OT: More Satisfying win in 2004: AFC Divisional vs Colts or AFC Championship vs Steelers?

NG Pats Fan · Nov 28, 2014

You have the 2004 AFC Divisional vs Colts in which the colts going into the game were supposed to be "unstoppable on offense", with Peyton Manning throwing a record breaking 49 TDs. The week before, he threw 6 TDs in the AFC wildcard vs Broncos. Patriots went out and put on possibly the greatest defensive performance in team history. Watching Peyton Manning make facial expressions after every failed drive in the snow, Signs of "You can't win here" by the fans, the announcers going "They did it to you again Peyton, They did it to you again" Make this win even more enjoyable.

Then you have the 2004 AFC Championship game vs Steelers in which the Steelers going into the game were supposed to be the best team in the NFL, with a 15-1 record 8-0 at home, and # 1 defense in the NFL. Tom Brady went out and put on one of his greatest ever performances of his career. His 60 yard TD bomb to Branch might be the best throw he's ever made in such a clutch moment. The Patriots putting up 41 points on the 15-1 steelers at Heinz Field was one of the greatest offensive displays in team history. Watching Rodney walk into the endzone on a pick 6 to make it 24-3 as the towel swinging fans began leaving the stadium in disgust, watching deion branch take an end around for a 25 yard TD with 2 min left to seal the game while waving "bye bye" to Polamalu and the steelers linebackers make this win awesome.

"Wheres your towel? Wheres your Towel?"- Deion Branch

I still think to this day the Patriots performance against the steeleers in 2004 AFC championship might be the best in franchise history.

doesntmatter1 · Nov 28, 2014

This is an easy choice. Steeler game. We had already beat the Colts in the first game of the year and were rolling as the clear number one team until we got destroyed by the big bad steelers. Not only did we lose, we lost Ty Law and our record setting streak for wins came to an end. That was a sweet revenge game.

Patsattax · Nov 28, 2014

Yah for me it was steelers as well hands down. Just all the trash talking beforehand, the previous game against them, and it being Pittsburgh made that win one of the most memorable.

QuantumMechanic · Nov 28, 2014

NG Pats Fan said:
I still think to this day the Patriots performance against the steeleers in 2004 AFC championship might be the best in franchise history.

It was good, but no way it tops SB36.

JPPT1974 · Nov 28, 2014

Probably the 2004 AFC Championship Game. Proves just because you are at home, doesn't mean you win at home all the time. Pats had the momentum IMHO!

Tunescribe · Nov 28, 2014

I attended both. The Colts game was a step up the ladder after which you heaved a brief sigh of relief. The Steelers game was much more satisfying. I'll never forget that bomb to Branch slicing like a missile through the cold night air, or Rodney's long interception return for a touchdown. Damn, it was cold that night, but a very happy time.

shmessy · Nov 28, 2014

Not even close - - AFCCG over the Steelers.

I dunno, has a 15-2 team EVER had to go on the road to face a 16-1 team in NFL history?

Brady reportedly had a 104 temperature the night before and was bedridden on an IV.

Just an incredible night. SB 39 was anti-climactic after that.

lurker1965 · Nov 29, 2014

Steelers because AFFC trumps Divisional round - opponent be damned.

jagkho · Nov 29, 2014

The bomb to Branch right after we stopped the Steelers on 4th and 1, when the game was still close, was probably the most memorable play for me in all of the two Super Bowl years of 2003-04.

Mike the Brit · Nov 30, 2014

I'm on to Green Bay.

Off The Grid · Nov 30, 2014

17-2??

With Respect, Gentlemen: I could not agree with you less.

01 ~ Humiliating the Steelers was awesome, especially in light of all their squealing and squawking after their meaningless regular season Victory against us. Was that satisfying?? Absolutely.

02 ~ But after our 2003 Vanquishing of Golden Boy and the Colts, he and Polian squealed and squawked so loudly and incessantly that they actually changed the Rules before the 2004 Campaign. Rarely if ever in the annals of FootBall History have the Rules been changed in such dramatic manner to so blatantly, so shamelessly, or so disgustingly warp the Field in favor of one specific Team over one specific other.

03 ~ And to the surprise of no one and nobody, Golden Boy and the Colts set a new League Record for Passing TouchDowns in 2004...and were almost universally expected by the Media and the World to march triumphantly over our neanderthal Corpses on their way to resplendent Championship Glory.

