NFLN:Best Team in the AFC?

While griping about the media/respect:

Just saw highlights again. On the Brady-tate TD, on NFLN, all Deion had to say was "leave a QB untouched that long and he'll find someone open." Well, yeah, but -- that was a helluva play Brady manufactured; Tate too (he's faster than he looks!). Can't help thinking of how much slobbering there would be if Favre have made the play Brady did.

ALP said:

who is this 4th rookie starter???

spikes, cunningham, mccourty and who? are we talking about deadrick? is he a starter now? if so what position RDE?

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Yeah, that's who I was talking about.

The Pats definitely have the most upside of any of the teams, given the inexperience of the D and several skill players on the O.

The D showed a lot yesterday playing without Chung.

"You are what you are," said Bill Parcells.

Right now the Pats have the best record and probably will next week after they trounce the Ungrateful Ratman Eric Mangini....

The Steelers, Packers and Colts are still out there. Those games will actually determine who is the best.

I like what Brady said this morning: "Six wins doesn't get you anything in the NFL." Long ways to go but, yeah, the Pats have the best record and that means they are the best team.

I think it's a perception problem - The Patriots haven't really smacked anyone around this year for an entire game the way analysts expect "elite" teams to do. Their most resounding win (Miami) was a close game which was broken open by the special teams, so really their most conventional "dominating" game was probably the opener against Cincy.

The fact is they're finding ways to win, and what people who doubt the Pats seem to ignore is that the Jets and Steelers haven't been blowing people out with regularity either. I don't think I could put the Pats firmly above either of those teams, but definitely not below them either. I think there are 5 teams in the AFC who could make the Super Bowl and it wouldn't shock me at all (NE, NYJ,PIT,BAL,IND) with a couple of others who could still make some serious noise. It's just an unbelievably stacked conference.

Actually, I love how all this is playing out.

Think back to 2003-2004, those patriot teams, in retrospect, were some of the best in NFL history, but during those seasons, how many times did the so called experts want to point to Pittsburg or Indy being better than the Pats. In the end, the Patriots stood alone.

Granted, it's blasphemy to compare this years team to the ones from 2003-2004, the aura around the team is starting to feel the same. I just remember when they went on that long win streak, all the different ways they won games...deja vu.

Oh and best of all, my favorite saying is starting to come up again. "They're doing it with smoke and mirrors."

were the jets actually unable to score a point on the packers? at home?

TX_Patriot said:

"They're doing it with smoke and mirrors."

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Good times indeed.

IllegalContact said:

were the jets actually unable to score a point on the packers? at home?

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Off a bye week? With many injured Packers sitting out?

aaaaaahahahahaaha so funny to see it all written out like that.

The funny thing is, even if we do somehow end up beatging the Steelers,Colts and Jets they still won't give them the credit. That's ok though. I kind of like the disrespect card.

Btw, I really didn't like the Marriuchi coment, "Didn't the Jets beat the Patriots?" He's lucky Teddy wasn't up there. "Didn't Baltimore beat the Jets?" Didn't the Pats beat Baltimore?"

Everyone says they love being the underdog, then people get mad at these perceived "slights." The more of this the better.

As to why, it's because the Pats weren't expected to have this kind of record already, aren't blowing teams out, and most importantly, have so many first and second year guys, many of whom weren't "prestige" picks.

Just wait a few years, after a couple more SB wins, as these "experts" say, "the problem with the Patriots now is that they don't have new guys coming in who are as good as studs like Brandon Deaderick..."

Man, even in 2003 and 2004 nobody gave the Pats credit for being the best. In 2004 it was the Steelers at 15-1 and in 2003 it was the Colts' unstoppable offense. I'm glad we're back in that position as opposed to the glory years of deep threats, TD records, and no superbowl wins.

it really is ridiculous the love the media spews over Favre. It was sickening to listen to them say how brave Favre was for playing in his condition. No mention of the Pats improving young defense.

italia44 said:

AFC only:

Steve Mariucci:Steelers
Deion Sanders:Jets
Coke-Head Irvin:Steelers

Only the host,Fran Charles asked:"No love for the Patriots?......Reply was:"Terrible Secondary"

....and the No Respect train is still on track...hope BB recorded this(legally,of course)

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they pick teams by players they like. deion said last week "i left (pats) after moss left"
Yesterday he was saying they have no playmakers other than brady. irvin said pitt will beat us up

bucky said:

Man, even in 2003 and 2004 nobody gave the Pats credit for being the best. In 2004 it was the Steelers at 15-1 and in 2003 it was the Colts' unstoppable offense. I'm glad we're back in that position as opposed to the glory years of deep threats, TD records, and no superbowl wins.

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exactly. the only respect given to the pats was "they dont make mistakes, even though they have maybe 1 or 2 HOF guys" . Of course when the pats didnt play well in 2008 etc , it was because all those great players like bruschi are not there anymore ..

I just stumbled across some week 9 power rankings ... hillarious! These are like a little gift each week, sort of like finding the funnies section when reading the paper. Always good for the LoLz!

These come from B/R:

1. New York Giants
2. New England Patriots
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Tennessee Titans
5. Kansas City Chiefs
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. Atlanta Falcons
8. Indianapolis Colts
9. New Orleans Saints
10. New York Jets
11. Miami Dolphins
12. Green Bay Packers

I think the guy must have a dart board he uses to pick these ...

The only way this team willl get respect is by beating the steelers on the road.This team doesnt win with style points.I guess thats the problem here.

Modest said:

Im keeping tally of Sanders remarks about the Pats. Last week, it was 'When Moss left, I left' and this week it was the 'have you seen that secondary?' comment. I wonder if he would have the same attitude if we hadn't lost Bodden. Mccourty is doing fine as a starter. I'll give him Arrington and Butler. The safeties aren't bad either, with the exception of Merriweather doing the job he's assigned by Bill Belichick.

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Fixed your post