What was the moment that made you realize the 2014 Pats were a special team?

The Cincy game?

2 wins against DEN and IND outscoring them 85-41?

5-1 against that 6 game gauntlet in the schedule, outscoring opponents 214-113?

The two 14 point comebacks against the Ravens in the AFC Divisional playoff game, a team that the Pats struggled against in the postseason in recent years?

First day of camp?


If you believe BB....he knew it at halftime in the Chiefs game, because the "effort was still there".

The Cincy game made a statement for sure...would have been too easy for the Pats to roll over and believe the hype that they "were a weak team, lets face it, they're not that good anymore!". Definitively though... I think for me it was the GB game even though it was a loss. Would have been too easy to write that off as a very good non conference opponent in a place that is very difficult for a road team to win... but they were definitely there and that told me the league was put on notice that this team was not a bunch of quitters and not rolling over for anyone for any reason. That told me this team was not the "same old Pats" of recent years who would have been one and done fodder for the Ravens in their first game.

I knew it was a special team when i went to the camp this summer. the crowds they drew, the way they practiced, etc. I had a really good feeling

I knew we were sb contenders during the denver game

Detroit beatdown. Sack bang in the middle of the tricky schedule. Made one of the best defences (at the time) in league look awful.

For me, it was the Cincinnati game. To come out like that and crush what many people thought was the best team at that juncture of the season, I knew we were still going to be one of the top teams in the league.

I always over rate the team in camp so that does not count. Brady looked great in camp.

I was at the Cinci game. Knew right away that the mediots were WAY wrong, not that I for a picosecond believed that Brady was in measurable decline. It gave me faith in TEAM mental toughness.
The next waypost was the win over Denver. Knew that we were a serious post season contender.
Did not lose faith in our 2014 crew with the loss to GB though I did feel that a different approach on defense would be warranted should we make the SB and find Aaron there.
Respected Seattle but did not fear them. They were my 2nd fav team ever since Wilson arrived.
Some of the bloom is off that rose but I still think he's a baller.

Denver beatdown.

For me, I knew we had a shot winning the super bowl when we went to lambeau and played hard even though we lost. It showed me that on a neutral field, we could beat anyone.

The Bengals game. The Brady chant was amazing and sent chills down my spine. The crowd actually showed up in games. Brady moved around in the pocket more....even running for first downs and TDs. Everyone seem to be doing whatever it takes to win.

Something just seemed different this season.

And when we got HFA is when I truly knew the Super Bowl was ours.

For me, it was actually the 1st Buffalo game right after the Cincinnati game. I figured the Pats would come out fighting against Cinci since that was a hallmark of Belichick teams (and if they didn't, the team was truly done). But after the emotions of that game wore off, to go out on the road for a division game, against a great Buffalo front 4, to lose 2 of their starters to year end injuries in the first half (Mayo and Ridley), and to still destroy them (with the O-Line playing lights out) was completely telling to me.

When we steamrolled over Denver.

I didn't know if we would win the Superbowl but that beat down told me we would at least get there.

By watching how hard that 2013 team fought and how far they came. Then signing Revis. After that it was Super Bowl or bust. I never wavered at all during their 2-2 start.

When Mr Kraft had the trophy in his hand.

Since last year. I felt last year we were a team of destiny considering everything that happened with the overhaul of some of the roster and all of the rookies plus the Hernandez thing. And we got pretty damn close too. I think that carried over this year and felt we were a team of destiny still. Yes I had some doubts but I didn't panic early in the season as we all know it is a long season. If anything, I thought we would pull a Giants and get hot at the end and cruise into the playoffs

Another vote for the Denver game.

sb1 said:

This team was not the "same old Pats" of recent years who would have been one and done fodder for the Ravens in their first game.

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The fact that you'd be disgusting, fickle, and cowardly enough to call us the "same old Pats" and being "one and done fodder" after all the Glory, the Passion, and the unrelenting Fury that they've given us, 14 Years into our unprecedented Reign of Terror, makes it crystal clear that you are entirely unworthy of being associated with this Team of Warriors each one of whom is infinitely the superior of the likes of you.

The minute Revis was signed.

After two years of Talib hamming it up in the AFCCG and costing us a win, I was very confident that with Revis, this team would go all the way.

Had a good indication with the Cincy win but it was the Packer loss that showed me how good the Pats were. To go into Lambeau and get that close was a tremendous accomplishment.

I knew they were a very good team after the Denver beatdown. I didn't know they were a Super Bowl caliber team until after the Baltimore game, coming back from two 14 point deficits.

Off The Grid said:

The fact that you would be disgusting and offensive enough to call us the "same old Pats" and being "one and done fodder" after all the Glory, the Passion, and the Fury that they've given us, 14 Years into our unprecedented Reign of Terror, tells me, unequivocally, that you are entirely unworthy of being associated with this Team of Warriors each one of whom is infinitely the superior of the likes of you.

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Chill.

Let me put it this way. The 2014 Pats would knock out the 2008-13 Pats of the playoffs every single time. Those teams weren't nearly as physically or mentally tough as this team is. Those teams don't pummel division leader after division leader. This one did. Those teams flame out in the playoffs. This one got better. I think you can understand my point.

The Chargers game, were the offense couldn't do squat for most of the game, but the defense put a hurting on the Chargers in SD on National TV.