Originally Posted by jmt57

I am sick of hearing people whine about how losing teams hand victory to the Patriots. They whined when the Pats beat the Raiders in the snow bowl, and against the Rams, and the Colts and the Steelers and... you get the picture. These excuses can hardly obscure what has been the predominant phenomenon of the NFL in recent years, the sheer excellence of the New England Patriots.

Luck is the result of hard work. Winning once against a better team may be just luck. Twice may be simple coincidence. But we're talking about a team of mostly "no-name" players that has pulled off how many huge wins over the last six seasons of football? How many supposedly superior opponents must they beat before the nay-sayers wise up and recognize that there's something very, very special about these Patriots?


I don't remember the Pats ever being the best team on paper, at least since Bill Belichick took over as head coach. Never, not even during their record-setting streak of consecutive victories. Other teams always had better athletes and flashier stats. And even in winning, the Patriots rarely blow out tough opponents. Instead, they gut-out victories in close, hard-fought games that test character as much as skills. Invariably, this is where the Patriots continue to prove their greatness.

It was here that Bill Belichick clearly out-coached Marty Schottenheimer, but it happened long before Sunday's game against San Diego appeared on the schedule. Though rightly acknowledged for impeccable scouting, innovative scheming and total player preparation, Belichick's real contribution is in fielding the best men, while other franchises settle for the best athletes. This surely indicates his true understanding of the game, his genius as a coach, and his courage to buck the conventional wisdom that dominates the rest of the NFL.

Don't tell me the interception/fumble was luck. Troy Brown was smarter and better prepared than McCree.

Originally Posted by AzPatsFan

You are wrong in an important statement.

"Other teams always had better athletes and flashier stats." They merely have athletes who have flashier stats. The Belichick system requires athletes to sacrifice for the Team. He would much rather let three guys share the stats, that would make any one of them appear to be a superstar. It makes the TEAM stronger and able to withstand injuries.

For example. Merrimen and Philips were allowed to play undisciplined football, ignoring the pass over their head, in all out pass rushes.

Their reserves never got any experience in case of injury which they both suffered during a key game. A Team weakness was allowed to exist. I firmly believe that if Colvin or TBC were allowed to NOT read-and-react, play the run, before rushing the passer, they would both have a dozen or more sacks. Instead of the 6 or 8 they have as stats. But the run defense would be allowing 4.2 yards per carry instead of the 3,5 the Pats allow. Remind you of any team that you know?

Flashy stats do not mean better athletes. Did you know that Red Auerbach NEVER HAD a top ten scorer in all the years he coached? Fact! He amde sure all shared in the scoring. Injury or foul trouble or a "cold night" would not effect the Celts in all their years of winning. If Brady threw to 2 guys instead of a dozen, his receivers would have a hundred receptions each. Better athletes ? NO!