1990 Pats....like watching a car crash

[ivanvamp]

If you are ready for a gruesome experience, visit profootball-reference.com and click on the 1990 Patriots. 1-15, probably (certainly?) the worst team in franchise history. Look at their last 7 games...

- at Buf: L, 14-0
- at Pho: L, 34-14
- vs KC: L, 37-7
- at Pit: L, 24-3
- vs Was: L, 25-10
- at NYJ: L, 42-7
- vs NYG: L, 13-10

Holy smokes. 189 (27.0 avg) - 51 (7.3 avg). What futility. Their offensive leaders:

Passing - Marc Wilson: 139-265 (52.5%), 1625 yds, 6 td, 11 int
Rushing - John Stephens: 212 att, 808 yds, 3.8 ypa, 2 td, 5 fum
Receiving - Irving Fryar: 54 rec, 856 yds, 15.9 ypc, 4 td, 1 fum

They had one guy with more than 3.5 sacks - Brent Williams, with 6.0. They had a point differential of -265 (16.5 per game).

That was in the midst of a wonderful 5-year stretch where they went: 5-11, 1-15, 6-10, 2-14, and 5-11 (19-61 total). Yikes.

Compare that to the last 11 years of utter dominance - best record in football, 3 SB titles, 9 division titles, all kinds of records, and much more. Wow, such a different time. For those of us that lived through those ugly, dark days, we have to remember from time to time what it was like because even if the Pats don't win the SB this year, we're still in the golden era.

 

[Wax Frog]

Going on memory before I confirm it via web-search, that one win was keyed by Andre Tippett's* only career interception. Gotta find your silver linings where you can

*My first favorite player, back when I was naive enough to attach to them

[I stand corrected - it was 1991 ]

 

[RobertWeathers]

I was a sophomore in college that year. IIRC end zone seats were $18 and a case of Bud Light was the same. .

Thats pretty much what it took to get though each Sunday that fall.

 

[ivanvamp]

I was a sophomore in college that year. IIRC end zone seats were $18 and a case of Bud Light was the same. .

Thats pretty much what it took to get though each Sunday that fall.

Fall of 1990 was my senior year in college. I went to Syracuse and mercifully I couldn't get too many Patriots' games on TV (they were on occasionally). But those were some dark years.

 

[PATSNUTme]

1990 patsfans.com Active users 5, guests 4.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Fall of 1990 was my senior year in college. I went to Syracuse and mercifully I couldn't get too many Patriots' games on TV (they were on occasionally). But those were some dark years.

...and my Sr. year they went 2-14. That was a treat.

You can tell how old the posters are who bash the Pats. I complain just like everyone else about the D, etc. but I'll take this year for anything 1987-1993 in a heartbeat. I say that as there was a lot of newness and excitement with the 1985,'86 and 1994 and 1996 teams that maybe isn't there now. However the 2011 edition has a shot at winning the SB whereas except the '96 team (but not really) those teams had no chance at all to win the SB.

 

[Fixit]

Going on memory before I confirm it via web-search, that one win was keyed by Andre Tippett's* only career interception. Gotta find your silver linings where you can

*My first favorite player, back when I was naive enough to attach to them

[I stand corrected - it was 1991 ]

If I remember correctly, there was also a hook-and-ladder (lateral) play for a TD in that win against Phoenix. I remember thinking it was the coolest thing ever at the time.

 

[ivanvamp]

...and my Sr. year they went 2-14. That was a treat.

You can tell how old the posters are who bash the Pats. I complain just like everyone else about the D, etc. but I'll take this year for anything 1987-1993 in a heartbeat. I say that as there was a lot of newness and excitement with the 1985,'86 and 1994 and 1996 teams that maybe isn't there now. However the 2011 edition has a shot at winning the SB whereas except the '96 team (but not really) those teams had no chance at all to win the SB.

I think you make a really good point here. I started watching the Patriots back in the late 1970's. I'm sure I'm not as old as some folks here but I'm plenty old enough to remember some really good years and, as this thread implies, some godawful ones. There is no question whatsoever that we are in the golden era of Patriots football.

