The Patriots and the SuperBowl loss hangover? Not so fast.

[VectorPrime]

One of the most common talking points I’ve heard going into this season is that the Patriots will almost surely take a step back due to having just lost the Super Bowl. True, history has for the most part not been kind to teams losing the Super Bowl in their next season. The so called Super Bowl hangover. But I don’t have to tell anyone here that the Patriots are, if nothing else, an exception to most rules.

So let’s take a look at the two prior times that the Patriots lost the SB in the Brady/BB era. In 2008 Brady is lost for the season in the first quarter and the team still manages to go 11-5. A single play goes differently in the Colts and Jets overtime game and the team goes 13-3. Remember Gaffney should have caught a game clinching first down in Indy and we had the Jets backed up deep on a 3rd and a mile in OT. If Brady was healthy with that roster I really think we win the SB that year since the league was putrid. Brady owns the Steelers in the AFC and a matchup with the Cardinals in the SB would have likely been a laugher.

In 2012 we made it to the AFCCG without Gronk and Talib getting hurt at the start of the game and still had a halftime lead and momentum until Welker dropped an easy first down and Ridley got knocked unconscious and fumbled. If Gronk and Talib are healthy we win that game.

So how can anyone in good faith just assume that the Pats will take a step back this season just because we lost the SB? Obviously the team might fall off for any new meet of reasons, maybe the injury bug hits the team hard. Maybe Brady actually shows his age. Maybe the internal team drama becomes too much to just brush aside. But a falloff from a Super Bowl loss hangover? I’ll believe it when I see it.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

One of the most common talking points I’ve heard going into this season is that the Patriots will almost surely take a step back due to having just lost the Super Bowl. True, history has for the most part not been kind to teams losing the Super Bowl in their next season. The so called Super Bowl hangover. But I don’t have to tell anyone here that the Patriots are, if nothing else, an exception to most rules.

So let’s take a look at the two prior times that the Patriots lost the SB in the Brady/BB era. In 2008 Brady is lost for the season in the first quarter and the team still manages to go 11-5. A single play goes differently in the Colts and Jets overtime game and the team goes 13-3. Remember Gaffney should have caught a game clinching first down in Indy and we had the Jets backed up deep on a 3rd and a mile in OT. If Brady was healthy with that roster I really think we win the SB that year since the league was putrid. Brady owns the Steelers in the AFC and a matchup with the Cardinals in the SB would have likely been a laugher.

In 2012 we made it to the AFCCG without Gronk and Talib getting hurt at the start of the game and still had a halftime lead and momentum until Welker dropped an easy first down and Ridley got knocked unconscious and fumbled. If Gronk and Talib are healthy we win that game.

So how can anyone in good faith just assume that the Pats will take a step back this season just because we lost the SB? Obviously the team might fall off for any new meet of reasons, maybe the injury bug hits the team hard. Maybe Brady actually shows his age. Maybe the internal team drama becomes too much to just brush aside. But a falloff from a Super Bowl loss hangover? I’ll believe it when I see it.

They’re gonna make the playoffs. I said getting back is difficult after a loss. We saw that in 2012 . It might be not be hard because of what’s in the afc but i gotta see how this defense performs.

 

[Observer]

If Tom Brady is your quarterback you should be winning the Super Bowl.

 

[tasmlab]

7 years of going to the AFCCG. I think they got this process down pat. Then the margins usually get tight. But, no, I'd be shocked to see a 'hangover' so to speak.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a sh*t game or two early and get to hear the media crow for days about the demise of the Pats. Then it's on to Cincinnati and nobody is safe.

“Oh, yeah. Oooh, ahhh, that’s how it always starts. Then later there’s running and screaming.”

 

[oldrover]

Only teams to lose a Super Bowl one year and win it the next:

1970-1971 Cowboys
1971-1972 Dolphins

So, for a Shula two-fer, win the Super Bowl this year... and finish undefeated.

 

[ChessToCheckers]

We shall see, but I'm optimistic, as always, this time of year!

The first 4 weeks will be extended TC as usual, but hopefully we can get to 2-2 or 3-1.

Fascinating to see if Brian Flores can get our defense to improve.

I'm more apt to think that the Jags and the Titans are going to step back a bit.

 

[Jackson 2]

If Tom Brady is your quarterback you should be winning the Super Bowl.

That's obviously a critical factor. Another is health/lack of significant injuries.

 

[Ring 6]

If Tom Brady is your quarterback you should be contending for the Super Bowl.

fixed it for ya

 

[Hyped]

I always take it one game at a time....there is really no other way to look at it.

We gotta win games...hopefully win the division...hopefully get a BYE...hopefully get HFA...then we will be set up to just win two games at home to get to the big game in Atlanta.

 

[Snooky97]

When you have TB 12 we’ve always got a chance. If we can stop giving up chunk yards like we did last season, and contain the run we have got such a better chance than we did last year.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Tough schedule this year. No JE11. No LT. I'm not that optimistic.

 

[Wordsmyth]

No JE11? He'll be back game five.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

I always take it one game at a time....there is really no other way to look at it.

We gotta win games...hopefully win the division...hopefully get a BYE...hopefully get HFA...then we will be set up to just win two games at home to get to the big game in Atlanta.

"Hotlanta"
"Patslanta"
"Bill Belichickianta"

Got it:

"Six Rings Over Georgia"

...just practicing

 

[Jackson 2]

Tough schedule this year. No JE11. No LT. I'm not that optimistic.

I know Edelman is gone for 4 games, but WTF happened to Lawrence Taylor???

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

we all know LaDainian Tomlinson is the only LT who matters... NOT

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

The patriots are the exception, so the hangover does not apply to us. Even sb winners haven’t fared well since 1997. the Seahawks in 2014 are the only sb winner since then (besides us ) that has gotten past the divisional round the next year. we did it 3 times- in 2004, 2015, and 2017. We’re just on a different stratosphere.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Tough schedule this year. No JE11. No LT. I'm not that optimistic.

There are several decent candidates in camp

 

[supafly]

I'm more apt to think that the Jags and the Titans are going to step back a bit.

While both of those are obviously possible, I think a good case can be made for a number of teams showing improvement, too.

—HOU (Watt and Watson returning)
—LA (actually favored by some sportsbooks to win the AFCW)
—OAK (Gruden + some additions to the team)

I won’t include teams like CLE, IND, or CIN because I still think they’re irrelevant, but I do expect them to improve.

How about BAL or DEN? Would any of us be shocked to see one of them return to a 9-7 or 10-6 record and gain a wild card spot? I am fully expecting it. I consider both of them “pain in the butt” types of teams even though everyone tries to stick a fork in them every summer.

Add in the teams that you brought up who may take a step backwards like JAX and TEN but still make the postseason, and couple them with our biggest threat to the AFC (PIT), and I see plenty of teams that have the potential to come into the divisional or conference round in January and sneak away with a W.

I still think the NFC is a more balanced conference with better teams 1-6, but I don’t view the AFC as a cakewalk like some do because every year is different. A lot of the predictions that we make preseason change pretty quickly. We’re just used to some consistency because we’re Patriots fans and we expect excellence.

 

[supafly]

Tough schedule this year. No JE11. No LT. I'm not that optimistic.

The Patriots actually have the easiest schedule out of the 32 teams, at least going by last year’s record/winning percentage.

They may not run away with it this year due to some of your reasoning, but I still think we can expect them to compete at a pretty high level. Edelman’s suspension may equate to a 2-2 start, but they’ll get it going.

 

[Snooky97]

12-4 I think this year will be enough for HFA for the play offs