jmt57
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There is no denying that the Pats were dismal on Sunday in every aspect except special teams. But before we carry out either mass executions or Jonestown-style suicides, here's a bit of history.
2007: Giants surrender 80 points to start season 0-2 as the call to fire Coughlin reaches deafening proportions. Later as the close of the season nears, New York turns the ball over 4 times and loses 41-17 to the 5-6 Vikings.
2006: Colts lose four out of 6 games down the stretch to kill momentum heading towards the playoffs, including a 44-17 drubbing from Jacksonville. Big talk around the NFL is how Tony Dungy can never win in the playoffs despite the talent he's given.
2005: Steelers turn to rookie Ben Roethlisberger for his first start in week 3 but the outcome is the same, another Seelers loss to the Pats. The rookie looks to be unprepared for life as an NFL QB, completing just 12 of 28 passes and being sacked four times.
2004: The Steelers run for 221 yards, while holding the Pats' to just six - 6! - yards rushing. This one was over early as Pittsburgh bolted out to an early 24-3 lead and was never threatened.
2003: Opening day: Buffalo 31, Pats 0; 4 interceptions; "the players hate their coach."
2002: Tampa Bay fails to score more than 21 points in nine regular season games. But in the playoffs they win 31-6, 27-10, and 48-21 for the SB.
2001: Coming off a 5-11 season, team loses it's starting QB and is 0-2. After ten weeks, the record is just 5-5 and is in 3rd place, ahead of only a very bad Bills team.
2000: Ravens are 5-4 and in third place, helped out by being in a division with the 2nd year Browns in the AFC East - and just completed a five game stretch where they did not score one single offensive touchdown.
My point is not to say that the Patriots are going to win the Super Bowl. What I am trying to say is that even the very best teams have a very bad game or a bad stretch of games prior to winning a championship. One bad game - even as bad as Sunday's was - does not justify the current over-reaction by Pats fans. Even the best teams lose, and even the best teams occasionally lose very badly. Let bspn and the trolls in mom's basement jump to conclusions based on one game - we should all be more intelligent than that.
2007: Giants surrender 80 points to start season 0-2 as the call to fire Coughlin reaches deafening proportions. Later as the close of the season nears, New York turns the ball over 4 times and loses 41-17 to the 5-6 Vikings.
2006: Colts lose four out of 6 games down the stretch to kill momentum heading towards the playoffs, including a 44-17 drubbing from Jacksonville. Big talk around the NFL is how Tony Dungy can never win in the playoffs despite the talent he's given.
2005: Steelers turn to rookie Ben Roethlisberger for his first start in week 3 but the outcome is the same, another Seelers loss to the Pats. The rookie looks to be unprepared for life as an NFL QB, completing just 12 of 28 passes and being sacked four times.
2004: The Steelers run for 221 yards, while holding the Pats' to just six - 6! - yards rushing. This one was over early as Pittsburgh bolted out to an early 24-3 lead and was never threatened.
2003: Opening day: Buffalo 31, Pats 0; 4 interceptions; "the players hate their coach."
2002: Tampa Bay fails to score more than 21 points in nine regular season games. But in the playoffs they win 31-6, 27-10, and 48-21 for the SB.
2001: Coming off a 5-11 season, team loses it's starting QB and is 0-2. After ten weeks, the record is just 5-5 and is in 3rd place, ahead of only a very bad Bills team.
2000: Ravens are 5-4 and in third place, helped out by being in a division with the 2nd year Browns in the AFC East - and just completed a five game stretch where they did not score one single offensive touchdown.
My point is not to say that the Patriots are going to win the Super Bowl. What I am trying to say is that even the very best teams have a very bad game or a bad stretch of games prior to winning a championship. One bad game - even as bad as Sunday's was - does not justify the current over-reaction by Pats fans. Even the best teams lose, and even the best teams occasionally lose very badly. Let bspn and the trolls in mom's basement jump to conclusions based on one game - we should all be more intelligent than that.
