JoeSixPat

Since I think we can all agree that the overall goal of this season is to win another Super Bowl (regardless of how special a perfect season would be) I'm contemplating as to which outcome would see the team more driven and inspired to take home another Lombardi?

Should the team win next Saturday they'll be 16-0. A perfect regular season - which is a quaint footnote in NFL history but only that if the team falters in the playoffs. Indeed the opportunity to go 19-0 and the pressure NOT to come so close and lose in the playoffs might debilitate some teams but I suspect it will create a high degree of focus and drive for the Patriots.

Should they lose next Saturday they'll be 15-1. Some of that pressure they'd otherwise face will be gone but the team I suspect will be exceptionally driven to "salvage" the season by picking up another SB Ring for their collection, and I think they might have some frustrations to take out against any team they encounter in the playoffs.

Both scenarios in my opinion create a situation where the Patriots are exceptionally motivated to attain excellence on the football field, so in that sense it's a win win for us in watching our team's drive for a Lombardi no matter what happens next week (much to every other team's lament.)

But overall I think they'd be an angry team even more driven to a SB championship if they lose next week.

Which scenario do other's think gives the Patriots the most drive to return to and win the Super Bowl?

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Patriot_in_NY

Personally, I don't either will effect the players desire to win a Super Bowl this year. None what-so-ever. It already better be there and the outcome of 1 game better not be needed to add (or subtract) motivation for them.

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PatsWickedPissah

The point is moot
I wish it were mute as well

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Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck." RAH

fair catch fryar

This team has enough leadership and experience to go for the whole ball of wax. I don't think any of the players is forgetting the feeling of walking off the turf in Indy last year. That feeling will be even more likely to give them the drive they need regardless of being 16-0 or 15-1. Besides, they've got Belichick to remind them if they are becoming forgetful.

marcus

there is a super bowl winner every year, but to go 19-0 and do what NO other pro football team has ever done and make history....
I think BB and the PATS want to make history and they have the focus and motivation to do it.
They do NOT need a loss next week to properly focus them for the playoffs

Snake

There are two seasons teams must play. The regular season is prologue to the playoffs for those teams who make it. The Patriots are experienced enough to know the two seasons are distinctly different...the two major differences are the sudden death nature of each playoff game and the ultimate goal of winning the SB.

The record at the end of the season doesn't have a great deal of impact on the playoffs except for home field advantage and seeding. The Patriots have both top seed and home field advantage in the can.

I don't think a win or loss will have a great deal of impact on the Patriots second season except for the immediate disappointment a loss to the Giants would create.

Preparation for the playoffs include further developing strengths, working to eliminate or lessen weaknesses, learning in a short period of time how to deal with the next opponent, and executing at the highest level to win the games. Injuries could wipe out games plans and significantly impact the team's ability to execute.

Belichick is the best coach around to take a team like the Patriots into the playoffs. Brady is the best quarterback to run a team in the playoffs, and Gillette is the best place to play all but one playoff games. Toss in a little luck, and the Patriots will go 19-0. They can do it. Let's hope they do.

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xmarkd400x

A certain reciever knows what it's like to go 15-1 and not make it to the super bowl.

JoeSixPat

I guess the ultimate point is that win or lose next week this team will be EXCEPTIONALLY driven to win the Super Bowl like no other team in the playoffs.

Yes, every team craves the Ring - but if the Pats are 16-0 they have a chance to make history. If they are 15-1 they want to ensure the season is a success like no other team in the playoffs - the rest of whom probably wouldn't look at this season like a failure as the Pats likely would.

Of course, if they win against the Giants I don't expect you'll still hear anything from any of the players about a perfect season (which is BS - you know they are thinking it and I tend to think they've privately discussed this in the locker room dating back to even Week 2).

The mantra will be that "it's a whole new season. Every team is 0-0. Nothing that we did in the regular season matters any more."

And they are right.... but they are also wrong.

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Bella*chick

I just think a loss next week would let the air out of the whole balloon. And, veteran though this team is, it would be hard to get over that to "switch it back on" for the playoffs, particularly when the momentum seems to be with other teams.

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giants#1fan

I hate to tell you guys but the gints have no shot at winning unless you put in all of your 2nd string and that still may be a longshot. I am a realist gint fan and we are not even close to the pats level of play right now.