Do the Patriots win Super Bowl 49 without the Deflategate controversy?

Okay, not really a thread about Deflategate, so much as the effect it had on the players. I go back and forth; on the one hand, I think the Patriots were certainly playing this game knowing their legacy was on the line; on the other hand, it was the Super Bowl, so can you really argue that they would have played any differently?

Vegas did not adjust the spread at all based on the BS "scandal." So, apparently they don't believe there is truly any advantage to perceived extra motivation, and the game is decided by execution only.

Thoughts?

I doubt anything would have been different.

I think it may have been a factor. No way to know.

Of course ! When you consider how FUNDAMENTAL it is to the QB to be able to grip the ball, the Patriots wrap up the game by halftime. No Deflategate, Brady gets to continue altering the balls, denigrating the integrity of the game, giving him so much of an advantage that he probably hits 30 by the time Katy's lion makes its appearance !

There's absolutely no way of knowing. Seems like they were just a tight, mentally tough team who had a good gameplan and executed it well for the most part.

Plus there was enough bulletin board material without deflate gate.

As much as we like to think it made everyone super-motivated, I think that it had to be distracting and emotionally draining, at least to Tom and to Bill. I'd think we'd have played even better without it.

As a fan, though, it made the outcome even more satisfying, if that is possible.

brady lit them up in 2012 IN seattle in the regular season for like 36 completions for 400 yds

No, I don't think it helped them.. it distracted them, or at the very least cost them resources in the form of time and manpower for that first full week.

I think it would have stopped Al Michaels and Collinsworth mentioning it during the already tense fourth quarter. Which would have freed them up to, oh I dunno, talk about the moment.

This was a close game that verged on a blowout. IMHO. The Hawks scored on several Hail Marys and if they hadn't, it would have been something like 35-7.

AzPatsFan said:

This was a close game that verged on a blowout. IMHO. The Hawks scored on several Hail Marys and if they hadn't, it would have been something like 35-7.

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If Kearse had made a fairly easy deep catch in the late 3rd/ early 4th (can't remember), the Seahawks are threatening to make it 31-14.

Deflate-Gate was minor compared to Dilfer-Gate.

Sure do. Teams have seminal moments on their way to championships, the Patriots was coming back from 14. Down twice against the Ravens.

No
because Rodney Harrison is no longer on the team

If Brady wasn't born would the Patriots have won SB 49?

Suppose the ball flattened out mid throw and the Colt D lineman ran the wet dish rag for a score in the 1st quarter? Colts win 48-0??

Suppose everybody keeps on supposing and supposing...will the Gate Fairy magically say "POOF" and the Patriots lose like everyone keeps supposing they should have been supposed to?

I suppose.One thing I don't suppose. I don't suppose the Patriots won Super Bowl 49. That HAPPENED. No suppositions will change that FACT. I suppose now that I've squashed this "suppose gate" BS, a whole new can of magic "suppose beans" will grow that magical stalk into the sky where "Jack the supposer" can find all the Seahawk ogres he wants. I suppose.

Win by 21.

They can beat anyone without some ******** media but this absolutely fueled them emotionally. To have the country question their legitimacy? You kidding? This was a big FU to the world and it made their victory that much sweeter...ours too.

Of course they would have won, but the game would not have been that close. I can only imagine the amount time Belichick lost studying the theory of relativity for air pressure instead of preparing for the Super Bowl.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

Thoughts?

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"No. They wouldn't have beat the Colts." -Jerry Rice