Was 19-0 really that big a deal? Why I don't think we needed perfection.

[BradyManny]

OK, maybe I've moved onto the bargaining stage of this post-SB loss depression and grief, but as I think about the pathetic crew of the 72 Dolphins, I look and think "who the F wants to be them?"

Who wants to be remembered as the answer to a Trivial Pursuit Sports Edition question? Nobody really considers that team the Best Ever, nor should they. And now, they are viewed as a desperate bunch of sore losers.

This 2000 Patriots team, this BB-Brady combination is already in the Best Ever category, the loss the other night has no bearing on it.

Was the 07 team the greatest ever? No. It lost in the Super Bowl, and it didn't lose by some fluke, it played its worst game of the season, it did not deserve to win. Maybe the 2008 team can become slightly better and earn the title.

So what did we lose out on? A Super Bowl victory, yes, that's brutal, but we'll be back and we'll win more. I guarantee that.

Screw 19-0. Perfection is an aberration, it's a lot of luck.

In time, the 16-0 regular season will be viewed as what it is: an amazing accomplishment amongst many other amazing accomplishments by this Patriot team. But it won't be its greatest accomplishment and it won't be something they cling to the way the 72 Dolphins do. It'll just be another thing on the resume.

 

[Ring 6]

OK, maybe I've moved onto the bargaining stage of this post-SB loss depression and grief, but as I think about the pathetic crew of the 72 Dolphins, I look and think "who the F wants to be them?"

Who wants to be remembered as the answer to a Trivial Pursuit Sports Edition question? Nobody really considers that team the Best Ever, nor should they. And now, they are viewed as a desperate bunch of sore losers.

This 2000 Patriots team, this BB-Brady combination is already in the Best Ever category, the loss the other night has no bearing on it.

Was the 07 team the greatest ever? No. It lost in the Super Bowl, and it didn't lose by some fluke, it played its worst game of the season, it did not deserve to win. Maybe the 2008 team can become slightly better and earn the title.

So what did we lose out on? A Super Bowl victory, yes, that's brutal, but we'll be back and we'll win more. I guarantee that.

Screw 19-0. Perfection is an aberration, it's a lot of luck.

In time, the 16-0 regular season will be viewed as what it is: an amazing accomplishment amongst many other amazing accomplishments by this Patriot team. But it won't be its greatest accomplishment and it won't be something they cling to the way the 72 Dolphins do. It'll just be another thing on the resume.

There is absolutley no doubt that what we lost was a Championship. Being 19-0 in that Championship season was just gravy.

 

[richpats]

It was a big deal after Spygate happened. I truly believed that scandal was the unique ingredient needed to spark a team to 19-0, and it nearly happened.

 

[Tunescribe]

There is absolutley no doubt that what we lost was a Championship. Being 19-0 in that Championship season was just gravy.

Exactly. We didn't "lose the season" and I disagree with those who conclude that all was a failure because we got beat in the Super Bowl. Going 16-0 was amazing, and we won the AFC title. At least we got there, and there is no shame in losing to a very game Giants team.

 

[#12]

In time, the 16-0 regular season will be viewed as what it is: an amazing accomplishment amongst many other amazing accomplishments by this Patriot team. But it won't be its greatest accomplishment and it won't be something they cling to the way the 72 Dolphins do. It'll just be another thing on the resume.

Very well put and I couldn't agree more. There is so much to look forward to!

 

[Razor's Edge]

Good points all, BUT
If i had my druthers, I'd take an imperfect regular season and a Super Bowl win anyday.
The part that will alway's hurt is how close we were to perfection. It's like getting 5 out of 6 numbers for the lottery, you still did good, but you were so close to the BIG payoff.

 

[BadMoFo]

Way to spin this. We went from famous to infamous, face it.

 

[Mack Herron]

16-0 is permamantly affixed to 14-17 SB42 choke.
The SB is highlighted by the contrast. We are the most famous SB loser ever.

