Easily the Most Nervous Game of Brady's and Belichick's career

[groundgame]

After winning their second Super Bowl, after the 2003 season, this duo could do no wrong right up to (loss to NYJ) January 2011. After 5 years of regular season successes, followed by post-season heartbreak, this was the dateline that confirmed that that the invincible Belichick/Brady/Patriots/Foxborough aura was shattered. That does not mean it can't be re-found. After losing a home game in round 1 in 2010 as the 3 seed, and going one and out last year as the 1 seed, they know they may never be in this position again. Brady and Belichick are at a crossroads: Win at least one more game this year and you move onto next season reasonably OK. Lose in Round 1 for third straight year (2 of which you are the #1 overall Seed): A chunk of motivation will be gone, never to return, and it's hard to play hard next year 4 exhib games and 16 regular season games for what??

However, you win Saturday night, the weight of the world will be off you all, and the remaining games will feel like lounging on a hammock under a shady tree on a summer afternoon.

 

[PatsFan24]

Huh? Even if they win this week they still need to win 2 more games. I don't think TB and BB will be happy if they win this week then lose to the Ravens the next.

 

[Patspsycho]

Bad idea to put antifreeze in your moonshine.

 

[Dufflebagz]

You know that dislike button people are asking for?

Yeah, it would be a great addition.

 

[ender24601]

You know that dislike button people are asking for?

Yeah, it would be a great addition.

Okay, what problems do you all have with this thread?

 

[Dufflebagz]

Okay, what problems do you all have with this thread?

Here's a good one

Lose in Round 1 for third straight year (2 of which you are the #1 overall Seed): A chunk of motivation will be gone, never to return, and it's hard to play hard next year 4 exhib games and 16 regular season games for what??

 

[supafly]

Personally, I don't have as much of a problem with this thread as some..

I think the OP is trying to say that if they can revisit their winning ways and peel the proverbial monkey off of their backs, that the next game (or two) may feel a bit more like "old times" again.

I find that to be fair enough.

 

[RayClay]

 

[deroc5050]

I think if they lose this game it will be an embarrassment.. I knnow the other tema there playing gets paid too. But if Timmy Tebow comes into your house and beats the great Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick.. we will be the laughing stocks of the NFL.. it was one thing for the banged up steelers injury plagued season to end in Denver on the road... thats a little different than if the Pats lose.

The pats basically just got a double Bye week to the AFC title game. To me its all set up for them to make it to the Super Bowl. This first game will be the Salad.. its a nice healthy little treat before the main dish (Ravens) If they manage to eat all the steak.. they get to have dessert (SB).. This is the easiest road this team will have.. They have to at least make it to the SB for the season not to be a disappointment.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

....After losing a home game in round 1 in 2010 as the 3 seed, and going one and out last year as the 1 seed, they know they may never be in this position again. Brady and Belichick are at a crossroads: Win at least one more game this year and you move onto next season reasonably OK. Lose in Round 1 for third straight year (2 of which you are the #1 overall Seed): A chunk of motivation will be gone, never to return, and it's hard to play hard next year 4 exhib games and 16 regular season games for what??

However, you win Saturday night, the weight of the world will be off you all, and the remaining games will feel like lounging on a hammock under a shady tree on a summer afternoon.

Neither Brady nor Belichick, nor anyone who understands what it takes to be truly great in any area, whether business or academia or government, thinks like that.

For people like them, past successes or failures represent data points, experiences from which they can learn. But, when everything is on the line, they are neither worried about repeating earlier mistakes or falsely confident because of earlier accomplishments. In fact, the past and future are gone from their minds and they are completely in the moment and focused on the task at hand. They could care less whether they will be in similar circumstances again because they know what they can accomplish and all that matters to them is winning this game, doing this deal, making this discovery, winning this election.

When a game or any challenge becomes a chance to sit under a tree and relax...well, that's when they leave the arena to others who want to prove their own greatness and they know it's time to move on to pursue other interests or retire to that hammock. They're not in it to relax on a summer's afternoon; they're in it to win and be the best.

That's the difference between "great" and "good."

 

[Patriots Nation NY]

I think this thread will show the older/younger fans colors ...lol .. I remember when cool joe montana lost 3 in a row in the playoffs .. yeah, he won two more VLTs after that .. Why can't we use enjoy the ride .. geezzz

 

[PatsDeb]

Oh don't be so dramatic. We should win, and if we don't we will all be severely bummed, but we'll move on. So will BB and TFB.

