New England 16-0 in 2007? (1 Viewer)

[Thumper]

All right 16-0 might be pushing it but, the Patriots off season is now officially down right scary. Plus, by trading out of the 07 draft into the 08 draft they set themselves for a monster draft in 2008.

For a team that should have won the AFC Championship (entire team was sick with the flu for final game) they have upgraded to the point where they are clearly the dominant team in the NFL.

Look at this off season

1/ Adalius Thomas - (LB) Biggest impact defensive player available.

2/ Brandon Meriweather - (S) Impact safety taken at the 24th spot.

3/ Randy Moss (WR) They got greatest wr of his generation for nothing.

4/ Donte Stallworth (WR) An all star wr. The question what would Brady be capable of if he had big time wr's will finally be answered.

5/ Wes Welker (WR) Had 70 catches in Miami last last year with Joey Harrinton throwing to him. Great pick up.

Depth pick ups

1/ Tory James, Kelly Washington + Sammy Morris add quality depth.

Plus the Patriots picked up a #1 from SF and a # 3 from Oakland next year.

The Patriots 2008 draft looks like this

1st round - (2 picks) Their own plus the 49ers

2nd round - Their own pick

3rd round - Their own plus the Raiders

Who will stop them assuming there are no major injuries?

The dynasty continues.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

They still could have some dfensive issues in their secondary. However, they have defintiely improved their situation. I think their over/under will be 12.5.

 

[identikit]

The Patriots off season is now officially down right scary.

For a team that should have won the AFC Championship (entire team was sick with the flu for final game) they have upgraded to the point where they are clearly the dominant team in the NFL.

Look at this off season

1/ Adalius Thomas - (LB) Biggest impact defensive player available.

2/ Brandon Meriweather - (S) Impact safety taken at the 24th spot.

3/ Randy Moss (WR) They got greatest wr of his generation for nothing.

4/ Donte Stallworth (WR) An all star wr. The question what would Brady be capable of if he had big time wr's will finally be answered.

5/ Wes Welker (WR) Had 70 catches in Miami last last year with Joey Harrinton throwing to him. Great pick up.

Depth pick ups

1/ Tory James, Kelly Washington + Sammy Morris add quality depth.

Plus the Patriots picked up a #1 from SF and a # 3 from Oakland next year.

The Patriots 2008 draft looks like this

1st round - (2 picks) Their own plus the 49ers

2nd round - Their own pick

3rd round - Their own plus the Raiders

Who will stop them assuming there are no major injuries?

The dynasty continues.

It wasn't the 'final game'. The Super Bowl was. The flu excuse is equally hilarious.

That being said, NE has raised the bar this offseason, without a doubt.

Id

 

[Thumper]

They still could have some dfensive issues in their secondary. However, they have defintiely improved their situation. I think their over/under will be 12.5.

True, but they have picked up some serious quality with Thomas + Meriweather at the two positions they were weakest.

 

[Ozymandias]

I wonder how many Superbowls they won in the past because the opponents were sick/under the weather/had an off day/dropped the ball, etc.

They look good for next year, but spare me the alibis.

 

[KoolKat]

If they have to play the Broncos, Denver owns the Pats.

 

[Greco]

If Meriweather shoots Moss the whole plan falls apart.

 

[BostonSportsGuy]

If they have to play the Broncos, Denver owns the Pats.

 

[The Shizzle]

The Colts still have a great chance to stop them. Cato June can play deep and Nick Harper will be on Moss like stink on ####.

 

[bigums]

The Colts still have a great chance to stop them. Cato June can play deep and Nick Harper will be on Moss like stink on ####.

Cato's in Tampa now.

 

[BostonSportsGuy]

Patriots Champs in 2007/2008. No doubt!

 

[Serenity Now]

The Colts still have a great chance to stop them. Cato June can play deep and Nick Harper will be on Moss like stink on ####.

Cato's in Tampa now.

He's that good.

 

[BassNBrew]

I won't be convinced until Brady can prove that he can lead the team on a game winning TD drive instead of choking in a big game.

 

[David Yudkin]

The Colts still have a great chance to stop them. Cato June can play deep and Nick Harper will be on Moss like stink on ####.

Cato's in Tampa now.

And Harper's in Tennessee.

