2004 team would have beaten 2007 any day of the week

[Lifer]

The hypothetical thread made me think about this again. I dont worry about the 19-0 loss because that team wasnt as good as the 2004 team anyway. A fluke loss on monday night in Miami and the loss to an excellent Steelers team in Pittsburgh without Corey Dillon after winning 21 straight wins and due for a loss was all that seperated that team from perfection. This was the most dominant Patriots team, it didnt rely solely on Brady throwing for 400 yards, it had the best one season running back we ever had, and that postseason was epic. The signature game of the dynasty, beating the Colts 20-3. Then destroying the top defensive team in football in Pittsburgh. Then beating a really good Eagles team. 2004 they were everything i could ever ask for in a football team, talented, full of heart, clutch. The greatest Patriots team ever.

 

[serifyn]

.....Okay?

The final 2 minutes of Superbowl 42 were still the most Soulcrushing string of plays that i have ever witnessed or will ever witness, there is nothing i ever wanted more than a perfect season after Spygate and a dopey looking quarterback and a 5th string receiver with glue on his helmet took it all away.

 

[randomk1]

Colts #1 O to 3 points
Steelers #1 D allowing 41.
In the playoffs.

Sick. Brady as the QB + a power running game and a tough,smart veteran D. That's a team that could beat anybody.

 

[sly24]

I don't even know why I'm getting into this. How on earth did 07 rely on Brady throwing for 400 yards? The Pats that year finished 4th in total defense and 4th in points allowed. 2007 was also clutch. Off the top of my head I can think of the ravens game and the giants game which they came back late to win. Remove that series of miracles in the SB (asante dropped int, miracle catch over the hitman) and we wouldn't be having this discussion. I'd still take 07 over any team ever.

 

[NSPF]

Do we really need a thread for these? Couldn't you have just kept it in the other thread?

 

[Pessimistic Pete]

Trying to think of Belichick vs Belichick and Brady vs Brady makes my head explode and I'm unable to come to a conclusion.

 

[BaltimorePatsFan]

I don't even know why I'm getting into this. How on earth did 07 rely on Brady throwing for 400 yards? The Pats that year finished 4th in total defense and 4th in points allowed. 2007 was also clutch. Off the top of my head I can think of the ravens game and the giants game which they came back late to win. Remove that series of miracles in the SB (asante dropped int, miracle catch over the hitman) and we wouldn't be having this discussion. I'd still take 07 over any team ever.

The 07 team was absolutely dominant during the first half of the season but in the 2nd half the defense was extremely vulnerable and the team started relying more and more on Brady's arm. AJ Feeley, Kyle Boller, Eli Manning, and David Garrard (in the postseason) all had little trouble putting up points on the board against the defense.

 

[ausbacker]

It would have been fun to see the 2007 Offense go against the 2004 Defense.

 

[Sivy]

Any day huh? Doubt it

 

[PatsWSB47]

Any day huh? Doubt it

I think Fridays would be especially tough

 

[PittPatriot]

…except Sunday.

 

[BradyManny]

2007 team on the subject.

People underestimate how well rounded that 2007 team was. Especially while we had a healthy RB group before Morris went down.

The fact that we clearly match up horribly with the New York Giants should not undermine what a dominant squad that team was.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I don't know about any day of the week, head to head who knows really. The 2007 team was more dangerous. The 2004 team was better built for playoff football. If I had one year to win a SB, I'd take the 2004 roster. Our defensive core was pretty much all in the prime of their careers and dominant at the most important time against top competition. Whereas in the 2007 version, you had Bruschi and Rodney definitely on the decline. Vrabel was arguably on the decline since midway through 2007 when his #'s plummeted in the 2nd and and we saw in the 2008 season that he was in full decline by then. Seau was a great role player being counted on to play a bigger role due to poor LB depth and Colvin's injury (LB is an area where the 2004 team really destroys 2007). Neither secondary was anything special aside from one player on each version (Rodney in '04, Asante in '07 though he crapped his pants in the biggest moments). The 2007 defense performed admirably in the playoffs but the opposition was nothing to sneeze at, 2004 version performed better and did it against much better teams. Dillon is another major key, Maroney had his moments but obviously not a guy I'd count on to protect leads. Better coaching staff as well.

 

[TheBeers]

It would be great fun to load both teams in a madden sim and run it 100 times.

 

[Observer]

What a ridiculous notion. Was it not for a once-in-a-lifetime helmet catch, this question could not even be imagined. The 2007 team won every single game and would have won the last had it not been for a freak accident. They were one play away from being the greatest NFL team in history. History loves winners but let's not be so eager to undermine the accomplishments of 2007 already.

 

[PatsGirl2011]

I freaking LOVED the 2004 team, but I would take the 2007 hands down . The main difference between the two teams was the 2007 just was too dominant too early in the season if that makes sense. They peaked too early, and it was too difficult to maintain the dominance through 19 games especially when teams was trying to end the undefeated streak. I know we can play the what if game, but I think IF the 2007 actually lost a game during the regular season like the Baltimore game, they would have cruised to the SB. We can say they don't match up with the Giants, but people forgot how TB killed them like a month prior in NY. The Giants just had a great game plan going in that worked. I honestly wasn't that shocked they lost because they struggled to beat SD and Jax in the AFC rounds... They just ran out of gas in the SB sadly.

 

[TheComeback]

The 07 team was absolutely dominant during the first half of the season but in the 2nd half the defense was extremely vulnerable and the team started relying more and more on Brady's arm. AJ Feeley, Kyle Boller, Eli Manning, and David Garrard (in the postseason) all had little trouble putting up points on the board against the defense.

The 2007 defense was never at a point where they were "extremely vulnerable." We wouldn't have made it to the SB if it weren't for the defense winning the game against San Diego.

And if the last two years are any indication, having a great offense doesn't magically help your defense get ranked 4th in the league.

People have a grudge against that defense because of the last drive of the SB, where we lost because of a string of semi-miraculous plays for the Giants.

 

[bagwell368]

The 07 team was absolutely dominant during the first half of the season but in the 2nd half the defense was extremely vulnerable and the team started relying more and more on Brady's arm. AJ Feeley, Kyle Boller, Eli Manning, and David Garrard (in the postseason) all had little trouble putting up points on the board against the defense.

I think it's more simple than that: Morris getting hurt. Time of possession and plays per game went down, put more long term pressure on the D.

I'll take 2007 under 2007 rules, and 2004 under 2004 rules.

 

[bagwell368]

2007 team on the subject.

People underestimate how well rounded that 2007 team was. Especially while we had a healthy RB group before Morris went down.

The fact that we clearly match up horribly with the New York Giants should not undermine what a dominant squad that team was.

Fact that BB and coaches screwed the pooch by not changing the offensive line calls from the prior game and went with too many mid/deep passes against that DL lost that game, that and Morris going down.

Last year it was the injuries and the drop. Brady was 20 for 24 before he got hit and Gronk shouldn't have been on the field at all.

I want the Giants again, and if so, we win 45-13.

 

[PatsGirl2011]

Fact that BB and coaches screwed the pooch by not changing the offensive line calls from the prior game and went with too many mid/deep passes against that DL lost that game, that and Morris going down.

Last year it was the injuries and the drop. Brady was 20 for 24 before he got hit and Gronk shouldn't have been on the field at all.

I want the Giants again, and if so, we win 45-13.

Thank you! Gronk obviously should've never played IMO! That was clear early on...He was more of a liability than anything. And when people say Brady struggled in the SB I laugh. He was killing the Giants at one point. The Pats dropped the ball basically in the game figuratively and literally.