Have some faith! Despite all the reports, Tebow hasn't cornered the market on it!

 

[Keyser Söze]

I'll be to drunk to feel emotions

 

[Ron Sellers]

After winning their second Super Bowl, after the 2003 season, this duo could do no wrong right up to (loss to NYJ) January 2011. After 5 years of regular season successes, followed by post-season heartbreak, this was the dateline that confirmed that that the invincible Belichick/Brady/Patriots/Foxborough aura was shattered. That does not mean it can't be re-found. After losing a home game in round 1 in 2010 as the 3 seed, and going one and out last year as the 1 seed, they know they may never be in this position again. Brady and Belichick are at a crossroads: Win at least one more game this year and you move onto next season reasonably OK. Lose in Round 1 for third straight year (2 of which you are the #1 overall Seed): A chunk of motivation will be gone, never to return, and it's hard to play hard next year 4 exhib games and 16 regular season games for what??

However, you win Saturday night, the weight of the world will be off you all, and the remaining games will feel like lounging on a hammock under a shady tree on a summer afternoon.

I think what is happening is that you are confusing how you feel about this game/will react if the Pats lose with how Brady and Belichick likely feel about this game/will react if the Pats lose. Some fans are nervous about losing; some are already looking three weeks ahead; these two are srictly focused on what they need to do to win this game. Period.

I think you, I, and a substantial segment of Patriots fans do feel pressure for the Pats to win in order to to get that monkey off your/our backs. Let's face it, we're pretty much all sick and tired of hearing about how 'the Pats haven't won a playoff game since', 'one and done', etc.

However, that does not mean that people like Brady and Belichick think that way. If anything it makes highly competitive people like them more focused on winning. If they had the type of personalities that worried about 'what happens if I lose' then they would have long ago joined us watching these games rather than competing in them.

How we feel about this game has nothing to do with how Brady and Belichick feel about this game.

 

[dogdoctor]

I think you, I, and a substantial segment of Patriots fans do feel pressure for the Pats to win in order to to get that monkey off your/our backs. Let's face it, we're pretty much all sick and tired of hearing about how 'the Pats haven't won a playoff game since', 'one and done', etc.

However, that does not mean that people like Brady and Belichick think that way. If anything it makes highly competitive people like them more focused on winning. If they had the type of personalities that worried about 'what happens if I lose' then they would have long ago joined us watching these games rather than competing in them.

How we feel about this game has nothing to do with how Brady and Belichick feel about this game.

This sums it up to a T. Well said.

 

[PatriotSeven]

Well I think it's a valid thread and it brings up a good point. I don't know how Tom and Bill feel about it, but I feel a bit nervous as a fan if they do lose.

It would be very disappointing, and will probably begin raising some tough questions, but whether criticism would be deserved will depend on how the Pats lose.

If they go out there and they put out their A game, no turnovers, and lose because Denver just happens to click and play a better game? Well anytime you have two teams executing perfectly at this level, you're going to have a close, tough game, and somebody is simply going to have to lose that game in the playoffs. It would suck, but it wouldn't send any red flags. They need to improve and try again next year.

If Tom throws an interception or fumbles the ball, and it's clearly a great defensive play which leads to a win for Denver people will probably start pointing out this is what happened in the last 2 and something's wrong with Tom, but I honestly wouldn't worry about it. It happens.

If Tom Brady does throw an interception, and it's a bad one, due to sloppy play, which leads to a loss then I would worry. Because it wouldn't be the first time he did that this season.
If some other Patriots player fumbles the ball or turns it over along with other mental errors, then I would also worry about Bill's ability to still keep this team hungry and focused in the big game.
If they completely break down and self destroy, I would worry.

But if the first two scenarios happen, not a big deal although I still see the media, fans and opponents begin using it heavily against the Patriots.

 

[Off The Grid]

Lose in Round 1 for third straight year (2 of which you are the #1 overall Seed): A chunk of motivation will be gone, never to return, and it's hard to play hard next year 4 exhib games and 16 regular season games for what??

Yeah, I'VE never heard of Joe Montana + Bill Walsh, either!! :bricks:

Yeah, I'm gonna go with:



The Miners went "One + Done" three years in a row:

1985.
1986.
1987.

...And were barely ever heard from again.

However, you win Saturday night, the weight of the world will be off you all, and the remaining games will feel like lounging on a hammock under a shady tree on a summer afternoon.

Worst Thread Ever!!