I fear that many Pats' fans have developed an entitlement mentality. The idea that the Patriots somehow "should" win it all appears to be a bit of a prevailing view among a lot of folks. The reality is (and I've posted this thought many times here) that it is REALLY difficult to win it all. Even the greatest dynasties in league history lost (i.e., didn't win the title) a lot more than they won it. I am not sure people are fully appreciating what we've been able to experience the past 11 years. Again:

- 9 division titles
- more regular season wins than any team in football
- the only two years the Pats didn't win the division they tied for the division and lost on tiebreakers several levels down
- 3 Super Bowl titles
- 4 AFC titles
- a perfect regular season
- the longest winning streak in league history
- one of the greatest QBs in NFL history
- one of the greatest coaches in NFL history
- the building of one of the best stadiums in the league
- a TON of records set by this team and individuals on this team

Yes, I'd like to win the SB every year. I'd like for them to win at least one more with Brady. But even if they don't, this has still been one of the greatest runs in *NFL HISTORY*. We have experienced what very few fans in the 90+ year history of the sport have. Nobody wants to lose, but I think lost in this amazing run is the fact of the amazing run, if that makes sense. This is a very rare thing we're experiencing.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think you make a really good point here. I started watching the Patriots back in the late 1970's. I'm sure I'm not as old as some folks here but I'm plenty old enough to remember some really good years and, as this thread implies, some godawful ones. There is no question whatsoever that we are in the golden era of Patriots football.

I fear that many Pats' fans have developed an entitlement mentality. The idea that the Patriots somehow "should" win it all appears to be a bit of a prevailing view among a lot of folks. The reality is (and I've posted this thought many times here) that it is REALLY difficult to win it all. Even the greatest dynasties in league history lost (i.e., didn't win the title) a lot more than they won it. I am not sure people are fully appreciating what we've been able to experience the past 11 years. Again:

- 9 division titles
- more regular season wins than any team in football
- the only two years the Pats didn't win the division they tied for the division and lost on tiebreakers several levels down
- 3 Super Bowl titles
- 4 AFC titles
- a perfect regular season
- the longest winning streak in league history
- one of the greatest QBs in NFL history
- one of the greatest coaches in NFL history
- the building of one of the best stadiums in the league
- a TON of records set by this team and individuals on this team

Yes, I'd like to win the SB every year. I'd like for them to win at least one more with Brady. But even if they don't, this has still been one of the greatest runs in *NFL HISTORY*. We have experienced what very few fans in the 90+ year history of the sport have. Nobody wants to lose, but I think lost in this amazing run is the fact of the amazing run, if that makes sense. This is a very rare thing we're experiencing.

And I'm not trying to belittle the younger fans by saying, 'I'm older and more of a Pats fan than you', deal but it is a different perspective. Maybe it's more of an appreciation because we remember the Lisa Olsen/Rod Rust, Ron Meyer years or the drug scandal after the 85 SB, etc.

Just like a lot of the younger sports fans never felt the pain of the '86 World Series and how they EXPECT the Red Sox to make the playoffs every year.

Maybe it is entitlement but I think it's more that they just don't know how bad sustained losing periods are. It's bloody as you know but what is even more painful is that your team is irrelevant and no one cares.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I think you make a really good point here. I started watching the Patriots back in the late 1970's. I'm sure I'm not as old as some folks here but I'm plenty old enough to remember some really good years and, as this thread implies, some godawful ones. There is no question whatsoever that we are in the golden era of Patriots football.

I fear that many Pats' fans have developed an entitlement mentality. The idea that the Patriots somehow "should" win it all appears to be a bit of a prevailing view among a lot of folks. The reality is (and I've posted this thought many times here) that it is REALLY difficult to win it all. Even the greatest dynasties in league history lost (i.e., didn't win the title) a lot more than they won it. I am not sure people are fully appreciating what we've been able to experience the past 11 years. Again:

- 9 division titles
- more regular season wins than any team in football
- the only two years the Pats didn't win the division they tied for the division and lost on tiebreakers several levels down
- 3 Super Bowl titles
- 4 AFC titles
- a perfect regular season
- the longest winning streak in league history
- one of the greatest QBs in NFL history
- one of the greatest coaches in NFL history
- the building of one of the best stadiums in the league
- a TON of records set by this team and individuals on this team

Yes, I'd like to win the SB every year. I'd like for them to win at least one more with Brady. But even if they don't, this has still been one of the greatest runs in *NFL HISTORY*. We have experienced what very few fans in the 90+ year history of the sport have. Nobody wants to lose, but I think lost in this amazing run is the fact of the amazing run, if that makes sense. This is a very rare thing we're experiencing.

I can remember saying "just one in my lifetime" after all those years of disappointments. I can also remember in 2001 saying ot a friend that I'd rather that they not make it to the SB and get blown out by the Rams.

Given that there is now 11 years of winning, there are a lot of fans that do not know anything else. We can't blame them for when they were born and that the winning streak is continuing and should continue for a few more years. So they do have the feeling of entitlement.

