Top 6 fluky B.S. at the expense of the Patriots:

[lancerman]

I feel flukey **** sort of evens itself out. Marlon McCree intercepting a pass and then fumbling it was huge for the Pats in that Chargers game. As was that fumble in the Jaguars game in 2017 that was returned for a TD but was called down on the field. Then you have the Panthers kicker getting a penalty on the kickoff for the game winning drive and setting up a relatively easy game winning field goal drive for us. Even though I don't disagree with Pete Carroll's call, let's be real, Russell throwing the only goal line interception in that scenario that year was basically lightning striking for us. 99% of the time that is either a TD or incompletion. The Tuck Rule was absolutely the right call, but nobody on Earth including Tom Brady thought he was actively doing that to prevent a fumble. There's about a million little things you could call in the 28-3 thing, but the Edelman catch is right up their with the helmet catch and Manningham catches imo.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

The Bears defense was too dominant.

The offense wasn't shabby either - with McMahon under center. Remember they put the game away running Suhey. Rust's defenses biggest weakness was against the run.

NE offense for the day - 123 total yards, 4 fumbles, 2 INTs, 7 sacks, 7 rushing yards, 20:45 time of possession.

Typical of most Bears' opponents that season.

But, a Patriots offense with an opposite strategy that was needed to compete, that is Berry thought Eason could be Marino. Suicidally negating the strong running game the Patriots had. By the time Grogan came in, it was too late.

The 85 Bears only loss was vs Marino and that was because he got the ball away so fast that the Bears D could not stop him.

Monday Night Football in Miami at the Orange Bowl with a defending conference champion Dolphins, fired up by all their alumni in the locker room before the game.

And the Bears starting Steve Fuller. The Bears needed to lose one to get going undefeated off their minds.

The Pats had no such QB on their roster to have a chance.

Disagree.

What makes Tom Brady the 'GOAT'? His strong arm? His physical ability? His passing yards?

Steve Grogan was the MVP of quarterbacks in the 1985 season. Perhaps most analysts would have said that had he started, we would have seen a redux of helpless old Craig Morton vs. the Doomsday Defense.

Berry needed to name Steve the starter on Monday morning after returning from Miami. The Patriots would have had an overwhelming advantage at the position - and quarterback is usually the most important.

Yes, the Bears physically overwhelmed opponents that year. But brains - and attitude - often overcome brawn in a title contest. Steve called his own plays and called the run a lot. He was astronomically more intelligent than McMahon.

Had the Patriots adopted and taken into that game the Buster Douglas mindset of four years later in Tokyo, they would have had a legitimate shot at winning. Unfortunately, there obviously was no way in the world Berry was even capable of impressing that on the team. Berry hit his coaching ceiling hard as soon as he landed upon his feet and entered the victorious visitor's locker room in the Orange Bowl.

 

[NormZauchin]

The 85 Bears.
NE finally makes it to a Super Bowl and they face the GOAT NFL defense.

Sort of like the Red Sox making the World Series once in the 60s, once in the 70s, and once in the 80s and facing the National League champ - each time - that had the best record in the National League for that decade.

 

[sb1]

I feel flukey **** sort of evens itself out. Marlon McCree intercepting a pass and then fumbling it was huge for the Pats in that Chargers game. As was that fumble in the Jaguars game in 2017 that was returned for a TD but was called down on the field. Then you have the Panthers kicker getting a penalty on the kickoff for the game winning drive and setting up a relatively easy game winning field goal drive for us. Even though I don't disagree with Pete Carroll's call, let's be real, Russell throwing the only goal line interception in that scenario that year was basically lightning striking for us. 99% of the time that is either a TD or incompletion. The Tuck Rule was absolutely the right call, but nobody on Earth including Tom Brady thought he was actively doing that to prevent a fumble. There's about a million little things you could call in the 28-3 thing, but the Edelman catch is right up their with the helmet catch and Manningham catches imo.

Funny to think the Pats weren't too far off from winning as many as 10 rings or as few as 1.

Also the 1996 Jaguars an average 9-7 team and the 6th seed went to Buffalo and beat them in the WC round then going to Denver for the divisional round and somehow beating a powerhouse Broncos team helped us get to the SB that year.

 

[FCB02062]

How about how the NFL seemingly tried their hardest the completely eff the Pats via their schedule....not fluky, but....the Pats would always play the most teams coming out of byes, would seemingly play 3/4 road games more than a anyone else, and the league just all of a sudden seemed to stop having Miami come to Foxboro in late December/January...

 

[SinceGroganWalkedIn]

I just read the thread on how Nick Foles retired and unfortunately reminded me of the Super Bowl loss to him. This was going to be a top 5 but I remembered another one. This was just off the top of my head after thinking about it for 15 minutes. I know this is all recent past stuff but my memory from the 80's, 90's and 2000's is fading too much. Anyone else want to add to the list or make their own?

6. Peyton Hillis going bonkers for no reason ruining my anniversary in Cleveland when my wife and I went to that game in 2010.

5. Jump Ball Joe Flacco making pass interference a legit strategy by underthrowing all his passes 5 yards short.

4. Dolphins deciding to try out a gimmicky high school wildcat formation for the first time that absolutely devastates us.

