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- Jan 26, 2010
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Here’s where my thinking is at.
I’m a lifelong fan so going to be optimistic til the end.
But in the past 20 years I remember only one team completely changing its identity from regular season to playoffs. That was the Colts team that won the Super Bowl vs the Bears. All season they couldn’t stop the run. Awful. Then they got Bob Sanders back Week 13. And no one could run on them come playoff time. It started with The Larry Johnson Chiefs then a Ravens team with a strong running game. (We won’t get into the AFCCG).
And there have been a couple of teams without the gaudiest of regular season records but a boatload of momentum going into the playoffs, even winning three playoff games before taking the Lombardi. I vaguely remember a Steelers team doing this but have blocked out the details. And maybe a Giants team or two. . (Pats 2008 could have been one of those teams if they got in).
point being I don’t currently see either of these in the 2019 Patriots. There is no Sanders-like returning hero (ie Gronk) and we can hardly say they have a ton of momentum right now.
So by that perspective, the 2019 Patriots have a lot to overcome. They need to gain a momentum they simply haven’t shown the second half of the season.
but I’d dint give up at 28-3 and I’m not giving up now. The team still has some all-time champs.
I’m a lifelong fan so going to be optimistic til the end.
But in the past 20 years I remember only one team completely changing its identity from regular season to playoffs. That was the Colts team that won the Super Bowl vs the Bears. All season they couldn’t stop the run. Awful. Then they got Bob Sanders back Week 13. And no one could run on them come playoff time. It started with The Larry Johnson Chiefs then a Ravens team with a strong running game. (We won’t get into the AFCCG).
And there have been a couple of teams without the gaudiest of regular season records but a boatload of momentum going into the playoffs, even winning three playoff games before taking the Lombardi. I vaguely remember a Steelers team doing this but have blocked out the details. And maybe a Giants team or two. . (Pats 2008 could have been one of those teams if they got in).
point being I don’t currently see either of these in the 2019 Patriots. There is no Sanders-like returning hero (ie Gronk) and we can hardly say they have a ton of momentum right now.
So by that perspective, the 2019 Patriots have a lot to overcome. They need to gain a momentum they simply haven’t shown the second half of the season.
but I’d dint give up at 28-3 and I’m not giving up now. The team still has some all-time champs.