Why I like our chances this year in the playoffs...

[FloridaPatsFan]

History has shown that teams that back into the playoffs on losing streaks or poor play for the last month of the season have early exits in the playoffs. That description fits the Colts this year.

History also shows that teams with young QB's who are in thier 1st year as starters make mistakes that cost thier teams victory. (Tom Brady is the only player in modern history to break this trend). So the Bronco's and Chargers definately fit this description.

That would leave Baltimore, New England and the NY Jets in the AFC.

I like our chances. I wouldn't have said this a month ago, but I think we might be the team to beat.

In the NFC I see Bears, Bears, Bears. That defense is going to be a monster in Chicago weather come January. Forget Romo in the SB....He fits the above description for young QB's in the playoffs. Seattle...Backing in but soon backing out.

I would say that there is a reasonably good chance for a Bears-Patriots SB.

 

[stinkypete]

Would be a great one.

I'm still concerned about SD. They seem to have our number recently. Sure, the young QB could be prone to mistakes in a pressure situation, but their run offense is just sick.

Then again, with Martyball at head coach, maybe SD isn't the contender we think they are.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

Would be a great one.

I'm still concerned about SD. They seem to have our number recently. Sure, the young QB could be prone to mistakes in a pressure situation, but their run offense is just sick.

Then again, with Martyball at head coach, maybe SD isn't the contender we think they are.

We just don't see a lot of SD games on the east coast so I'm not sure what to think about them. They have a great record, no doubt. But a close friend of mine got transfrerred to SD and went to a couple of games this year says that they are not as good as people think they are. Or, in other words, he felt very strongly that the Pats could beat them and Rivers has been horrible lately....not a good sign for SD.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

The Bears are a good team, but the NFC teams who are showing a little more consistency as they make their Playoff runs are the Saints and apparently the Eagles (assuming they hold their current lead on the Boyz). I also think Dallas is capable of beating the Bears in Chicago.

At the moment, the two NFC clubs playing well with experienced QBs are the Saints and Eagles...FPF noted their AFC counterparts...now it remains to be seen if one of the young QBs can be steady enough to ride their 'hosses' forward.

 

[363839]

The Bears are a good team, but the NFC teams who are showing a little more consistency as they make their Playoff runs are the Saints and apparently the Eagles (assuming they hold their current lead on the Boyz). I also think Dallas is capable of beating the Bears in Chicago.

At the moment, the two NFC clubs playing well with experienced QBs are the Saints and Eagles...FPF noted their AFC counterparts...now it remains to be seen if one of the young QBs can be steady enough to ride their 'hosses' forward.

Great analysis as usual, BoR. It's going to be an interesting play-off season I think.

As far as San Diego goes, well Seattle played them real tough and it took a last minute td for SD to win. Seattle. You know, the team that lost 3 straight and clinched their division doing it, played the AFC top dog tooth and nail.
I think the Pats can win a game like this against the Chargers.
But they have to at least contain LT and not let Gates kill them.
Easier said than done, I know but the Pats CAN.

 

[notex]

i hate the eagles ... i actually hate them more then the colts which is saying alot...
i think we have the best defense in the league except maybe baltimore thats why i think we will go deep and possibly win the superbowl...
i honestly think we can beat any team in the NFL this year...but i dont know if we can put together a few in a row

 

[pats63]

We a very good chance to win in all.Our coaches and veterns know what it takes to win......GO PATS!!!!!!:rocker:

 

[patsfaninpa]

I'd like to play SD in the 2nd round instead of AFC Championship.
Because, I think Rivers and their team would gain a lot of confidence if they win that 1st playoff game. They were in a similiar position in 04 and lost
in 1st round at home to an inferior Jets team. I hope we get 4th seed.
Jets win out and get 5th seed. We get them at home and avenge earlier loss. Then head west. Jets aren't too physical a team so might not take as much out of us as playing Denver.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

I'll admit that this team is finally showing some big time nuts in clutch time. Denver is scary, but if they get past them, I think they'll take out SD (who will have a week to sit back and get ****y).

 

[PromisedLand]

We just don't see a lot of SD games on the east coast so I'm not sure what to think about them. They have a great record, no doubt. But a close friend of mine got transfrerred to SD and went to a couple of games this year says that they are not as good as people think they are. Or, in other words, he felt very strongly that the Pats could beat them and Rivers has been horrible lately....not a good sign for SD.

SD has an inexperienced QB as you say, and lately he has been showing signs of coming down from his lofty perch. In addition, Marty Schottenheimer's poor playoff record is well documented, but in case anyone needs a refresher here it is:
he has coached his teams into the playoffs 12 times. Of those, 8 have been "one and done", 3 have gone 1-1, and the remaining year (with the 92 Chiefs) they were 2-1. He has gotten as far as the AFC Championship game only 3 times and has lost each time. His "Marty Ball" conservative approach and poor clock management have been frequently cited as contributing factors to his team's demise. While they will be tough to beat at home, I don't believe it to be at all an impossible feat.

Indy is indeed backing into the playoffs and do not scare me at all. Whoever we face in the wild card round will have to come to Gillette. True, both the Broncos and Jets have already beaten us there this year, but BB teams have a stellar track record in "rematch games". I believe the Jets caught us unprepared mentally for the resilience of our opponent. That won't happen again. The Broncos have a great long term record against us, but they have a rookie starting at QB and we are a better team now than the first time we played them (when Brady was still learning his receiver's first names).