3. Dolphins seeming to always automatically win our second matchups of the season in Miami with the "Miracle in Miami" kickoff return being the end all be all.

2. Despite Tom Brady throwing for over 500 yards and 3 TD's Nick Foles randomly decides to keep up the same pace to help outscore us.

1. And of course Eli Manning playing above average for most of his career and then going nuclear levels of dumb luck only during our Super Bowls with him.

In the decades of fabulous football and hugely tight games, this is only focused on negatives? The pats were in nail-biter playoff and SBs and won the high majority. Same in regular season. Craziness happened in the positive too.

 

[Steve102]

The NFL ignoring the Ideal Gas Laws of physics. Oh wait, you said fluky.

 

[Triumph]

Disagree.

What makes Tom Brady the 'GOAT'? His strong arm? His physical ability? His passing yards?

Steve Grogan was the MVP of quarterbacks in the 1985 season. Perhaps most analysts would have said that had he started, we would have seen a redux of helpless old Craig Morton vs. the Doomsday Defense.

How is Grogan the MVP after starting only 6 games in 85?

Grogan was finished/toast. 32 years old and beat to a pulp. He would hang on for 5 more years never starting more than 6 games while his TDs dropped and INTs rose.

Berry needed to name Steve the starter on Monday morning after returning from Miami. The Patriots would have had an overwhelming advantage at the position - and quarterback is usually the most important.

??????

Grogan never threw a pass or handed the ball off in every 85 post season wins. You just went on the road and beat 3 fierce and hated rivals in the Jets, Raiders and Dolphins to reach the franchises first Super Bowl and then decide to yank out Eason and install Grogan? Football doesnt work that way. Not like baseball.

The Bears defense would have broke old man Grogan half in 2.

Yes, the Bears physically overwhelmed opponents that year. But brains - and attitude - often overcome brawn in a title contest. Steve called his own plays and called the run a lot. He was astronomically more intelligent than McMahon.

The Bears won playing defense and running the ball.

The Bears knew that the Pats strength was rushing the football. That is why Chicago took it away.

Had the Patriots adopted and taken into that game the Buster Douglas mindset of four years later in Tokyo, they would have had a legitimate shot at winning. Unfortunately, there obviously was no way in the world Berry was even capable of impressing that on the team. Berry hit his coaching ceiling hard as soon as he landed upon his feet and entered the victorious visitor's locker room in the Orange Bowl.

Go in all confident and come out on a stretcher.

With the NE run game gone, the only way to score is passing and that takes a special QB to beat a defense like the 85 Bears.

 

[lancerman]

Funny to think the Pats weren't too far off from winning as many as 10 rings or as few as 1.

Also the 1996 Jaguars an average 9-7 team and the 6th seed went to Buffalo and beat them in the WC round then going to Denver for the divisional round and somehow beating a powerhouse Broncos team helped us get to the SB that year.

2004 was the only Pats Super Bowl win where it was a remotely comfortable win by the end. Even the 2018 SB you had a huge break up on a potential game tying touchdown with under 5 minutes left before the interception.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I feel flukey **** sort of evens itself out. Marlon McCree intercepting a pass and then fumbling it was huge for the Pats in that Chargers game. As was that fumble in the Jaguars game in 2017 that was returned for a TD but was called down on the field. Then you have the Panthers kicker getting a penalty on the kickoff for the game winning drive and setting up a relatively easy game winning field goal drive for us. Even though I don't disagree with Pete Carroll's call, let's be real, Russell throwing the only goal line interception in that scenario that year was basically lightning striking for us. 99% of the time that is either a TD or incompletion. The Tuck Rule was absolutely the right call, but nobody on Earth including Tom Brady thought he was actively doing that to prevent a fumble. There's about a million little things you could call in the 28-3 thing, but the Edelman catch is right up their with the helmet catch and Manningham catches imo.

Yep, the Pats should've lost to the Chargers after that INT. In fact, Marty told his DB's before the game to fall to the ground immediately after a late game INT, but they didn't listen.

John Kasay kicking it out of bounds in a dome that late in a game was very strange.

Had the Jags scored a TD on that fumble, it would've been lights out on the Pats 2017 season.

It probably ends badly for Bill/Tom had the Seahawks scored and won the game. That would be 3 straight collapses by the Pats in the Super Bowl. I think a lot of finger pointing would be happening.

How about how the NFL seemingly tried their hardest the completely eff the Pats via their schedule....not fluky, but....the Pats would always play the most teams coming out of byes, would seemingly play 3/4 road games more than a anyone else, and the league just all of a sudden seemed to stop having Miami come to Foxboro in late December/January...

I remember Miami complaining about this since the late 90's.

 

[sb1]

Yep, the Pats should've lost to the Chargers after that INT. In fact, Marty told his DB's before the game to fall to the ground immediately after a late game INT, but they didn't listen.

John Kasay kicking it out of bounds in a dome that late in a game was very strange.

Had the Jags scored a TD on that fumble, it would've been lights out on the Pats 2017 season.

