Ice_Ice_Brady

I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like this. Trust me, I'm glad. I hope that no one even utters Patriots and dominance in the same sentence, and I hope the Pats win out yet finish #7 in the "power rankings."

I just can't understand why this offense is dismissed by virtually every pundit. Don't get me wrong, they are considered to be elite, but we are talking about arguably the best offense in the league's modern history. What's more amazing than their ppg stats is that they've turned the ball over what, 5 times all season? You could easily make an argument that, based on the production and lack of turnovers, this is the best offense of all-time, and that's with some very key players being banged up this year.

The only reasons I can think of:

-They don't seem as historically great because everyone is used the Pats having a great offense

-The 2007 team was more "explosive" and controversial. Randy Moss was a highlight reel, there was novelty, and the individual records by Moss and Brady were more highlight grabbing than a balanced team approach.

-Last year's Packers also put up a ton of points, and based on the eye test, there isn't much difference (but based on the stats, there is.)

-Everyone is too focused with their man crush of Peyton Manning that they dismiss that Brady's offense is averaging a full TD more per game- SEVEN points per game! That's the difference between the Broncos and the Bills as well.

-Given the Patriots struggles last year versus the Ravens and Giants, and the Jets playoff game two years ago, where they looked very average on offense, people assume that this team will inevitably fulfill the same fate.

As to that last point, I respectfully disagree that it's likely. The 2010 and 2011 Patriots were similar offensively, both great but with big weaknesses. Although Green-Ellis was a good, reliable running back, the emergence of Ridley and Vereen make them much better, as their running game would be pretty good even without being setup with a great passing game. The Pats also have more playmakers, with the re-birth of Edelman in the offense, the addition of Lloyd, and the overall depth. I would also argue that the offensive line is now deeper and more athletic. As you may recall, the Pats had a "big 3" model the last few seasons, depending almost solely on Welker, Hernandez, and Gronkowski for all production while role players would take advantage of defensive schemes designed to shut down those three. I think that some of those role players like Woodhead, Edelman, and the young running backs are now solid starters if necessary, not just guys that benefit from great talent around them.

Simply put, I don't think the stats lie. The Pats are scoring more efficiently and more frequently than they have in the past, and that's with having ONE game with a healthy Gronk and Hernandez on the field, which is the most difficult duo to defend in the league.

aluminum seats

I think it's simply the Pats' sustained excellence. They've been doing this so long there's not a hell of a lot new to say. That plus the 3 losses, and the lack of a championship for a few years.

As you say, it's all to the good.

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"So I'm going to throw myself against the wall...
'Cause I'd rather feel bad than not feel anything at all."

patfanken

SHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Its GOOD to be "under the radar". Let Manning, and the Harbaugh brothers play to the media whores. Let the pundits question the improving Pats defense.

Soon enough the Pats are going to beat the Niners and Houston (albeit in Foxboro) and the jig will be up. Then the Pats will be favored again. You will be happy and I will sad.

Fixit

Honestly? It's because it's not being led by a guy named Peyton Manning. Somehow, Denver's ranked above NE in practically every power poll, even though they have the same record and NE beat them head-to head. Everyone's talking about Denver's dominant D, in which they're giving up a whopping 1 point/game less than NE's supposedly porous one (which has generated 2 more interceptions, forced nearly twice as many fumbles, and recovered over 3 times as many fumbles). NE is scoring 7 points/game more, but Manning is everyone's MVP, and Brady's not even in a lot of people's top 3.

Everything Manning touches is magnified; Brady and the Pats just kinda plug along without a lot of people noticing.

Deus Irae

1. The league and media ballwash Peyton at a level that no NFL player has ever been ballwashed before.
   
2. The Patriots being at the top isn't a news story. The Ravens aren't getting much national attention either, for example.
   
3. Houston has a better record, hasn't really been as solidly in this position before, and hasn't had the bad defense that the Patriots have shown for most of the season.
   
4. The Patriots started out 3-3, with the offense struggling. That set the tone.
   
5. Belichick/Brady generally make for lousy soundbites
   
6. Patriots fatigue
   
7. There's no Michael Vick type of situation with the Patriots. The closest thing they have is the Welker situation, and that fire burned out after Hernandez went down with his injury.

There are probably other factors, but that's quite a bit right there.

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"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

mayoclinic

The mediots can continue to rank us #7 after we win the Super Bowl, for all I care.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

DocHoliday

Sometimes I wish we would pull a 9-7 Giants run

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patsinthesnow

Besides injuries, the Pats also pissed away points to no end in the Baltimore and Seattle games, yet they are still averaging 37ppg.

Froob

Considering all the largely irrelevant stats they throw away I'm pretty surprised it hasn't been brought up once. On a related note, Tom Brady now leads all players with the first name Tom and surname Brady in touchdowns, yards, and wins and the Patriots are the first team to win by 30 points or more on thanksgiving in the meadowlands.

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Jersey here we come!(and not to play the jesters
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patfanken

All I could think of when I read this was ......SINCE TEBOW.

But you are dead on with all the other points you made. Its kind of pathetic how the media has declined to the point were stories like Manning and Tebow can command such rapt attention for so long. Are they THAT lazy?

Still I'm very comfortable to hide below their "radar" for the next few weeks before the Texans and Niners show up