All the idiotic banter about how we have not beaten a winning team

[TBradyOwnsYou]

Last year against the playoff field during the season we were 6-1, our only loss coming week 2 against the Jets who we later crushed.
Against the teams in the championship round we were 4-1. Against the Super Bowl teams we were 2-0.
Funny, all of these quality regular season wins didn't seem to mean squat once the playoffs started.
We went 0-1 in the playoffs last year. We are 1-0 this year. THAT is all that matters!

 

[IllegalContact]

I don't know about the banter, but I do know that it's been some time since I've seen the Patriots this focused, with this much edge, and this much hunger. I love it! In the last decade when the Patriots are this hungry, LOOK OUT!

given how things have played out, it is for the pats to execute their best and win it all

if all 4 teams bring their A game, I put my money on the pats

 

[ScottieC]

A big reason why is because we beat them, we beat NY Jets and Denver twice...

We beat Denver twice, if we lost those games the Bronco's would have been 10 & 7

If we lost to Chargers they would have been 9 & 7

If we lost to the Raiders they would have been 9 & 7

If we lost to the Cowboys they would have been 9 & 7

If we lost to the Jets twice they would have been 10 & 7

These teams would have all had a winning record if it was not for us.. don't tell Felger and the rest of the mediots..

This is real simple, what were these teams’ records when we beat them??

That's the measuring stick - Not these post season criticisms.

When we played them, what were their records?

Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Some tool on WEEI mentioned yesterday that the mighty Raven D only faced one top 11 offense all season, and SD put up 34 on them. We somehow managed to beat a lot of teams with losing records and top ten defenses...not to mention top ten offenses... Go figure.

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

Fun story, Rap just retweeted that the 99 Rams, the Greatest Show on Turf... never beat a winning team during the regular season, nor did the 74 Steelers, both of whom won the Super Bowls those years.

 

[letekro]

A big reason why is because we beat them, we beat NY Jets and Denver twice...

We beat Denver twice, if we lost those games the Bronco's would have been 10 & 7

If we lost to Chargers they would have been 9 & 7

If we lost to the Raiders they would have been 9 & 7

If we lost to the Cowboys they would have been 9 & 7

If we lost to the Jets twice they would have been 10 & 7

These teams would have all had a winning record if it was not for us.. don't tell Felger and the rest of the mediots..

Their argument is dumb, but this isn't much better. If we had lost to those teams, then we still would not have BEATEN any team with a winning record. We only had two chances to beat elite teams--we lost to the giants, but had them in trouble until Sergio Brown came in, and hey, the Steelers just plain beat us. It's too small a sample size--and happened too long ago-- to draw any conclusions from.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Fun story, Rap just retweeted that the 99 Rams, the Greatest Show on Turf... never beat a winning team during the regular season, nor did the 74 Steelers, both of whom won the Super Bowls those years.

You beat me to it. Rap's re-tweet:

RT @wingoz: Pats are 4t to reach title game w/out beating a team w/winning record in reg season. 2 of previous 3 won SB, 99 Rams 74 Steelers

 

[IllegalContact]

Some tool on WEEI mentioned yesterday that the mighty Raven D only faced one top 11 offense all season, and SD put up 34 on them. We somehow managed to beat a lot of teams with losing records and top ten defenses...not to mention top ten offenses... Go figure.

the more important thing to note is the general ineptness of the ravens outside of their own division...they nearly screwed the pooch at home to TJ yates.

 

[lillloyd]

Factors that matter much more than SoS in the playoffs:

• Your team's health
• Whether you have an elite (preferably SB-vet!) QB
• Coaching
• How well you're playing *right now*
• Home field advantage

Sure SoS matters a bit, but having Tom Brady, BB, home field, and a relatively healthy team matters a hell of a lot more than who you've beaten to this point.

The fact that Baltimore played a really tough schedule and beat a bunch of really good teams pales in comparison to the fact they have Joe Flacco at QB and are playing a road playoff game. I'd rather be in your shoes than Baltimore's.

