BB/Brady Era: Where do you rank the Falcons out of the 7 SB opponents we've faced?

[fightingirish595]

Is there a reason not to include the Bears and Packers? The Bears defense that year changed the game, so they warrant some consideration.

Not the Brady belichick era

 

[fightingirish595]

Giants were among the worst Superbowl winnings teams I can remember. So I agree with the OP, they belong at the bottom.

The Giants in 2007 could dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides. They deserve their championships. 2011 team wasn't as good but they got hot. 07 Giants are extremely underrated in my opinion

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

The '01 Rams were, far and away, the best of the 7

The best compared to all our other Super Bowl opponents?

Or the 'best' relative to the talent on the Patriots roster of that time (2001)?

 

[XLIX]

1. Rams (2001)
2. Seahawks (2014)
3. Eagles (2004)
4. Falcons (2016)
5. Panthers (2003)
6. Giants (2007)
7. Giants (2011)

Yes, I understand my two lowest ranked teams are the one's that beat us, which kills me

I think the only thing I would change on that list would switching # 6 and #7.

And yes, it kills me too.

 

[MainePatsFan26]

1. Rams (2001)
2. Seahawks (2014)
3. Eagles (2004)
4. Falcons (2016)
5. Panthers (2003)
6. Giants (2007)
7. Giants (2011)

Yes, I understand my two lowest ranked teams are the one's that beat us, which kills me

Even though this thread is about the Brady/BB era, I'd like to add the other two Super Bowls the Patriots participated in. Here is my list:

1. Bears (1985)
2. Rams (2001)
3. Seahawks (2014)
4. Packers (1996)
5. Giants (2007)
6. Falcons (2016)
7. Eagles (2004)
8. Panthers (2003)
9. Giants (2011)

I'd put the Giants (2007) and Falcons (2016) at the same level: both have an tremendous advantage on one side of the ball, but a disadvantage on the other. Opponents 1-4 were strong all around teams if my memory serves correctly. The 2011 Giants were a talented team on defense, but they happened across a weak Patriots team both physically and mentally compared to our usual efforts. Here's hoping the 2016 Patriots can display the physical ability and mental discipline to come away champions.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

1. Seahawks
2. Rams
3. '07 Giants (pass rush!!!!)
4. Eagles
5. '11 Giants
6. Panthers

No idea on Falcons, but based on confidence going into the game, probably on the lower end.

 

[NashuaPats]

If I recall correctly, the two Giants teams were rather ordinary during the regular seasons, but their awesome defensive line only got healthy at the end of the year and peaked in the playoffs. I would have to put those two teams at the top with the exception of the Rams followed by the Seahawks. The Falcons definitely go ahead of the Panthers and maybe ahead of the Eagles considering how they have played in the playoffs so far.

Rams
Giants
Giants
Seahawks
Falcons
Eagles
Panthers

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

This falcon doesn't compare at all to any of our previous Super Bowl opponents.

It actually compares rather closely to one former opponent: 2006 colts.

A really high powered offense with receiving threats everywhere, and an all pro wideout in his prime. Multiple backs who were a threat to run and catch on any play, and a really talented Move TE that creates a lot of matchup issues.

On the flip side, the pats had a three headed monster at running back. They had a reliable 3rd down back, a power back, and a young back they began to work in to the offense as the season wore on. The controlled the line of scrimmage with a great oline and fantastic inline TE work. Also relied on an old cagey vet for clutch 3rd down catches.

Beyond that, trade reche Caldwell and jabar gaffney for Edelman and hogan, and it's basically a replay.


But seriously, this will be the most unique opponent we will have faced in a superbowl. I am looking forward to what each team comes up with and how their styles of play match on the field.

It's gonna be a lot of points though.

 

[CaptainCanuck]

1. Giants (2007)
2. Giants (2011)
3. Seahawks (2014)
4. Falcons (2016)
5. Eagles (2004)
6. Rams (2001)
7. Panthers (2003)

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

Not the Brady belichick era

Sorry about that, I read the thread title a bit too quickly.

