Poll question. How did the Patriots win the Super Bowl?

The consensus in the media is that it's because we signed Browner and Revis. While I feel Revis was outstanding in the regular season, our defense wasn't up to snuff against Baltimore and Seattle. Not all
Browner and Revis's fault at all. We haven't had a good cb since 04 and that's why we didn't win other Super Bowls. Completely over-looking the FACT that Asante Samuel played at a pro bowl level in 06 and 07. Yet, we lost because of cb play? Hmmm

I think Tom Brady bailed our defense out in the post-season. Legendary performance against Baltimore in a game where Revis, Browner and Wilfork all stunk. If we lost that game, would the Revis and Browner signings have been considered so great? We allowed Baltimore more points than they got in either AFCCG (20 and 28) we played them. I think we won because Gronk was healthy, and we got a bigger target at WR for Brady in LaFell. The combo of Edelman and Amendola was much better than having one slot receiver like Welker. Regardless of how good White Wes was. And, I'm a big fan of Welker. He still has to make that catch in Super Bowl 46. Sorry.

We scored 28 points against Seattle. Which wins either Giant game. 17-14 and 21-17 losses.

Common sense tells you it was the combination of the two. But, the theme of the question is why did we win this year and not in others?

Brady played at an otherworldly level.

But the defense made the stops in the 4th to get him the ball back.

Welker didn't drop a pass. Asante did let an int slip trough his hands. David Tryee didn't catch a ball off his helmet, while the Patriots D-line was being flagrantly held right in front of the ref's.

Look for the 6th Superbowl in a row that he has played in. Tom Brady marched his team down the field at the end of the game and took the lead. The first three times, there was no to almost no time left for the other offense to respond. Times 4, 5, and 6 the defense allowed a 80 yard drives aided by miracle catches, twice ended up in TDs, this last time, the defense made a play!

The Pats don't smell any of the Superbowls without Brady, never underestimate his greatness!

Cheating, obviously.

Luck in many combinations, and Tom Brady.

PATSNUTme said:

Welker didn't drop a pass. Asante did let an int slip trough his hands. David Tryee didn't catch a ball off his helmet, while the Patriots D-line was being flagrantly held right in front of the ref's.

Click to expand...

None of those happened this year.

It was a combination of the offense and defense both stepping up when they had no choice but to do just that. We don't win the SB without both the offense and the defense.

Froob said:

Cheating, obviously.

Click to expand...

Ha. I should have put that in too. And, posted on a Steelers Board.

Down 14 x2 against Baltimore
Down 10 against Seattle


Offense executed its best when it absolutely had to, something that didn't happen in previous years trying to get out of holes against Baltimore, NYJ, and in Denver. Revis wouldn't have been on Maningham or Tyree.

The thing is, I think Revis and Browner definitely helped us win a few games during the season, which of course got us a first round bye and ultimately one less game on the road to the Super Bowl, but I also agree that the defense wasn't all that in the post-season, giving up a lot of points in the last two games, particularly to the Ravens. Therefore, I voted a combination. Everyone on the team contributed to the win, and Revis & Browner definitely got us over the hump (but so did Brandon Lafell, also signed last year, Danny Amendola breaking out and Tom Brady reverting to post-season greatness).

patsfaninpa said:

None of those happened this year.

Click to expand...

"But, the theme of the question is why did we win this year and not in others?"

I was just answering your question.

If I had to pick one player who put us over the top, I might choose a healthy Gronk. But everyone was important. Last offseason combined with the in season trades was an absolutely home run. Just about everyone they brought in made significant contributions, at least for portions of the season.

FreeTedWilliams said:

Look for the 6th Superbowl in a row that he has played in. Tom Brady marched his team down the field at the end of the game and took the lead. The first three times, there was no to almost no time left for the other offense to respond. Times 4, 5, and 6 the defense allowed a 80 yard drives aided by miracle catches, twice ended up in TDs, this last time, the defense made a play!

The Pats don't smell any of the Superbowls without Brady, never underestimate his greatness!

Click to expand...

In this one the defense did no better with that last drive than the last 2, other than the final miracle play.
It wasn't an intrinsic difference in the teams, it was one play getting made. This time made by arguably the 53rd man on the squad for most of the year.
In 2007 and 2011 each of the following stars had an opportunity to make that one game deciding play and did not.
Asante Samuel, Rodney Harrison, Richard Seymour, Wes Welker, Jerod Mayo.

Sicilian said:

If I had to pick one player who put us over the top, I might choose a healthy Gronk. But everyone was important. Last offseason combined with the in season trades was an absolutely home run. Just about everyone they brought in made significant contributions, at least for portions of the season.

Click to expand...

The one player that no one seemed to have an answer for :GRONK!

PatsDeb said:

The thing is, I think Revis and Browner definitely helped us win a few games during the season, which of course got us a first round bye and ultimately one less game on the road to the Super Bowl, but I also agree that the defense wasn't all that in the post-season, giving up a lot of points in the last two games, particularly to the Ravens. Therefore, I voted a combination. Everyone on the team contributed to the win, and Revis & Browner definitely got us over the hump (but so did Brandon Lafell, also signed last year, Danny Amendola breaking out and Tom Brady reverting to post-season greatness).

Click to expand...

But thats the way it always is.
You could use "we won the SB" or "we didn't win the SB" to support virtually any argument. Just not convincingly.

Danny Amendola.

*drops mic*

PATSNUTme said:

"But, the theme of the question is why did we win this year and not in others?"

I was just answering your question.

Click to expand...

That's why we lost other Super Bowls. Doesn't say anything about how we won this year.

VrabelJr said:

Danny Amendola.

*drops mic*

Click to expand...

Crap! We're now at Brady6 Alert Level 3!

patsfaninpa said:

That's why we lost other Super Bowls. Doesn't say anything about how we won this year.

Click to expand...

OK, I misunderstood your question, I think.