04 ~ In any case: The Steelers...well, they were the #1 Seed, and all...But if you understood the Game, you also understood that the Steelers were simply going to be Fodder for whoever won the Patriots & Colts Game.

05 ~ And you also understood that whoever won the NFC Crown was also going to be Fodder.

06 ~ This wasn't quite at the same level of Certainty as the 1992-1995 stretch, when the CowBoys & Miners decided the Super Bowl Victor weeks before it happened ~ the Salary Cap Era has since made such Dominance fleeting at best ~ but everyone who really understood FootBall that Winter should've realized that the Super Bowl Champion was almost certain to be decided during the Divisionals...on a snowy Field in Foxboro.

And when we eviscerated them...when we humiliated them...when we exterminated them despite all their squealing and squawking and all the rule changes and despite a decimated Secondary that was supposed to give up 60 Points to Mister Wonderful and held'm to 3...Was that satisfying???

Brothers?? It was Ecstasy.

6:00 Game Tape ~ check out Peyton at about 1:20 ~ so smooth.

farn · Nov 30, 2014

Indy. Steelers had a better record : but a baby Ben didn't scare me nearly as much as Manning and friends. They were on the Colts like fly paper. Stuck. Loved both games, but I chose Indy here.

1960Pats · Nov 30, 2014

jagkho said:
The bomb to Branch right after we stopped the Steelers on 4th and 1, when the game was still close, was probably the most memorable play for me in all of the two Super Bowl years of 2003-04.

Troy Brown had a punt return vs Philly in 2004 that was awesome. It didn't even got for a TD, but boy was it nifty. It comes up on this video just after the 2:30 mark. Short but very sweet.

Sorry. Back to the topic.

1960Pats · Nov 30, 2014

Off The Grid said:
17-2??

With Respect, Gentlemen: I could not agree with you less.

01 ~ Humiliating the Steelers was awesome, especially in light of all their squealing and squawking after their meaningless regular season Victory against us. Was that satisfying?? Absolutely.

02 ~ But after our 2003 Vanquishing of Golden Boy and the Colts, he and Polian squealed and squawked so loudly and incessantly that they actually changed the Rules before the 2004 Campaign. Rarely if ever in the annals of FootBall History have the Rules been changed in such dramatic manner to so blatantly, so shamelessly, or so disgustingly warp the Field in favor of one specific Team over one specific other.

03 ~ And to the surprise of no one and nobody, Golden Boy and the Colts set a new League Record for Passing TouchDowns in 2004...and were almost universally expected by the Media and the World to march triumphantly over our neanderthal Corpses on their way to resplendent Championship Glory.

04 ~ In any case: The Steelers...well, they were the #1 Seed, and all...But if you understood the Game, you also understood that the Steelers were simply going to be Fodder for whoever won the Patriots & Colts Game.

05 ~ And you also understood that whoever won the NFC Crown was also going to be Fodder.

06 ~ This wasn't quite at the same level of Certainty as the 1992-1995 stretch, when the CowBoys & Miners decided the Super Bowl Victor weeks before it happened ~ the Salary Cap Era has since made such Dominance fleeting at best ~ but everyone who really understood FootBall that Winter should've realized that the Super Bowl Champion was almost certain to be decided during the Divisionals...on a snowy Field in Foxboro.

And when we eviscerated them...when we humiliated them...when we exterminated them despite all their squealing and squawking and all the rule changes and despite a decimated Secondary that was supposed to give up 60 Points to Mister Wonderful and held'm to 3...Was that satisfying???

Brothers?? It was Ecstasy.

6:00 Game Tape ~ check out Payton at about 1:20 ~ so smooth.

I went back and changed my vote after reading that. Thanks for bringing me back to my senses Grid.

02 - The only thing close to Polian's rule changes were those of Don Shula back when he had Marino, and they still couldn't win.

Btw, this is one of my only criticisms of Belichick. With his seniority he could give the Pats a strong voice on those committees and keep that crap from happening.

03 - The Brady/Belichick combo came out of nowhere and destroyed the Peyton Plan.

Do the Pats have another run in them before B&B depart? I think so.

New England Pride · Nov 30, 2014

The Indy game. After that, I knew the Pitt game was in the bag.

Off The Grid · Nov 30, 2014

Off The Grid said:
17-2??

With Respect, Gentlemen: I could not agree with you less.

01 ~ Humiliating the Steelers was awesome, especially in light of all their squealing and squawking after their meaningless regular season Victory against us. Was that satisfying?? Absolutely.

