who is the competition now?

[RobertWeathers]

I'm just giving you my opinion. Naturally, I could be wrong.

Clearly NE is the overwhelming favorites at this point. Like I said in my first post in this thread, I think the real competition is injuries. But football is a crazy game.

Injuries are the only thing that has stopped this team in the last 7 years or so.

 

[ivanvamp]

Injuries are the only thing that has stopped this team in the last 7 years or so.

That's pretty true. I made a post about that here a few years ago. I was talking about how the Patriots construct their roster, they are built to withstand a bunch of injuries - they can still be very very competitive even when they lose a ton of player-games due to injury. But they cannot beat the other elite teams in the playoffs if those other elite teams are healthy.

And that's been the deal for the most part.

When they are healthy, they win.

 

[RobertWeathers]

That's pretty true. I made a post about that here a few years ago. I was talking about how the Patriots construct their roster, they are built to withstand a bunch of injuries - they can still be very very competitive even when they lose a ton of player-games due to injury. But they cannot beat the other elite teams in the playoffs if those other elite teams are healthy.

And that's been the deal for the most part.

When they are healthy, they win.

We make fun of it but all those gyrations at the bottom of the roster make a difference.

 

[ivanvamp]

We make fun of it but all those gyrations at the bottom of the roster make a difference.

Totally agree. And it's why people who complain that the Patriots "don't pay their players" are totally out to lunch. Their philosophy works tremendously well, obviously.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Totally agree. And it's why people who complain that the Patriots "don't pay their players" are totally out to lunch. Their philosophy works tremendously well, obviously.

They are clueless.

 

[IllegalContact]

If Denver gets Romo, they are a serious contender.

Baltimore, should they play NE in the playoffs, is always a threat.

Oakland could be a challenge. Young, talented, with a very good QB that we didn't have to deal with this year.

In the NFC, I think the Giants will be much better than they were, and we know the Giants-Pats playoff history.

Seattle is always excellent.

Green Bay is improved - better health, adding Bennett... they're going to be tough.

Atlanta should be good, but I think they'll tail off.

Fortunately, in the NFC, we don't have to worry about all those teams. Just whichever one emerges from their conference (should NE make it to the Super Bowl).

Honestly, I think the biggest single factor in the Patriots winning it all is...health. If they are healthy, they should win it all. They have the best team. If they aren't healthy, they're deep enough to still be very good, but probably not good enough to win it all.

Denver does not have the OL nor the running game that will keep romo healthy.....pekoe is a downgrade from Williams .... running the ball will be easier against them

Baltimore ... their offense is old .... they have some talent on defense but their secondary sucks...their leading tackler (Orr) retired at the age of 24

Oakland ... after Irvin and Mack, their defense just chases people around the field

I'm not scared of the giants ... I'm more scared of coughlin

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

is there any?

who so far has improved?

anyone?

Goodell, the league, the media.

 

[The Brandon Five]

 

[lurker1965]

The league will need a new gate to level the playing field.

I did not know whether this was "funny" or "agree."

 

[The Boston Patriot]

The Colts are getting their new banner sewn together in anticipation of competing this year. Always the competitor.

 

[mosslost]

The Colts are getting their new banner sewn together in anticipation of competing this year. Always the competitor.

Be funny to see a photo of Brady with all his banners.... 5 (so far) SB titles, and 2 Colts "titlest" Flags which also hang proudly for Brady. He is such the GOAT that enemy teams raise him championship flags with their logos on them.

EDIT: And the Bruins brought a foreign city down with fire (Vancouver 2011)

 

[The Brandon Five]

I don't get the LGB hate. 18 TDs last year. A couple of times carried half a defense five yards. A bargain at 2-3 million, IMO. That's less than we just gave Burkhead who hasn't done jack in this league yet.