 

[QuinielaBox]

Definitely, if we win the next three super bowls in a row, I think it will shut all the yappers up permanently. Nobody would ever question the Patriots greatness ever again.

 

[reflexblue]

No one was looking for a perfect season,it just happened that we had a chance at one. We squandered it and I Really doubt we Ever have that chance again. I don't need perfection,I want a SB. Let those old farts down in Miami reval in their perfect season.

 

[SavioKid]

No one was looking for a perfect season,it just happened that we had a chance at one. We squandered it and I Really doubt we Ever have that chance again. I don't need perfection,I want a SB. Let those old farts down in Miami reval in their perfect season.

Do u really think players do not want to win everytime during the season?!? Espeically if your a PATS fan and know how Brady / Harrison / etc. are? Do you really think it affects a team from winning the SB? Bullsh*t.
I would love that my team could go in the history books but know like EVERY player does it takes a little bit of luck to go undefeated with a Lombardi trophy! No doubt the players ultimate is the trophy but they would not throw away a chance at perfection either and would love to have that chance again - go ask Harrison if he would throw away a chance at going undefeated. Will it happen again most likely not but I wouldn't might seeing the chance again happen.

 

[reflexblue]

Do u really think players do not want to win everytime during the season?!? Espeically if your a PATS fan and know how Brady / Harrison / etc. are? Do you really think it affects a team from winning the SB? Bullsh*t.
I would love that my team could go in the history books but know like EVERY player does it takes a little bit of luck to go undefeated with a Lombardi trophy! No doubt the players ultimate is the trophy but they would not throw away a chance at perfection either and would love to have that chance again - go ask Harrison if he would throw away a chance at going undefeated. Will it happen again most likely not but I wouldn't might seeing the chance again happen.

You Can't tell me those guys thought they we're going to go 19-0 at the start of the season. Thats ridiculous.

 

[DaveW]

Was 19-0 really that big a deal?

In a word- YES.

If it wasn't, than this wouldn't be such a tough loss to stomach.

Name all the other 19-0 teams out there. You can't. There are none.
Multiple teams have won multiple Super Bowl trophies. There's a guaranteed winner every February. This would have been so special. So many things have to fall into place- no injuries, good play-calling and execution, even flukes like the Billick time-out in Baltimore.

I want to support this team, yet be angry at them at the same time.
I imagine I'm not alone.

 

[BrianPat]

Honestly, people expectations got the better of them. I still think they had a special season considering media pressure and fan expectations. They lost the Superbowl, how that's remembered depends on the Patriots and their performance in 08. I've seen in other threads where many fans have deleted everything they recorded, personally I think that's insane, but that just me. Having the Pats do what they always do, score at the last minute, we all expected that was it, that's what pushed many people over the edge as far as their grief goes

I look forward to watching these games again.

 

[richpats]

I've seen in other threads where many fans have deleted everything they recorded, personally I think that's insane, but that just me. Having the Pats do what they always do, score at the last minute, we all expected that was it, that's what pushed many people over the edge as far as their grief goes

I look forward to watching these games again.

It's all a part of moving on from the season. No matter how many times I would have watched Welker yell "you f_ckin' suck", it wouldn't have healed the pain of the Super Bowl. I only had the courage to watch my SB DVD's again when the Pats made it back this year. Now I won't be watching them unless it's with a 4th edition.

 

[SavioKid]

You Can't tell me those guys thought they we're going to go 19-0 at the start of the season. Thats ridiculous.

I never said that ..can u read? No sh*t would a player think before the season it would go undefeated ...everyone is realisitic. If you read what I said earlier is that a player would never throw a chance of losing any game period. And if it is at the point where they are 16 / 17 or 18-0 they want to win them all. They NEVER want to loase a game! So, like the players, I would always welcome the chance of going undefeated...it is stupid to think losing a game during the season is the best way to think (for best chances to win a SB) because it is not.