 

[pizzatyme]

The Colts still have a great chance to stop them. Cato June can play deep and Nick Harper will be on Moss like stink on ####.

No chance, Samuel will have all 3 of the Colts WRs locked down. I mean, Gonzalez is the Colts fastest WR, how good can the Colts be with that?Maybe the 'Mystique' from 3 years ago will again come into play?

 

[dparker713]

The Patriots off season is now officially down right scary.

For a team that should have won the AFC Championship (entire team was sick with the flu for final game) they have upgraded to the point where they are clearly the dominant team in the NFL.

Look at this off season

1/ Adalius Thomas - (LB) Biggest impact defensive player available.

2/ Brandon Meriweather - (S) Impact safety taken at the 24th spot.

3/ Randy Moss (WR) They got greatest wr of his generation for nothing.

4/ Donte Stallworth (WR) An all star wr. The question what would Brady be capable of if he had big time wr's will finally be answered.

5/ Wes Welker (WR) Had 70 catches in Miami last last year with Joey Harrinton throwing to him. Great pick up.

Depth pick ups

1/ Tory James, Kelly Washington + Sammy Morris add quality depth.

Plus the Patriots picked up a #1 from SF and a # 3 from Oakland next year.

The Patriots 2008 draft looks like this

1st round - (2 picks) Their own plus the 49ers

2nd round - Their own pick

3rd round - Their own plus the Raiders

Who will stop them assuming there are no major injuries?

The dynasty continues.

It wasn't the 'final game'. The Super Bowl was. The flu excuse is equally hilarious.

That being said, NE has raised the bar this offseason, without a doubt.

Id

1) Great pick up, but they still have a hole at LB2) Part of that great Miami team full of character this year! How long till he stomps on somebodies head?

3) He'll be in the dog house by week 4 and he might block once every other game. Plus he's a speed WR that lost a step last year.

4) Enjoy Stallworth, for the whole 6 games he'll be healthy.

5) Decent pickup, but hardly head and shoulders above anything they had last year.

All in all, they've made a big splash, but its hardly a given that they'll be that much better than anyone else. They were after all lucky to get past a superior SD team in the divisional round.

 

[Mr. Pink]

I'll tell you who can stop the Patriots.....the Patriots.

I'm as big a Pats fan as the next guy, but I am suddenly squeemish about this turn of events. Obviously I hope this all ends with them hoisting another Lombardi trophy, but it could all go to he_ll just as easily.

I'll reserve judgement.

 

[Green and Gold]

I won't be convinced until Brady can prove that he can lead the team on a game winning TD drive instead of choking in a big game.

 

[Tommy Collins]

Pats look to be spending more money. Not sure how the cap situation works out but I hope they don't have the flexibility after this year.

 

[Green and Gold]

The Colts still have a great chance to stop them. Cato June can play deep and Nick Harper will be on Moss like stink on ####.

The Pats scored 27 offensive points on the Colts with Caldwell, Gaffney, and Brown in the last game. Lets be honest here, if the Colts are going to beat them it'll be in a shootout.

 

[BGP]

I wonder how many Superbowls they won in the past because the opponents were sick/under the weather/had an off day/dropped the ball, etc.They look good for next year, but spare me the alibis.

I don't think the 2001 Patriots were the best team in the NFL that year, but they won it all.I think the 2006 Patriots were the best team in the NFL, but they didn't win it all.The best team doesn't always win it all.

 

[redman]

*cough* 2000 Redskins *cough*

 

[Chase Stuart]

*cough* 2000 Redskins *cough*

It's more like the recent Yankees, than anything.

 

[Mr. Pink]

*cough* 2000 Redskins *cough*

It's more like the recent Yankees, than anything.

Was just saying to a friend that this acquisition is A-Rodesque. I'll never forget how completely irritated those of us in Red Sox Nation were when the Yanks aquired him. This move will irritate a lot of fans who feel the same way about the Pats as we do about the Yankees.My fear, of course, is that the Pats suffer the same fate.

 

[Chase Stuart]

*cough* 2000 Redskins *cough*

It's more like the recent Yankees, than anything.

Was just saying to a friend that this acquisition is A-Rodesque. I'll never forget how completely irritated those of us in Red Sox Nation were when the Yanks aquired him. This move will irritate a lot of fans who feel the same way about the Pats as we do about the Yankees.My fear, of course, is that the Pats suffer the same fate.

