I'm so proud of our 2007 19-0 attempt

[Brady_12]

But why is there a need to always diminish the Giants win in the Superbowl as a "fluke"? The Giants played hard in that game, and most acknowledge that they outplayed the Pats, especially on defense. Yes, they got "lucky" plays, but it's hard to remember a Superbowl where the winning team didn't get those along the way.

Agreed. Every play counts, lucky or not.

I still have nightmares about Asante's drop of Eli's giftwrap pick in the final 90 seconds. Sigh...

 

[Mountain_Commando]

Especially when you consider what a brutal game the Giants reg season game was. And the Giants winning the big one was probably one of the luckiest SB win ever, IMO...not that that matters.

Yes. In fact the Giants were not gushing 'We won the SB'...they were gushing 'We beat the Patriots'. Case closed.

 

[Tunescribe]

If the Colts fall short of winning the Super Bowl this year, the wheels will fall off that wagon and will be hard to get back on. Stupid miscalculation by Polian. They have a bye sewn up and rest players with TWO games left?! They were leading the Green Beans and could've closed the game out. The Bills are a layup (or would be vs. Manning). The players and fans are rightly pissed, a unique shot at history down the drain. I hope they lose to Buffalo and in their first playoff game.

 

[Snarf]

It doesn't mean a damn thing. I'd rather they had lost 5 games but won the Super Bowl.

Sounds like you use the same logic as Polian.

A real football fan would say "I'd rather they had won all games AND the Super Bowl".

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

The Patriots had no choice but to go for it in 207.

That's what makes the Colts decision totally strange.

How could you not go for it?

If you think a loss will benefit your team, o if you think rest will benefit them, you still can't do what the Colts did.

I don't buy what Belichick was selling at his press conference yesterday about looking after the best interests of your team. A one loss Patriot team would get a better chance at the Super Bowl win. I do follow that logic.

But Belichick manned up.

stater

I don't think it's strange.

Why would you want to be known as the team that went 16-0 then went "one and done" in the playoffs?

Besides, who wants the extra scrutiny of an "officials" assist in the playoffs?

 

[thechris]

2007 was a fun season. The team was awesome. Probably the best team this decade.

Its just too bad we lost the Super Bowl by 3 measly points because of a play that happens once every 50 years.

 

[RobertWeathers]

If the Colts fall short of winning the Super Bowl this year, the wheels will fall off that wagon and will be hard to get back on. Stupid miscalculation by Polian. They have a bye sewn up and rest players with TWO games left?! They were leading the Green Beans and could've closed the game out. The Bills are a layup (or would be vs. Manning). The players and fans are rightly pissed, a unique shot at history down the drain. I hope they lose to Buffalo and in their first playoff game.

I tend to think that Polian must believe in his heart of hearts that the undefeated run that the Pats went on weighed on them enough where they were not playing their best ball at the end of the year and simply did not want that kind of thing hanging over this team during it's postseason run.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

It doesn't mean a damn thing. I'd rather they had lost 5 games but won the Super Bowl. I'll bet if anyone asked the team members they would agree.

Of course they would rather have won the Superbowl, but there is no guarantee that a team that lost 5 would have. Where you're wrong and missing the point altogether is in saying the undefeated season doesn't mean a damn thing. I guarantee you it means a hell of a lot to the HC and the players because they put these things in perspective in a way those watching from the comfort of their couches or club seats simply cannot.

 

[Tunescribe]

I tend to think that Polian must believe in his heart of hearts that the undefeated run that the Pats went on weighed on them enough where they were not playing their best ball at the end of the year and simply did not want that kind of thing hanging over this team during it's postseason run.

It's pure conjecture to believe that the "pressure" of going undefeated had a negative impact on late-season performance. The Patriots didn't roll over everyone; the wins over Philly and Baltimore were close escapes, and the Giants came to play that last regular-season game. Who's to say the Colts don't have what it takes to be the first 19-0 team? Thanks to Polian, they'll never know.

 

[Snarf]

I tend to think that Polian must believe in his heart of hearts that the undefeated run that the Pats went on weighed on them enough where they were not playing their best ball at the end of the year and simply did not want that kind of thing hanging over this team during it's postseason run.

So instead they now have a team that has lost momentum, is depressed about throwing away a chance to go perfect, has less now to fight for, and has an enraged fan base.

