Rodney: Pats might benefit from losing one

Off The Grid · Nov 22, 2015

TheBostonStraggler said:
Unless the Patriots are all Vulcan your statement is not verifiable. Humans are affected by the din, they can be inculcated, their concentration can be altered by loud and abundant external opinion.

What Rodney is saying (and not the only 07 player to suggest) is quite simple and quite accurate: the added stress/the added chatter of being perfect may/can have an affect. It's unrealistic to believe players do not hear and/or are not affected by the meme outside the walls of Gillette. Further, opponents have stated they have that little extra spark for the "undefeated"

With that said, should they lose a game? No. Play every game to win and let the chips fall where they may. But if the Patriots lose a game because starters are resting -- starters are likely to rest at some point -- the extra stress is now gone. That suggests a minor bump upward in focus/concentration and a minor bump in the likelihood of victory.

Doesn't BB value every single advantage no matter how small?

Magnificent Post.

neuronet · Nov 22, 2015

moejr said:
I don't care if we lose 1 or 2 as long as Carolina loses at least 1 so Shula's son can't get a perfect season. Unfortunately Carolina has a cakewalk schedule the rest of the way.

Cakewalk? They end with four away games, two home games. Those away games include Dallas, Giants, Falcons, and Saints. While some of those may seem easy if you just look at W-L (e.g., Dallas) my guess is those will be some of the tougher games.

They have had a tough season, and will continue to have a tough season. they will not go undefeated.

Off The Grid · Nov 22, 2015

Two 18-0 Teams going Head to Head for the Championship would be flat out awesome.

aluminum seats · Nov 22, 2015

Zuma said:
I don't care? Nothing would make me happier then to have a perfect season. As has been well documented many times by former players...the stress of that was just to over-whelming. I prefer a Super Bowl then the stress of winning the regular season and failing in the playoffs....but thats just me.

EDIT: I changed the wording in my post

Yeah, I saw you changed your post.

Obviously, everyone would prefer winning the Super Bowl to not.

ThatllMoveTheChains!!! · Nov 22, 2015

LightSkinSmurf said:
I hate this argument so much. Id gladly take my chances on making history and be 18-0 heading into the SB. Losing a game won't increase your chances of winning later. Don't be scared of the moment.

5 Ws would be historic for both BB and Brady. Not that 19-0 wouldn't make it that much sweeter.

GrogansArmy · Nov 22, 2015

Some of you guys are nuts. Every year there is a Super Bowl winner, but very rarely is there a SB winner that also won every single game. In fact its only happened once.

Yes, as you keep winning the pressure builds and builds and becomes more stressful, to the point where it becomes unbearable. But if you get to the point where you need to decide whether to go for the "perfect season" or lose one to remove the pressure and stress, you ALWAYS go for the perfect season! How is this even a question??

There's been 49 SB winners so far, can anyone name them all? In order? Then ask yourself which SB winner won every single game? What year? Pretty much any casual football fan can answer that question.

TL;DR - Always go for immortality!

fair catch fryar · Nov 22, 2015

I know that the media loves it, but I think the talk of it at this point in the season is useless and I would be willing to bet the Patriot's locker room is taking it one game at a time. If they get to 14-0, then I'll contemplate it.

TheBostonStraggler · Nov 22, 2015

Off The Grid said:
Magnificent Post.

I got a soft spot for ya Grid -- every time I see your posts/avatar I hear the classic line "The Lord tells me he can get me out of this mess but he's pretty sure you F'd"

Zuma · Nov 22, 2015

GrogansArmy said:
Some of you guys are nuts. Every year there is a Super Bowl winner, but very rarely is there a SB winner that also won every single game. In fact its only happened once.

Yes, as you keep winning the pressure builds and builds and becomes more stressful, to the point where where it becomes unbearable. But if you get to the point where you need to decide whether to go for the "perfect season" or lose one to remove the pressure and stress, you ALWAYS go for the perfect season! How is this even a question??

There's been 49 SB winners so far, can anyone name them all? In order? Then ask which SB winner didn't lose a single game in the year? What year? Everyone will be able to answer that.

TL;DR - Always go for immortality!

I don't think a decision is ever made to lose a game because of pressure and stress. It's more like they are going to win the conference and do you risk Tom getting hurt in a game that in the Super Bowl realm might be meaningless? I think those decisions come into play.

