How good would New England be if they played in the NFC?

[Doomsday101]

Who? All I see are one hit wonders.

Out of the last 10 SB AFC has won 5 There are some tough teams in the AFC I will say in as of late NFC has been tougher but as mentioned that seems to go in cycles some what. To claim Pats would not do good in the NFC all you have to do is look at their record vs NFC teams, they have held more than their own.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

They wouldn't be as good because each division in the NFC has superstar QB's (Eli, Romo, Rodgers, Brees, Ryan and Wilson).

I'm not so sure they would be as good anywhere else as at least in the AFC North you have Roethliberger, Dalton and Flacco. The South you have Luck and in the West you have Rivers and Peyton.

It doesn't mean they couldn't win a Super Bowl and I think with SpyGate they probably win at least 2. But, they don't repeatedly go to the Super Bowl because they don't get the HFA or the 2 seed every year.






YR

 

[ConstantReboot]

Out of the last 10 SB AFC has won 5 There are some tough teams in the AFC I will say in as of late NFC has been tougher but as mentioned that seems to go in cycles some what. To claim Pats would not do good in the NFC all you have to do is look at their record vs NFC teams, they have held more than their own.

I think they are a good team. But if they were in the NFC I think they will be one of the good teams amongst other good teams. As for the AFC I stated that a lot of them have been one hit wonders. I feel that Patriots are the most stable team in the AFC. Compare that with what you see in the NFC and you'll notice that the good teams tend to be consistent for a few years. Just stating what I think.

Not saying that Patriots isn't a good team. But if they were in the NFC they will won't be dominant as they are in their division. They'll probably be one of the more consistent good teams that will always be vying for a playoff but they won't dominating.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think they are a good team. But if they were in the NFC I think they will be one of the good teams amongst other good teams. As for the AFC I stated that a lot of them have been one hit wonders. I feel that Patriots are the most stable team in the AFC. Compare that with what you see in the NFC and you'll notice that the good teams tend to be consistent for a few years. Just stating what I think.

Not saying that Patriots isn't a good team. But if they were in the NFC they will won't be dominant as they are in their division. They'll probably be one of the more consistent good teams that will always be vying for a playoff but they won't dominating.

You could say that about some division in the NFC as well. NFC south is a mess right now, NFC North in 2013 even with Rodgers missing most of the season GB won that division once again. 2010 was the last time some one won the NFC North other than GB

 

[The Natural]

Yes but to me, that's the logic of when the Miami Heat won the Finals, that they would still be able to do that in the West, which was easily the better side. It's one thing to play 4 of your 12 games against the NFC and win. It's another to play 12 of your 16 against that conference and play in those divisions and win.

I mean it's all speculation and no one really knows but the NFC has been deeper than the AFC for awhile now. A 5 or 6 seed Giants team was able to knock off the 18-0 Pats, who coasted through the AFC. Same goes for the Broncos. No way they win in the NFC that easily. I don't think it's as big of a separation as it was in the late 80s and 90s between the two but there is a big difference. Especially in terms of depth.

I think the Heat analogy is a poor one. They liked to play an up and down game that would have been better suited playing against a lot of western conference teams vs. grind it out squads like the Bulls, Pacers, even Celtics when they still had Pierce, Rondo, etc.

 

[Seven]

Can't stand Brady, dislike the team but won't take any thing away from them. They are a well oiled machine built with some spare parts.

Yep.

A coaches job is to take his athletes and put them in a position to succeed as a whole.

The Pats do an incredible job at that.

They formulate a plan with the roster and coach 'em up. Everyone is held accountable.

I'm jealous.

 

[tyke1doe]

The Cowboys went to foxboro a few years ago and should've beat New England if Garrett wouldn't have went conservative with 2 minutes left in the game. I can't wait until New England comes to Dallas next season and the Cowboys put it on them. We'll see who's better.

Even if we do beat them, it won't mean we could have beaten them this year. It will simply mean we got better and were better than them at that point in time.

At some point we just have to acknowledge that the Patriots are a dynasty and have been the best franchise in the 21st Century. Yes, I know that stings, but it is what it is.

 

[cej757]

Well, they never recorded a practice and they're innocent of this current deflate-gate witch hunt. But other than that, I get your point

It was reported they were recording the Carolina Panthers practice during Super Bowl week.

 

[Frozen700]

How would they be? They would slaughter just about anybody. AFC has always been stronger than the NFC. This year 1 could debate it, but past? Not really.

They have the Greatest QB of all time. If not top 2-3. NFC should consider themselves lucky.

 

[tyke1doe]

Well, they never recorded a practice and they're innocent of this current deflate-gate witch hunt. But other than that, I get your point

