Don Banks: Patriots haven't been tested.

[NashuaPats]

Don Banks shouldn't go out so much.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I agree with all of that, and I'll add another point: The Patriots' schedule often looks weak -- because they don't have to play the Patriots, and all of their opponents do!

But again, Banks wasn't bashing the Patriots. He was just stating the plain fact that they have yet to face and beat ANY of the other teams that have looked legitimately strong for long stretches this year:

Chiefs
Cowboys
Falcons
Giants
Packers
Raiders, with Carr
Seahawks
Steelers, with Ben

The question is, who has? Which of the contenders do have multiple victories against quality opponents? The answer turns out to be most of them:

Chiefs (Raiders x2, Falcons)
Falcons (Packers, Raiders)
Giants (Cowboys x2)
Packers (Giants, Seahawks)
Seahawks (Falcons, Patriots)
Steelers (Chiefs, Giants)

IMO the Chiefs are the most "tested" team in the playoffs. The Cowboys and Raiders cruised on their losers' schedules based on 2015 and deserve the "untested" label along with the Patriots. [EDIT: Actually I take it back, the Cowboys did beat the Packers + Steelers]

Of course, none of this changes the fact that Pats were the most dominant team in the league over the whole season, or the fact that they look like the most complete team and should be favored to win it all. It just is what it is.

Fair enough (and that comment responds to DI's post too). I did not listen to Banks - I read only the few blurbs posted here. My responses were based on these blurbs only (and simply "trying" to be witty in a few instances). But I'm always, 99%, dubious of sports MSM and their repeated attempts at clickbait using the obvious mob mentality envy and anger at BB/Patriots (I've always suspected Goodell, in part, went after Brady as a proxy for BB). So as good as your post was I'm unlikely to not be dubious

 

[rookBoston]

Yeah, we didn't play Dallas. But Dallas didn't play us, either.

 

[dafoe2016]

The formula for beating the Pats is ball control offense and getting consistent pressure on Brady. I don't think there are any teams in the AFC playoffs that fit that description this year. But there are a couple of NFC teams that do.

I would imagine the Super Bowl will be, by far, our toughest test of the year. As it should be.

 

[The Brandon Five]

The formula for beating the Pats is ball control offense and getting consistent pressure on Brady. I don't think there are any teams in the AFC playoffs that fit that description this year. But there are a couple of NFC teams that do.

I would imagine the Super Bowl will be, by far, our toughest test of the year. As it should be.

What NFC teams do you think fit that description?