFC (Dallas) in October and the second-best team in the AFC (Indianapolis) in November.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/11-07/1114patriots.jpg AP
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick (right) and quarterback Tom Brady are chasing NFL history.
Seven more victories would give the Patriots the NFL's first 16-0 season – and first perfect regular season since the Miami Dolphins went 14-0 in 1972.
A 19-0 record – additional victories in two AFC playoff games plus the Super Bowl – would give the Patriots a legitimate claim as the greatest football team ever assembled.
What's to argue?
The Patriots won their first three Super Bowls with flawed teams. Their 2001 champion fielded the worst defense of the Super Bowl era (ranking 24th in the NFL). Their 2003 champion fielded the worst rushing attack of the Super Bowl era (27th in the NFL). Their 2004 champion ranked 17th in passing and 21st in special teams.
There are no such flaws on this team. Vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli and coach Bill Belichick have assembled a roster that excels on offense, defense and special teams.
The Patriots rank first in the NFL offensively in yards and points. They rank second in passing and seventh in rushing. Defensively, the Patriots rank sixth against the pass, sixth against the run and fourth overall. They're tied for sixth in the NFL in sacks, sixth in takeaways and fifth in points allowed.
Quarterback Tom Brady is the best player in the NFL. He's on pace to break the NFL season record for touchdown passes. Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker give him his best set of receivers of the decade.
New England has a veteran and deep defense. Sixteen different Patriots made tackles in the 24-20 victory over the Colts. Five New England defenders have been to the Pro Bowl, and linebacker Mike Vrabel may be the league's best player who's never been to a Pro Bowl.
All that said, does the league's best team on paper translate to a perfect season? Eleven teams have opened a season 9-0 since the 1972 Dolphins, and not a one made it to Christmas with that perfect record intact.
The 2005 Colts and 1998 Broncos came the closest, winning 13 in a row before suffering their first losses. The Broncos went on to win the Super Bowl, finishing 17-2.
The 1985 Chicago Bears lost their 13th game but went on to finish 18-1 in winning their only Super Bowl. The 1991 Washington Commanders lost their 12th game but went on to finish 17-2 on the way to their last Super Bowl.
The bottom line: It's tough to wheel out your A game all 16 weekends of an NFL regular season. The Patriots saw that firsthand last December when they took a 9-3 record to Miami but were shellacked, 21-0, by a 5-7 Dolphins team.
The Patriots play four of their remaining games at home. Both the 2005 Colts and 1991 Commanders saw their bids for perfection end at home. A Dec. 9 game against the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers could be New England's stiffest challenge.
New England's three remaining road games also are tricky – at Buffalo on Sunday, Baltimore on Dec. 3 and the New York Giants in the season finale on Dec. 29. Denver's bid for perfection in 1998 ended at the hands of the Giants in the Meadowlands. Blustery winter weather in all three locales could cause problems for a New England team that leans heavily on the pass.
Also, the media circus will increase with every victory. That's the price of being the best – possibly on the way to becoming the best ever.
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]11:33 PM CST on Tuesday, November 13, 2007
[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_rgosselin.jpg
• E-mail
The New England Patriots are attempting to become the best team in franchise history. That might make them the best team in NFL history.
With three Lombardi Trophies since 2001 on display at their facility, the Patriots have set the bar ridiculously high for themselves. They won an NFL-record 18 consecutive games during one stretch this decade and became only the seventh franchise to win back-to-back Super Bowls, in 2003-04.
But the Patriots had never started a season 9-0 – until now. And the toughest part of their schedule is already behind them. New England went on the road and beat the best team in the NFC (Dallas) in October and the second-best team in the AFC (Indianapolis) in November.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/11-07/1114patriots.jpg AP
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick (right) and quarterback Tom Brady are chasing NFL history.
Seven more victories would give the Patriots the NFL's first 16-0 season – and first perfect regular season since the Miami Dolphins went 14-0 in 1972.
A 19-0 record – additional victories in two AFC playoff games plus the Super Bowl – would give the Patriots a legitimate claim as the greatest football team ever assembled.
What's to argue?
The Patriots won their first three Super Bowls with flawed teams. Their 2001 champion fielded the worst defense of the Super Bowl era (ranking 24th in the NFL). Their 2003 champion fielded the worst rushing attack of the Super Bowl era (27th in the NFL). Their 2004 champion ranked 17th in passing and 21st in special teams.
There are no such flaws on this team. Vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli and coach Bill Belichick have assembled a roster that excels on offense, defense and special teams.
The Patriots rank first in the NFL offensively in yards and points. They rank second in passing and seventh in rushing. Defensively, the Patriots rank sixth against the pass, sixth against the run and fourth overall. They're tied for sixth in the NFL in sacks, sixth in takeaways and fifth in points allowed.
Quarterback Tom Brady is the best player in the NFL. He's on pace to break the NFL season record for touchdown passes. Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker give him his best set of receivers of the decade.
New England has a veteran and deep defense. Sixteen different Patriots made tackles in the 24-20 victory over the Colts. Five New England defenders have been to the Pro Bowl, and linebacker Mike Vrabel may be the league's best player who's never been to a Pro Bowl.
All that said, does the league's best team on paper translate to a perfect season? Eleven teams have opened a season 9-0 since the 1972 Dolphins, and not a one made it to Christmas with that perfect record intact.
The 2005 Colts and 1998 Broncos came the closest, winning 13 in a row before suffering their first losses. The Broncos went on to win the Super Bowl, finishing 17-2.
The 1985 Chicago Bears lost their 13th game but went on to finish 18-1 in winning their only Super Bowl. The 1991 Washington Commanders lost their 12th game but went on to finish 17-2 on the way to their last Super Bowl.
The bottom line: It's tough to wheel out your A game all 16 weekends of an NFL regular season. The Patriots saw that firsthand last December when they took a 9-3 record to Miami but were shellacked, 21-0, by a 5-7 Dolphins team.
The Patriots play four of their remaining games at home. Both the 2005 Colts and 1991 Commanders saw their bids for perfection end at home. A Dec. 9 game against the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers could be New England's stiffest challenge.
New England's three remaining road games also are tricky – at Buffalo on Sunday, Baltimore on Dec. 3 and the New York Giants in the season finale on Dec. 29. Denver's bid for perfection in 1998 ended at the hands of the Giants in the Meadowlands. Blustery winter weather in all three locales could cause problems for a New England team that leans heavily on the pass.
Also, the media circus will increase with every victory. That's the price of being the best – possibly on the way to becoming the best ever.
