2002 Patriots

[The Brandon Five]

...and most likely a SB 42 win.

 

[patfanken]

I think there were a couple of things that factored in to that 2002 season.

1. Generally I believe that when BB came to the Pats he had a building plan that would evolved from that 5-11 2000 team and get better each year until 2003 when they'd be in position to compete for championship. Well they hit lightning in a bottle and won it all 2 years early in 2001. I think they had a better roster in 2002 (on paper) but didn't play as well together and was not as deep as they needed to be. Even more back then the league had more parity (read more decent QB's) so the margin for victory was even slimmer than it is now. So it didn't take much to see it go from 11-5 to 9-7.

2. Steve Martin is probably the worse FA signing in the BB era. He was supposed to have a big role in the run defense, and didn't even make it through the entire season before being cut.

3. I think the harder schedule DID play a factor.

4. Branch and Givens were both rookies and neither were oustanding receivers (though Branch's 400+ yds was the most for a rookie WR for over a decade). When Brown got dinged, they didn't have much in the way of good receivers.

In the end I think the Pats didn't win the close ones they had in 2001. But based on the plan I think BB envisioned in 2000, it wasn't that far off from the master plan.

BTW- think about this. Since 2001 NO team in the AFCE division has ever won more games than the Pats, and that includes the 2 seasons someone else won the division in tie breakers That's 16 f*cking consecutive years.......and counting, No other team has come close to that kind of domination for so long

 

[borg]

2000.....BB assessed his new team
2001......Signed bridge veterans while initiating core rebuild....caught magic in a bottle despite no risk offense
2002....Bridge players settle back to Earth. Core rebuild continues
2003....The team BB envisioned 3 years prior is near completion
2004....Perfection achieved
2005-06.....Age woes / Contract issues
2007.....No Mercy Tour.....BB goes weapons shopping
2008.....Battle of Wounded Knee

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Team started out on fire but went into funk after Troy Brown got dinged up in week 3 vs Chiefs. He was enjoying best game of career (15 or 16 catches) but was only dependable weapon. Deon Branch showed flashes but he was also injury prone. David Givens became very reliable in 2003 but as a rook in 2002 he struggled with drops.

Also 2002 free agent class struggled making impact. Didn't seem to have the quality depth.

When Pats are good, their depth is major reason why. Same can be said about their "off" years.

Is this the time Deion got hurt on a stupid punt re-kick late in the first half against the Cards or something? Anyway, a learning experience.

We could not stop the run in '02. But we picked up the right guys to help us out the following season.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

I think there were a couple of things that factored in to that 2002 season.

1. Generally I believe that when BB came to the Pats he had a building plan that would evolved from that 5-11 2000 team and get better each year until 2003 when they'd be in position to compete for championship. Well they hit lightning in a bottle and won it all 2 years early in 2001. I think they had a better roster in 2002 (on paper) but didn't play as well together and was not as deep as they needed to be. Even more back then the league had more parity (read more decent QB's) so the margin for victory was even slimmer than it is now. So it didn't take much to see it go from 11-5 to 9-7.

Even BB said something like, "I can't believe we won it all with that team." in the 2002 preseason. He knew the 2001 postseason run was a series of remarkable (and unlikely) plays made, one after another. Lightning in a bottle, indeed.

Regards,
Chris

 

[TommyD4207]

Run defense was garbage....I'll never forget that game in SD...Tomlinson completely gashed the Pats that day...I remember SD kept running a fake end around to Tim Dwight and then Tomlinson would pick up tons of yards...

They bit on that friggin fake 100 times in that game, it was awful.

The run defense was pathetic at best, and the Patriots played a lot of good RBs that year.

Also, I think it's part of the reason why Milloy was so expendable after Harrison signed here. You know, the performance thing of Milloy's that no one actually talks about.

 

[LuRkeR1978]

I blame these...


They also couldn't stop the run to save their lives.

 

[RobertWeathers]

They bit on that friggin fake 100 times in that game, it was awful.

