"What if" scenarios during the last 24 years

[Steve102]

Now that the Brady/Bill Era is behind us, and it's full on off-season, I thought it might be fun to play some what if scenarios. Some possibilities:

What if Drew never got wrecked by Mo Lewis? Is drew still the QB in 2002?

What if Asante caught the interception? Do they win? Do we feel differently about Asante? Does he feel differently about Bill?

What if they won in 2007? See below.

What if Tom never had his knee injury?

What if Wes never got benched in the playoffs?

What if Wes caught the ball?

What if Butler never got benched? That oughta be a good one.

What if Tom stayed. Does that mean Bill leaves? Who leaves as a result of the cap management?

What if JMcD stayed and coached Mac? Do they end up 4-13? Is Bill still here?

I know 2007 is the thing that must not be named, but maybe it's time now. Personally, I think if they had won that, things may have been drastically different. If they win that, do they even get to the Seattle, Atlanta and Rams super bowls? It's not hard to envision egos, money and a lack of drive setting in. What's left, after perfection? Do you stay hungry for "the next one"? Does money and contracts become a thing? I think it's possible that there's a lot of fat and happy that happen after 19-0. Certainly, guys would have taken the paydays and left. I have been to the mountain top, now I am getting paid. I think there's a real possibility that the sting of '07 and Brady's knee injury propel them to achieve success in the second half of the dynasty. I can see them winning and there's a whole lot of "screw this" going on, with there being nothing left to prove.

What say you guys?

 

[RobertWeathers]

 

[Guts]

What if Hernandez doesn't kill

 

[MahomestoKelce]

First one that comes to mind is the Butler benching. A few of those 3rd downs are broken up, NEP win.

But the Eagles also play differently with Butler in. So maybe they find a different way to attack.

If Samuel gets the pick, how much time would the Giants have if Patriots ran it three times? Doubtful enough to do serious damage.

 

[sb1]

Going back a tad further but what if Robert Edwards didn't destroy his knee at a Pro Bowl beach flag football game.

Then maybe Edwards would help the Pats be a lot better than they were?
Then maybe Pete Carroll doesn't lose his job after the 1999 season?
Then maybe BB isn't here? Or Brady?

 

[Wax Frog]

Now that the Brady/Bill Era is behind us, and it's full on off-season, I thought it might be fun to play some what if scenarios. Some possibilities:

What if Drew never got wrecked by Mo Lewis? Is drew still the QB in 2002?

What if Asante caught the interception? Do they win? Do we feel differently about Asante? Does he feel differently about Bill?

What if they won in 2007? See below.

What if Tom never had his knee injury?

What if Wes never got benched in the playoffs?

What if Wes caught the ball?

What if Butler never got benched? That oughta be a good one.

What if Tom stayed. Does that mean Bill leaves? Who leaves as a result of the cap management?

What if JMcD stayed and coached Mac? Do they end up 4-13? Is Bill still here?

I know 2007 is the thing that must not be named, but maybe it's time now. Personally, I think if they had won that, things may have been drastically different. If they win that, do they even get to the Seattle, Atlanta and Rams super bowls? It's not hard to envision egos, money and a lack of drive setting in. What's left, after perfection? Do you stay hungry for "the next one"? Does money and contracts become a thing? I think it's possible that there's a lot of fat and happy that happen after 19-0. Certainly, guys would have taken the paydays and left. I have been to the mountain top, now I am getting paid. I think there's a real possibility that the sting of '07 and Brady's knee injury propel them to achieve success in the second half of the dynasty. I can see them winning and there's a whole lot of "screw this" going on, with there being nothing left to prove.

What say you guys?

You should have spiced things up by making this a Final Hypothetical ®

 

[farn]

What if Hernandez doesn't kill

Exceptional player. Horrendous human.

 

[Real fan 02]

What if Hernandez doesn't kill

Yeah.... I'm not touching that one...

 

[Real fan 02]

Going back a tad further but what if Robert Edwards didn't destroy his knee at a Pro Bowl beach flag football game.

