2011-12 Pats or Pack?

[Bostonian1962]

O.K., being that we are all Patriots fans here, this could be very one way in the responses, so my lead in will be pro-Packers in it's slant to get things started.

Which team has a better chance of winning the Super Bowl next year?

The Patriots, a team full of 1st and 2nd year players (a good thing), who finished this year with the best record, and has 6 draft picks in the first 3 rounds, and has a starting CB and DE that were on IR all year vs. The Packers who just won the Super Bowl with a very young team that had 15 players on IR this year, including several starters?

The Patriots lead by a QB who has been outstanding in the regular season, but has been 5 and 5 in his last 10 playoff games, and was beaten in the SB by the wild card entrant, last year at home to the Ravens, a wild card entrant, and this year at home to the Jets, a wild card entrant vs. a Packers team lead by this years SB MVP who is 6 years younger than Brady, and looked outstanding in all but one of the 3 road games to get to the SB, and of course outstanding in the SB (despite 5 dropped balls)?

In my opinion, if the Patriots hit the jackpot in the draft like last year, they and the Packers will be their conferences respective favorites next year. Who's in better shape overall, in your opinions?

 

[ausbacker]

Right now the Packers. Given their injuries and the fact that they just won the Superbowl carrying those injuries you'd have to give it to them.

 

[Ron Sellers]

I would say right now it looks like the Packers and the Patriots are both in as good a position as anybody in their conferences to go to the Super Bowl next year. But on the other hand it is not as if either one is head and shoulders above their competition. The Saints, Falcons, Eagles and Bears are all right there with Green Bay in the NFC, while all the usual suspects in the AFC will be back again.

There are so many variables that it is almost impossible to predict with any accuracy. One team gets a ton of injuries and another has almost none. One team overcomes injuries while another can't handle them at all. Then there is free agency and trades, as well as the draft. Some teams unexpectedly regress (Cowboys, Vikings, Chargers) while others seemingly rise up out of nowhere (Chiefs, Bucs).

Right now Green Bay and New England look like they're in very good shape for next season, but a lot can change over the next 365 days. But if absolutely have to pick one or the other I'll go with the Patriots, if for no reason other than it is so difficult to repeat as champions in the NFL in the salary cap/free agency era.

 

[fxkane]

Right now the Packers. Given their injuries and the fact that they just won the Superbowl carrying those injuries you'd have to give it to them.

It's hard to disagree. Barring an injury to Rodgers next season, my guess is that the Pack wd be slight favorites come SB time. (they almost beat us this year without said star--and on our turf)

 

[EJ Blitz]

Well if you take out injuries, the Packers have to most complete team in my opinion. The Pats need a deep threat and a pass rush and those are currently unknowns that will possibly be addressed in the draft. From the way things are right now I'd definitely choose the Packers. There's nothing to really base the Pats on right now, pre-draft/free agency.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Anyone know the contract situations of the pack to their key players?

 

[sbpatfan]

The defending champs have to be the favorites, out of respect. But it's funny what an offseason can do to a team, who knows what will happen?

 

[folamzz]

Anyone know the contract situations of the pack to their key players?

Its interesting that although they have lots of young talent drafted recently, not many of them are becoming free agents. Only collen jenkins is their major free agent. I think they signed greg jennings to an extention before his rookie contract expired.
Now, when teams win superbowl, players become greedy. I can see a guy like tramon williams wanting to take advantage of his productive season to cash in now.

 

[capetide]

Edge Packers, if for no other reason than the path to the SB is alot easier in the NFC (Look at the Patriots record against NFC teams the last few years).

 

[Patriot Missile]

Whoever is the healthiest. Lets face it, both teams had significant injuries this season. Warren Bodden way too early,were huge. The one that broke the camels back was Mike Wright though. They had just enough depth to get it done and were getting some semblence of pressure on the QB until he went down. Imo, he plays the Jets game it's a different story. Even with the Jets game plan and the offensive miscues. Rant.

Anyway., Pack had plenty of injuries too and overcame them. I still think losing Finley straightened out Rodgers and made him less predictable. He constantly targeted his TE and it was getting obvious. Reminded me of Pats losing Moss and it made team guess where the ball was going.

 

[fair catch fryar]

The defending champs have to be the favorites, out of respect. But it's funny what an offseason can do to a team, who knows what will happen?

Agreed, but according to Tedy Bruschi the one thing that's harder to do than winning a Super Bowl is winning back-to-back Super Bowls. I believe the defending champs are always the team to beat, but there's a reason why a repeat has only happened 3x's in the last 20 years.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

...

Which team has a better chance of winning the Super Bowl next year?

