Is This Season A Success Regardless?

[IllegalContact]

no

if they lose its a relative disaster after getting this far

they're favored....the are supposed to win

losing to the falcons is worse than losing to the giants

that said, I am very confident

 

[sambam94]

making the SB....of course it is a success. So many spoiled fans, sickening., some still don't realize what they have.

 

[PatsDeb]

Of course it IS a success, but it will feel like a disappointment if we don't win the SB, at least for a little while. The team has overcome so much to get there (no Brady for 4 weeks, the loss of Gronk), and has trended up, instead of down (as can happen at the end of seasons, particularly with injuries) these last few months. We should win, and it will be very disappointing if we don't. We are spoiled for sure. Go Pats!!

 

[tasmlab]

Why would anyone start a thread like this?

I think it might make more sense on Feb 6th, but hopefully it won't come back up in this context.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

Well, big picture, yes, any season you make the SB is a major success.

Big picture/in-context....no. This is a 14-2 team with the #1 defense and an elite offense, there is no reason for the 11-5 Atlanta Falcons with a second year coach and an absolutely garbage defense to beat us.

We are clearly the better team.

That is why its a failure if we don't win. Better team, best QB of all time, best coach of all time. I can't call this season a success when we have been the best team all year and still don't win the SB. Doesn't mean I can't in the same breath appreciate some of the things the team did this season.

 

[jumbo77]

Anytime you get to a super bowl the season is a success. You know how many teams wish they could get to a super bowl? Everything after the last super bowl win for me is gravy. If they win it even better.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

Anytime you get to a super bowl the season is a success. You know how many teams wish they could get to a super bowl? Everything after the last super bowl win for me is gravy. If they win it even better.

There are alot of teams that wish they could get to the playoffs too. Does that mean making it to the playoffs makes the season a success? Different teams have different standards and expectations. The patriots are about winning super bowls. Not just making it there.

We have the talent the QB and the coach to do it. We are head and shoulders the class of the NFL. Being satisfied for just making it, let's leave that for teams like the falcons.

 

[Username]

For this team getting to the Superbowl is a good season, but it's not a success. To succeed at something you need to achieve your target, and no-one can tell me that this teams target at the start of every year is anything other than Superbowl winners.

And don't give me this "spoiled fan base" ********. Because other teams suck, we should lower our expectations of the Patriots? Nope. It won't always be this way, what constitutes success for any organization is fluid based on the expectations and ability of that organization. We'll suck again eventually, nothing is surer. But while we've got Bill and Tom 2nd place will never be success.

 

[Kontradiction]

No. GOAT QB, GOAT coach, and the #1 ranked defense in all of football. A loss is a failure of a season no matter what way you want to slice it.

 

[archstanton543]

I'm just glad the title of this thread didn't use the non-word "irregardless".

 

[libra957]

It's only a success if we're the last team standing, no award for second place.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

No. I expect this team to win the Super Bowl, because they have the means to do so, and they damn well should!

I don't think I've ever felt this comfortable going into a Patriots Super Bowl.... I do think the Patriots are heavy favorites and there's no smoke-and-mirrors as to why (unlike 2007)

 

[archstanton543]

It's only a success if we're the last team standing, no award for second place.

Sure there is:

http://www.patriots.com/sites/patri...day012.jpg?itok=9US-zWuI&timestamp=1439719661

And you even get an AFC Champions ring the following year.

 

[Nikolai]

It's not a bad question per se. If we win, the success of the season is obvious, and it'd be a nice "**** you" to Goodell and the other owners. If we lose, this season won't be remembered so fondly in the near term, but will get aggregated into the larger period of success, much like 2011.

"Wow, we made the Super Bowl 7 times!"

But, unlike 2011, this team doesn't have a glaring weakness, so it would be something of a shock to lose this one. Losing this might feel more like 2007 than 2011; we've got revenge on the mind, and this team belongs. You could make the argument that the 2011 team, with its historically abysmal defense, got carried there by TFB and that offense.

I still expect to win. The more I think about it, and step away from the media hype, the more I feel this is a pretty favorable matchup for us.

/rambling

It's always superbowl or bust. For every team.

Seriously bro. Who's playing for second?

I get the feeling the early 90s Bills were playing for second.

 

[Pats1989]

no

if they lose its a relative disaster after getting this far

they're favored....the are supposed to win

losing to the falcons is worse than losing to the giants

that said, I am very confident

How could losing to Atlanta possibly be worse than an 18-0 team losing to the Giants? Losing this SB would never compare to the pain of losing 42.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

 

[IllegalContact]

How could losing to Atlanta possibly be worse than an 18-0 team losing to the Giants? Losing this SB would never compare to the pain of losing 42.

you'd have to give a **** about 18-0......I don't

this would be worse for me......this coach should not lose to that coach given the teams they have.......coughlin was obviously an achilles to bb

 

[BobDigital]

For most teams getting this far would exceed expectations. For the Pats no.

The Pats were the favorite to win it all much of the year and anything less would be disappointing. Also Brady is not getting younger. We need to win this year cause next year has a good amount of uncertainty about it with who stays and goes.

The Pats took care of business and got the easiest path they could have. Houston is a tough team on D but never had a reasonable chance to win and Pitt had yet another charlie brown tries to kick the FG moment "Maybe the zone blitz will work on Brady this time!".

They will never have an easier path to get there again most likely in the Brady era and I say that taking nothing away from their play.

Time to cash in and finish it. Get #5 and join Dallas/SF/Pitt as the most successful football franchises of all time. If you want on Mt Rushmore you have to earn it. Lets leave GB and the NYGs for more regal company.

 

[mosslost]

Or is it SB or bust for you? I want us to win for a few reasons: A) Brady solidifies himself as the GOAT with no questions. B) We avoid a losing record in Super Bowls. C) Brady doesn't join Elway, Tarkenton, & Kelly as the only other QB's to suffer at least three SB losses. D) I'm a Patriots fan and want them to win!! Your thoughts?

Oh, I'll be proud yet not satisfied with a SB loss.

Win it this year, number 5. AFC is a dumpster fire next year so let's keep this thing rolling!

 

[RecoveringCowboy]

Years ago, someone noted losing the SB is somehow considered a lot worse than losing in either the Conference or Divisional round and how that does not make any sense. For example, people remember both the Vikings and Bills lost four SBs, but they have more of a "loser" label on them than the teams they beat in the Conference game.