Patriots were more dominant than we realized.

[Ring 6]

In 19 games this season the patriots won 15 of them by a 6 or more points.
They won 11 by 13 or more points.

The team with the greatest SB comeback ever had very few tight games all season long.

 

[New England Pride]

There was definitely some separation between New England and the rest of the pack this season.

 

[BelichickFan]

The funny part to me was that going into the Super Bowl we had never trailed since Thanksgiving then won the Super Bowl despite never leading in the game until they won.

 

[Minitron]

This was one of the most underrated squads that won a Super Bowl. The "eye-test" and "they never played anybody good" narratives were too dominant and shut down the " #1 defense" argument.

 

[Kontradiction]

That's what happens when you actually give Brady a defense on the other side of the ball.

 

[nowayback]

Noooooo Pats had the easiest schedule, defense didn't play any good QB's ,very overrated . !!

 

[DarrylS]

Unfortunately, found some of the games "boring" in the past season as the Pats were methodically dismantling other teams.. but all those boring games were made up for quickly in SB 51.

Although it was not 2007, IMO the balance created more dominance..

 

[SHOWTIME15]

In 19 games this season the patriots won 15 of them by a 6 or more points.
They won 11 by 13 or more points.

The team with the greatest SB comeback ever had very few tight games all season long.

Yeah, but who did they play?

 

[Poker]

I found them to be a hybrid of those balanced 2003/04 teams that both also went 14-2, and the 2007 16-0 version.

This team was closer to 16-0 and thus 19-0 than either 2003 or 2004 who each got blown out in at least one game.

 

[archstanton543]

I guess you could say, they are who we didn't think they were.

 

[tasmlab]

In 19 games this season the patriots won 15 of them by a 6 or more points.
They won 11 by 13 or more points.

The team with the greatest SB comeback ever had very few tight games all season long.

Super bowl aside, and Seattle, the whole season sort of went by script. Take lead, don't allow points, shut down the game methodically in the last half. It was satisfying but a bit boring in some ways.

Almost never needed any heroics, amazing comebacks, gut wrenching 2 minute offense at the end, finger-crossed last-minute field goals, OT woes, etc. Drama-free games for the most part.

My local TV station switched off Patriots games before they were over three times because they said they wanted to air something more "competitive" (read: interesting). Drove me nuts.

I guess that's the price for following an overly disciplined, well run, well coached, dominant football team.

 

[PatsDeb]

But, but, but, we didn't play anybody....;-)

 

[PlanB]

But, but, but, we didn't play anybody....;-)

of course they did, they had to play the practice squad every week and they're better than some teams first string

 

[Patjew]

I think they were 16-3 against the spread. That is at least 3 games better than any other team.

That is ridiculous.

 

[scott99]

There were a decent enough amount of games where I found myself saying, "man they are playing like ****", and then they wound up winning by 10-21 points. I remember the Texans playoff game, they played a very lackluster 1st half and played like ****, and wound up winning by 16 I think. The second Miami game was like that too, and I think they wound up winning by 21.

This team really bogs down defensively in the 2nd half. Gave up 3 points to Houston in the second half of the playoff game. Gave up 7 points in the 2nd half and OT vs Atlanta. Some games they start really slow and then get going offensively. Other games they start really fast offensively and slow down in the second half. Just a great team that doesn't look like it's dominant, but then you see the final score and say, what the hell just happened ?

 

[brdmaverick]

Unfortunately, found some of the games "boring" in the past season as the Pats were methodically dismantling other teams.. but all those boring games were made up for quickly in SB 51.

Although it was not 2007, IMO the balance created more dominance..

I wouldn't consider winning 'boring' but don't worry, I know exactly what you mean.

I love love love my Pats highlights tapes, and was hoping they beat the Falcons so that we'd get another NFL blu ray and 3 games to glory V.

Prior to the Super Bowl, though, I did share that thought with my brother that "if the pats do blow out the Falcons, as happy as I'll be to have the blu ray it might actually be their worst one yet" b/c of all the formulaic wins that had little to no drama.

By my count the opener at Arizona and the comeback against the Jets were the only real dramatic victories. (Seahawks obviously had drama but we lost). The Pats had to commit silly turnovers to introduce even a little bit of drama into the Ravens game.

Don't worry though, I'm not one of those guys who will complain about it. It was just an observation. In fact, it's good for my health if there is little drama.

As the other poster said though, the Super Bowl erased ALL of that that.

 

[Ring 6]

In 19 games this season the patriots won 15 of them by a 6 or more points.
They won 11 by 13 or more points.

The team with the greatest SB comeback ever had very few tight games all season long.

I just realized if you only count the Brady games it's 13 of 15 win by more than 6 and 10 of 15 by 13 or more. Holy crap.

 

[Nunchucks]

This was one of the most underrated squads that won a Super Bowl. The "eye-test" and "they never played anybody good" narratives were too dominant and shut down the " #1 defense" argument.

I believe that post Seattle, they passed the "eye test" with flying colors. Even bad teams have talented receivers, and the Patriots DBs for the most part covered them well.

 

[Poker]

Yep. Underappreciated dominant team, those 2016 Patriots. The kind that was really good on both sides of the ball and special teams. Over 60 minutes, it was like almost a casino with an unbeatable edge just slowly but surely grinding down the opposition.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Yep, that was also without gronk half the year and brady for 4 games. Crazy to think they were still easy favorites this year.