AndyJohnson

Those long time consuming drives that take away possessions and destroy us in the field position battle, are more effective in stopping our offense than their defenses.

Fencer

In each of the three Super Bowl wins, the opponent was doing well on offense near the end. The narrative of Brady's final drive vs. the Rams is that the Rams were expected to score on the next opportunity, if they got one. The Carolina game ended in a shootout. The Philly game got nervous at the end too.

__________________
"To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." -- Oscar Wilde

AndyJohnson

Thats kind of a lazy comparison.
In SB 42 we allowed 2 80+ TD drives in the last possession up 4 both times.
In SB 46 we allowed an 88 yard TD drive on the last possession up 3.
In 2006 we allowed 28 second half points and an 88 yard TD drive in the last possession, up 3.
In the 2011 AFCCG if not for Evans drop, we would have allowed a 79 yard TD drive in 1:20 on the last drive.

In SB 36 with a 7 point lead we had a stop, then allowed a 55 yard game TYING TD.

In SB 38 we allowed an 80 yard game TYING TD drive.

In SB 39 the 4th quarter D was
3 and out
Int
TD with a 10 point lead
Int
The 4th quarter D in that game was excellent

There are some similarities, but its very different than 06,07,11

MP-Logick

I wonder, personally, if the schemes NE plays contribute to this as well...we played most of XLVI, for example, with the safeties back and trying to get Eli to throw underneath. Limiting big plays, keeping everything in front of them. But suddenly, when we absolutely had to get a stop because we couldn't allow them even into field goal range, they couldn't get it. It's like suddenly having to adopt a different mentality.

letekro

They were playing against an unbelievably hot Peyton in an unbelievably hot Peyton Dome. The offense couldn't string together three first downs at any point in the second half to give them a chance to regroup or rest. Do you understand how pathetic that is by the offense?

You keep saying 13 points but you conveniently fail to mention that 10 of those were due to an 80 yd KO return and a 60 yd KO return by Ellis Hobbs III. Again, their longest drive of the second half was 34 yards. You're telling me that is "clutch"?

Both units need to be upgraded. You are overlooking significant offensive deficiencies that have been plaguing the Pats since the SB years.

letekro

Defenses across the league generally can't stop teams at the end of games, even when those teams are led by mediocre QBs. The pass rushers are tired, the defensive schemes have been figured out, and, in many cases, the offense has 4 pass plays to pick up 10 yards. That is very difficult to prevent. The Giants were offering limited resistance on that drive when Brady, Welker and Branch gave the game away with unforced errors. You can't win a SB where your offense does not score a single point in the last 26 minutes of the game. You simply have unrealistic expectations for the defense.

andrewgarrr

The Patriots lost SB 46 because Gronkowski wasn't 100%. He was the team's most consistent play-maker on either side of the ball. He was the team's best player and all-around most important player on offense (outisde of TB). When the Giants thought Gronkowski was 100% the offense was unstoppable. If Gronk was 100%, the game would've ended something like 35-21 Patriots.

Besides that...

If the defense or offense made one or two more plays the game would've been won. You can blame the offense or the defense. I choose to blame the lack of a clutch, championship clinching play. One deflected pass, one completed catch, one sack, something. The Giants made the clutch plays and the Patriots didn't. Game over.

eom

wasn't gronk healthy when the giants beat us in the regular season?

Fencer

So in sum, your premise is wrong because no team is good at shut-down defense any more.

I'd further note that the Pats have gotten to the AFCC or beyond 6 times under BB. In each case, the last game of the postseason was decided by 4 points or less. In the last two cases, the Patriots scored 17 points each time.

Improving either the offense or the defense would seem like a valuable thing to do.

__________________
"To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." -- Oscar Wilde

DonBlackmon55

Offense
2007 Pats - 36.8 ppg
2011 Pats - 32.1 ppg

Defense
2007 Pats - 17.1 ppg
2011 Pats - 21.4 ppg


SB42
-Offense scores 14 (22.8 below avg)
-Defense allows 17 (avg) - that too on last drive with one of the greatest SB lucky catch

SB46
-offense scores 17 (15.1 below avg)
-Defense allows 19 (2.1 below avg) - plus 2 points for Safety blame goes on offense.


DEFENSE DID ITS JOB IN BOTH SB's. OFFENSE CHOKED IN BOTH SB.

CASE CLOSED .