No one knows how great an impact deflated balls had on any of the Patriots wins. I believe it was minimal at best.
The Pats scored 28 points after the second half of the AFC Championship Game with inflated balls compared to 17 with deflated balls. Seems to me like they got better playing with a fully inflated ball. And Brady seem to be throwing just fine in the Super Bowl with a fully inflated ball. And the Pats had no fumbles with an inflated football.
As for Spygate, teams have been trying to intercept other team's signals since the beginning of football. Jimmy Johnson even acknowledge he did the same thing. I guess that means our Super Bowl wins were tainted.
Besides, even if the Pats were busted for recording other team's practices, you still have to stop them. It's like Jimmy Johnson used to say about our offense. It was basic. You knew what was coming. Now stop it. Yet teams couldn't.
I'm not excusing "cheating." If the Patriots cheated, they should be punished. But this is the NFL with the best of the best playing the game. Even if you did gain a slight advantage, you win, what? One maybe two games? The Patriots have been dominant for 15 years with nine AFC Championship appearances, six Super Bowls and four wins.
Cheating doesn't give you THAT much of an advantage.
The common denominator in all great dynasties (teams that make multiple Super Bowl runs) is a great coach, a great quarterback and a good/great defense. (Green Bay - Bart Starr, Vince Lombardi) (Pittsburgh - Chuck Noll, Terry Bradshaw, Steel Curtain) (San Francisco - Bill Walsh, Joe Montana) (Denver - Mike Shanahan/Dan Reeves, John Elway) (Dallas - Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman) (Dallas - Tom Landry, Roger Staubach) and (New England - Bill Belichick, Tom Brady).

You must have the coach, the quarterback and a defense that's either great or good enough.

The Patriots have had all three, but primarily the coach and the quarterback.

 

[Doomsday101]

No one knows how great an impact deflated balls had on any of the Patriots wins. I believe it was minimal at best.
The Pats scored 28 points after the second half of the AFC Championship Game with inflated balls compared to 17 with deflated balls. Seems to me like they got better playing with a fully inflated ball. And Brady seem to be throwing just fine in the Super Bowl with a fully inflated ball. And the Pats had no fumbles with an inflated football.
As for Spygate, teams have been trying to intercept other team's signals since the beginning of football. Jimmy Johnson even acknowledge he did the same thing. I guess that means our Super Bowl wins were tainted.
Besides, even if the Pats were busted for recording other team's practices, you still have to stop them. It's like Jimmy Johnson used to say about our offense. It was basic. You knew what was coming. Now stop it. Yet teams couldn't.
I'm not excusing "cheating." If the Patriots cheated, they should be punished. But this is the NFL with the best of the best playing the game. Even if you did gain a slight advantage, you win, what? One maybe two games? The Patriots have been dominant for 15 years with nine AFC Championship appearances, six Super Bowls and four wins.
Cheating doesn't give you THAT much of an advantage.
The common denominator in all great dynasties (teams that make multiple Super Bowl runs) is a great coach, a great quarterback and a good/great defense. (Green Bay - Bart Starr, Vince Lombardi) (Pittsburgh - Chuck Noll, Terry Bradshaw, Steel Curtain) (San Francisco - Bill Walsh, Joe Montana) (Denver - Mike Shanahan/Dan Reeves, John Elway) (Dallas - Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman) (Dallas - Tom Landry, Roger Staubach) and (New England - Bill Belichick, Tom Brady).

You must have the coach, the quarterback and a defense that's either great or good enough.

The Patriots have had all three, but primarily the coach and the quarterback.

While I agree with much of what you had to say the fact remains the Pats cheated and need to face punishment for it. As for the deflated ball where it can be a big help is in poor weather conditions that they faced in the AFC championship game and was not the case in Arizona at the SB. Pats are an excellent team but they can't be above all others when it comes to abiding by the rules of the game.

 

[tyke1doe]

While I agree with much of what you had to say the fact remains the Pats cheated and need to face punishment for it. As for the deflated ball where it can be a big help is in poor weather conditions that they faced in the AFC championship game and was not the case in Arizona at the SB. Pats are an excellent team but they can't be above all others when it comes to abiding by the rules of the game.

I didn't say they shouldn't be punished. They should. But there's a difference between punishing them and invalidating their sustained greatest over time.

 

[cowboyfan4lyfe]

I agree, the AFC is weak and the Pats and Colts have 6 wins in their pocket before the season starts because of the weak divisions they play in. If they was in the NFC, they would be a 5 or 6 seed or Brady would have retired by now.

 

[Doomsday101]

I didn't say they shouldn't be punished. They should. But there's a difference between punishing them and invalidating their sustained greatest over time.

I agree. I think Pats have built a dynasty and are an excellent team which in my view only makes the fact they cheated worse. It will leave a lot of doubt in many peoples minds. I will concede they are great but I have lost a lot of respect for them as champions.

 

[tyke1doe]

I agree. I think Pats have built a dynasty and are an excellent team which in my view only makes the fact they cheated worse. It will leave a lot of doubt in many peoples minds. I will concede they are great but I have lost a lot of respect for them as champions.

That's a fair position.

 

[Doomsday101]

That's a fair position.

I guess I'm old fashion when it comes to the game and I expect it to be played by the rules. To me saying they only cheated a little is like a man saying he only cheated a little on his wife. Cheating is cheating.

 

[tyke1doe]

I guess I'm old fashion when it comes to the game and I expect it to be played by the rules. To me saying they only cheated a little is like a man saying he only cheated a little on his wife. Cheating is cheating.

I respect that.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Wut?

They beat every NFC team they played...

Beating them once is not beating them multiple times or playing in a division with them.

we all know that is FARRRR different.

 

[Craig]

Every team in every sport cheats. The hawks juice like crazy, the colts send their owner onto the rules committee to legislate defense out of the game so his qb can finally beat their rivals. The ravens...probably play off the refs, no idea how that insane number of pi calls goes their way.

 

[Doomsday101]

Juicing like steroids? if that were the case we would be seeing guys suspended. Owner making suggestion of rule changes and other owners agreeing to the change is not cheating and as far as PI calls you can find questionable PI calls every weekend but would not call that cheating