02 ~ But after our 2003 Vanquishing of Golden Boy and the Colts, he and Polian squealed and squawked so loudly and incessantly that they actually changed the Rules before the 2004 Campaign. Rarely if ever in the annals of FootBall History have the Rules been changed in such dramatic manner to so blatantly, so shamelessly, or so disgustingly warp the Field in favor of one specific Team over one specific other.

03 ~ And to the surprise of no one and nobody, Golden Boy and the Colts set a new League Record for Passing TouchDowns in 2004...and were almost universally expected by the Media and the World to march triumphantly over our neanderthal Corpses on their way to resplendent Championship Glory.

04 ~ In any case: The Steelers...well, they were the #1 Seed, and all...But if you understood the Game, you also understood that the Steelers were simply going to be Fodder for whoever won the Patriots & Colts Game.

05 ~ And you also understood that whoever won the NFC Crown was also going to be Fodder.

06 ~ This wasn't quite at the same level of Certainty as the 1992-1995 stretch, when the CowBoys & Miners decided the Super Bowl Victor weeks before it happened ~ the Salary Cap Era has since made such Dominance fleeting at best ~ but everyone who really understood FootBall that Winter should've realized that the Super Bowl Champion was almost certain to be decided during the Divisionals...on a snowy Field in Foxboro.

And when we eviscerated them...when we humiliated them...when we exterminated them despite all their squealing and squawking and all the rule changes and despite a decimated Secondary that was supposed to give up 60 Points to Mister Wonderful and held'm to 3...Was that satisfying???

Brothers?? It was Ecstasy.

6:00 Game Tape ~ check out Payton at about 1:20 ~ so smooth.

1960Pats said:
I went back and changed my vote after reading that. Thanks for bringing me back to my senses Grid.

02 - The only thing close to Polian's rule changes were those of Don Shula back when he had Marino, and they still couldn't win.

Btw, this is one of my only criticisms of Belichick. With his seniority he could give the Pats a strong voice on those committees and keep that crap from happening.

03 - The Brady/Belichick combo came out of nowhere and destroyed the Peyton Plan.

Do the Pats have another run in them before B&B depart? I think so.

01 ~ Deeply Honored by your gracious Words, Brother 1960!! Thank you!!

02 ~ Tremendous Post ~ especially the point about Coach Bill being too much of an Old School Gentleman about Rule Changes. It's a Criticism I would extend to Bob Kraft, who went along and meekly accepted Goodell the Parasitical ****'s Capital Punishment and Public Defenestration for the tiniest technical and meaningless violation during SpyGate. They could both use a bit more Al Swearingen in'm.

03 ~ Gotta give Props to PatsFans.com for the "Change Your Vote" option, allowing wise men with the Courage to do so to change their mind upon Further Review!! Respect!!

Seacoast Fan · Nov 30, 2014

Tunescribe said:
I attended both. The Colts game was a step up the ladder after which you heaved a brief sigh of relief. The Steelers game was much more satisfying. I'll never forget that bomb to Branch slicing like a missile through the cold night air, or Rodney's long interception return for a touchdown. Damn, it was cold that night, but a very happy time.

Brady's throw may have sliced through the air like a missile but if settled into Branch's outstretched hands like a snowflake!

patsfaninpa · Nov 30, 2014

Tedi Bruschi taking the damn ball from Dominic Rhodes was my favorite moment from that Indy game. Broke their will. You knew it was over at that point.

Living in PA, have to go with the Steelers. It was funny late that year hearing Eagles and Steeler fans arguing about who was going to win the Super Bowl. Throw in a beatdown of Forrest Gump. Dare I say, it was better than a perfect season??

MassPats38 · Nov 30, 2014

I have to go with Indy as well. The whining followed by the rule change and concluding with the epic beatdown. I fondly remember New Found Glory "All Downhill from Here" playing in the cut to commercial as Manning stood on the sideline with the Manning face as he was powerless to stop the bleeding. Good times.

The Steelers were a surprise and upstart with Roethlisberger, the rookie QB, with a good game on home turf earlier in the year. Dillon was injured and out, and that was the year of Dillon. They talked smack and got their comeuppance, but that was one game. The Colts' dislike stretched over seasons, and we then got to soak in all the "comes up small in big games" talk directed to Manning after that loss.

PatsFanInVa · Nov 30, 2014

Great 1-2 punch, whichever you liked better... Shut down the "League's best offense" then score all over the "league's best defense."

OT: More Satisfying win in 2004: AFC Divisional vs Colts or AFC Championship vs Steelers?

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