NFL Playoffs: Patriots > *

[MRCA1ST]

Anybody still watching football? Obviously viewership was down all season, I still watched the Pats but didn't have random games playing in the background as I have in past seasons.


Not sure what it is like in your respective places of employment, but I know in my office there are two topics that guarantee a well stirred pot, the President (present or his predecessor) and how great the New England Patriots are.


Seeing that we can't discuss the former, I was curious to see if there were any NFL fans here, and what there thoughts were with regard to the playoffs so far. Zero surprise for me that the Pats are in the AFC Championship game, but definitely surprised that we're playing the Jags and not the Steelers - I was actually looking forward to that rematch. I didn't expect the Rams to go out in the first round, but I did expect the Eagles and Vikings to be playing for a February date with the Patriots. I think it will be Vikings vs. Patriots in the Super Bowl, but I am hoping the Eagles can get it done at home.

[guybo]

I don't think there's a team left that can beat the Pats. Vikings won that game on sheer luck, they weren't all that good and the Saints let them take that game. Philadelphia is a shell of a team without Wentz. The Jags have been punching well above their weight and they just do not stack up agains the Pats.

Once the Pats fixed that D in the middle of the season, they became the best team in the NFL period.

[Brink]

Where I work we have fans of probably a half dozen teams or so. I don't think anyone was surprised to see the Pats going to the championship game. I'm a Niners fan so our playoff dreams died long ago, but thanks for the QB.

[Spuds]

Just waiting for the next time they get caught cheating.

[MRCA1ST]

Originally Posted by guybo

Once the Pats fixed that D in the middle of the season, they became the best team in the NFL period.

I feel like the media doesn't give them any credit for this, they are always talking about their unimpressive "statistical rankings" but the first third of the season or so skewed those numbers IMO, since week 5 they are #1 in points allowed. At the end of the day, that is the only defensive stat that matters...especially since they easily have the best offense out of the remaining teams.

[MRCA1ST]

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[MRCA1ST]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Just waiting for the next time they get caught cheating.

I guess they saved their next cheating excursion for the Super Bowl


Jax played well, but you can't come off the gas against the Pats. As rough as the first half was for NE, when Jax took a knee with a minute left in the first half I said "They just lost"...I bet they would have loved to have 60 seconds and two timeouts at the end of the 4th quarter

[guybo]

The Jags had that 4 pt lead and tried to run the clock down and got conservative. I'd think that other teams would look at film and realize- you can't do that.

Originally Posted by MRCA1ST

but you can't come off the gas against the Pats

right on

Eagles- Pats in the SB. I think the Eagles' lack of discipline (when you have that big of a lead, why start or even respond to fights?) and inexperience will be the difference maker. I think the Pats win.

[Yardjass]

I don't really watch NFL anymore, tbh. Between the political stuff that players were getting into, a lot of very questionable officiating calls that help favored teams (not just the ones in favor of New England), and the fact that New England wins the superbowl every year, I don't really see any point in watching unless you're a pats fan. It has just gotten boring.


Alabama is getting that way with college football but at least they have to go through a playoff against multiple, good out of conference teams. Pretty much the only AFC team that has the talent to challenge the pats year in and year out before they see an NFC team in the superbowl is Pittsburgh, and they have a history of consistently losing to them, usually in close, heartbreaking fashion.

[guybo]

Originally Posted by Yardjass

I don't really watch NFL anymore, tbh. Between the political stuff that players were getting into, a lot of very questionable officiating calls that help favored teams (not just the ones in favor of New England), and the fact that New England wins the superbowl every year, I don't really see any point in watching unless you're a pats fan. It has just gotten boring.


Alabama is getting that way with college football but at least they have to go through a playoff against multiple, good out of conference teams. Pretty much the only AFC team that has the talent to challenge the pats year in and year out before they see an NFC team in the superbowl is Pittsburgh, and they have a history of consistently losing to them, usually in close, heartbreaking fashion.

As a Pats fan, all I can say is- yup, ain't it awesome! But I'm soaking it up now because once the Kraft/Belichick/Brady magic triumvirate is over, I know my Pats will go back to being just another lousy team.

Unless the NFL changes some rules about passing and the QB, this game will always be about the QB and not much else. So after Brady, there will be another great QB to rise and a coach smart enough to protect him and get ready for a new 20 year reign. IMHO (Tom, please forgive me if you read this!) the league is WAY TOO MUCH about the QB. I want the game to go back to when a great RB and a great D could win the SB.

[MRCA1ST]

Originally Posted by guybo

I'm soaking it up now because once the Kraft/Belichick/Brady magic triumvirate is over, I know my Pats will go back to being just another lousy team.

Exactly, and because of the salary cap noose the likelihood of any team being this dominate for this along again is basically zero. The fact that the Pats have managed to stay on top despite the best efforts of the NFL to ensure "equality" is why the NFL always finds a way to punish them through taking away draft picks, suspending Brady, etc...yet here they are again.


The Eagles have been reported to have been fighting the flu this week, supposedly "the whole team" has it. You heard it here first, if the Pats win on Sunday there will be accusations of BB utilizing biological warfare in the biggest cheating scandal since they enabled a Colts linebacker to make a one-handed pick.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by guybo

As a Pats fan, all I can say is- yup, ain't it awesome! But I'm soaking it up now because once the Kraft/Belichick/Brady magic triumvirate is over, I know my Pats will go back to being just another lousy team.

Pats have always been a lousy team. They just cheat better than everyone else. Maybe the next coach/QB will cheat even better than these guys. Kraft will see to it.

[guybo]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

Pats have always been a lousy team. They just cheat better than everyone else. Maybe the next coach/QB will cheat even better than these guys. Kraft will see to it.

Blow me, will not fall for that bait.... must stay strong..... grrrrr....


I just heard about the flu bug on TV. They said it was only 1 or 2 players, I didn't hear anything about the whole team. That just makes the Patriots 4th quarter even bigger when the Eagles are all sick and worn out. Belichick always manages to get the upper hand someohow LOL. You know that's going to be the scandal of this year's super bowl. Someone will come forward and say they had the flu and were paid $1000 to sneeze in the Eagles locker room and hotel.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by guybo

Blow me, will not fall for that bait.... must stay strong..... grrrrr....


I just heard about the flu bug on TV. They said it was only 1 or 2 players, I didn't hear anything about the whole team. That just makes the Patriots 4th quarter even bigger when the Eagles are all sick and worn out. Belicheat always manages to get the upper hand someohow LOL. You know that's going to be the scandal of this year's super bowl. Someone will come forward and say they had the flu and were paid $1000 to sneeze in the Eagles locker room and hotel.

The Eagles never should've accepted those blankets as gifts from "your pal Billy". If there's one thing Patriots from New England know it's biological warfare in Minnesota. History repeats itself yet again...