Will the patriots go undefeated?

[Moonliner]

Will the New England Patriots finish the season undefeated?

I remember in the past reading articles (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070714122750AAmKf4F&show=7) about why there will never be another undefeated season in the NFL. The primary argument seems to be that once a playoff birth is set a team will play it safe and pull it's stars in order to protect them for the playoffs.

The Patriots don't seem to be following this theory.

Can they go undefeated?

[Ghoulish Delight]

If any team can, it's them. I'd never bet on it because you never know what's going to happen, but I'd be surprised if they don't at least go 16-0. 19-0, that I'm less inclined to believe.

What I'm really hoping is that they do go at least 16-0 and that simultaneously Miami goes 0-16. How awesome would that be? (Not that I have anything against the Dolphins, I just like the parallelism of it all).

[scaeagles]

Miami is about as bad of a professional team as I have ever had the displeasure to witness.

I do think the Patriots will. There have been two teams come close, and the Patriots coaching staff will come up with schemes to more easily defeat the defensive strategies thrown at them.

They are about as close to football perfection as one can be.

I think that the whole uproar over the videotaping of signals has really motivated the Pats to show that it wasn't cheating that was giving them wins - they can dominate without that.

[Alex]

The last two will be the test since 14-0 will lock in home field advantage for them. They've had three close calls so it has been shown that you can pressure them. Jets and Miami shouldn't be a problem. Ending with the Giants could be a concern, as that is potentially a very important game for them (the Giants, that is).

But I'd say the odds of 16-0 are fairly good. 19-0 will be phenomenally more difficult. The best teams will play them having seen game plans that cause them trouble. I'm really looking forward to Colts-Patriots in the AFC Championship game. The first one was good, another one would be better.

Also remarkable is that four teams with 13 or more wins is probable. That hasn't happened in a decade I think.

[blueerica]

I just think it's funny that the pundits were all bantering a month ago what was more likely: Dolphins with no wins or Pats with no losses. We're still waiting...

[Kevy Baby]

I know it is not going to happen, but I would be very amused if the Dolphins defeated the Pats.

[Strangler Lewis]

Also remarkable is that four teams with 13 or more wins is probable.

Each with a superstar quarterback with a flair for dramatic comebacks. No Trent Dilfer-like afterthoughts in this bunch.

[SacTown Chronic]

The Pats will go 16-0, but I have the feeling that this season will end in crushing disappointment for them. I don't think they have enough to beat both the Colts and Cowboys again.

They are about as close to football perfection as one can be. Naw. The Patriots can't run their way out of a paper bag, their secondary can be had up the middle, and their linebackers sometimes have difficulty covering elite tight ends (the playoffs will include Gates, Clark, Winslow, Miller, Witten). And if you hit their star wide receiver early and often, you can take him out of the game. Of all these things, the lack of a serious commitment to the running game might be what trips them up in the end. Then again, they might go 19-0, covering the spread all the while.



Ugh, Trent Dilfer. It's no mean feat making Niner fans happy to see the Shaun Hill era begin, but Dilfer pulls it off.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Stupid Baltimore, there goes Miami's perfect season.

[Moonliner]

Stupid Baltimore, there goes Miami's perfect season.

I was actually planning to watch the Pats-Miami game just in case Kevy's idea of an oh so improbable Miami win came true.

Now that Miami has a win it's just not as fun anymore.

So I guess I have some extra free time in my schedule now.

[Moonliner]

Not that I have any real emotional attachment here at all but...


GO PAT'S!!!


Show em all that cheaters do sometimes prosper!

[scaeagles]

Game is on the TV, waiting for the kickoff....woo-hoo! I hate Eli Manning, so I'm cheering for the Pats for that reason if no other.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Wow, heavy price to pay for wiggling one's shoulders.

[Ghoulish Delight]

We have ourselves a game, son.

[Moonliner]

We have ourselves a game, son.

You beat me to it. I was coming to post the same thing.... Woot woot...

I like a game played for pride more than standings....

[Ghoulish Delight]

Woot woot....The official Webster's spelling is w00t.

Man, that TD reception by Moss was amazing. It did look like a pushoff in real time, but the replay showed otherwise. He used the corner's contact to create the space, and when he knew the ball would be there, he just dropped his hands and got in the air in an instant. Ridiculous skill.

[scaeagles]

Indeed. Giants want to spoil it, Patriots want to have it. Good old fashioned pride game.

Seau is one tough dude for being 38.

Eli has to gack up a hair ball soon. He will make a big mistake.

[swanie]

I'll preface this by saying I really can't stand either team...

Mr. Swanie and I were talking before the game and I didn't give the Giants a shot in hell for winning this game. In fact, I told him that if I were the Patriots...this would be the quarterback I'd like to play against (only 2nd to Rex Grossman).

But wow. Manning is such a headcase I can't believe he's actually playing with some confidence.

I just hope he can hold it together for another half.

[Strangler Lewis]

Had to know the Giants would come to play. Nobody remembers a team that goes 1 and out in the playoffs. Everybody knows the Dolphins beat the Bears in '85.

[scaeagles]

Now that's awesome. Moss drops a catchable, yet tough indeed, ball, and the next play Brady goes right back to him for a TD. Wow.

[scaeagles]

There's the mistake I knew he'd make.

[CoasterMatt]

That was awesome...

[Ghoulish Delight]

Geez. You know, they may not have been dominating over the last half of the season. They definitely showed some weaknesses with 3 or 4 games. But they never panic. They just seem to know they can get done what needs to get done.

Great game, can't wait for playoffs.

[scaeagles]

Naw. The Patriots can't run their way out of a paper bag.

They won today because they could. They ran all over the Chargers in the second half.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yeah, Maroney's looked fantastic in both of their games so far. No running game indeed.

Meanwhile, I honestly would have been less shocked by SD beating NE than I was by NY beating GB. What the hell? Farve looked terrible. After that one crazy play where Farve threw and interception and then they got the ball back on a fumble during the runback, they showed a closeup of his face. He looked utterly defeated at that point. No fight in his face. Sad.

[CoasterMatt]

Jerk Store and I might be making a road trip to Glendale (Arizona) :)

[scaeagles]

Farve looked terrible.....No fight in his face. Sad.

I was indeed shocked as well, and the warrior QB I have always admired because of his fight and determination left me disappointed indeed.

Not only that, but I would have won $35 in the office pool should GB have advanced (everyone has NE winning it all, and I was the only one with GB going to the Superbowl....everyone else had Dallas or NY).

[Strangler Lewis]

I thought he looked cold and stiff as the game wore on. Made a lot of bad arm throws without really turning and setting himself.