HAVE to win this one

[Ethanga62890]

Considering its the last game of the year and the biggest prize in this profession it's a must win for both sides

 

[brdmaverick]

Obviously it's the SB and every one is a must-win especial when talking about legacy. But 4-3 would be a pretty mediocre SB win-loss record for BB and TB in the court of public opinion. 3 losses, as unfair as it may be because you're essentially punishing them for losing later in the playoffs rather than sooner, would be a bad look for their legacy. Have to make it 5-2

Yes, it's a point that many find hard to accept, that it's actually better to get to the big game and lose than to not get there at all.

For instance, without actually knowing the stats I bet Eli Manning has a great playoff record because when he isn't winning Super Bowls he is just flat out NOT making the playoffs. Should that really be more impressive than a hypothetical someone who is 2-2 in the Super Bowl but obviously making the playoffs more.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Yes, it's a point that many find hard to accept, that it's actually better to get to the big game and lose than to not get there at all.

For instance, without actually knowing the stats I bet Eli Manning has a great playoff record because when he isn't winning Super Bowls he is just flat out NOT making the playoffs. Should that really be more impressive than a hypothetical someone who is 2-2 in the Super Bowl but obviously making the playoffs more.

As any fan of any team in a conference championship can tell you.

And as any fan of Joe Montana will deny to their dying breath.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

As any fan of any team in a conference championship can tell you.

And as any fan of Joe Montana will deny to their dying breath.

When you run across them, ask them how Montana knew to lose the NFCCG (or miss the playoffs entirely) in the years where SF wouldn't have been able to win the SB.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

The thing is, what if Brady loses this and another one? 4-4.

 

[PScottman]

"Who's the better QB between them and Brady"

You don't think the media of today wouldn't start that about Ryan if the Falcons win? They will in a heartbeat. Empirical relevance means nothing to these people anymore it's 100% "sources say..." or "an unnamed or anonymous GM/coach/league official...", etc.

The saying about those being ignorant of history being doomed to repeat it? We are the "those" these days by feeding fueling and sustaining a "news" culture that is focused on cruel personal destruction and cult of personality reporting - many times about the same individual! They'll elevate Ryan and denigrate Brady in a nanosecond if Atlanta wins.

 

[Ian]

You don't think the media of today wouldn't start that about Ryan if the Falcons win? They will in a heartbeat. Empirical relevance means nothing to these people anymore it's 100% "sources say..." or "an unnamed or anonymous GM/coach/league official...", etc.

The saying about those being ignorant of history being doomed to repeat it? We are the "those" these days by feeding fueling and sustaining a "news" culture that is focused on cruel personal destruction and cult of personality reporting - many times about the same individual! They'll elevate Ryan and denigrate Brady in a nanosecond if Atlanta wins.

Yeah, but the difference between Ryan and the others is this will be his first ring, whereas the others have already won at least one. I don't doubt there will be some talk about Ryan, but with the others, it would have been far worse.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Gotta win this one. I'd just love to be able to tell all the haters:
2 Super Bowl wins since Deflategate.

 

[Ring 6]

As any fan of any team in a conference championship can tell you.

And as any fan of Joe Montana will deny to their dying breath.

Actually the idiotic 4-0 in SBs is better than 4-2 talk us drying up.
The problem would be 4-3 would give the idiots another opportunity to make the stupid argument.

Doesn't matter though pats are winning.

Even Kurt Warner and Shannon sharpe are now acknowledging Brady is the GOAT. At this point saying otherwise makes you look foolish.

 

[1960Pats]

Definitely a must win, but they are all must wins. I want this one so bad. The drive for 5 is a huge deal for now and all of NFL history. I almost feel like this is a "team of destiny" type deal this year. we have to do this. I'm nervous but confident that we can. We are well prepared and as well coached as anybody.

Everything did seem to fall the Pats' way this year. Let's hope that continues for one more game.

I'm not sure that a win here would top 2014 when The Butler Did It but I'd like to find out.

 

[Pats1989]

Atlanta can afford more mistakes and still win. Patriots have to be near flawless.

 

[Ring 6]

Atlanta can afford more mistakes and still win. Patriots have to be near flawless.

Why would you think that?
Patriot O vs Falcon D is a much bigger advantage than Falcon O vs Patriot D

You talk like they are the team that is great in both sides of the ball and we are the team that sucks in one side.

 

[Todd Bradley]

Why would you think that?
Patriot O vs Falcon D is a much bigger advantage than Falcon O vs Patriot D

You talk like they are the team that is great in both sides of the ball and we are the team that sucks in one side.

Yeah I don't get why this is being overlooked.