Then maybe Edwards would help the Pats be a lot better than they were?
Then maybe Pete Carroll doesn't lose his job after the 1999 season?
Then maybe BB isn't here? Or Brady?

What if we win that Green Bay superbowl? Would Bill have been hired? Carroll?

 

[sb1]

What if Vinatieri is still a Patriot in 2007? Would they go for it on 4th and 13 or kick?

 

[tasmlab]

Not as monumental as most of OP's list, but what happens in 2019 if Antonio Brown keeps his cool and Bill drafts Deebo or Metcalf or AJ Brown over N'keal Harry? Probably something good. And maybe Brady reconsiders leaving.

 

[Lavictoire]

What if Felix Vinateiri, Custers bandmaster, died at the Little Bighorn?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I know 2007 is the thing that must not be named, but maybe it's time now. Personally, I think if they had won that, things may have been drastically different. If they win that, do they even get to the Seattle, Atlanta and Rams super bowls? It's not hard to envision egos, money and a lack of drive setting in. What's left, after perfection?

OTOH. . . . what does Roger Goodell do with "Spygate II" (the crapfest John Tomase coughed up on Super Bowl Sunday) if the Pats go 19-0?

 

[Tunescribe]

Now that the Brady/Bill Era is behind us, and it's full on off-season, I thought it might be fun to play some what if scenarios. Some possibilities:

What if Drew never got wrecked by Mo Lewis? Is drew still the QB in 2002?

What if Asante caught the interception? Do they win? Do we feel differently about Asante? Does he feel differently about Bill?

What if they won in 2007? See below.

What if Tom never had his knee injury?

What if Wes never got benched in the playoffs?

What if Wes caught the ball?

What if Butler never got benched? That oughta be a good one.

What if Tom stayed. Does that mean Bill leaves? Who leaves as a result of the cap management?

What if JMcD stayed and coached Mac? Do they end up 4-13? Is Bill still here?

I know 2007 is the thing that must not be named, but maybe it's time now. Personally, I think if they had won that, things may have been drastically different. If they win that, do they even get to the Seattle, Atlanta and Rams super bowls? It's not hard to envision egos, money and a lack of drive setting in. What's left, after perfection? Do you stay hungry for "the next one"? Does money and contracts become a thing? I think it's possible that there's a lot of fat and happy that happen after 19-0. Certainly, guys would have taken the paydays and left. I have been to the mountain top, now I am getting paid. I think there's a real possibility that the sting of '07 and Brady's knee injury propel them to achieve success in the second half of the dynasty. I can see them winning and there's a whole lot of "screw this" going on, with there being nothing left to prove.

What say you guys?

I think the Butler benching has been overblown, considering the type of defense they ran that game -- VERY loose zone. No guarantee he would've been a difference maker.

 

[Guts]

I think the Butler benching has been overblown, considering the type of defense they ran that game -- VERY loose zone. No guarantee he would've been a difference maker.

Who knows he was our best tackler and the Eagles converted a few third downs by missed tackles

 

[Guts]

Yeah.... I'm not touching that one...

Why not? Hernandez was extremely talented. At one point here in this very forum we were debating who to pay between Gronk or Hernandez

 

[ctpatsfan77]

My two favorite "what if"s:

2008: What happens if the Pats beat the JEST in OT, which would've gotten them into the playoffs?

2009: What if Julian Edelman didn't break his arm against the Titans? At the time, he was leading all rookies in receptions.

 

[jimnance]

Now that the Brady/Bill Era is behind us, and it's full on off-season, I thought it might be fun to play some what if scenarios. Some possibilities:

What if Drew never got wrecked by Mo Lewis? Is drew still the QB in 2002?

What if Asante caught the interception? Do they win? Do we feel differently about Asante? Does he feel differently about Bill?

What if they won in 2007? See below.

What if Tom never had his knee injury?

What if Wes never got benched in the playoffs?

What if Wes caught the ball?

