AFC Championship or total bust

[NEPatriot]

Considering that we have an easy schedule and Cassel is improving, will you consider this season to be successful or disappointment if we don't make it to AFC championship game?

 

[ALP]

what happened to win the sb or bust?

 

[signbabybrady]

I am going with SB or Bust like every other year.

 

[Rob0729]

First, the schedule isn't as easy as people think it is. The AFC East is far more competitive than people expected. Yes, the NFC and AFC West divisions suck, but it is more than equaled out because of the AFC East. When everything is said and done, the Pats could have played 7 games vs. playoff teams (assuming two teams come out of the AFC East and Indy gets in as a Wild Card).

Second, with all the injuries the Pats have faced, I think getting into the playoffs is a minor success. Doing anything in the playoffs is a significant achievement.

 

[Pats726]

First, the schedule isn't as easy as people think it is. The AFC East is far more competitive than people expected. Yes, the NFC and AFC West divisions suck, but it is more than equaled out because of the AFC East. When everything is said and done, the Pats could have played 7 games vs. playoff teams (assuming two teams come out of the AFC East and Indy gets in as a Wild Card).

Second, with all the injuries the Pats have faced, I think getting into the playoffs is a minor success. Doing anything in the playoffs is a significant achievement.

Agreed....this is a tough year and making it to the playoffs IS an accomplishment.

 

[Ice Cold Bruschi]

I say play offs or bust considering this will be Cassel's only year as a starter for us

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Making the playoffs will be asignificant accomplishment this injury plagued year.

That said, it's always SB Uber Alles for me.

 

[Lansdowne]

Have to win the Super Bowl or it's time wasted for this dynasty. Though with all the injuries, I can't be mad at this team if they can at least get to the divisional round of the playoffs.

 

[Jimke]

With Tom Brady playing anything other than a Superbowl win is a

bust. Without him making the playoffs would be a plus.

 

[Clonamery]

oh, I thought this was a poll....

 

[Gicksauce]

Each time they win they are hurting themselves

Wins mean a lower draft pick and a better contract for Cassel somewhere else

 

[Rob0729]

Each time they win they are hurting themselves

Wins mean a lower draft pick and a better contract for Cassel somewhere else

Sorry, you don't play the season to get a better draft pick. Besides, the Pats hate drafting too high anyway and because of the salary compensations for the top draft picks, it is tough to get good value in a trade to trade down these days.

As for Cassel, I seriously doubt Cassel will come back no matter the record at this point. He would have to screw up pretty bad the rest of the way not to get a team that will allow him to at least compete for a starting job.

 

[Gicksauce]

Which is why they should be playing O'Connel instead

They're obviously not going to win the SB with half their team out
Why try so hard to win?
Having a #10-15 pick versus a #25 pick is a major difference

Let the young guys get valuable experience, get a higher draft pick, come back next year and win it all

 

[Clonamery]

Which is why they should be playing O'Connel instead

They're obviously not going to win the SB with half their team out
Why try so hard to win?
Having a #10-15 pick versus a #25 pick is a major difference

Let the young guys get valuable experience, get a higher draft pick, come back next year and win it all

Lol....I wonder what team you're really a fan of?

 

[Gicksauce]

Lol....I wonder what team you're really a fan of?

The 2003-2004 Patriots

 

[Rob0729]

Which is why they should be playing O'Connel instead

They're obviously not going to win the SB with half their team out
Why try so hard to win?
Having a #10-15 pick versus a #25 pick is a major difference

Let the young guys get valuable experience, get a higher draft pick, come back next year and win it all

And maybe the Giants should have sat Eli Manning last year at this time and tested out which back up to keep. No one gave the Giants a shot to even get to the Super Bowl even when they entered the playoffs. Everyone thought the Bucs had the easiest game Wild Card weekend because the Giants were coming to town.

The Pats may never come close to doing what the Giants did last year, but people give the Pats more of a shot to win the Super Bowl this year than they gave the Giants last year at this time. And there are less dominant teams this year.

 

[Clonamery]

The 2003-2004 Patriots

“People who live in the past generally are afraid to compete in the present." --Sparky Anderson

 

[Lifer]

Considering that we have an easy schedule and Cassel is improving, will you consider this season to be successful or disappointment if we don't make it to AFC championship game?

ok, this makes it official. Boston fans are now as obnoxiously entitled as New Yorkers.

In a year when Tom Brady goes down...anything short of AFC title game is a bust?

Stupid Boston fans. STUPID!!!!!!!

 

[TheComeback]

Each time they win they are hurting themselves

Wins mean a lower draft pick and a better contract for Cassel somewhere else

Having a losing season would create far worse consequences for this team's confidence than any low first-round pick.

 

[DESERTPAT]

Sorry, you don't play the season to get a better draft pick. Besides, the Pats hate drafting too high anyway and because of the salary compensations for the top draft picks, it is tough to get good value in a trade to trade down these days.

As for Cassel, I seriously doubt Cassel will come back no matter the record at this point. He would have to screw up pretty bad the rest of the way not to get a team that will allow him to at least compete for a starting job.

My sentiment exactly, why make the playoffs for the sake of making the Playoffs? If you have no legitimate chance to even win the AFC championship you might as well go 9-7 or 8-8 and get a middle of the pack first rounder, they had no problem with the #10 pick did they.