Everyone in the media who's going Falcons wants to point to their "unstoppable" offense, yet fail to mentioned that the Pats have the #1 ranked defense and the #2 ranked offense with Brady.

The Pats offense is just as good as the Falcons. Give Brady back those 4 games he missed and our offense is probably #1 over Atlanta anyway.

The real story is the #1 ranked defense versus the #27 ranked defense, a #27 ranked defense that ranked WORST in the league in the Red Zone, no less.

Unless the Pats turn the ball over like they did in the Texans Divisional game (which is highly unlikely, considering Houston had the #1 ranked defense in yards allowed and one of the best overall in the league), I don't see how Atlanta is going to stop our offense from dismantling them.

The Pat's D can get stops against Atlanta's O. How does Atlanta's D get stops against the Pat's O? That's the real story of this game.

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah I don't get why this is being overlooked.

Everyone in the media who's going Falcons wants to point to their "unstoppable" offense, yet fail to mentioned that the Pats have the #1 ranked defense and the #2 ranked offense with Brady.

The Pats offense is just as good as the Falcons. Give Brady back those 4 games he missed and our offense is probably #1 over Atlanta anyway.

The real story is the #1 ranked defense versus the #27 ranked defense, a #27 ranked defense that ranked WORST in the league in the Red Zone, no less.

Unless the Pats turn the ball over like they did in the Texans Divisional game (which is highly unlikely, considering Houston had the #1 ranked defense in yards allowed and one of the best overall in the league), I don't see how Atlanta is going to stop our offense from dismantling them.

Our offense would have probably scored more points than Atlanta if our defense was getting torched for 25 a game.
How many games did we shut it down because the game was over? Quite a few.

 

[Pats1989]

Yeah I don't get why this is being overlooked.

Everyone in the media who's going Falcons wants to point to their "unstoppable" offense, yet fail to mentioned that the Pats have the #1 ranked defense and the #2 ranked offense with Brady.

The Pats offense is just as good as the Falcons. Give Brady back those 4 games he missed and our offense is probably #1 over Atlanta anyway.

The real story is the #1 ranked defense versus the #27 ranked defense, a #27 ranked defense that ranked WORST in the league in the Red Zone, no less.

Unless the Pats turn the ball over like they did in the Texans Divisional game (which is highly unlikely, considering Houston had the #1 ranked defense in yards allowed and one of the best overall in the league), I don't see how Atlanta is going to stop our offense from dismantling them.

The Pat's D can get stops against Atlanta's O. How does Atlanta's D get stops against the Pat's O? That's the real story of this game.

To be fair, we played some bad QB's during the year. I mean that can't be discounted. That's probably what people picking Atlanta think.

 

[Todd Bradley]

To be fair, we played some bad QB's during the year. I mean that can't be discounted. That's probably what people picking Atlanta think.

We played who was on our schedule and we beat them all, besides Russell Wilson and even in that game, we were one yard away from overtime.

Seahawks beat the Falcons by the way, too.

And if we're comparing the level of competition. The Patriots played against 4 playoff teams in the regular season (Miami, Houston, Pittsburgh and Seattle) and went 4-1.

The Falcons played against 4 playoff teams in the regular season (Oakland, Green Bay, Seattle and Kansas City) and went 2-2.

 

[1960Pats]

Atlanta can afford more mistakes and still win. Patriots have to be near flawless.

I think that depends on the mistakes that are made. A pick 6 is worse than a red zone fumble for instance.

 

[PatsBoy12]

If he wins, the debates are over. They will continue to chatter, but it will be noise signifying nothing.

For that matter, even getting to this SB pretty much ends the real debates. But to beat the leviathon Falcons, who many see as the big "real" test, would seal it conclusively, exclamation point, STFU, type deal.

It's been noise signifying nothing to me since 2010 - ONLY PLAYER IN LEAGUE HISTORY TO WIN THE MVP UNANIMOUSLY.

 

[PatsBoy12]

We played who was on our schedule and we beat them all, besides Russell Wilson and even in that game, we were one yard away from overtime.

Seahawks beat the Falcons by the way, too.

And if we're comparing the level of competition. The Patriots played against 4 playoff teams in the regular season (Miami, Houston, Pittsburgh and Seattle) and went 4-1.

The Seahawks played against 4 playoff teams in the regular season (Oakland, Green Bay, Seattle and Kansas City) and went 2-2.

I would say the Seahawks vs Seattle was a draw, so wouldn't it be 2-1-1?

 

[Todd Bradley]

I would say the Seahawks vs Seattle was a draw, so wouldn't it be 2-1-1?

LOL ehh Falcons, Seahawks, same thing....