5. Are you as tired as I am constantly hearing how the Ravens "won't be intimidated coming into Gillette", like THAT is the major reason they are considered our most "dangerous" potential opponents. That is just SO MUCH crap.
We have won soooo much over the last 10 years that it is noticeable when anyone beats us.
The Colts are considered a threat because WHEN THEY HAD EXCELLENT TEAMS they beat us INDOORS or in GOOD weather. This years Colts team, in Foxboro, in January is maybe the LEAST likely team to beat us.
The Ravens won here last year, so it creates the perception that they are dangerous, simply because no one else does.
BOTTOM LINE: No one is going to be "intimidated" coming to Gillete. So for that reason, I am no more afraid of the Ravens than any other potential foe.
TOTALLY AGREE with your thinking here.
Too many people who have never played any sport at a comeptitive level end up being part of the media that helps to form the opinion of the general public. Those factions tend to foucs on these bogus 'mental and psychological' aspects, and have a poor understanding of them.
Almost any athlete who rises to the top of their sport and becomes professional does not use the past to create fear in their opponent, or to convince themselves that they are doomed. They use it to understand why they lost, and develop confidence in doing better.
There are common perceptions out there that I find ridiculous, such as:
"They were embarrassed last week so they will be hard to beat this week"
As if a professional athlete is cavalier until he is embarrassed, doesnt react during THAT game, so now will be better and try harder next week.
"They were flat, and quit on us"
While I would agree a bad week of preparation can lead to a bad game, the idea that a football player, in a game that is defined by winning collisions just decides that he isn't motivated today and will let the man across from him physically whip him all day is ridiculous.
I think this thinking is born from the desire of fans to want to find a reason other than the other team was better to rationalize a loss.
6. I think it was back in 2003 the Pats accomplished something I thought was quite remarkable. In the course of winning the superbowl they managed to win 10 games against teams who had won 10 or more games
That is a correct fact, and IMO is one of the reasons they belong in the discussion as the GOAT team.
It got me to thinking about this season, and the fact the Pats have played 7 games against current playoff teams....and are 6-1 In fact they have already beaten 6 of the 11 other playoff teams. I wonder if in the current format any other team has managed to accomplish that?
Great question. I think the most possible would be 8. (the other 5 in your conference and you could actually face the NFC division that got both wild cards in.
8. I am constantly amazed that the Pats keep having all kinds of injuries and have to constantly find guys off the streets, yet the prevailing perception by the national media is that the Pats never have a injury problem, while at the same time other selected teams are constantly given that crutch. It pisses me off, though I pretty sure that BB doesn't mind a bit. It only reinforces his "next man up" mantra
I think i not only emphasized the depth and the next man up, but also the system and philopsophy.
Its obvious in his defensive philosophy. Do your job. 2 gap technique leaves room for error. Don't allow the big play. Bend dont break is OK, etc... But it goes on offense and sts as well, IMO. Any single player is less important to the Patriots than any other team (excluding TFB).
I think that is virtually a proven fact after all of these years of seeing massive amounts of injuries not even slow them down. 03 and 04 were the most injured SB Champs ever, and this year is probably close to those.
OK that's enough for now. I eagerly await your comments....as usual
Your posts are so insightful and thought provoking it is hard not to write volumes in response.