What AFC team poses the greatest challenge to the Patriots?

[Ron Sellers]

I saw this poll on the home page of this site, but I get a feeling that a lot of people here either have the message board bookmarked therefore bypassing that page, or don't scroll down to where the poll question is located.

Anyways I thought it was a pretty interesting one that may be worthy of discussion here.

What AFC team poses the greatest challenge to the Patriots from returning to the Super Bowl?

• New York Jets
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Baltimore Ravens
• Indianapolis Colts
• San Diego Chargers
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Some other AFC team

I wasn't really sure why the Chiefs made that list at first, but I suppose they were included because they did win their division last year.


edit: as opposed to the poll on the homepage where you can only vote for one team, on this poll you are allowed to make multiple choices if you desire to do so.

 

[BlueThunder]

The Jets are a one trick pony...Defense

Snatchez is going to have to have a tremendous leap in completion % and hope the opposing D keeps dropping his INTS for the Jets to challenge the Pats again.....

Barring major injuries, this attacking Patriot D is going to give opposing QB's fits......

 

[Froob]

Jets but, Colts are always a threat.

 

[Dutchmaster617]

Steelers or Ravens every time, not even close IMO.

 

[Froob]

Steelers or Ravens every time, not even close IMO.

Pats own the steelers. And seem to always find a way to beat the ravens in the end except that one game

 

[Haley]

Colts this year. I suspect the jets will take too many injuries to manage. How long can they ride the no injury luck streak? And they have no depth.

And I know it is preseason but still ... Pitt had a 16 to 7 LOSS to the Redskins?? Really?

Let me say that again. 16. to 7. Loss. To the REDSKINS.

Did anyone see that game? What happened?

 

[jah]

Jets are the main team on that list that seems to know how to beat us. Probably Colts after that, then Ravens. The Colts are my pick to represent the AFC in the next SB, although I'd prefer if the Patriots made it of course.

 

[Sivy]

I feel ashamed of this board because the jets are leading this poll.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

IMO the San Diego Chargers are by far the most dangerous team to challenge for the title.

They have a great QB,a WR arsenal and defense that will be back from an injury plagued team that would have gone farther had those key injuries not occurred.

This years Chargers look to be very deep in talent and depth and their only true weak link is coach Turner who must have his best coaching year to get them to the SB.

You can't leave out the Jets,not only because they made it to the AFCCG 2 years in a row but they are the biggest hurdle to NE getting that Home Field if in fact NE has to go the Wild Card route.

 

[Ring 6]

The Jets are a one trick pony...Defense

Snatchez is going to have to have a tremendous leap in completion % and hope the opposing D keeps dropping his INTS for the Jets to challenge the Pats again.....

Barring major injuries, this attacking Patriot D is going to give opposing QB's fits......

And there defense, which declined a lot from 09 to 10 is going to decline again as the lost their best DL, best pass rusher and a bunch of depth and have added nothing of note.

 

[Sivy]

The biggest thread to the patriots is the patriots. If they can hold it together in every game, and the playoffs no one will beat them.

 

[jah]

And there defense, which declined a lot from 09 to 10 is going to decline again as the lost their best DL, best pass rusher and a bunch of depth and have added nothing of note.

According to Jest fans, Ellis wasn't anything more than a JAG last season.

 

[Froob]

Colts this year. I suspect the jets will take too many injuries to manage. How long can they ride the no injury luck streak? And they have no depth.

And I know it is preseason but still ... Pitt had a 16 to 7 LOSS to the Redskins?? Really?

Let me say that again. 16. to 7. Loss. To the REDSKINS.

Did anyone see that game? What happened?

Preseason doesn't really mean anything at all. Lions went like 4-0 in preseason the year they went 0-16.

 

[Ring 6]

IMO the San Diego Chargers are by far the most dangerous team to challenge for the title.

They have a great QB,a WR arsenal and defense that will be back from an injury plagued team that would have gone farther had those key injuries not occurred.

This years Chargers look to be very deep in talent and depth and their only true weak link is coach Turner who must have his best coaching year to get them to the SB.

You can't leave out the Jets,not only because they made it to the AFCCG 2 years in a row but they are the biggest hurdle to NE getting that Home Field if in fact NE has to go the Wild Card route.

I think the Chargers are a very different team than the dangerous team that contended. They have lost a lot of players from their 05 to 07 teams.

 

[Ring 6]

According to Jest fans, Ellis wasn't anything more than a JAG last season.

Yes, after we signed him. While he was starting and playing better than anyone on their DL last year they said other things. Seriously, who on their DL was close to his quality?

 

[Haley]

Preseason doesn't really mean anything at all. Lions went like 4-0 in preseason the year they went 0-16.

I'd still expect the Steelers to spank the Skins without even trying. It didn't even look like they sat out many of the 1st strings. Seriously, there is something weird about that. It shouldn't even have been close.

 

[Jangles]

Jets and Ravens

I feel the reasons are obvious.

 

[PatriotsInGA]

San Diego just because of elimination of other teams.

NYJ - Like some other poster said earlier, they are defense only. Mediocre offense.

PIT - Relatively old team, but a still dangerous defense and a deep threat with Mike Wallace. Close 2nd to San Diego.

BAL - Defense is way too old. Outside of Ngata, I am not frightened by the faded skills of Lewis and Reed. Flacco is decent, but nothing too special. Just a slightly better Dilfer.

INDY - 18 is not getting any younger. The running game will be atrocious as usual (Addai is nothing special). The defense is average at best.

KC - Just no.

SD - Rivers is a fairly good QB. With Jackson back for the first half of the season this year, I think that offense will be explosive. If the additions of Spikes and Sanders on D end up succeeding, the defense will be great. Their special teams still needs fixing though; one game against Seattle is not enough to show me that their ST are better.

 

[ALP]

even so, the jets are the team that has beat us consistently since getting ryan, and hence they are my choice, they are very familiar with us and those games can go either way not matter how good either team seems to be....

however, i c the threat from NY ending this season

 

[patfanken]

IMO the San Diego Chargers are by far the most dangerous team to challenge for the title.

They have a great QB,a WR arsenal and defense that will be back from an injury plagued team that would have gone farther had those key injuries not occurred.

This years Chargers look to be very deep in talent and depth and their only true weak link is coach Turner who must have his best coaching year to get them to the SB.

You can't leave out the Jets,not only because they made it to the AFCCG 2 years in a row but they are the biggest hurdle to NE getting that Home Field if in fact NE has to go the Wild Card route.

I agree. The Jets have down graded in talent this year, and unless Sanchez makes a quantum leap in his QB growth, the I see the Jets as good team, a team that can beat you on any given day, but not one of the elite teams, at least at THIS point.

The Steelers were my 2nd choice, but as tough as they are we seem to have their number offensively,

BOTTOM LINE - if last season taught us anything its that in the playoffs, ANYTHING but yoiur A game could very well mean disappointment with the results, regardless of who you are playing. ANY team can knock you off....and you don't get a 2nd chance....til next year.