Brosius:: A-RodGivens:: Moss

 

[Borat]

*cough* 2000 Redskins *cough*

It's more like the recent Yankees, than anything.

Was just saying to a friend that this acquisition is A-Rodesque. I'll never forget how completely irritated those of us in Red Sox Nation were when the Yanks aquired him. This move will irritate a lot of fans who feel the same way about the Pats as we do about the Yankees.My fear, of course, is that the Pats suffer the same fate.

Completely invalid comparison. There is a salary cap in football.

 

[ffball-novice]

I wonder how many Superbowls they won in the past because the opponents were sick/under the weather/had an off day/dropped the ball, etc.

They look good for next year, but spare me the alibis.

I don't think the 2001 Patriots were the best team in the NFL that year, but they won it all.I think the 2006 Patriots were the best team in the NFL, but they didn't win it all.

The best team doesn't always win it all.

With a little emphasis that's what the Chargers say about 2006.

 

[Borat]

The Patriots off season is now officially down right scary.

For a team that should have won the AFC Championship (entire team was sick with the flu for final game) they have upgraded to the point where they are clearly the dominant team in the NFL.

Look at this off season

1/ Adalius Thomas - (LB) Biggest impact defensive player available.

2/ Brandon Meriweather - (S) Impact safety taken at the 24th spot.

3/ Randy Moss (WR) They got greatest wr of his generation for nothing.

4/ Donte Stallworth (WR) An all star wr. The question what would Brady be capable of if he had big time wr's will finally be answered.

5/ Wes Welker (WR) Had 70 catches in Miami last last year with Joey Harrinton throwing to him. Great pick up.

Depth pick ups

1/ Tory James, Kelly Washington + Sammy Morris add quality depth.

Plus the Patriots picked up a #1 from SF and a # 3 from Oakland next year.

The Patriots 2008 draft looks like this

1st round - (2 picks) Their own plus the 49ers

2nd round - Their own pick

3rd round - Their own plus the Raiders

Who will stop them assuming there are no major injuries?

The dynasty continues.

It wasn't the 'final game'. The Super Bowl was. The flu excuse is equally hilarious.

That being said, NE has raised the bar this offseason, without a doubt.

Id

1) Great pick up, but they still have a hole at LB2) Part of that great Miami team full of character this year! How long till he stomps on somebodies head?

3) He'll be in the dog house by week 4 and he might block once every other game. Plus he's a speed WR that lost a step last year.

4) Enjoy Stallworth, for the whole 6 games he'll be healthy.

5) Decent pickup, but hardly head and shoulders above anything they had last year.

All in all, they've made a big splash, but its hardly a given that they'll be that much better than anyone else. They were after all lucky to get past a superior SD team in the divisional round.

The rest of your idle speculation aside, where exactly is the hole at LB? Colvin and Thomas outside; Bruschi and Vrabel inside. Am I missing something here?

 

[The Jerk]

Why stop at 2007 and 2008? Let's double that.

In fact, for the next four years, the NFL shouldn't even bother playing the games.

If they do, it'll be 76 straight wins for the Patriots, and probably by 3 TDs minimum. That might be a record or something. The good news is that we won't have to hear about the champagne popping at some Miami retirement complex anymore.

But seriously... some perspective might be warranted (although if I'm a NE fan, I'd be getting excited, too. That's what the offseason -- and especially the draft -- are all about.)

Both WR1 and WR2 are injury prone. The team/character concept that characterized 3 SBs in 4 years is being tested. Leaders are only as good as their followers allow them to be. And the coaching drain (Weis, Crennel, Mangini) that affects all winning organizations should not be underestimated.

Most people seem to be making the assumption that the passing game will make some kind of quantum leap, but I'm not sure significant improvement will occur. New England was 12th in the NFL in passing last year, and that was a drop from 2nd in 2005. However, most of that was by choice as the 45 ypg reduction through the air was mostly offset by a 29 ypg increase in rushing.

Schematically, the Patriots have already been successful in the passing game with a collection of mediocre, interchangeable (but also similar) receivers. Defenses gained very little by game-planning to take away any one receiver. What happens if the offense relies more on Moss and Stallworth and loses its "committee" dynamic? It's just not as simple as plug in two players and automatically increase the performance by 20% or so.

