Why should the Patriots fear any team?

[DoubleDeluxe]

Vrabel has built a culture built on belief, trust in the process, and trust in the guy beside you.
We shouldn't fear anyone, it's about US, not them, and I think Vrabel instils that every single day.
No team is perfect, ours included, but if we stick with what got us to where we are, we can beat any team on any given Sunday.

 

[Real fan 02]

Exactly correct. This is a evolving roster with a 2nd year QB. Rookie LT,LG. Rookie at SS.. and they are achieving what initially was thought to take 2,3 seasons.. all the talk of other teams in the AFC only fuels them..

@sb1

Adding goes to show just how much of a difference having good coaching can do for a team.. I don't see this team being fraudulent like the commanders...

 

[TheRainMaker]

It would be wild if the Pats not only made the Super Bowl, but actually won it. I think we’ll have a lot better idea in these next three weeks as Buffalo and Baltimore have been playoff teams the last several years.

 

[Real fan 02]

Vrabel has built a culture built on belief, trust in the process, and trust in the guy beside you.
We shouldn't fear anyone, it's about US, not them, and I think Vrabel instils that every single day.
No team is perfect, ours included, but if we stick with what got us to where we are, we can beat any team on any given Sunday.

Vrabel's coaching reminds me so much of early 2000s BB.. it been said BB would constantly look for ways to motivate and challenge guys.. newspaper clips of comments from other teams ahead of a game, ect. There still is no guarantee a team like Baltimore or bills or even KC make it to the postseason.. currently they are teams in- the hunt.

 

[Real fan 02]

It would be wild if the Pats not only made the Super Bowl, but actually won it. I think we’ll have a lot better idea in these next three weeks as Buffalo and Baltimore have been playoff teams the last several years.

Agreed. Also going to be very interesting to see if one of Baltimore, Buffalo or KC.. who makes it in.. I don't see all 3 getting in this season...

 

[Ring 6]

Pats have no pressure on them. It's all house money.

A team like that is the last team I'd want to face in the postseason if I was an AFC team.

There is no such thing as house money to professional athletes. . The players and coaches are not less focused and dialed in to competing for a championship because you thought they couldn’t.
Every team has equally as much to lose. Athletes and coaches do not think that way. They do not think it’s ok if we lose because people doubted us any way.

 

[NFL Mystique]

They probably think they can beat any team at any time in any stadium. Vrabel does not strike me as a guy who would have fear. Nor someone who would play to lose. There are better teams. But being the better team does not always translate to the field.

As soon as you go into a game with fear, you have already lost. Coaches tighten up and players try to be perfect.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

The “House Money” comments are exactly where I’ve landed.

In NO WAY did I expect to be at 10-2 at Thanksgiving in my wildest dreams.

I’m greedy so obviously want more, BUT, year 1 of the Vrabel regime is already a massive success no matter what happens.

Injuries starting to pile up, but that isn’t controllable.

Team needs a few more seasons to build depth and also upgrade some spots.

My honest “I’ll be over the moon” desire for this season is to win a playoff game.

Relatively humble ask now given what I thought would be a longer rebuild, but I think it’s a fair hope.

AFCC would be an insane accomplishment.

SB would be 2001-esque absurdity in our favor and make the rest of the NFL just furious.

 

[NFL Mystique]

There is no such thing as house money to professional athletes. . The players and coaches are not less focused and dialed in to competing for a championship because you thought they couldn’t.
Every team has equally as much to lose. Athletes and coaches do not think that way. They do not think it’s ok if we lose because people doubted us any way.

This.

What fans believe and what players think are totally different. No Patriots player would go in to the postseason thinking "we are improved. Whatever happens today is just gravy."

 

[Real fan 02]

It would be wild if the Pats not only made the Super Bowl, but actually won it. I think we’ll have a lot better idea in these next three weeks as Buffalo and Baltimore have been playoff teams the last several years.

This.

What fans believe and what players think are totally different. No Patriots player would go in to the postseason thinking "we are improved. Whatever happens today is just gravy."

