How realistic is a Super Bowl appearance this season?

[Wozzy]

No offense to anyone here or the wonderful job Vrabel and Cowden have done… but it wasn’t a full rebuild.

The hard work came in 2020 when they accepted a losing season and cleared all the dead cap off the books.

Since then they’ve floundered, but they struck gold with Drake Maye last offseason and had clean books to fix things this year.

The Pats could have been good last year but Wolf and Mayo were a disaster. Hire Vrabel/Cowden last year and we are a year ahead.

I won’t stare a gift horse in the mouth, just thankful the Krafts fixed their mistake and pushed forward. Go Pats!

 

[Wozzy]

If the Pats stay healthy and play mistake free they can beat anyone in the NFL.

Having the talent is where it starts, health and executing well is how it ends.

The talent is there… even if the negative nancy’s here couldn’t see it to start the season.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Statistically their chances decrease if they have to meet Buffalo again. Especially with an experienced playoff team and Josh Allen.

That's actually one thing I fear.

You mean the team that continually loses in big games? I understand what you mean as beating teams 3 times in a season is very hard to do. Not many teams have done it.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Look at the Giants in 2007. They were arguably one of the weakest teams heading into the playoffs. They got hot at the right time and barreled all the way to a Super Bowl championship.

They also would have been eliminated from the playoffs in 2011 had they lost the game at Dallas week 11 with 5:41 remaining down 34-22. Eli Manning and Joe Flacco's are the two biggest assholes in NFL history. Completely mediocre QB's who had the luckiest games and pulled wins against the 49ers, Packers, Broncos and Patriots out of their asses.

How about have a good December first and then go from there.

That hasn't happened since the Patriots last won the Super Bowl. Total coaching failure IMO but maybe that aspect has finally been fixed.

That's what it's going to take to win the division. Buffalo has an insane December record since 2020.

 

[TommyD4207]

You mean the team that continually loses in big games? I understand what you mean as beating teams 3 times in a season is very hard to do. Not many teams have done it.

I'm terrified of the guy with the 7-6 playoff record, personally.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I'm terrified of the guy with the 7-6 playoff record, personally.

It's only going to get worse. It wouldn't shock me if they lose in the Wild Card round and the pitchforks come out.

 

[PatsfanTN]

Barring no major injuries, it’s realistic THIS year. There are no dominant teams, the Rams would be a tough out. Feels like out of the top ten teams, anyone could beat anyone on a given day. So why not?

 

[NFL Mystique]

I actually think the SB opponent (Rams or Eagles most likely) would be a much tougher opponent than any of these AFC teams. Those two teams seem to be on another level compared to the rest of the league.

The Patriots have the QB/HC to get it done. That's all you ask for. A good December (Hasn't happened in years) would be a good start.

 

[NFL Mystique]

It's only going to get worse. It wouldn't shock me if they lose in the Wild Card round and the pitchforks come out.

If there were no major injuries, that might be enough to have the Bills HC/GM canned.

 

[TheRainMaker]

If there were no major injuries, that might be enough to have the Bills HC/GM canned.

Brandon Beane is an awful GM and he doesn't have any power to fire McDermott by himself as McDermott is the one who hired him. I've been saying for years that the Bills team's are weak and had major problems on both sides of the ball. The defenses that McDermott worked with Carolina and Philly are light years ahead of the crap he's had in Buffalo.

 

[n1997y]

Barring no major injuries, it’s realistic THIS year. There are no dominant teams, the Rams would be a tough out. Feels like out of the top ten teams, anyone could beat anyone on a given day. So why not?

Rams are not a threat to the Pats Super Bowl appearance.

Only way we play them this season would be in the Super Bowl.

That seems fitting nod to tradition, our usual dynasty starting opponent.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

As I posted over on Reddit on a related thread: I think NE can compete with any team in the league. I'm not saying they'd be favored against every other team, just that there isn't another team where I'd expect them to lose.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Rams are not a threat to the Pats Super Bowl appearance.

Only way we play them this season would be in the Super Bowl.

That seems fitting nod to tradition, our usual dynasty starting opponent.

Fun fact . . . my computer wallpaper at this exact moment (h/t Windows 11):

 

[BobDigital]

With the first seed? I'd give us 30-33%

Without it? 15%

 

[Schmo]

This idea has me vigorous tearing up the sofa!

Put some 2 sided tape on it to start out (jk, my cats own any furniture I have).... if the Pats win the SB, I'll make 2 Lombardi Trophy cat scratchers and send one to you.

****, that's quite the commitment.

 

[Borg140]

Barring no major injuries, it’s realistic THIS year. There are no dominant teams, the Rams would be a tough out. Feels like out of the top ten teams, anyone could beat anyone on a given day. So why not?

Exactly. The AFC is ripe for the taking imo. The Pats can get to the SB if they stay healthy. I expect Daniel Jones will eventually choke it away. Denver is tough but their offense isn’t great. None of the other teams in the mix should be feared. I still respect Mahomes and the Chiefs, but they are going to have a tough road to the SB. Winning it will be a tough proposition. But I’ll worry about that when the time comes.

 

[PatsfanTN]

Rams are not a threat to the Pats Super Bowl appearance.

Only way we play them this season would be in the Super Bowl.

That seems fitting nod to tradition, our usual dynasty starting opponent.

Well, i misrepresented what meant. I meant if they got to the SB, the Rams would be tough.

 

[Triumph]

Thus far, the Pats have beat 1 AFC team destined to be in the post season.

Caliber and quality of opponents matter.

 

[Triumph]

Well, i misrepresented what meant. I meant if they got to the SB, the Rams would be tough.

Exactly

Getting to the SB and losing is worse than not going at all.

 

[p8ryts]

Let's wait until next year.