The run defense was pathetic at best, and the Patriots played a lot of good RBs that year.

Also, I think it's part of the reason why Milloy was so expendable after Harrison signed here. You know, the performance thing of Milloy's that no one actually talks about.

It's well known Milloy did jack squat in 02.

 

[TommyD4207]

It's well known Milloy did jack squat in 02.

Lost to history though. Still so much outrage over him being cut. It wasn't just a contract decision.

 

[fair catch fryar]

The 2001 team was a miracle. It was expected to lose more games than it won. The 2002 team wasn't a much better team. Of course, it had improved a bit. The miracle didn't happen twice. The schedule was much more difficult.

The 2002 team performed about as expected, and reasonably well, given the talent and schedule.

I used to think 2001 was a miracle, but if you think about it...that team was pretty stacked in retrospect. All they needed was the greatest QB of all time to come off the bench to round em out.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Lost to history though. Still so much outrage over him being cut. It wasn't just a contract decision.

There were rumors he got a big head after SB36 but I dunna know...

 

[NG Pats Fan]

In week 17, we played Miami at home. If Miami wins, they clinch the division. I'll never forget, Miami held a 24-13 lead with under 3 minutes left in the game. Brady pulled out some of his 4th quarter magic (a preview of things to come ) to tie it at 24. In OT, vinatier kicked the game winner from 35 yards...just clipped it inside the post. The look on Wannstedts face said it all...I swear Miami never recovered from that. Incredible comeback. We clinched the division for about 4 hours, until the Green Bay rested its starters and gift wrapped the jets the division.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

5 takeaways from the 2002 season

- Troy browns 16 catches in week with against KC
- tom Brady led the league with 28 TD passes
- awful run defense, got gashed all season long
- down 27-6 in third quarter against Chicago, Brady took over the game and led us back for an incredible 33-30 comeback victory.
- Brady with another great 11 point comeback against Miami in week 17 with under 3 minutes to go

 

[bbobbo]

Even BB said something like, "I can't believe we won it all with that team." in the 2002 preseason. He knew the 2001 postseason run was a series of remarkable (and unlikely) plays made, one after another. Lightning in a bottle, indeed.

Regards,
Chris

from The Education of a Coach:

 

[RayClay]

Yup. How can we forget everybody's favorite nose tackle?

Yes he was a mild and lazy guy

 

[1960Pats]

I have never seen a run defense pushed around as much as that 02 team was.

I remember being very worried at the end of game 3 because KC had scored with seconds left and had an opportunity to go for two and win instead of going for the OT. They went for the tie and lost in the OT instead. And that was after putting up close to 100 yards rushing and 21 points in the 4th quarter alone.

 

[1960Pats]

Favre also cost the Patriots a playoff appearance in 2008

Brint Favre cost us the 19-0 season in 2007 with a huge interception in the NFC title game vs the Giants. No way the Pats would have lost to GB in the SB.

 

[1960Pats]

BTW- think about this. Since 2001 NO team in the AFCE division has ever won more games than the Pats, and that includes the 2 seasons someone else won the division in tie breakers That's 16 f*cking consecutive years.......and counting, No other team has come close to that kind of domination for so long

I have a lot of fun with that stat. All you have to do is tell a fan that since Tom Brady took over, the Pats have had the best record in the AFCE every year, even in the year Brady was lost. Most people will jump all over that until they see the truth.

 

[1960Pats]

Lost to history though. Still so much outrage over him being cut. It wasn't just a contract decision.

The mediots wanted folks to believe that it was about a few hundred grand, which we know wasn't the case.

 

[DaBruinz]

In 2002, BB thought the addition of NT Steve Martin would allow them to switch to the 3-4 full time with Seymour spelling Martin on occasion. As others mentioned, Martin was horrible. He did too much talking on the sidelines and in the locker-room and didn't produce on the field. Belichick cut him in November.

As others mentioned, Milloy's play slipped significantly as well. No forced fumbles. No interceptions. No run stuffs. When your strong safety who is also supposed to be a leader doesn't produce, then that's a major issue.