Dreams of a long term Patriot dynasty.

[3 to be 4]

Back in 2003 I compared the Patriots to the 80's Giants and 70's Dolphins.
After they won it in 2004 I thought they were up there with the 90's Cowboys.
After their wins at Pittsburgh and Atlanta last year it occured to me they were this generations 60's Packers. Last week brought that to mind to.
If they win it all this year the commentators will be talking about the 70's Steelers. But beyond those dynasties, I have larger dreams for the Patriots.


When last year ended, I was excited about the idea of Light and Koppen coming back and rejoining an OL that gained a ton of experience without them. I thought the OL had a chance to be awesome, and that would fix the running game and help Brady.
I also was excited about the secondary and thought it would be a strength.
losing Branch and Givens threw everything off for me, however, and I kind of expected maybe a 12-4 season, but an early exit in the playoffs.

What this team has that makes it potentially GREAT is the strength of the Offensive line and the Defensive line. When your lines are great, when you build from the lines out, you will always be a contender, especially when you add a great QB.

this is the formula the Parcells/Belichick/Crennel/Coughlin/Groh/Erhardt/Weis NY Giants used and its what Belichick built into the strong 1994 Cleveland Browns team. And he finally has it here.

Their only weakness was LB depth and the WR's. But now you see, when Caldwell and Gaffney are playing like this, they can beat anybody. And even if it doesnt happen in 2006, they have 2 1st round picks coming up.

The Patriots not only have a chance to equal what the Steelers accomplished with their 4 titles in 6 years, they are getting to the point where we can think of the long term dynasties that Cowboys (1966 thru 1983) and the 49ers (1981-1998) were. And I remember Kraft saying in the mid 90's the 49ers model is what he was going for.

Since 1994, in those 13 seasons they have 9 playoff berths, 7 division titles, 4 AFC Titles, 3 Championships, and soon that could be 9-7-5-4. And counting.

Last week made me think the Cowboy team I hated growing up. Year after year, you always knew Landry, Staubach, and the Cowboys would be around at the end. Even when they didnt win it all, a bad year for them was 10-4 and a loss in the conference final.

long term greatness. I can see it happening, its happening now, as we are approaching the short term legacy of the Steel Curtain.

Amazing.

 

[BelichickFan]

Looking forward to asking Ian to change your Username to 4 to be 5 ?

 

[3 to be 4]

Looking forward to asking Ian to change your Username to 4 to be 5 ?

Hey, i never thought of that!!! That will be my first task if/when the Patriots win the Super Bowl.

 

[Lansdowne]

I was going to say that this is bad karma, but I guess it's okay as fans to discuss it. The players, not so much.

4 in 6 would be great. Last time that's happened, the Steelers of the '70s. At that point they would be 1 behind the Cowboys, 49ers, and Steelers on the all-time list.

 

[3 to be 4]

I was going to say that this is bad karma, but I guess it's okay as fans to discuss it. The players, not so much.

4 in 6 would be great. Last time that's happened, the Steelers of the '70s. At that point they would be 1 behind the Cowboys, 49ers, and Steelers on the all-time list.

Thats why i wont guarantee a win this year, but to talk long term I think is reasonable.

other milestones that could be accomplished.

if they make the SB they will be tied with Denver and Pittsburgh for second behind Dallas (8) with 6 SB appearances.

if they win the SB they not only tie the Steelers 4 in 6, but Belichick ties Noll, Brady ties Bradshaw and Montana.

 

[mgteich]

We have been talking about the dynasty of this decade for years. The decade started in the 2000 season and will go through the 2009 season, a dynasty of the decade.

 

[patsfan55]

i know i know
lets jus wait a few weeks ok? (knockin on wood right now)

 

[DarrylS]

If they loose today, not that I expect it, will they still be considered to be a very good, if not great team? Does dynasty only exist only in the context of a Superbowl, we have won something like 5 AFC East championships in this decade. We are something like 12-1 in playoff games.

 

[onegameatatime]

Going back to the SB in 97 (96-97 season), the Pats went to 4 SBs in 9 years (97-05) and went a respectable 3-1, considering we were big underdogs in 2 of the games.

I believe only San Fran has been to 4 SBs in 9 years (4-0) -- not the Steelers or even Cowboys.

5 in 11 years would be a first (SF went to 5 over 15 years).

I'd love to see a breakdown, but while our wins in 03 and 04 were 3-pt wins, that may be the most remarkable 2 season run considering the level of competition, and that in 04, they held the #1 offense to 3 points and scored 41 on the #1 defense.

Now we look to the future -- as long as there is Brady, there will be playoffs.

 

[3 to be 4]

Going back to the SB in 97 (96-97 season), the Pats went to 4 SBs in 9 years (97-05) and went a respectable 3-1, considering we were big underdogs in 2 of the games.

I believe only San Fran has been to 4 SBs in 9 years (4-0) -- not the Steelers or even Cowboys.

5 in 11 years would be a first (SF went to 5 over 15 years).