Tony2046 · Nov 22, 2015

TheBostonStraggler said:
I got a soft spot for ya Grid -- every time I see your posts/avatar I hear the classic line "The Lord tells me he can get me out of this mess but he's pretty sure you F'd"

"Eyyy. It's my Island."

and "He wasn't right in the head".. hahaha which fits Grid perfectly. In a nice way that is.

Off The Grid · Nov 22, 2015

TheBostonStraggler said:
I got a soft spot for ya Grid -- every time I see your posts/avatar I hear the classic line "The Lord tells me he can get me out of this mess but he's pretty sure you F'd"

For The Win, Brother Straggler!!

Off The Grid · Nov 22, 2015

Tony2046 said:
"Eyyy. It's my Island."

and "He wasn't right in the head".. hahaha which fits Grid perfectly. In a nice way that is.

You Know That's Right, Brothah!!

moejr · Nov 22, 2015

aluminum seats said:
The next five weeks Carolina is at Dallas, New Orleans, and the Giants, and have two games with Atlanta. Most of the league sucks… By today's standards, that's a pretty difficult stretch.

I'll take your word for it. You probably know more intracsies of football than I do.

PatsFanInLondon · Nov 22, 2015

There's less pressure on the Pats than in 07 right now thanks to Carolina sitting at 10-0.
This time round we're the reigning champs.

And this time round the team is looking to give the NFL the biggest middle finger in sports history. Nothing should get in the way of planning for winning the SB again (resting starters once the #1 seed is secure, for example) - but I believe the desire to rub it in Goodell's face supersedes the pressure of remaining unbeaten.

Observer · Nov 22, 2015

Like Brady said, there is nothing you can learn from a loss that you can't learn from a win.

Pats Fanatic · Nov 22, 2015

I may be wrong but wasn't Rodney one of the DB that dropped a sure interception on the final drive of that Super Bowl. I will never watch that game again but i think I remember that.
Personally I don't care as long as we win the SB. The 72 Dolphins have never been considered one of the greatest teams ever. the Pats being compared to the 70's Steelers or the 80's 49ers make much more proud of this team.

Bruins29 · Nov 22, 2015

moejr said:
I'll take your word for it. You probably know more intracsies of football than I do.

intricacies? All of those teams are fighting for their playoff lives. 2 are trying to win a division. Atlanta is 6-4 and they will have to play them in ATL.

What intricacies are involved. Just look at the NFL standings and apply common sense.

Kdo5 · Nov 22, 2015

sb1 said:
IMO This team (and last year's) is far mentally tougher than 2007's team was. I wouldn't expect the same effect of being 18-0 if it happens.

2007 team had a lot of veterans and long time Patriots who had been there and done that several times. I think those guys were pretty mentally tough themselves.

Pats Fanatic said:
I may be wrong but wasn't Rodney one of the DB that dropped a sure interception on the final drive of that Super Bowl. I will never watch that game again but i think I remember that.
Personally I don't care as long as we win the SB. The 72 Dolphins have never been considered one of the greatest teams ever. the Pats being compared to the 70's Steelers or the 80's 49ers make much more proud of this team.

It feels so long ago. Asante missed the interception but Meriweather had an opportunity himself.

GrogansArmy · Nov 22, 2015

Pats Fanatic said:
I may be wrong but wasn't Rodney one of the DB that dropped a sure interception on the final drive of that Super Bowl.

I believe that was Asante Samuel... And regardless of whether the '72 Dolphins were one of the greatest teams ever or not, they are still known as the only team to have the 'perfect season'.

It's a no brainer to me, if you have the chance to get the perfect season, you go for it. No ifs ands or buts. I would bet every penny I have that Peyton and every person on his team wished they didn't give away their last regular season game to so they wouldn't be "stressed out".

Bruins29 · Nov 22, 2015

Kdo5 said:
2007 team had a lot of veterans and long time Patriots who had been there and done that several times. I think those guys were pretty mentally tough themselves.
.

Agreed. Tough and seasoned team that just had a bad day when an opponet had the game of their lives. Then throw in a couple of fluke plays and a 1 in a million play and officials not calling anything and you set the stage for a lot of silliness being said on patsfans.com about the 07 team and players.

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