If the Patriots lose in the playoffs, how will that affect them historically?
 

New England isn't the first team to go undefeated in the regular season, they're the 4th team to do that. (Although they are the first to do it with a 16 game schedule)

If they lose to Jacksonville, Indy, or San Diego in the playoffs, does that make them a historical footnote like the 1934 and 1942 Chicago Bears?
Or do you still think they'll be known as one of the all time great teams?

They'll still be known as ONE of the great teams, they just won't get the notoriety. If they finish it out, they SHOULD be known as THE greatest team ever.

For the record, I'm a Dallas fan, but if they end up playing NE for the superbowl, I'll be cheering for NE. I don't think that's gonna happen though, because I really think Indy is gonna beat NE. I hope not, but that's what I see happening.

historical footnote if they don't win the SuperBowl - and more and more critics will nitpick at the games they *should* have lost and the strenght/weakness of their 2007 schedule.

they gotta win it all

Strenth/weakness of their schedule?

"First, the Dolphins taught the world that schedule strength means everything. The Dolphins played the third-easiest schedule in the modern era. Their opponents were 70-122, a .367 percentage that was topped only by the 1975 Minnesota Vikings and the 1999 St. Louis Rams. As it turned out, the Dolphins didn't play a team with a winning record during the regular season."


You don't hear much about that. All you hear about is 17-0. If the Dophins played the same type of schedule the Pats played, there is NO way they'd have been perfect. NO way.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.
The dolphins didn't write their own schedule, it was handed down to them by the league.

Bottom line is they won in the playoffs, and they won the superbowl.

If the Pats don't win the superbowl this year, then they're just like last year's San Diego Chargers.
Best record during the regular season, but couldn't get it done when it mattered.

I'm not sure but the pressure is at this point will only make things more difficult for the Pats.

What'sthe point of having a perfect season if you don't win the SuperBowl.

I dont think thats going to happen either because the giants are coming to town and they are going to WIN!

:winkwink::thumbsup

lol, good luck with that. :1orglaugh

And if the Pats DO win the Super Bowl, would you concede that they are THE greatest team ever? Ya know, 2 more wins and all.

big thing is IF they WONT lose though NE all the way

sports historians are harsh - the Patriots play in a horrible division, played the embarassing Dolphins twice, the pathetic Jets twice and the mediocre Bills twice - in their games against more elite teams they did not roll over them.

Patriots are full value for most of the praise they've received - they went 16-0, nobody has done it before - running the table to a Super Bowl would make them a legend because I really don't think it will happen again for decades.

thanks man but we wont need it. We are on a roll and are playing solid football

:thumbsup

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BLUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Pats win by 40 vs Jax Faguars

SB

Absolutely.

I started a thread when they were 5-0 or 6-0 saying they were the most dominant team I'd ever seen.

This was before their close calls against Indy and Philly though.

If Harrison is healthy and playing for the Colts, that's going to be one HELL of a game.

Not the answer I was expecting dammit. Props for that.

And you're right. THAT game is the Super Bowl and the only team NE has to worry about imho.

Don't be so quick to dismiss Jacksonville. They have a sick running game that can chew up the clock and keep Brady off the field.
If it's close in the 4th quarter anything can happen.

Don't mean to attack you, but I have NEVER heard of someone cheering for the other team when their team is in the Superbowl????

How often do you get to see history made in your lifetime? Not many. And in the end it's only a game. I'd rather watch history and cheer my team on again next year.

I can't STAND A-Rod, but even those of us that don't will be rooting for him when he passes Bonds. If and when Dimaggio's record is passed, most everyone will be cheering on that person as well.

I see where Ronaldo is coming from. It's kind of like watching another pitcher throw a perfect game against your team in the world series.

One of those things you'll always remember and when people talk about it in 20 years you can say you were watching it.

However, as a dolfan, I'll be rooting against the Pats the whole way.

This deserves a bump.

The best two records in Baseball belong to the 1906 Cubs and 2001 Mariners neither of them won of the World Series.