OhExaulted1

Call me a homer if you want, but the biggest challenger to the Patriots is Themselves. There better then the other 15 teams in the AFC. Our 2nd and 3rd units would be a playoff contending club.

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livinginthe past

The Jets are in the strongest place to stop the Patriots potentially winning a Superbowl.

The Patriots have to play them twice and they could potentially beat us out to the AFCE title.

I'd love the Jesters to fall flat on their faces, but they are a definite rival - they will be the biggest challenge the Patriots face to making the playoffs.

wdkantro2

The Pats went 14-3 last year. 2 of the 3 losses were to the same team; the Jets. Anyone who doesn't consider them the biggest threat is a blind homer. I hate the Jets as much as anyone, but they've won what, 3 of the last 5 against the Pats? Absolutely, positively no doubt they are the biggest threat. And what is this "Jets haven't been injured" crap? Jenkins has been lost for the season two years in a row, and last year their #1 corner was slowed by a pulled hamstring all season. Sure, they aren't as banged up as the Pats always seem to be, but to attribute their success to luck that they haven't gotten hurt is amazingly stupid.

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The Gr8est

My answer is a bit nuanced. I could choose the Rats but it's really more the Rats and Goodell combo.

It's probably about time for Goodell to strip the Pats of another pick or two. The 2007 theft has pretty much run it's course, and now the Pats appear to be building up too much momentum. Goodell will need to act if he has any hopes of seeing the Rats winning a Superbowl.

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jmt57

It's interesting to note that as of this moment the two polls have noticeably different results thus far.

Thread on Message board: (adjusted so total is 100%)
34% - Jets
22% - Steelers
21% - Ravens
11% - Chargers
8% - Colts

Poll on Home Page:
32% - Steelers
30% - Jets
17% - Ravens
12% - Colts
6% - Chargers


Is there a different audience that primarily visits the threads on the main forum, than those which visit the rest of this website?




I do agree with the train of thought that because the Jets are in the same division, they could cause the Pats to be a wildcard, have to play one extra game, and lose homefield by winning the division (god forbid; the meltdown here would surely crash the servers if that were to happen.)

However, I take the 'Pats lost to the Jets twice; therefore the Jets are the greatest challenge' logic with a bit of skepticism. Playing a team more often is most likely going to result in more losses to them (as well as more wins); to me that does not automatically make them a team's biggest challenge on getting to the Super Bowl. If Miami was typically 7-9 but always at least split with the Pats, and often swept the Pats, would that make them the Pats biggest challenge to advancing to the Super Bowl? No.

Even though the Pats have had, for the most part success against Pittsburgh to me they are the best team in the AFC outside of New England. On top of that they are the defending conference champions and have been conference champions two of the last three years and three of the last six. In my opinion a lot of people here are overlooking them as a challenge to the Pats returning to the Super Bowl.

Banjo

for the last eight years it had been Patriots, Colts, or Steelers representing the AFC in the Super Bowl. That should tell you something.

goheels22002

Forget it dudes. It has nothing to do with the players on the field. Norv Turner is still the head coach and Norv just can't resist clutching his throat and playing not to lose the bigger the game gets. Poor Norv has a bad case of Marty Schottenheimer-itis. Sad.

That is not the case with the coaching staffs of the Ravens, Steelers or Jets. Stone-cold killers if their guys execute. The Colts, on the other hand are led by a guy who has yet to win a big game on his own. The Chargers couldn't even win their own division last year. Great work, Norv.

KontradictioN

Unfortunately, it's currently the Jets. The Steelers are getting old quick and have never been able to stop Brady. On top of that, they seemed to have a hard time containing our TE's. The Colts are also getting older and there are rumors that Manning is still having trouble turning his head from side to side. The Ravens would probably be a traditionally tough match-up, but we've improved a lot since that playoff debacle in '09. In the AFC West, we own the Chargers, the Raiders are the Raiders, the Broncos are rebuilding with question marks at QB (sorry Timmy T), and the Chiefs don't appear ready... yet.

The Jets brought in Plaxico Burress and retained Santonio Holmes. Their defense doesn't have a lot to speak of outside of Revis, but they haven't had a lot to speak of outside of Revis since Ryan came there. That doesn't mean that they still haven't been tough. They look to be tough once again this year. They have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL as well. If Sanchez makes another stride this year, they're going to be our top competition in the AFC.

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CREDIT - Sicilian

Gumby

Clicked on Jets-Steeelers-Ravens.


Ravens may be getting old on D; but the O is getting younger - possibly better. I think they are #1 threat (talent basis).

Steelers are just always in thick of it even if getting old in tooth. #2

But IMO Jets are #3 and only clicked because div rivals w/ all that implies - 2x yr and any given sunday. but I think the cap issues hurt them more than Rex can game plan compensate for (depth wise). May take a few weeks to show up.


San Diego - has some good components; but Norv Turner, Norv Turner, West Coast team w/ low fan support at home and that they are prime candidate for disruption of move to LA talk are 3 reasons why I doubt they are a challenge - win the div but have to play on road in PO and lose.

Colts - I think this is the year the stake finally goes through the heart of this one. My Darkhorse surprise this year is I think Texans surprise them for Div and they are outside looking in at playoff time.

KC - again some good components; (and can feast on Den & Raiders just like SD); but SD will beat them when it counts -edge out for div. Could be a hungry WC team though.

Kid~Brady

Yep.

I agree fully with this. Jets will be our biggest competition this year, I hate to say it even though it seems that they didnt upgrade alot. I think we get the best of them this year though, hopefully a sweep and them missing the playoffs would be awesome.

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