Whenever you see " house money " reference as I feel it is. Coming from 4-13 back to back season.. as fans understanding that this would be the first year of the Vrabel regime.. I don't think any fan if they are being honest forsaw 10-2.. as @UGAPatsfan perfectly summarized in his post...

 

[Family]

This guy operated in fear..

I'd say Mayo didn't have enough fear. No sense of urgency.

There are, of course, situations I prefer not to face.

Like Buffalo if we've won the first two games against them, or a completely healthy former champion.

But that's different than fearing a team.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

This.

What fans believe and what players think are totally different. No Patriots player would go in to the postseason thinking "we are improved. Whatever happens today is just gravy."

Like most things in life, expectations are dynamic.
Do you think Washington players were happy to make the playoffs last year, and would have been happy losing their first playoff game, hello no!.
There was much uncertainty at the start of the year, but that was long ago, our expectations now are far different than 11 weeks ago.
We are #1 seed in the AFC as of today, anything less than a SB will be a disappointment for me, and I'm sure the players and coaches feel the exact same way.
Every team has one goal, to win the SB. As the season progresses that goal becomes unrealistic for some teams, and very realistic for others. We are squarely the latter.
SB or bust for me.

 

[Ring 6]

Whenever you see " house money " reference as I feel it is. Coming from 4-13 back to back season.. as fans understanding that this would be the first year of the Vrabel regime.. I don't think any fan if they are being honest forsaw 10-2.. as @UGAPatsfan perfectly summarized in his post...

I would say I expected 8-4 or 9-3 but figured at Buffalo was an L.

But why would what you were incorrect to expect make the team be less serious about winning more?

 

[Ring 6]

Like most things in life, expectations are dynamic.
Do you think Washington players were happy to make the playoffs last year, and would have been happy losing their first playoff game, hello no!.
There was much uncertainty at the start of the year, but that was long ago, our expectations now are far different than 11 weeks ago.
We are #1 seed in the AFC as of today, anything less than a SB will be a disappointment for me, and I'm sure the players and coaches feel the exact same way.
Every team has one goal, to win the SB. As the season progresses that goal becomes unrealistic for some teams, and very realistic for others. We are squarely the latter.
SB or bust for me.

100% agree.

It seems people like to rationalize being wrong about how good this team was by predicting the balloon is just waiting to pop so they weren’t so wrong to begin with.

 

[Thelonious]

Three reasons:

1) **** happens.

2) A number of teams have deeper and better rosters.

3) Pride cometh before a Fall.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

100% agree.

It seems people like to rationalize being wrong about how good this team was by predicting the balloon is just waiting to pop so they weren’t so wrong to begin with.

I've always said I like being wrong when it means the team succeeds.
I was squarely on the playoff train at the start of the season.
I predicted very big things for Maye, and had us at 10+ wins. Would luv to find that thread, but it was months ago and I suck at searching through old threads. I may have even said 11 wins.
I thought the McD hiring was bad, and I am extremely happy to be wrong about that.
We are we are today, which is in a very enviable position. No reason to want anything less than a Lombardi now.

 

[Thelonious]

I'd say Mayo didn't have enough fear. No sense of urgency.

There are, of course, situations I prefer not to face.

Like Buffalo if we've won the first two games against them, or a completely healthy former champion.

But that's different than fearing a team.

I would bet that Mayo - like many of us at least at some dark juncture in our lives - harbored a suspicion he was a phony, advanced and respected for the wrong reasons: a sense of inadequacy. For most of us, this passes with this that or the other accomplishment, but for some, there is a painful kernel of truth in that self doubt.

 

[Thelonious]

I guess I think the word "fear" kinda skews the question, poisons the well., curdles the custard, queers the deal, craters the souffle. If you take that issue out if it, and the question becomes, "Can they lose to another team," the answer is, "of course." But that wouldn't be much fun.

 

[NFL Mystique]

What if they are too young and inexperienced to really know what fear is. And it helps them in the postseason? I believe I have seen that theory thrown around in the sporting world before.

 

[Thelonious]

What if they are too young and inexperienced to really know what fear is. And it helps them in the postseason? I believe I have seen that theory thrown around in the sporting world before.

I guess that why youngsters make the best soldiers, alas.