The 2003 New England Patriots: The Best Patriots Team Ever

[RayClay]

The 2004 team was the best, it's ridiculous to take the lesser of two teams right in a row. The 2003 team was the best for cardiac doctors, though.

Let's compare the 2003, 2004 and 2007 teams.

The 2004 team had most of the same assets as the 2003, plus should be HOF Corey Dillon. That was easy.

The 2007 team had an incredible passing game, and old defense (since 2005) and an inconsistent running game.

Since greatness in the playoffs usually means adjusting to whatever a defense can throw at you and stuffing people with your own, 2004 team is one of the GOAT in my opinion.

Passing games are fun to watch, though.

 

[randomk1]

Passing games are fun to watch, though.

Depends...can be pretty painful at times.

A well balanced attack is a thing of beauty imo

 

[RayClay]

Depends...can be pretty painful at times.

A well balanced attack is a thing of beauty imo

IMO too. But outside of aesthetics, the name of the game is balance, being able to play your game, or their game, and still win.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I love the 2007 team, but they didn't get it done when it mattered. I'm not just talking about sb42, they faced 3 wildcard teams in the playoffs. Jacksonville, a very banged up SD Chargers, and NYG. I'm sorry, they should've plowed through those teams without trouble if they're one of the greatest teams ever.

Look at the 2004 playoffs. They faced a gauntlet man. At the time, arguably the greatest offense ever in the divisional round. A game where the Pats were home underdogs, and they annihilated the Colts. Went into Pittsburgh to face a 15-1 team, annihilated them too, it was 'just' a 14 point win thanks to a garbage time TD by Pitt at the end. The Eagles were probably the easiest opponent in those playoffs and they were 16-2 or 15-3 can't remember. Now that's a champion.

But today if you ask me which team I'd want heading into a playoff run, I'd be tempted to select the '03 version. We had a shutdown corner that year one of the league's best and I think I'd take over the offensive advantage the 2004 team had. Tyrone Poole across from him was also big as Asante wasn't yet the corner he is now. I'm still amazed how good that 04 team was despite the CB situation.

 

[RayClay]

I love the 2007 team, but they didn't get it done when it mattered. I'm not just talking about sb42, they faced 3 wildcard teams in the playoffs. Jacksonville, a very banged up SD Chargers, and NYG. I'm sorry, they should've plowed through those teams without trouble if they're one of the greatest teams ever.

Look at the 2004 playoffs. They faced a gauntlet man. At the time, arguably the greatest offense ever in the divisional round. A game where the Pats were home underdogs, and they annihilated the Colts. Went into Pittsburgh to face a 15-1 team, annihilated them too, it was 'just' a 14 point win thanks to a garbage time TD by Pitt at the end. The Eagles were probably the easiest opponent in those playoffs and they were 16-2 or 15-3 can't remember. Now that's a champion.

But today if you ask me which team I'd want heading into a playoff run, I'd be tempted to select the '03 version. We had a shutdown corner that year one of the league's best and I think I'd take over the offensive advantage the 2004 team had. Tyrone Poole across from him was also big as Asante wasn't yet the corner he is now. I'm still amazed how good that 04 team was despite the CB situation.

Yeah, they really had to overcome CB injuries, that was the one area. Despite his youth Asante was already a ball hawk instinctively, he just kept dropping them.

It's the one position on the team our coach can almost patch up with superior coaching and strategy.

 

[Off The Grid]

Yeah, they really had to overcome CB injuries, that was the one area. Despite his youth Asante was already a ball hawk instinctively, he just kept dropping them.

It's the one position on the team our coach can almost patch up with superior coaching and strategy.

The Patriots DOMINATED the historically explosive Colts, the Steelers, and the Eagles with a Secondary that ~ after a PESTILENCE of injuries ~ was reduced to a box of kleenex, a rolled up newspaper, and a roll of baling wire.

That shytte was flat out MIRACULOUS.

 

[RayClay]

The Patriots DOMINATED the historically explosive Colts, the Steelers, and the Eagles with a Secondary that ~ after a PESTILENCE of injuries ~ was reduced to a box of kleenex, a rolled up newspaper, and a roll of baling wire.

That shytte was flat out MIRACULOUS.

BB is capable of finding a couple guys hanging outside Home depot and using them to mask a gaping hole on defense for a couple games.

He did it this year with the D Line by moving Wilfork around as needed, thereby only having to defend half the field against the run (I'm assumimg) and whatever three card monte tricks as the injuries mounted there.

It was painfully obvious to me (not to some?) that without Spikes, and with a backup QB, Green bay exposed the fact a ham and egger running back or two could just run straight ahead if they kept trying.

He's just such a three dimensional chess player on defense, I'm sure offenses are afraid to attack perceived weakness, because it's a trap half the time.