Yes or No... Do the Patriots make the Superbowl this season?

PATRIOTSFANINPA said:

No losing team has been to the SB twice in 2 years since the Bills of the 90s and no team since 1972 has lost a SB then won the SB the following year.

It's ALOT to ask for and this remains a very young defense overall,I would be thrilled to see them end those streaks but it's going to take luck to get there again.

I think we might see a new rising AFC team in the SB......The Bengals or Texans could be that team.

I hate my guy feeling,but my gut feeling says an injury to a key player will affect the team sometime this season,hopefully it's not Brady again

Click to expand...

. Fixed it

I'm inclined to say no, just because back to back appearances are difficult to manage.

Looking at the field of contenders, the Pats do have a good shot at getting through the AFC.

1. Houston - Can the defense be as effective? Letting Williams walk to buffalo and Ryan to philly has to hurt that squad. Then there is the qb factor. Does schaub bounce back from last years injury?

2. Steelers - Things i like about their off season - they cut a lot of dead wood from the roster. Bringing in Todd Haley takes away some of the predictablemness of the steelers offense. Biggest question mark for me is Polamalu. Can he stay healthy all season long? He made it thru 16 starts last year for the first time in 3 seasons.

3. Ravens - three things - 1. Suggs - out, a non factor. 2. Lewis - another year older. Eventually the NFL will find his HGH stash. Just ask Rodney. 3. They put in Dean Pees a defensive coordinator. Seems like his defenses always start off strong then fade down the stretch. We watched it here, week in week out the Pats D got softer and softer as the season progressed.

4. Chargers - Norv Turner will find yet another wat to sabotage the Chargers season.

5. The Upstart Team - There's always one. Who is it this year? Buffalo? Could be, like the defensive moves but really how often do big moves like that work? 50%? Maybe?



So while I wont say that the Pats are a lock, I will say that they have as good a chance as any team in the AFC to be playing in February.

KontradictioN said:

Belichick is a coach. He coaches the team. They have to worry about TC and the season first. We as fans can discuss our team's chances of making the Super Bowl with absolutely no repercussions on the team whatsoever.

Click to expand...

Am I allowed to at least watch a practice before i decide?

I guess since we lost last year we can't win this year, isn't that the statistical rule?

JMarr said:

If my honest answer was "no" I wouldn't even bother following the team.

Click to expand...

Not many people openly proclaim that they are strictly bandwagon fans. Not sure whether to congratulate you or feel sorry for you.

Bravo777 said:

I think they make the playoffs but they will lose in the second or third round. It's really tough to make the SB twice in a row. I sure hope I'm wrong though.

Click to expand...

Not that tough when you've already done it once...

Is it tough to go on a 10-game winning streak? Not when you have 9 in your pocket.

RayClay said:

I guess since we lost last year we can't win this year, isn't that the statistical rule?

Click to expand...

No, its happened before so statistically it cant be a rule, just a trend.

One of the more crucial storylines in the young offseason is how will the O-Line hold up. I see a split between excitement and anxiety, with me falling closer to anxiety. Talk is that Mankins' rehab is going well, but we don't really know. Can Solder step in and be anywhere close to what Light was last season (probably one of his very best here)? We think Waters will be back, but do we know for sure? Is Sebass going to be able to hold up for a full season?

The trenches are where games are won and lost, and I think there are enough question marks on both the O-Line and the young D-Line to get too complacent just yet. The Pats will definitely be in contention, but whether or not they make it depends on too many variables to count. With our coach, QB, JOSH back in the mix, and an improved talent pool in both sides, I like our chances.

PATSYLICIOUS said:

Click to expand...

Oh come on if you are going to post something like that... do it right!

Pape said:

No, its happened before so statistically it cant be a rule, just a trend.

Click to expand...

Ask me in December. right now we have one proven WR, no proven running backs, no proven outside pass rushers (unless you want to count Ninko) and no momentum, since we haven't even practiced yet.

Of course, similar qualifications go for the other 31 teams too.

My guesses, our additional WRs (slot receiver being one of our few solid, along with Brady) will be better than last year. I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm predicting more than 18 total catches between Lloyd, Gaffney and maybe Stallworth.

Not a big Light fan, but we'll have a new starting LT.

Running game is yet to be proven.

Gronk and Hernandez are great and they are young and both somewhat full of themselves. HOF is actually a real possibility for one of them, but even Gayle Sayers had to put up a few more seasons, so let's just enjoy the ride there until they become, hopefully, seasoned vets.

OLine has talent, but it's still five fingers working together. There's a bit of uncertainy for a while.

Pass rush/D could be awesome, but it could be the opposite. That's why they schedule some practices and games before the Super Bowl, so we find that out.

Secondary? I'll be happy to be in playoff contention feeling somewhat confident there. To paraphrase Jim Mora on the subject..."Super bowl, are you kidding, Super Bowl? If i can honestly look at our secondary by December without that in the back of my mind, I'll be ecstatic.