I remember Gilmore made an incredible play on 4th down to preserve the win.

I thought we got lucky with the tuck rule call...especially since the call on the field was fumble so it was up to replay to conclusively prove otherwise. Not sure there was conclusive evidence by my view but I guess they saw it. Would have been less stressful if the call was incomplete pass before review.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I thought we got lucky with the tuck rule call...especially since the call on the field was fumble so it was up to replay to conclusively prove otherwise. Not sure there was conclusive evidence by my view but I guess they saw it. Would have been less stressful if the call was incomplete pass before review.

Agree. The NFL didn't have to call the tuck rule as that is subjective just like the bobbling catch by Corey Clement in the 2017 Super Bowl ruled a TD.

 

[InRodWeRust]

In the decades of fabulous football and hugely tight games, this is only focused on negatives? The pats were in nail-biter playoff and SBs and won the high majority. Same in regular season. Craziness happened in the positive too.

Oh I 100% agree with you. Like what sb1 said above "Funny to think the Pats weren't too far off from winning as many as 10 rings or as few as 1." which I agree with also. I think the ball bounced our way more often than not and I'm eternally grateful for that so I'm not going to run and complain to any Browns or Lions fans anytime soon lol. I'm usually not a negative person it's just something that got me thinking after reading about Nick Foles.

 

[InRodWeRust]

The NFL ignoring the Ideal Gas Laws of physics. Oh wait, you said fluky.

Dude I've never been more obsessed with an NFL season as I was with 2016 (yes even surpassing 2007 by a little bit). I was so pissed off with the lack of critical thinking and the entire world performing mental gymnastics to ignore basic science out of pure jealousy. I became Perry Mason regarding the whole fiasco and knew every single little piece of evidence and I picked it all apart to the point where I probably could have qualified to be Brady's lawyer.

I didn't think anything could have topped the Super Bowl 36 win but I tell you with all the hell Brady went through AND coming back from that seemingly unsurmountable deficit I lost my friggin mind after that win. I can't imagine anything sports related ever topping that feeling ever again. The Pats could never win another game again and I will still die a very happy and lucky fan.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Dude I've never been more obsessed with an NFL season as I was with 2016 (yes even surpassing 2007 by a little bit). I was so pissed off with the lack of critical thinking and the entire world performing mental gymnastics to ignore basic science out of pure jealousy.

...and ignorance, stupidity, bias, prejudice, mob sheep behavior.

In the midst of it, I felt gratified that all of this was being tangibly, officially revealed. There could be no doubt whatsoever anymore.

You tell yourself that most of these very popular, loud, mostly highly paid people who are taken seriously can't all be a bunch of sh*trag dunces, can they? And you get the confirmed answer for all time: Yes, they all are.

In CryGate, at least the Patriots, under Belichick's instructions, actually did something. The league, commissioner, media, opponents and fans were all exposed. DefameGate doubled down on it proving they all have zero credibility and zero redeeming qualities. Zero.

Tom's continual evasive answer to queries about it since are the same as if you're being asked, "When you brush your teeth, do you deliberately cause your toothbrush to miss making contact with areas on your gums which could cause gingivitis intentionally on your part?"

"We didn't do anything" is specific enough for me.

 

[Steve102]

Dude I've never been more obsessed with an NFL season as I was with 2016 (yes even surpassing 2007 by a little bit). I was so pissed off with the lack of critical thinking and the entire world performing mental gymnastics to ignore basic science out of pure jealousy. I became Perry Mason regarding the whole fiasco and knew every single little piece of evidence and I picked it all apart to the point where I probably could have qualified to be Brady's lawyer.

I didn't think anything could have topped the Super Bowl 36 win but I tell you with all the hell Brady went through AND coming back from that seemingly unsurmountable deficit I lost my friggin mind after that win. I can't imagine anything sports related ever topping that feeling ever again. The Pats could never win another game again and I will still die a very happy and lucky fan.

All of it was about the CBA and the commissioner's authority negotiated herein. He has absolute power, he can take down Tom Brady because he doesn't like the cleft in his chin, he can do anything to anyone.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

All of it was about the CBA and the commissioner's authority negotiated herein. He has absolute power, he can take down anyone because they are with the New England Patriots, he can do anything to anyone.

Modified...but Goodell did what he did both times absolutely in obedience to the mob demand that the Patriots be exposed and punished for the made up cheating they all insisted was going on rampantly since the playoffs in January 2002.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

All of it was about the CBA and the commissioner's authority negotiated herein. He has absolute power, he can take down Tom Brady because he doesn't like the cleft in his chin, he can do anything to anyone.

And Berman correctly judged this not to give carte blanche to penalize and suspend an employee for no substantive reason.

The law states that a person cannot be denied employment due to race, religion, not liking them, not liking the team they play for, etc.

However, the Patriots are technically his employer. So that makes the league and Commissioner's office some sort of higher entity...(Goodell definitely thinks he's God)?

Naturally, the majority in the higher court doesn't give two sh*ts about the law, let alone justice or human rights.

I assume the CBA is considered 'legal'. We just need to apply the logic that Goodell can shoot somebody in the street, and nobody can touch him.