The Patriots, a team full of 1st and 2nd year players (a good thing), who finished this year with the best record, and has 6 draft picks in the first 3 rounds, and has a starting CB and DE that were on IR all year vs. The Packers who just won the Super Bowl with a very young team that had 15 players on IR this year, including several starters?

...

"Which team has a better chance of winning the Super Bowl next year?"

Well, let's see.

You're asking us to choose between a team that just won three tough road Playoff games to reach the Super Bowl, which they won, and a team that hasn't won a Playoff game in three years and has lost two in a row at home, including with a bye week?

From the point of view simply of who "has a better chance," today, seven months before next season begins, there's really only one answer, the reigning Super Bowl champions.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Not as many homers here as I thought. It looks like the majority by far is picking the Packers. We must hit a home run on the draft. We MUST get an OLB or DE, or both, that can rush the passer. That would be huge.

I'll ask the question again deeper into the offseason.

 

[RobertWeathers]

More often than not, teams that go to/win the SB do not make it to the SB the following year.

Pats.

 

[NEPatriot]

I'd say neither team. As history has shown, it's very difficult to repeat. And the Pats have shown over the past few years that they're just not mentally tough and tend to not show up in the big games at the end of the season.

 

[Bostonian1962]

More often than not, teams that go to/win the SB do not make it to the SB the following year.

Pats.

I have a close friend who is a Packer fan. Very classy guy. He said something to me, and he was not rubbing my nose in things. He really wasn't, but this is what he said:

"The only difference between the Packers and the Patriots is that Brady doesn't do what Brady did to get here anymore." I asked him what he meant and he said "I remember before one of the Patriots Super Bowls reading a story about Brady, in addition to practice, was up all night with Charlie Weis for hours studying opponents film. He did that night after night. This year before the Jets game, he was running all over town with his wife, and I think even took a trip to New York to see a Broadway Play. He use to be the first one in and the last to leave. He use to work out with his teamates. Now all the reports are about him on the beach in Brazil, and when he does work out, it's on his own so he can be with his family in California. Aaron Rodgers is like Brady use to be. If Brady were still like that, you guys would have a couple more championships. I really believe that."

I said "Dude, he was the MVP of the league". He said, "Yeah, he was in your 16 and 0 season, and looked like ass in the Super Bowl. You can't say that jutting around to Broadway Plays is better than studying film, or otherwise getting ready for your opponent, do you?"

Again, he's a close friend and meant no harm, but that impression of Brady, if it's out there to any great extent can go away with another title. So will the "since you were caught cheating you haven't won squat". Please God let us win it all this coming season.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Defending champs. Picking the Pats over GB at this stage is Jets style fanboy arrogance not warranted by pathetic recent playoff non-performance. GB is the youngest team in the league. If our younguns are gonna get better why shouldn't GB's do so as well. Tremendous upside for GB with the large # of starters they had on IR.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I have a close friend who is a Packer fan. Very classy guy. He said something to me, and he was not rubbing my nose in things. He really wasn't, but this is what he said:

"The only difference between the Packers and the Patriots is that Brady doesn't do what Brady did to get here anymore." I asked him what he meant and he said "I remember before one of the Patriots Super Bowls reading a story about Brady, in addition to practice, was up all night with Charlie Weis for hours studying opponents film. He did that night after night. This year before the Jets game, he was running all over town with his wife, and I think even took a trip to New York to see a Broadway Play. He use to be the first one in and the last to leave. He use to work out with his teamates. Now all the reports are about him on the beach in Brazil, and when he does work out, it's on his own so he can be with his family in California. Aaron Rodgers is like Brady use to be. If Brady were still like that, you guys would have a couple more championships. I really believe that."

I said "Dude, he was the MVP of the league". He said, "Yeah, he was in your 16 and 0 season, and looked like ass in the Super Bowl. You can't say that jutting around to Broadway Plays is better than studying film, or otherwise getting ready for your opponent, do you?"

Again, he's a close friend and meant no harm, but that impression of Brady, if it's out there to any great extent can go away with another title. So will the "since you were caught cheating you haven't won squat". Please God let us win it all this coming season.

Perception is a dangerous thing. Sometimes it is accurate. Sometimes it isn't.

I think it is easy for folks that do not follow the team as closely as we do to formulate that opinion. It's convenient and easy.

The deeper truth is that a prolific offense is not always prolific in the post season. Those types of teams need a stout defense to sometimes carry them in the tough times against good defensive teams. Look at the GB/Chi NFCCG. Rodgers was at best, marginal.

From 2001-2004, the Pats had stout defense. In 2006 they had a stout defense that ran out of gas. In 2007 they had a good enough defense that forgot how to make plays in the last 2:32 seconds of the SB.

Tell your friend its the defense. There is nothing wrong with Brady's perpetration. The only problem with Brady is when he runs into a good/great defense- like every great QB does from time to time.