Unmatched level of success

[tigerjohn]

The stat that explains the dominance best:

Since 2001, the Patriots have never played in a meaningless game. They've always been competing for a championship up until the final game of the season or the playoffs, even in the years where they did not make the playoffs.

 

[PittPatriot]

San Fran had about the same level of success. 10 NFCCG and 5 SB titles in 15 yrs. 16 playoffs in 17 years.

Seems like the two dynasties are very much on par.

You are correct...but I have always thought of us as being superior or achieving a similar accomplishment with a greater degree of difficulty (because of the salary cap).

 

[RobertWeathers]

What goal posts are we kicking at?

If it's Brady 01-09 vs Joe 81-89 Joe wins.........4 rings vs 3

If it's Brady 01-15 vs Joe 81-94 Brady wins......4 rings each. more wins in reg season and playoffs

If it's SF 81-95 vs NE 01-15 SF wins ...5 rings 10 CCG appearances vs 4 rings and 10 CCH

You could make the argument that the Pats made it to 1 more SB than SF in every period so they get the nod but IMO winning one more trumps it.

 

[1960Pats]

The stat that explains the dominance best:

Since 2001, the Patriots have never played in a meaningless game. They've always been competing for a championship up until the final game of the season or the playoffs, even in the years where they did not make the playoffs.

Another way of putting it is that in all of those years the Pats had the best record in the AFCE at the end of the season, and only lost out on the playoffs on tiebreakers twice.

 

[RobertWeathers]

You are correct...but I have always thought of us as being superior or achieving a similar accomplishment with a greater degree of difficulty (because of the salary cap).

SF "bought" their SB in 94. A number of those FA acquisitions such as Deion, McDonald, Norton and Rice's extension were total cap circumventions.

 

[JJDChE]

The stat that explains the dominance best:

Since 2001, the Patriots have never played in a meaningless game. They've always been competing for a championship up until the final game of the season or the playoffs, even in the years where they did not make the playoffs.

Not true. Our playoff seeding was set in week 17 a few times and we trotted out the backups.

 

[goheels22002]

The most amazing statistic in this run of excellence is that the New England Patriots have been in contention for an NFL championship at the start of every game they've played since December 25, 2000.

 

[ViperGTS]

Yeah, I don't think it can be called unmatched since another team did just as well and won more SB titles in the same time frame. As a dynasty we'd really need to win 6 for it to be 'unmatched'. Winning 5 technically just matches what SF did.

From an individual perspective Brady and Belichick obviously surpassed what anyone have done on an individual level, but as a team you can't say we've surpassed SF.

Yes you can.

Free agency didn't exist back then. NE by a landslide because of that fact.

 

[JJDChE]

Yes you can.

Free agency didn't exist back then. NE by a landslide because of that fact.

So that made it easier to win or tougher to win? Most would argue the top level competition was tougher in that era.

 

[ViperGTS]

So that made it easier to win or tougher to win? Most would argue the top level competition was tougher in that era.

Everyone and anyone I've ever heard says it was easier. Which it was.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

As Reiss mentioned, Brady's 10 conference game appearances is more than 27 franchises. Only 3 franchises have more Super Bowl appearances/wins than Brady and BB as a head coach.

Yes, we're a bit spoiled.

 

[PittPatriot]

As Reiss mentioned, Brady's 10 conference game appearances is more than 27 franchises. Only 3 franchises have more Super Bowl appearances/wins than Brady and BB as a head coach.

Yes, we're a bit spoiled.

Cowboys, Steelers, Niners?

 

[Ring 6]

What goal posts are we kicking at?

If it's Brady 01-09 vs Joe 81-89 Joe wins.........4 rings vs 3

If it's Brady 01-15 vs Joe 81-94 Brady wins......4 rings each. more wins in reg season and playoffs

If it's SF 81-95 vs NE 01-15 SF wins ...5 rings 10 CCG appearances vs 4 rings and 10 CCH

You could make the argument that the Pats made it to 1 more SB than SF in every period so they get the nod but IMO winning one more trumps it.

Not sure who you are asking, but I was comparing 10 Conf Champ Games 6 or 7 SBs and 4 or 5 titles in 14 years to anyone else.
As far as Brady and Montana, I'm not sure why you would compare them using a piece of their careers, so you would have to explain that argument to me.

 

[shmessy]

San Fran had about the same level of success. 10 NFCCG and 5 SB titles in 15 yrs. 16 playoffs in 17 years.

Seems like the two dynasties are very much on par.

That was pre-Salary Cap/FA

 

[Galeb]

You could make the argument that the Pats made it to 1 more SB than SF in every period so they get the nod but IMO winning one more trumps it.

How awesome would it be for the Pats to trump in IN SAN FRANCISCO, the same year that he creamed Manning in his final game ever. That would be truly epic.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Not true. Our playoff seeding was set in week 17 a few times and we trotted out the backups.

Yeah. . A better way to phrase it is that since 2001 the Patriots final game of the overall season has never been meaningless.

 

[Tony2046]

Everyone and anyone I've ever heard says it was easier. Which it was.

I don't know. There seemed to be 2 or 3 stacked teams in each conference back then. May have been easier to get to the playoffs but not to the SB. IMO

 

[ViperGTS]

I don't know. There seemed to be 2 or 3 stacked teams in each conference back then. May have been easier to get to the playoffs but not to the SB. IMO

The best unit on one side of the ball or the other won. Better even to say the one that was dominant. Hence Montana and Rice. The Steel Curtain. Staubachs Cowboys. When football really started to get some traction nationally and the league expanded, the parity concept/player greed creeped in. That's how we got to free agency.

 

[Ring 6]

Another angle on this:

I will limit this to CRITICAL players.

Gronk has been to Final 4 5 of his 6 years, although he was injured for 2 of them.
Hightower and Jones have been Patriots for 4 years, and the team has reached at least the AFCCG all 4. I think drafting the 2 of them has a lot to do with it.
Wilfork went to at least Final 4 in 6 of 10 seasons.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Not sure who you are asking, but I was comparing 10 Conf Champ Games 6 or 7 SBs and 4 or 5 titles in 14 years to anyone else.

As far as Brady and Montana, I'm not sure why you would compare them using a piece of their careers, so you would have to explain that argument to me.

My post was more a general comment to others that came after your OP. I had no idea if people are comparing Joe to Tom or NE to SF.

I don't think I was splicing JM v TBs careers. I took their entire careers and added everything up.

Tom > Joe.

49ers and NE is a judgement call. All depends if you value 5 SBs and 9 CCGs over 4 SBs in 6 appearances and 10 CCGs.