Playoffs 2004 - the Bulletin Board Post Season

[PATS16N0]

A "Greatest Moment in Sports History" thread got me thinking about the past.
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...10/954712-greatest-moment-sports-history.html

While the game winning field goal to win Superbowl 36 may have been the greatest single moment for Patriot fans, in my view, the 2004 post season was the greatest of all our trips to the play offs and, ultimately, the Superbowl.

The Bulletin Board Post Season...

First we played Indianapolis. That was at the height of our rivalry with them, at a time when poor little Manning still couldn't get his first win against Tom Brady.
That apparently didn't stop the arrogant Indianapolis Colts from coming into our stadium thinking their victory was a sure thing...

Bill Belichick was informed through the grapevine that Indianapolis had contacted the Pittsburgh Steelers to try and acquire 1,500 more tickets for Colts fans for the AFC Championship game.... a game they hadn't even reached yet... and one they needed to go through Foxborough to get to.
When he informed the team it didn't go over well.

We stomped the Colts 20-3 in the cold and in the snow and sent poor Peyton Manning pouting back to Indy.

In the AFC Championship game, we faced the Pittsburgh Steelers, the same Pittsburgh Steelers that ended our longest NFL winning streak record in the regular season. The same Pittsburgh Steelers who publicly told everyone after that regular season defeat that the Patriots weren't on their level... despite the Patriots winning the Superbowl the year before.
(What have you done recently again?)

This was the height of Steeler arrogance in my opinion. This was when their obnoxious over confidence and entitlement complex was at its apex. I think I hated the Steelers more than any other team in 2004.

We went into Heinz Field and kicked their arrogant asses 41-27.

It was after this game that they really justified the nick name "The Pittsburgh Squeelers," because all we heard out of them afterwards was either pathetic whimpering and whining or "guarantees" from back up defensive backs.

Next was the Superbowl. The Eagles apparently didn't realize they actually had to play the game. They were apparently under the impression that the Patriots were just going to forfeit, because they made plans for an Eagles "victory parade" before actually getting the... you know... victory.

They were the last victim.
And a Dynasty was born.

2004 was easily the greatest complete football season for the Patriots. Not only did we break and set the record for the longest consecutive wins by a team in NFL history, we became a Dynasty, and we did so under the most ideal conditions imaginable - by stomping out our two biggest and most arrogant AFC rivals in Indy and Pittsburgh and then `raining on the parade` of the Philadelphia Eagles.



That was a great year.

 

[randomk1]

One of the greatest championship teams ever!

 

[Wolfpack]

Next was the Superbowl. The Eagles apparently didn't realize they actually had to play the game. They were apparently under the impression that the Patriots were just going to forfeit, because they made plans for an Eagles "victory parade" before actually getting the... you know... victory.

Every city - yes, including Boston - does that. You can't plan a parade from scratch on 36 hours notice so they all prepare plans in advance of the big game so they'll be ready in case of victory.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Not one doubt in my mind that the 2004 team was overall better and more talented than the 2007 team,especially as winter began they got stronger....the 2007 team was wearing down sharply after December.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I agree 2004 was the best team we've fielded and one of the best champions of all time. Not only did they have the pressure of being a 2 time defending champ and accomplishing 3 titles in 4 years, something only ONE team has done in the past, they also faced IMO the most impressive playoff gauntlet aside from the '07 Giants. The way they ran through Pittsburgh and Indy in the games that mattered most was the most impressive thing I've seen of any Patriot team.

I think this bulletin board stuff is a bit overrated though, it's a cool tactic but the motivation should already be there enough. If that were really a factor we should have never lost SB42 the year that everyone questioned BB's legacy and tried to crap on his accomplishments. We should have never lost to the Jets in 2010 after they talked crap on us all week then came on our field and beat us down. To me, some Steeler LB singing lyrics to a rap song (the Get on my level thing was all from a rap song that was catchy around that time) doesn't even compare to stuff like that. I just think the 2004 Patriots were that much better than the competition and better suited to win titles (ferocious front 7 and potent balanced offense).

 

[Kontradiction]

Great year. I hope 2012 overshadows it.

 

[E1Downey]

Just recently downloaded "america's game: 2004 patriots" and it was nice to relive that year, it was a special time indeed.

-Sent from the device that is held in my hand-

 

[RayClay]

2001 was great in that nowhere to the top Impossible dream sense.

2003 might have been the most exciting top to bottom. Many injuries, Lawyer Milloy drama and every game seemed like a heart attack. Heart attack inducing super Bowl too, with emotional Rodney Harrison and big Ted additions.

2004 - The best team,adding should be hall of famer Dillon.

1985 - For you Bandwagon Kids, there was football in Foxboro before 2001. For pure emotion and payback, the Jets, Oakland, Miami, trifecta on the road was as good as it gets. Flawed team meets steamroller in the Super Bowl didn't ruin that memory for me.

*for late 70's teams that couldn't catch a break. Hannah deserved better.

 

[Nikolai]

Well, hey, the 1985 season is what got me into the Pats. I was only five, but I watched football with my father for the first time that year. We only got two or three Pats games in Virginia, but we got the Super Bowl and losing like that, for some reason, hardened my resolve to take on my old man's Pats team as my own.

But yes, 2004 was pretty awesome. That year was a bit of an exclamation point on the dynasty. I remember how quick the national pundits were to point out that the Pats weren't a dynasty after beating the Panthers. "The Bulletin Board Season" is an apt name for it.