ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown had a few exchanges worthy of interest from Patriots fans:
How do the 2007 Patriots compare to the Patriots’ Super Bowl Teams?
Emmitt Smith: “Overall, they have upgraded this team, offense and defense, and they are playing better ball.”
Mike Ditka: “The final test is – Do they win the Super Bowl. This is the best prepared team in football. That goes down to the coaching staff. Bill Belichick right now, whether you like him or hate him or you want to anoint him, he’s the best in the business in what he’s doing right now. These guys know everything that is going to go on and they are prepared for everything. There is no trick against these guys.”
Tom Jackson: “When you look at them talent-wise, I don’t think there’s any doubt that they are better, especially on the offensive side of the ball. So, this team? Yes, better. When I start looking back now at those three Super Bowls my question will remain the same. To what extent did the video-taping go and how long did it go on? I see they played the Rams, as they led up to Super Bowl XXXVI, in week 11 in Foxboro and lose by seven. They come back two months later and they dismantle that football team at a neutral site. It may be nothing, I don’t know, neither do you (pointing to Keyshawn Johnson).”
Keyshawn Johnson: “When you play a team twice in the league, you play them once you lose. The second time around, it will never be the same.”
Patriots or Colts: Which team has a better chance to go 16-0?
Smith: “It is very difficult to go undefeated.
Jackson: “The offense of the Patriots verges on being great. You are playing a division, if you’re the Patriots, where you have a pretty easy walk. That makes it a little easier to go 16-0.”
Johnson: “I’d say New England. But I’ve got to think for a minute why? For me, I’d probably say they have a great coach, they’ve got a great team and obviously they’ve got an excellent zoom lens.”
From NFL Network on Sunday:
"If you want to compare these teams... At quarterback it’s a wash. At receiver it’s a wash. But the balance for the New England Patriots defensively…that’s where they take the lead on the Colts. The Colts have a huge drop off defensively."
-- Deion Sanders on New England and Indianapolis – the AFC’s two unbeaten teams.
"He’s not as quick, not as physical, and not as aggressive. But he’s able to make plays because of his knowledge."
-- Deion Sanders on Patriots LB Junior Seau, who had six tackles and two interceptions vs. Browns