Other than those few uncertainties, it should be a breeze.

Feel pretty confident about Zoltan, hope I'm not jinxing him.

ONLY way the Pats don't make it is barring injuries (big knock on wood) and shooting themselves in the foot...With the coaching staff in place, and the talent thru the draft on D, and WR's thru free agency...There is no other reasons why we shouldnt! Resign Welker , go Pats!!!!!!!

I do think we can make it if our team becomes a complete team. Notice how we've failed to win it all the past few years.
2011- Pass defense
2010-No pass rush, No deep threat.
2009-Defense too old, going through transition.
2008-Injuries, and more injuries
2007-The only exception where our team was all around good enough, but the perfect season thing got to the best of us.
2006-Reche Caldwell, Brady had no one to throw to.
2005-Worn out from past SB runs, our SB hangover year.
2004-Won Super Bowl
2003-Won Super Bowl
2002-Another case of a Super Bowl hangover, team wasn't quite complete yet.
2001- Team may not have been quite complete but came together to beat the odds.

As you can tell, the only times we've really had a true opportunity to win the Super Bowl were when the Pats were a complete team. (01 03-04 07) However, I think in the postseason last year our D-Backfield came together a bit to help us reach the Super Bowl, but they didn't do enough to win it.

So basically what I'm saying here is our team will only be able to win it all if they become complete. Offensively and defensively. Are we complete as a team?? Maybe.

Joey007 said:

So basically what I'm saying here is our team will only be able to win it all if they become complete. Offensively and defensively. Are we complete as a team?? Maybe.

Click to expand...

I'd say pretty complete. Need some newcomers to step up (as they have in recent years), and IMO, would be nice to if someone stepped up as a KO return threat.

Probably not but I would not bet my house against them.

Sciz said:

If it's the Pats against the rest of the AFC field, then the odds are no.

If it's the Pats against each AFC team individually, then I'd rather put money on the Pats than any other team.

Click to expand...

This sums up my thoughts on the question perfectly, and much more succinctly than how I would have rambled on.

Sciz said:

If it's the Pats against the rest of the AFC field, then the odds are no.

If it's the Pats against each AFC team individually, then I'd rather put money on the Pats than any other team.

Click to expand...

I agree with this 100%. The likelihood of any one particular team being the conference champion has to be less than 50%, meaning the smart money would be on the field instead of the Patriots. But when you start looking team-by-team, there's no doubt the Patriots are the best team in the AFC, and I don't even think it's really close. They have by far the best offense, and the special teams are right at the top as well. Defensively they have issues (well-documented), but they improved considerably as the season went on and just added some serious pieces in the offseason. They should end up as the #1 seed and have home-field advantage in the playoffs. Win the playoff opener against a #4, #5, or #6 seed, and then you have one home game to win the conference championship. You'd have to like their odds there.

My way-too-early prediction: 13-3, #1 seed in the AFC, top 5 offense of all-time, top 15 in the NFL defense, make the Super Bowl, and, as usual, that game will come down to the last minute, no matter who the opponent is.

Would everyone here sign on for that right now?

Uncle Rico said:

I'd say pretty complete. Need some newcomers to step up (as they have in recent years), and IMO, would be nice to if someone stepped up as a KO return threat.

Click to expand...

That's my point, the young guys have to step up for our team to be complete. In fact, I will say now if McCourty plays like he did last year, we will not be Super Bowl Champions.

Joey007 said:

2005-Worn out from past SB runs, our SB hangover year.
.

Click to expand...

Not to mention Johnson retiring, losing both OC and DC, Bruschi's stroke which he was never the same after, Rodney and Light put on IR, plus a host of other injuries. And somehow that team still should have been hosting an AFCC if not for a barrage of turnovers at mile high. They really overcame alot that year!

No. The odds are stacked against the team this year. The injury bug will hit and we will get to the AFCCG and that when the bug takes us out sadly.

On paper this may be the most talented team they have ever had,but that's paper, they will have alot to prove when they hit the field for real. I think their chances in relation to the rest of the AFC are about as good as they get and agree with those who see most of the AFC in real decline, especially the other usual contenders, Balt, Pitt, Indy, SD. I don't think the Texans and Bengals have better teams than this NE team. i also think this year's scheduale is as favorable as it gets and they should have a high seed going in and at least 1 home game if not the advantage all the way through.

When it comes to the SB and play-offs so much depends upon health that it's always impossible to say whether this is the year for another Lombardi or not. I do think Belichick has them poised for another 3-4 year run of greatness and look forward to every minute of it, Brady will get at least 2 more rings before hanging them up for good, hopefully 2012 will count as one of them.

Coog548 said:

No. The odds are stacked against the team this year. The injury bug will hit and we will get to the AFCCG and that when the bug takes us out sadly.

Click to expand...

Are you an ex-Jet fan?