Lifer

Ive been watching the Colts and Steelers playoff games from 2004 the last few nights and it really made me appreciate how great that team was, and how it was clearly a better team than last years team. That team had amazing balance, sure it wasnt as flashy at WR with Moss and Welker, but the OL was solid, Corey Dillon was a monster that year, Brady was Brady, Branch and Givens were so clutch, we were 3 deep at TE with Watson,Graham, and Fauria. The DL was 4 years younger, at LB we had Brushci and TJ in the middle, with McGinest, Colvin, Vrabel, and Pfifer on the outside!!! Samuel was young and hungry, Rodney was at his peak, and Belichick and Mangini had Gay and Troy Brown and Eugen Wilson and Poteat and Moreland working miracles.

They just CRUSHED the Colts at home 20-3 and CRUSHED the Steelers at Heinz, up 24-3 and 31-10 before winning 41-27. They were at the top of their game and kings of the NFL having won 34 of 38 games over 2 years.

This is not about dumping on what we have now, but its just to appeciate just how great that team was. A brain fart by Brady in Miami and Dillon and Branch being injured for the Halloween game, and that team could have been the undefeated one.

Im really thankful for DVD players and VCRs

BoTown

They also had the toughest road to the championship. Beat the Colts in the divisional round (record-setting offensive season at the team and big time SB favorites), beat the Steelers (also SB favorites and had the best record at 15-1) at Heinz Field, and beat a rejuvenated NFC juggernaut in the Eagles in the Super Bowl. That Patriots team dominated in all phases of the game.

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Rob0729

The 2004 team is probably the most complete team the Pats ever had. Even with the injuries in the secondary that knocked out both starting CBs by midseason, there really wasn't a weakness in the entire team.

Last year's offense was better than 2004 and 2003's defense was better than it's 2004 counterpart, but both those teams have weaknesses on the other side of the ball.

WhiskeyBreath

2004 was a great year.

I might be mistaken, but didn't Watson get hurt early in the season and only play in one contest?

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Rob0729

Yes, that is correct.

nepatz11

Didnt they set an NFL record of best combined winning pct of playoff opponents of any superbowl winner in NFL history between Indy, Pitt and Philly

BoTown

Yup, the immortal Jed Weaver was the 3rd TE.

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jbb9s

I would have to agree with everything the OP stated. Law and Poole went down but somehow, someway, Asante and Gay stepped up.

But by then, people knew the Pats were money. Pittsburgh was 15-1 and we walked in there a 1 point favorite at Heinze.


Does anyone remember how well Eugene Wilson was playing! Until he got hurt on the special teams play in the superbowl, the guy was money with even an INT in the AFCCG if I remember correctly. Wilson never looked the same after that and wasn't smart enough to figure out what was going on when Harrison was out for multiple games in subsequent years.

Lifer

Brady had the flu going into that game and he and Branch just TORCHED the vaunted Steeler secondary. The Defense stuffed Bettis and forced a fumble on a 4th down. Ben was totally confused by the Patriots defense. Weis and Crennel and Mangini were terrific coordinators. They were simply at their peak. As Belichick said before that game, the team played its best games in their biggest games that year. After the loss at Pittsburgh, they went into St Louis, when the Rams were still a juggarnaut offense, and simply blew them away, 40-22. After losing the game at Miami on a freak Brady goof, they went into the Meadowlands and manhandled a very good Jets team. A very good Baltimore team came into Foxboro and the Patriots just ran right over them.

Watching that team was such a joy, and those 2 AFC playoff games remain very special in my heart.

Defense is what wins, and team balance, and that team could do it all and do it anywhere. Truly one of the best teams of all time.

PATSYLICIOUS

That truly was a special team. Certainly the best of the SB teams. I still think the '07 team was better, not by much though. If the Oline gets manhandled in the SB in '04, we lose that game too. Fortunately, Brady wasn't touched in the 2nd half.

But oh I definately miss Dillon from that year. And the defensive performance vs. Indy in the playoffs was perhaps my most proud Patriots moment from the entire dynasty. After the Colts' offseason of whining and changing rules, we go against them without both starting CB's and Seymour and hold them to 3 points. 3 POINTS!!! And would've been a shutout if Asante held onto a gift from Manning. Then seeing BB, Weis, and Crennel hug at the end of the SB was somethin else too.