By measurables and statistics, the WR additions are improvements. But what about the impact on chemistry and intangibles? (I'm thinking ON the field here...)

To me, Thomas is the most significant upgrade as defense still wins championships from my perspective. And the AFC East -- while slowly improving -- is still very weak, which will help a lot.

New England was already on the very short list of championship contenders. Maybe they move up another notch; maybe they are the favorites. However, injuries (or a team-wide flu ) could still strike at the wrong time, or another team may simply outplay them in the playoffs (see Steelers over Colts 2005 or Pats over Chargers 2006 for recent examples).

 

[BGP]

I wonder how many Superbowls they won in the past because the opponents were sick/under the weather/had an off day/dropped the ball, etc.

They look good for next year, but spare me the alibis.

I don't think the 2001 Patriots were the best team in the NFL that year, but they won it all.I think the 2006 Patriots were the best team in the NFL, but they didn't win it all.

The best team doesn't always win it all.

With a little emphasis that's what the Chargers say about 2006.

Or the Steelers say about 1976. A lot of Steelers fans will tell you that 76 team was the best one of their run in the 1970s. But it was the one that didn't win it.I think the 2006 Patriots were better than the 2006 Chargers though.

 

[Borat]

*cough* 2000 Redskins *cough*

It's more like the recent Yankees, than anything.

Was just saying to a friend that this acquisition is A-Rodesque. I'll never forget how completely irritated those of us in Red Sox Nation were when the Yanks aquired him. This move will irritate a lot of fans who feel the same way about the Pats as we do about the Yankees.My fear, of course, is that the Pats suffer the same fate.

Brosius:: A-RodGivens:: Moss

Antowain Smith::Corey DillonOh wait...

 

[phthalatemagic]

For a team that should have won the AFC Championship (entire team was sick with the flu for final game)

 

[PsychoMan]

Who will stop them assuming there are no major injuries?

RANDY MOSS

 

[PsychoMan]

For a team that should have won the AFC Championship (entire team was sick with the flu for final game)

 

[ImTheScientist]

Randy Moss can stop them

 

[The Jerk]

I wonder how many Superbowls they won in the past because the opponents were sick/under the weather/had an off day/dropped the ball, etc.

They look good for next year, but spare me the alibis.

I don't think the 2001 Patriots were the best team in the NFL that year, but they won it all.I think the 2006 Patriots were the best team in the NFL, but they didn't win it all.

The best team doesn't always win it all.

With a little emphasis that's what the Chargers say about 2006.

Or the Steelers say about 1976. A lot of Steelers fans will tell you that 76 team was the best one of their run in the 1970s. But it was the one that didn't win it.I think the 2006 Patriots were better than the 2006 Chargers though.

Hard to say if it was the best Steelers team in that era, but it is stated a lot by the players themselves, so who's to argue? I agree with the sentiment, and it's hard to beat the defensive statistics of the 1976 Steelers:Final 9 regular season games: 28 points allowed, 5 shutouts, only 1 or 2 TDs allowed (can't find box scores)

Only one team (Oilers with 16) scored more than 3 points in those nine games.

The Steelers traveled to Baltimore and pounded a good Colts team 40-14. However, they lost Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier due to injuries in that game.

In the AFC Championship, Oakland beat the Steelers convincingly 24-7. The Raiders were 16-1 that year and one of the most underrated single season teams in NFL history. Combine a strong opponent with an injured RB crew and the result wasn't even close.

Sorry if I indulged myself too long in the past, but the relevance to 2007 is not too difficult to understand...

What if a team likes the Chargers takes their game up another notch or two? What if the Patriots lose two key players to injury? What if Brady misses significant time (like Bradshaw did) in the regular season? Even if he's 100% come playoff time, an injury to Brady could cost the Patriots in terms of seeding for home field.

Good post, BGP.

 

[Capella]

For a team that should have won the AFC Championship (entire team was sick with the flu for final game)

 

[Jason Wood]

The Patriots are an impressive organization, even the staunchest NE haters have to admit that. Getting Randy Moss for a 4th round draft pick? Ridiculous. Oakland is a criminal joke of a franchise.

The Raiders basically just traded Randy Moss for Mike Williams and Josh McCown.