 

[Dutchmaster617]

What difference does it make if we beat an 8--8 team that would have been 9--7, yada yada yada?

The bottom line is that the morons who are talking that garbage will shut up if we beat the Ravens and they will continue talking it if we lose to them. The only thing the Pats control is how they play on Sunday. Otherwise, "Morons do as morons are."

No, they will say we are on a losing streak to Eli, or that BAL lost to SF and SF is an elite defense while BAL is old (or they struggle on the road, this is neutral etc.) They will still discredit us.

 

[Dutchmaster617]

Sounds like I'm better off having no idea who the heck Rob Parker is.

He is a ******ed Jets fan, so I guess he is a Giants fan now. He hates Boston sports and if we win 100-0 against an 18-0 team he would say its not impressive because they are a NE team.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I see all the ravens fans talking about this


omg pats haven't beaten a team with a winning record...



Means nothing in the playoffs

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

since you're into repeating yourself, I will do the same

the pats played who they played.....the schedule was made exactly a year ago, so what ifs are irrelevant.

look at the ravens on the road outside their division:

L titans 13-26
W rams 37-7
L jags 7-12
L seahawks 17-22
L chargers 14-34

the went 1-4 against NON PLAYOFF TEAMS

they lost to blaine gabbert and tarvaris jackson. on the road, their defense is not scary and their offense is relatively inept.

this all boils down to whether the pats can execute their game. this game will not be up to the ravens

You miss the most important point. Out of that group listed above only 1 has a QB that is even remotely considered in the same stratosphere as Tom Brady....... and that's Philip Rivers......... It coincidently was their worst loss (by far) of all the road loses they faced.

It's a tired argument in general. Along the way, we played few decent defenses (as far a points allowed), even though their teams were necessarily winning team (mostly due to inept offenses). Miami was top-10 defense, as was Philly. Denver wasn't bad.... Hell, even the Jets weren't horrible if you take out the two massive beatings we gave them.

 

[PatriotSeven]

You miss the most important point. Out of that group listed above only 1 has a QB that is even remotely considered in the same stratosphere as Tom Brady....... and that's Philip Rivers......... It coincidently was their worst loss (by far) of all the road loses they faced.

It's a tired argument in general. Along the way, we played few decent defenses (as far a points allowed), even though their teams were necessarily winning team (mostly due to inept offenses). Miami was top-10 defense, as was Philly. Denver wasn't bad.... Hell, even the Jets weren't horrible if you take out the two massive beatings we gave them.

Jets finished with the #4 most efficient offense too. The biggest thing is execution though. And what the Patriots didn't beat yet is a team who's as great, and tough all around, like they are. Denver executed well this season, but talent wise, they didn't match up.

Pats faced a top 10 team but they have not faced a top 3 team though. And the two playoff caliber teams they faced, Pittsburg and Giants, they lost to them.

Giants are probably the most battle tested team out there. Having faced GB twice, Patriots, Jets, Eagles, Cowboys, San Francisco and even Miami they have played everybody worth talking about on their way to the NFC Championship. The 49ers have the same issue. They beat the Giants last time but lost to Baltimore and Dallas. They have yet to prove themselves.

Patriots are not tested in the same sense. But that doesn't mean they aren't good. They have questions they need to answer and they won't get their chance until the super bowl. Same for the 49ers although some may argue beating the Saints and Giants counts but they did lose to the Cowboys and Ravens. I don't think so and I think it will come down to that. Somehow the top teams, 49ers, GB, and Pats have avoided each other.

The worry has been Brady and he still threw an interception against Denver's defense. Now it turned out that's no contest and didn't matter, but that won't be the case against the 49ers or the Giants. The only way GB beat them the first time was Aaron didn't throw a pick and Eli did. This time GB's offense had 4 turnovers. Brady needs to be at his absolutely best come super bowl time.

The toughest competition has all been in the NFC this year but that's not the Patriots fault. They just need to be prepared to play at a higher level than they have faced this year which is always tough to do because you can't gauge your opponents.