I'd love to see a breakdown, but while our wins in 03 and 04 were 3-pt wins, that may be the most remarkable 2 season run considering the level of competition, and that in 04, they held the #1 offense to 3 points and scored 41 on the #1 defense.

Now we look to the future -- as long as there is Brady, there will be playoffs.

In 2004 I believe they were the first team to defeat 3 teams in the playoffs that won at least 13 games in the regular season.

And in 2003 werent they the first team to have 10 wins over teams with at least 10 wins?

34-4. a 21 game winning streak. Id say that was an awesome stretch that was hard to fully appreciate at the time.

 

[mgteich]

There is one team that went to four SB's in nine years. In fact, Buffalo went to four SB's in FOUR years. This was an incredible feat, even though they did lose all four. W-I-D-E R-I-G-H-T Miami appeared in three SB's in a row.

I think of FIVE dynasties: the current patriots, SF, Dallas, Pitt and Buffalo. I suppose I should include Miami, since they appeared in three in a row, winning two.

Curiously, three dynasties of Dallas, SF and Buffalo overlap. In a period of eight years, from SB XXIII through SB XXX. Dallas won 3, SF won 3, and Buffalo lost 4. Other than this 8 year period, only PITT before and NEW ENGLAND after have sustained greatness.

While one could extend SF's period back to SB XVI as you do, and the patriots back to SBXXXI, I don't. The 1985-1986 team has nothing to do with this team. For me, the 2000 team started a new era for the patriots. That team was the first year for Belichick and for Brady, the beginning of an era.

Going back to the SB in 97 (96-97 season), the Pats went to 4 SBs in 9 years (97-05) and went a respectable 3-1, considering we were big underdogs in 2 of the games.

I believe only San Fran has been to 4 SBs in 9 years (4-0) -- not the Steelers or even Cowboys.

5 in 11 years would be a first (SF went to 5 over 15 years).

I'd love to see a breakdown, but while our wins in 03 and 04 were 3-pt wins, that may be the most remarkable 2 season run considering the level of competition, and that in 04, they held the #1 offense to 3 points and scored 41 on the #1 defense.

Now we look to the future -- as long as there is Brady, there will be playoffs.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Going back to the SB in 97 (96-97 season), the Pats went to 4 SBs in 9 years (97-05) and went a respectable 3-1, considering we were big underdogs in 2 of the games.

I believe only San Fran has been to 4 SBs in 9 years (4-0) -- not the Steelers or even Cowboys.

5 in 11 years would be a first (SF went to 5 over 15 years).

I'd love to see a breakdown, but while our wins in 03 and 04 were 3-pt wins, that may be the most remarkable 2 season run considering the level of competition, and that in 04, they held the #1 offense to 3 points and scored 41 on the #1 defense.

Now we look to the future -- as long as there is Brady, there will be playoffs.

Steelers won 4 in 6yrs. 74,75,78 AND 79 seasons.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Please, save this talk until 10PM on February 4th!!! Haven't you ever heard of the evil eye or ayin harah or jinxing or whatever you might want to call it? Get thee behind me.

 

[mgteich]

Yes that is the very record we are trying to tie in two weeks.

Steelers won 4 in 6yrs. 74,75,78 AND 79 seasons.

 

[AzPatsFan]

You forget two other dynasties, including the greatest of all modern ones.

The Vikings also went to four super bowls in a row and lost all four, just like the Bills, if I recall correctly.

But the greatest dynasty of all was Paul Brown's Browns. Seven Championships in Eleven years. 1946-through 1957. Owners of the former record of consecutive wins, that the Patriots broke. Holder of the longest unbeaten streak at 28, (two ties).

Now some will say the AAFC shouldn't count, but Paul Brown's Team beat the reigning NFL Champion Eagles in his first game in the NFL, and won the NFL Championship that year, going away. His team was formed from the US military football teams, that had most of the stars of the forties, when players went into the service and teams like the Eagles and Steelers combined to form the "Steagles" without enough players. It didn't need three years like the AFL did, to play and win a championship after merger.

 

[mgteich]

Your recollection of the Vikings is incorrect. They appeared in four of eight, losing them all. If we are going to include them, we should also include Dallas who appeared in four SB's between SB V and SB XIII, winning one.

We have focused on SB wins as we should. I did want to add Buffalo, because fourSB's in a row is indeed special.

The NFL started after the merger. You have to start somwhere. My SB table starts with SB I. Since the measure we have all discussed has been SB appearances and wins, I think SB I is the right place to start.

Yes, there were indeed dynasties before the merger, more than just the Browns. The giants, the bears and the packers all had their periods of greatness.

 

[wistahpatsfan]

:nono: This thread is making me sick to my stomach...not superstitious, though.

 

[NEPatriot]

Not the dynasty talk again! Can't we just enjoy the game?

 

[3 to be 4]

Not the dynasty talk again! Can't we just enjoy the game?

it actually helps me enjoy the game, because i know this doesnt begin or end with today or this year.

im appraciating every minute of it!