You're suggesting that the pressure of entering a SB at 18-0 is WORSE than all of that negative stuff that has now been heaped on the Colts?

edit to add: In fact, the Colts have MORE pressure now, because if they don't win the SB this year, they're going to look like monumentally stupendous idiots as opposed to mere idiots.

 

[RobertWeathers]

It's pure conjecture to believe that the "pressure" of going undefeated had a negative impact on late-season performance. The Patriots didn't roll over everyone; the wins over Philly and Baltimore were close escapes, and the Giants came to play that last regular-season game. Who's to say the Colts don't have what it takes to be the first 19-0 team? Thanks to Polian, they'll never know.

It's very much conjecture on my part. My own personal belief. No question that the Colts had an outstanding shot at it. I think with that kind of pressure, a rookie head coach and team in which their playoff success this decade has been mixed, my thought is that Polian didn't think they needed the extra baggage.

 

[Tunescribe]

It's very much conjecture on my part. My own personal belief. No question that the Colts had an outstanding shot at it. I think with that kind of pressure, a rookie head coach and team in which their playoff success this decade has been mixed, my thought is that Polian didn't think they needed the extra baggage.

I'm beginning to think Caldwell is a head coach in title only. Seems to me he just sits back and lets Manning/Moore run the offense; don't know about the defense.

 

[PatsSox363804]

So instead they now have a team that has lost momentum, is depressed about throwing away a chance to go perfect, has less now to fight for, and has an enraged fan base.

You're suggesting that the pressure of entering a SB at 18-0 is WORSE than all of that negative stuff that has now been heaped on the Colts?

edit to add: In fact, the Colts have MORE pressure now, because if they don't win the SB this year, they're going to look like monumentally stupendous idiots as opposed to mere idiots.

They've put themselves in a position where if they lose in the playoffs they look like idiots and if they win the Superbowl everyone says what if.

 

[Gwedd]

Jason Whitlock has some good comments about the game, too...

Indy coach, GM will regret giving up - NFL News - FOX Sports on MSN

 

[Boots Electric]

I'm beginning to think Caldwell is a head coach in title only. Seems to me he just sits back and lets Manning/Moore run the offense; don't know about the defense.

Guy isn't even there. It's a life size poster of old worst stache in the world.

Anyway, I still think the Colts way of handling things Sunday was wrong and Polian's attitude towards the fanbase and saying things like "Our team was horrible" "We weren't executing" "We wouldn't have won with Manning in the game" "It was Caldwell's decision"are really not helping his case either and do bring questions about what will happen to the Colts come playoff time.

Even more interesting was the fact that Polian said 16-0 wasn't important but 23 straight regular season victories is and most wins in the decade is and all the individual stats the players achieved are important.

 

[Ryan]

I've always been proud of our 2007 season. We took everyone's best shot and got all the way to 18-0 before finally falling. Nothing to be ashamed about there. The Colts being cowards just makes me even more proud of the '07 Pats.

 

[patriots pam]

They've put themselves in a position where if they lose in the playoffs they look like idiots and if they win the Superbowl everyone says what if.

Thanks! Since you put it like that, the thought of a Clots SB win this year doesn't make me want to vomit. As much.


And yes, this whole 'debacle' does take a tiny bit of the sting of SB

away. Thanks for having the guts to try like hell, Pats!

 

[Gwedd]

Interesting comment by Whitlock:

There’s no downside to running the regular-season table. Two teams have done it and both advanced to the Super Bowl. It took the greatest catch and luckiest QB scramble of the decade for the Patriots to lose the Super Bowl vs. the Giants.

What’s the playoff record of one- or two-loss teams? Not as impressive as the ’72 Dolphins or the ’07 Pats.

He's not exactly been a friend to the Patriots over the years, but he has been honest in his criticism. And this column he wrote sums up exactly how I feel about the Colt's assinine decision.

 

[Sicilian]

They've put themselves in a position where if they lose in the playoffs they look like idiots and if they win the Superbowl everyone says what if.

The only exception is if they make it to the Super Bowl and lose. Then you can't say they choked away perfection, and you can't say they were rusty from lack of meaningful football.

Of course, you also can't call them champions, so there's a silver lining to all scenarios

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm beginning to think Caldwell is a head coach in title only. Seems to me he just sits back and lets Manning/Moore run the offense; don't know about the defense.

Kinda like KC Jones of the 80s Celtics.....Red and Larry ran the show. KC made sure the uniforms were pressed and the players got on the bus.