I don't have any expectations of a SB win from this years team. I have felt that way since mid season. So, I'm really enjoying each game. I do hope for a SB win, but I'm not expecting that this year.

Now next year with all the good young talent on offense, I expect BB to make some good additions to the defense to fix that problem. Then like 2003 & 2004 I'll be expecting another Sb win.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

Being born in 1980 means my career as a Patriots fan was one of two parts. Like my sig says, by the time I was old enough to be aware of them, they had quickly become irrelevant. It was only when Parcells and Bledsoe showed up in 1993 that I was even aware Patsies was an insult. Hell, until 93, I thought it was just a cute nickname.

Unfortunately, the Patriots have become (albeit, fortunately in most instances) victims of their own success. This is why, we as fans, are kinda hard on them, I think. We know, in the backs of our minds, that this success cannot sustain forever. This is why when we see them fail at ANYTHING....defense, drafting, etc... we kinda freak out. You see, we think any one of these failures could be the straw which breaks the camel's back, sending us plummeting back down to Earth, mired in the abyss.

 

[Dagg]

1990 those were dark days especially being a Pats fan in western Ny with the Bill rise to power. I started watching late 70s as well and those teams were pretty awful early 80s.

I still remember the day the 1985 team go to the superbowl, I was only 13 but I must have gotten about 30 phone calls from friends congratulating me since we were so bad for so long....then the super bowl happenend and just made me sick.

Anyway lets go 2011 pats my my how times have changed.

 

[FortressX]

More like listening to a car crash since most of the games were likely blacked out as I recall.

 

[shmessy]

Didn't they win their first game? It's foggy, but somehow I remember new HC **** MacPherson jumping all over the place in excitement at the start of the season.

 

[FortressX]

Didn't they win their first game? It's foggy, but somehow I remember new HC **** MacPherson jumping all over the place in excitement at the start of the season.

I had to do research to figure it out, but that was 1991 you are talking about.
They beat the Colts the first game of the year 1991.
The Colts were the only team they beat in 1990.
Both times they beat the Colts it was out in Indy, so both those games were on TV.

 

[RDS11]

If I remember correctly, there was also a hook-and-ladder (lateral) play for a TD in that win against Phoenix. I remember thinking it was the coolest thing ever at the time.

That was 1993, with the immortal Scott Secules at QB...it didn't went for a TD, but it basically won the game.

First Parcells win with the Patriots too.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Didn't they win their first game? It's foggy, but somehow I remember new HC **** MacPherson jumping all over the place in excitement at the start of the season.

Remember a Pats coach jumping all over the place as he was electrocuted by an ungrounded microphone?
Those were the days.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Much later, in 2001, on the day that Bledsoe went down,

it seemed quite possible that we were just about as bad.

The #1 football sportwriter in the nation (by a mile) at that time was Dr. Z, who was the first I ever remember to give a weekly "power ranking" and he put the Patriots at dead last on perhaps the same day that Tom Brady took the reins running the offense in practice for the first time as starter. So when people try to dismiss Tom's unmatched winning percentage by saying that he fell into a great situation when he first became a starter, save this link to show them.

CNNSI.com - Pro Football - Dr. Z's NFL Power Rankings - Thursday September 27, 2001 03:37 PM

Dr. Z's NFL Power Rankings

Week 3
Posted: Tuesday September 25, 2001 6:06 PM

#31
New England Patriots (0-2)
This is sad. Drew Bledsoe took a big hit and is out indefinitely. Honestly, I don't know what weapons they have with which to win a game.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Much later, in 2001, on the day that Bledsoe went down,

it seemed quite possible that we were just about as bad.

The #1 football sportwriter in the nation (by a mile) at that time was Dr. Z, who was the first I ever remember to give a weekly "power ranking" and he put the Patriots at dead last on perhaps the same day that Tom Brady took the reins running the offense in practice for the first time as starter. So when people try to dismiss Tom's unmatched winning percentage by saying that he fell into a great situation when he first became a starter, save this link to show them.

CNNSI.com - Pro Football - Dr. Z's NFL Power Rankings - Thursday September 27, 2001 03:37 PM

Thats awesome. Just......so........awesome.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

At least those in Boston areas didn't get as much ridicule as guys like me here in Pa during those 1-15 times.

People in Mass and surrounding states at least had each other to comfort one another.

Here,it was pure comedy looking at me in my Patriots leather jacket at 1-15 while the Eagles and Steelers were having O.K. Seasons