I believe Baltimore is probably the toughest challenge in the AFC for us. They have a tough defense and a battle-hardened, tough QB in McNair. They will also have home field. They don't have any glaring weaknesses. That's not to say we can't beat them but I believe they will be the toughest test for us.

 

[denverpatsfan]

I will not look ahead, but Baltimore is playing the best football right now and have a much better D than San Diego. But let's get by Denver before we start handicapping those match-ups.

Talk about flying under the radar, but the Eagles are playing the best football in the NFC right now. Garcia is playing like a man posessed. I would have to make my pick the Iggles to go to Miami.

 

[Jimke]

We have a difficult task right in the very first game. This year we will be

facing a team that has our number. Denver beat us twice last year and

already once this year. If by some strange happenstance we beat

Tennessee and the Colts lose, we will face an up and coming Jets team.

The Jets won a hard fought game at Miami while we got the heck kicked out

of us by Miami.

 

[JR4]

History has shown that teams that back into the playoffs on losing streaks or poor play for the last month of the season have early exits in the playoffs. That description fits the Colts this year.

History also shows that teams with young QB's who are in thier 1st year as starters make mistakes that cost thier teams victory. (Tom Brady is the only player in modern history to break this trend). So the Bronco's and Chargers definately fit this description.

That would leave Baltimore, New England and the NY Jets in the AFC.

I like our chances. I wouldn't have said this a month ago, but I think we might be the team to beat.

In the NFC I see Bears, Bears, Bears. That defense is going to be a monster in Chicago weather come January. Forget Romo in the SB....He fits the above description for young QB's in the playoffs. Seattle...Backing in but soon backing out.

I would say that there is a reasonably good chance for a Bears-Patriots SB.

As for NFC I don't think it is Bears, Bears, Bears.
Eagles and Saints are strong possibliites.
My guess is Saints will be NFC champs.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

As for NFC I don't think it is Bears, Bears, Bears.
Eagles and Saints are strong possibliites.
My guess is Saints will be NFC champs.

A dome team going into Chicago in January and winning?

I'm impressed by the saints but its just not going to happen.

Bears will represtent the NFC in the SB.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I've hated the expression "I likes our chances" ever since a Rams player used it in the Pats 1st SB win as the Lambs were staging their comeback to a tie.

 

[MrClutch]

Just imagine if Pats were a NFC team, we'd steamroll our way to the Superbowl.

 

[Lansdowne]

A dome team going into Chicago in January and winning?

I'm impressed by the saints but its just not going to happen.

Bears will represtent the NFC in the SB.

Well, if the Cowboys have a shot at facing the Bears, I think Dallas wins that one, and the NFC championship would then likely be hosted in the Superdome.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

Well, if the Cowboys have a shot at facing the Bears, I think Dallas wins that one, and the NFC championship would then likely be hosted in the Superdome.

Again, I will emphasize my point about 1st year starting and rookie QB's under pressure.

Since the bright lights went on Tony Romo after his 5 TD performance on Thanksgiving, he has fallen flat on his face.

Playoff football has historically turned veteran QB's into jelly-legged buffoons. History is even worse for rookies and 1st year starters.

I like what Romo has done in Dallas but Dallas has no chance of beating the Bears in Chicago. Again, southern climate team playing in frigid and windy conditions.

 

[RhodyPatFan]

History has shown that teams that back into the playoffs on losing streaks or poor play for the last month of the season have early exits in the playoffs. That description fits the Colts this year.

History also shows that teams with young QB's who are in thier 1st year as starters make mistakes that cost thier teams victory. (Tom Brady is the only player in modern history to break this trend). So the Bronco's and Chargers definately fit this description.

You forgot about Big Ben but I agree with you. I really like our chances as we have experience, great coach, great QB, great D, solid running game, and solid special teams. All those things add up to success in the playoffs.

 

[Lansdowne]

Again, I will emphasize my point about 1st year starting and rookie QB's under pressure.

Since the bright lights went on Tony Romo after his 5 TD performance on Thanksgiving, he has fallen flat on his face.

Playoff football has historically turned veteran QB's into jelly-legged buffoons. History is even worse for rookies and 1st year starters.

I like what Romo has done in Dallas but Dallas has no chance of beating the Bears in Chicago. Again, southern climate team playing in frigid and windy conditions.

Well, you already mentioned Brady, who went the distance in his first year as a starter. But there are other success stories:

Ben Roethlisberger in 2004, starting QB as a rookie, made it to the AFC championship game.

Jake Delhomme in 2003, first year as a starting QB, brought the Panthers to the Super Bowl and they came close to beating the Patriots in that game.

Michael Vick in 2002, first year as a full-time starter, beat the Packers in snowy conditions at Lambeau Field.

Chad Pennington in 2002, first year as a full-time starter, clobbered the Colts in the wildcard round.

2000 featured 3 first timers in starting roles, Daunte Culpepper, Aaron Brooks, and Jay Fiedler, all of whom led their teams to victories in their first playoff games. Could've included Donovan McNabb (who also won his first playoff game) but he started about half his rookie season anyway.

Shaun King in 1999, rookie QB filling in for Trent Dilfer, led the Buccaneers to the NFC championship game, and were a controversial incompletion call from possibly sneaking into the Super Bowl.

The odds are certainly stacked against this year's first timers going deep into the playoffs, but getting a win, or two, or even three, is not out of the realm of possibility.

Rivers plays for arguably the best team in the NFL with the best player in the NFL (Tomlinson) at his disposal, and Romo has a great offense to work with while being coached by a man with a history of playoff success. The other potential first timers could be Young, Cutler, or Garrard, but I'm not excited about any of their chances of making a run in the playoffs.