Is Making the SB and Losing Worse Than Not Making It?

[irishfanatic]

One aspect of the question I know for sure, if you don't get to the Big Dance, you ain't going to win it.
Always better to get there is the bottom line and give yourself the chance.

 

[Brit patriot]

It all depends on whether you think you can win the whole thing. Against GB, I knew we were in trouble so was happy we did well to get there. 2007, well, I have PTSD.

In the play offs, last year against Denver hurts, as does 06 against Indy. Our butchering by Ray Rice in the Baltimore massacre was disappointing, but knew the team wasn't going to win the SB, so it faded fast.

 

[Stumpy]

Most Bills fans would probably say making it is better.

My brother is a Bills fan and raves about how dominant they were, just couldn't finish the job.

 

[PatsBoy12]

From a fan's perspective, I'd rather my team NOT make it than make it and lose.

As a player (amateur and city leagues), we never lost the four championships in which I participated in basketball (probably because I was a stud). We didn't make the playoffs the one year I played football (probably because I wasn't as much of a stud). But I think it would actually be the opposite. I probably would have been happy to play and lose than never making it there. My HS basketball team played in the championship and lost before I made varsity and I remember how dejected they were when they returned.

 

[scott99]

I don't know, tough question. All I know is, to me, it's much less painful losing the AFCCG than the....I don't even wanna say it.

 

[Nikolai]

Brady is literally 2 defensive stops away from being 6-0 in the SB and going for his 7th. Brady detractors can suck my **** because no QB has come close to winning 5 SBs as Brady has to winning 6 Montana and Bradshaw never got to a 5th. Elway got to 5 but was blown out in 3 of them.

I had someone try to do the 4-0 is better than 4-2 argument, and I mentioned that, in both losses, Brady left the field with the lead late in the fourth quarter. You're gonna hold a goddamned helmet catch against Brady? Get the **** outta here.

 

[Two Eight]

This is the only argument people make for Montana over Brady (4-0 is somehow better than 4-2)?

It's kind of like arguing that Eli is a better QB than Peyton because he's 2-0 in Superbowls vs Peyton's 2-2.

Thing that doesn't get mentioned is that Montana also went One & Done in the playoffs four times (vs twice for Brady). Overall playoff records: 16 -7 vs. 24 - 9 (and counting).

 

[tasmlab]

At the bare minimum, it means we get one more Pats game this year. And/but better to go to the super bowl in any situation than not.

We're going to burn up all of the 'losing' threads at this pace before they've even played the game and have officially lost.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

This always perplexes me.

You see it in basketball with LeBron.
You see it in football with Tom.

Do you think that making the Super Bowl/Championship and losing is worse than not making it?

This is the only argument people make for Montana over Brady (4-0 is somehow better than 4-2)?

Is it better to have loved and lost, or to have never loved at all?

Losing is painful. Memories last forever. 1985, 1996, 2007 and 2011 all hold special places in my heart even though the team didn't finish the job and it was very painful at the time. I'll feel the same way if this team can't finish the job. But I have faith they will.

 

[Nehalem]

If we would have made there and lost last year that would have meant we would have kept Manning from getting his 2nd undeserved ring and Brady would have a winning playoff record against him.

No question making it and losing would have been better

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

4-0 is somehow better than 4-2)?

the most simple counterargument:

4-0 is only better than 4-2 if the person going 4-0 only played 4 years. If he played at least six years, when did he lose in his 5th-best and sixth-best seasons? Before the Super Bowl, right? Is losing earlier a trademark of excellence?

 

[Wax Frog]

(remove body part)

Ouch!

 

[mitsudriver]

More Patriots football watching the GOAT player and coach is always a good thing. Would much rather have 19 - 20 Patriots games a year as 17-18. Not that losing the Superbowl doesn't suck hard. But we're getting more of our team than 30 other fan bases.

 

[fightingirish595]

Well I will say 4-0 is better than 4-2 in my opinion. But that alone doesn't make Montana better than Brady. I don't think the losses hurt Brady, but they don't help him either in my opinion.The only thing not losing in a Super Bowl does is help Montana. But 5-2 is better than 4-0. It's an unfair thing that losing it somehow hurts your legacy. I guess everyone's different whether it does or doesn't. No one remembers the bills for going to 4 straight super bowls, they are remembered for losing 4 straight. It's a sad thing. America loves winners, and feel good stories/ underdogs/ comebacks.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

I just feel our guys have more movitation than just getting there. It would be sweet karma if we win after all the deflategate nonsense. Gotta win this game at all costs. Defense has to win it for us. Protect brady.

 

[RayClay]

Is there a filter I can use to screen out the word lose this week? What is wrong with people?

 

[TB_Helmet]

Can't wait until Monday when this discussion will be a moot point!

 

[HeadHunter]

For me, there has been a few losses in the post season where I say to myself "Man this sucks but we wouldn't have won the SB anyways."

I think the worst loss would be when they are expected to win ala 2007 (I swear to God I am still not over that, I still cannot stomach Tom Petty) I was really confident defensive struggles aside in 2011 because that **** can't possibly happen again right??? WRONG!! But after that I quit taking the losses so hard. 2014 was sooooooo sweet to win. Really hope to get to relive that feeling again on Sunday. If the unthinkable happens I will be disappointed but still proud of this years team considering all they had to over come.

In nut shell, they gotta make it to have a shot. So you gotta say you'd rather them make it there and lose.

 

[Not Over 07]

Hypothetical Example:

Player A ... ... ... Player B
Year 1 wins Super Bowl ... Year 1 wins Super Bowl
Year 2 wins Super Bowl ... Year 2 wins Super Bowl
Year 3 wins Super Bowl ... Year 3 wins Super Bowl
Year 4 wins Super Bowl ... Year 4 wins Super Bowl
Year 5 loses every game ... Year 5 wins every game but loses Super Bowl
Year 6 loses every game ... Year 6 wins every game but loses Super Bowl

Years 1-4 are a wash.

Anyone that says player A is better because of the results in years 5 & 6 is a moron.

 

[Tony2046]

Am I better QB than McNabb just because McNabb is 0-1 in the big game and I'm 0-0.

With or without pepto bismo?