What if Butler never got benched? That oughta be a good one.

What if Tom stayed. Does that mean Bill leaves? Who leaves as a result of the cap management?

What if JMcD stayed and coached Mac? Do they end up 4-13? Is Bill still here?

I know 2007 is the thing that must not be named, but maybe it's time now. Personally, I think if they had won that, things may have been drastically different. If they win that, do they even get to the Seattle, Atlanta and Rams super bowls? It's not hard to envision egos, money and a lack of drive setting in. What's left, after perfection? Do you stay hungry for "the next one"? Does money and contracts become a thing? I think it's possible that there's a lot of fat and happy that happen after 19-0. Certainly, guys would have taken the paydays and left. I have been to the mountain top, now I am getting paid. I think there's a real possibility that the sting of '07 and Brady's knee injury propel them to achieve success in the second half of the dynasty. I can see them winning and there's a whole lot of "screw this" going on, with there being nothing left to prove.

What say you guys?

Being screwed out of the perfect season by the obvious egregious holding by Giants OLineman on the helmet catch play may well have fueled the future 3 SB wins. Bearing in mind this was the season following the bogus Spygate, it made that chip on the Patriots shoulder grow into a redwood. I know mine was that big.
Would a bit of complacency have set in after a perfect season? Possible.
So maybe a silver lining from that game being stolen from us.
But I'd still prefer the holding call been made and Pats win.

 

[TheRainMaker]

What if Drew never got wrecked by Mo Lewis? Is drew still the QB in 2002?

Posters and media that attended camp saw Brady was outplayed Drew, so the cord would've eventually been pulled on Drew.

What if Asante caught the interception? Do they win? Do we feel differently about Asante? Does he feel differently about Bill?

They obviously win the game assuming they don't screw up running out the clock. Regardless, Samuel didn't even want to return for the 2007 season and only agreed to sign the franchise tag because Bill couldn't use the tag on him after the season. Had he caught it, maybe he changes his mind. He would've been a Pats legend and received a "key to the city".

What if they won in 2007? See below.

The team was aging out, so cuts/retirements would've been inevitable.

What if Tom never had his knee injury?

They easily win in 2008.

What if Wes never got benched in the playoffs?

That's a tough question because it was only the first drive. A turnover on the first drive does not destroy an entire game.

What if Wes caught the ball?

They most likely put the game out of reach. Wes dropped another back breaker the following year to open up the 3rd quarter against Baltimore which would've put them in their territory. They struggled badly after that.

What if Butler never got benched? That oughta be a good one.

He defends Agholor and Gilmore defends Jeffery. Butler's replacement (Rowe) gave up 10 points on the first two drives. He was quickly yanked of Jeffrey.

What if Tom stayed. Does that mean Bill leaves? Who leaves as a result of the cap management?

Both stay and retire together.

What if JMcD stayed and coached Mac? Do they end up 4-13? Is Bill still here?

He would've been the HC. I bet he's not a happy camper right now.

What if Hernandez doesn't kill

Julian Edelman mentioned on his podcast that he may not have returned in 2013 had Hernandez and Wes still been on the team. He was low on the totem poll and was considering walking.

Hernandez was a rare talent for his size on the field. We've never seen a TE break ankles like he did. It's a shame he was a troubled man.

Going back a tad further but what if Robert Edwards didn't destroy his knee at a Pro Bowl beach flag football game.

Then maybe Edwards would help the Pats be a lot better than they were?
Then maybe Pete Carroll doesn't lose his job after the 1999 season?

Take it back even further, what if Martin stays? The Jets don't sniff the AFCCG. Jacksonville has another rematch with Denver.

Having Martin or Edwards may have delayed the inevitable for Carroll, but the team was deteriorating from horrendous drafts and poor personnel moves. Letting Gash and Clay walk were idiotic.

 

[VrabelJr]

What if “I don’t care I can’t stand it!” and Dikembe never happened? Would the second leg of the dynasty even have occurred?