Pressure is all on the Patriots- I think this is good - New England Patriots Forums

marcus · 01-24-2008, 08:42 AM

If the Patriots Lose the SB...everything they have accomplished this season goes down the drain and the season will be viewed as a complete failure

In contrast, the Giants have already accomplished far more than anyone would have predicted. Even if they lose the game..the season will be viewed as a great success and a building block for the future.

In terms of who REALLY will want this more It should be NO contest

More talent and more incentive to win and more SB experience......

***shmessy*** · 01-24-2008, 08:47 AM

I disagree 100%.

Compared to week 17, the balance of pressure is far more on the Giants' shoulders.

Week 17: They were playing at home. They had nothing to lose. It was outside on a cold, blustery night.

Super Bowl:

1) only 3Giants (Strahan, Toomer, Ruegamer) have experienced a Super Bowl week and game. 21 Patriots have played in Super Bowls (many of them have played in multiple Super Bowls). The Giants won't know what hit them. This is what screwed the '86 and '96 Pats. The media week, the parties, the pressure, the 2 hour pregame show on the field that screws up your stretching/warmups, the 45 minute halftime, etc.

2) Followup to #1. The 2001 Pats had 10 players with SB experience (further, all 10 of them had their previous SB with the same team - only 2 out of the 3 on the Giants were on the 2000 Giants, Ruegamer was with us in 2001). In fact, the 1996 loss may have indirectly contributed to the way they handled 2001.

3) Dome, perfect conditions - - 'nuf ced.

CTPatsFan · 01-24-2008, 08:48 AM

It will certainly keep them focused. Although they've been under tremendous pressure and scrutiny for a good part of the season already.

CTPatsFan · 01-24-2008, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmessy

2) Dome, perfect conditions - - 'nuf ced.

It's amazing, to me anyway, how little that fact comes up in sportstalk conversation. That is a HUGE factor IMHO.

JaxPats · 01-24-2008, 08:52 AM

Sorry, "IF" and "LOSE" are NOT in my current vocabulary.

dhamz · 01-24-2008, 09:07 AM

Someday someone will need to explain to me how one team has no pressure in the NFL playoff format.

You think Michael Strahan feels no pressure to win the Super Bowl knowing he will probably never get another shot? You think the Giants coaches aren't drilling into their younger players that this chance may never come around again and they MUST take advantage of it?

spacecrime · 01-24-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcus

If the Patriots Lose the SB...everything they have accomplished this season goes down the drain and the season will be viewed as a complete failure

In contrast, the Giants have already accomplished far more than anyone would have predicted. Even if they lose the game..the season will be viewed as a great success and a building block for the future.......

This is so dumb. If Giant players are thinking, "No problem, if we lose the season is still a success," then they WILL lose. Going to the superbowl is not a building block. When you reach the superbowl you are at the top. You need only win one game to be the greatest. Losing the superbowl is not building to the future. Except for the Bills in the early 90's, there aren't many teams that make it back to the superbowl after losing one. Even when the Pats went back in '01, it wasn't the same team that went in '96.

Every team is under pressure in the superbowl. Losing the superbowl does not equate to sucess. Do you consider the '96 season a success? I don't.

It is very hard to get to the superbowl. To go and try not to lose, to seize the opportuity of winning puts every team under pressure.

Bertil · 01-24-2008, 09:51 AM

What team handles pressure as well as this one? in the history of the NFL? Anyone? I've never seen anything like it. From January of '02 my perception of what is possible has been completely changed by the Patriots.

One thing I know: THE PATRIOTS ARE NOT LOSING THIS GAME!

seven · 01-24-2008, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmessy

I disagree 100%.

Compared to week 17, the balance of pressure is far more on the Giants' shoulders.

Week 17: They were playing at home. They had nothing to lose. It was outside on a cold, blustery night.

Super Bowl:

1) only 3 Giants (Strahan, Toomer, Ruegamer) have
experienced a Super Bowl week and game. 21 Patriots have
played in Super Bowls (many of them have played in multiple Super Bowls). The Giants won't know what hit them. This is what screwed the '86 and '96 Pats. The media week, the parties, the pressure, the 2 hour pregame show on the field that screws up your stretching/warmups, the 45 minute halftime, etc.

2) Followup to #1. The 2001 Pats had 10 players with SB experience (further, all 10 of them had their previous SB with the same team - only 2 out of the 3 on the Giants were on the 2000 Giants, Ruegamer was with us in 2001). In fact, the 1996 loss may have indirectly contributed to the way they handled 2001.

3) Dome, perfect conditions - - 'nuf ced.

Pats pressure is off really.
Bruschi even admitted wk 17 was a beatch.

Now,they are where they wanted to be,can forget it all,focus on one game,their assignments,
doing their job.

This would be a relief for them,given they have been at effective playoff level for 8-10 weeks really,
each team giving them their best shot.

Patriot_in_NY · 01-24-2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTPatsFan

It's amazing, to me anyway, how little that fact comes up in sportstalk conversation. That is a HUGE factor IMHO.

Without a doubt. The Pats outscored opponants 303-147 in games played in 50 degrees or higher, including 8 of 9 that ended in Blowouts or comfortable victories. The only one not being like that was the Indy game in a decidedly hostle dome.

This will be a fast track and the PATS will steamroll a very suspect Giants secondary, which unlike it's offense, is NOT playing well (witness the crappy blown 90 yarder in the GB game).