1. 2007 Giants
2. 2016 Falcons
3. 2014 Seahawks
4. 2011 Giants
5. 2001 Rams
6. 2004 Eagles
7. 2003 Panthers

I'm giving the Falcons more respect than most for a couple of reasons. First, their ability to run the ball and catch out of the backfield is highly underapreciated. Second, it was mentioned on WEEI yesterday that Matt Ryan statistically is the best in the league this year with a clean pocket, which we all know will be the case.

Luckily for us this is a really good Patriots team.

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

They're easily the most potent offense we've faced in a Super Bowl since 'The Greatest Show on Turf.' No question about it

The worst D too...

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

1. Seahawks (2014)
2. Rams (2001)
3. Giants (2007)
4. Giants (2011)
5. Falcons (2016) - I rather face an excellent O. Our 2007 O was better, and Giants stopped us. If you have a great D as Seattle and Giants had you always close. And like a posted, Falcons were able to put 30 points in only one top 15 D this year. They faced TB (2x), Chiefs, Broncos,Seattle. So 1-5
6. Eagles (2004)
7. Panthers (2003)

 

[Julius]

Based on quality of the team on Super bowl Sunday.

1. Rams (2001) Elite offense... serviceable defense.
2. Giants (2007) Elite defense... serviceable offense.
3. Seahawks (2014) Elite hobbled defense... good offense.
4. Panthers (2003) Balanced team, flawed QB (played great)
5. Falcons (2016) Elite offense, untested young D
6. Giants (2011) Very good D, pedestrian offense.
7. Eagles (2004) Good defense, hobbled offense, flawed QB...

 

[BritPat]

In terms of overall team....

Rams
Seahawks
Eagles
Falcons
Panthers
GFY
GFY

 

[RobertWeathers]

This falcon doesn't compare at all to any of our previous Super Bowl opponents.

It actually compares rather closely to one former opponent: 2006 colts.

A really high powered offense with receiving threats everywhere, and an all pro wideout in his prime. Multiple backs who were a threat to run and catch on any play, and a really talented Move TE that creates a lot of matchup issues.

On the flip side, the pats had a three headed monster at running back. They had a reliable 3rd down back, a power back, and a young back they began to work in to the offense as the season wore on. The controlled the line of scrimmage with a great oline and fantastic inline TE work. Also relied on an old cagey vet for clutch 3rd down catches.

Beyond that, trade reche Caldwell and jabar gaffney for Edelman and hogan, and it's basically a replay.


But seriously, this will be the most unique opponent we will have faced in a superbowl. I am looking forward to what each team comes up with and how their styles of play match on the field.

It's gonna be a lot of points though.

The 06 Colts were a Jeckel and Hyde defense. Without Bob Sanders they sucked. With Bob Sanders they were excellent.

ATLs D is porous. Brady is going to shred them

 

[Viper652]

That 96 Packers team is a crap load better than the 14 Seahawks, and probably better than the 01 Rams.

They were number 1 in offense and defense. You guys are overrating the 14 seahawks

 

[ALP]

1. Rams (2001)
2. Seahawks (2014)
3. Eagles (2004)
4. Falcons (2016)
5. Panthers (2003)
6. Giants (2007)
7. Giants (2011)

Yes, I understand my two lowest ranked teams are the one's that beat us, which kills me

the '14 hawks would destroy any one of those teams, including the Rams, so they take top spot

I think the Giants '07, if they shut our O down, would def be able to shut down the Rams O, the Atlanta O, the Eagles O and the panthers O bc theyre aall not as good as us in '07, they take 2nd spot

Giants '11 are last, they shouldn't have been there just got hot and played a hurt Pats team

Falcons O would demolish all other defenses left so theyre 3rd

Then it's the Rams, then Eagles, then Panthers so:

Hawks
Giants 07
Atlanta
Rams
Eagles
Panthers
Giants 11

 

[Todd Bradley]

Rams
Seahawks
Giants 07
Falcons
Panthers
Eagles
Giants 11

I'd place them smack dab exactly in the middle.

Not the best team we haves faced in the Super Bowl, but far from the worst. Will be a test.

 

[Keyser Söze]

The '01 Rams were, far and away, the best of the 7. After that, does it really matter?

You know you didn't have to participate right?

 

[VrabelJr]

Is there a reason not to include the Bears and Packers? The Bears defense that year changed the game, so they warrant some consideration.

I don't know what you're talking about. The Patriots were founded in 2001 by Tom Brady.