Because we hate ourselves: Would the Patriots have won tonight?

Time for the inevitable thought exercise that will dominate our minds until next year.

I know people will be quick to say that yes we would have. And there is an argument to be made. But I honestly don't know if we could have done to Cam what the Broncos D just did. We always struggle containing running QBs and the Broncos just shut him down. And I don't know how well our o-line would have held up against the Panthers.

I don't know, start talking I need to eat something

I'd say 50/50. Denver's defense, at this point in the season, was the only unit in the NFL that could impose its will on any opponent.

I think they could have.

Even with the Pats' o-line playing as poorly as they did against Denver, they could've won despite that by taking just 1 of those FGs.

would have been closer than this game.

Tough to say, the Broncos D had their way with the Panthers O so I'd like to think we could have as well, but the reality is that Denver's D was just playing out of this world.

Let's just go with 'we would have lost' so I can feel better, but I really can't help but think we would have won the game.

Yes. While our defense wouldn't have been as good, our offense would have been able to actually put some points on the board. Denver's defense played lights out the last two games, so respect is due, but we should have had the Broncos at home, or been better coached (OLine) for the AFCG. We had every opportunity. As Brady said, they blew it. That's life. Brady still has 4 rings and has played well enough to warrant 6 if it weren't for defensive chokes. Manning is LUCKY to have ANY rings. Anyways, Brady's got plenty more time to get #5 or more. Manning is done.

The stage was too big for Carolina. Hell yeah we would have won.

PatriotSpy said:

The stage was too big for Carolina. Hell yeah we would have won.

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I won't say the Patriots wouldn't have won, but I think it would have depended a lot on avoiding injuries to key players.

I always thought the Panthers matchup was a good one for us. They didn't really have the edge rushers to worry us and our receivers could have exploited their zone defense. And BB would have schemed to stop Cam, our DL wouldn't have let their running game dominate and our secondary is a match for their receivers. The Cards and their WRs was the matchup that worried me.

If the Panthers played exactly like that? New England would have dropped 50 on em.

This question is definitely a slippery slope, however I found myself coming back to it multiple times throughout the game. Without talking about any potential gameplay outcomes had it been us rather than Denver, I do think we would have had a solid shot at this. Carolina felt to be out of their league the entire game, as cliche as it may sound I absolutely feel that the stage was too big for them (specifically their offense, special teams and coaching staff).

PatriotSpy said:

The stage was too big for Carolina. Hell yeah we would have won.

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I was one of those who thought Carolina would have destroyed us had we won in Denver, after seeing their performance against Arizona, Seattle, and December in general. But then their behavior the following two weeks really made me think they weren't ready for this. By the time today came, I was actually expecting this result - with it being completely solidified by the "punt coverage" that directly led to 3 Broncos points.

That Panther team of the last two weeks and tonight show up, we beat them just as solidly as the Broncos did. But you know what? The Pats didn't earn it, so no use crying about it.

Would've been another game for the ages like all the Patriots Superbowl in the Brady-BB era are.

The super bowl was two weeks ago played in Denver

I honestly feel that the way the panthers seemed nervous early that the Patriots would have beat them by at least 7

I know there's an extra week before the Super Bowl, but I'm still not sure the Patriots could have fielded a remotely healthy offense. Edelman and Amendola both looked like guys that needed more than a week off, and Gronk couldn't run very well either but also showed that he doesn't necessarily need to be able to.

That said, at full health the Patriots would have been in far better position to exploit the Panthers' #2 and #3 CBs than the Broncos.

Demaryius Thomas was terrible tonight. And was Vernon Davis even playing?

I'm on to 2016

It's hard to say. Our pass rush isn't elite like Denver, which caused 2 fumbles for almost 2 tds. Denver never rushed 3, which for some reason Patricia loves to do so I think Newton would of been more effective against us.


Our offence would have done MUCH better then Denvers, however.

The last Cam Newton fumble told me all I needed to know about how much he wanted to win this game.

A shame, cuz this would have been the biggest pats sb win point differential.

The patriots would have won, as a matter fact they already won a Super Bowl against the panthers.