 

[identikit]

The Patriots are an impressive organization, even the staunchest NE haters have to admit that. Getting Randy Moss for a 4th round draft pick? Ridiculous. Oakland is a criminal joke of a franchise.

The Raiders basically just traded Randy Moss for Mike Williams and Josh McCown.

100% agreed.It's the Pats fans who claim they got the 'blue flu' in the AFC championship game that aren't impressive. The only blue flu they got had horseshoes on their helmets.

Id

 

[Bailiver]

The Patriots are an impressive organization, even the staunchest NE haters have to admit that. Getting Randy Moss for a 4th round draft pick? Ridiculous. Oakland is a criminal joke of a franchise.The Raiders basically just traded Randy Moss for Mike Williams and Josh McCown.

I have to assume that the Raiders just traded Randy Moss for 1: salary cap room and 2: Team cohesiveness issues, and Williams and McCown are icing on the cake.But Woods' point is, as usual, a good one. Why the hell did this happen in Day 2 and not Day 1? Surely GB would have coughed up more than a 4th rounder.

 

[KGB]

yea, but randy wanted out. And would only lower his salary to play in NE.

NE was trying to trade a 6th rounder for him.

 

[The Jerk]

The Patriots are an impressive organization, even the staunchest NE haters have to admit that. Getting Randy Moss for a 4th round draft pick? Ridiculous. Oakland is a criminal joke of a franchise.The Raiders basically just traded Randy Moss for Mike Williams and Josh McCown.

I think it's a good trade for New England. However, if you phrase the trade this way, "The Patriots just traded a 4th round pick for a 30-year-old WR in his 10th NFL season who has averaged 50 catches for 775 yards and 8 TDs for the past three seasons" it isn't much of a story.

 

[cstu]

If Meriweather shoots Moss the whole plan falls apart.

 

[Jason Wood]

Sure, but even layman knew that the Moss in Oakland situation was untenable at this point. So why wait until after the NFL draft [or more accurately, Day 2] toward the end of free agency to make this move? Surely they could've had more flexibility in improving their team with the salary cap relief if they did the logical thing and parted ways with him earlier. It's bush league. But this isn't a Raiders thread, it's a Patriots thread and all I can say is, Hats Off.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

They should have won the whole thing last year if Belichick didn't get outcoached so bad by Dungy.

Also... don't get your head too far out in front of your skis. Stallworth is going to miss AT LEAST four games next year. Book it!

 

[dparker713]

The rest of your idle speculation aside, where exactly is the hole at LB? Colvin and Thomas outside; Bruschi and Vrabel inside. Am I missing something here?

Do you think either Bruschi or Vrabel are 3 down LBs? Considering their age, where is the depth at LB?

 

[Pat Patriot]

I wonder how many Superbowls they won in the past because the opponents were sick/under the weather/had an off day/dropped the ball, etc.

They look good for next year, but spare me the alibis.

I don't think the 2001 Patriots were the best team in the NFL that year, but they won it all.I think the 2006 Patriots were the best team in the NFL, but they didn't win it all.

The best team doesn't always win it all.

With a little emphasis that's what the Chargers say about 2006.

Or the Steelers say about 1976. A lot of Steelers fans will tell you that 76 team was the best one of their run in the 1970s. But it was the one that didn't win it.I think the 2006 Patriots were better than the 2006 Chargers though.

Hard to say if it was the best Steelers team in that era, but it is stated a lot by the players themselves, so who's to argue? I agree with the sentiment, and it's hard to beat the defensive statistics of the 1976 Steelers:Final 9 regular season games: 28 points allowed, 5 shutouts, only 1 or 2 TDs allowed (can't find box scores)

Only one team (Oilers with 16) scored more than 3 points in those nine games.

The Steelers traveled to Baltimore and pounded a good Colts team 40-14. However, they lost Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier due to injuries in that game.

In the AFC Championship, Oakland beat the Steelers convincingly 24-7. The Raiders were 16-1 that year and one of the most underrated single season teams in NFL history. Combine a strong opponent with an injured RB crew and the result wasn't even close.

Sorry if I indulged myself too long in the past, but the relevance to 2007 is not too difficult to understand...

What if a team likes the Chargers takes their game up another notch or two? What if the Patriots lose two key players to injury? What if Brady misses significant time (like Bradshaw did) in the regular season? Even if he's 100% come playoff time, an injury to Brady could cost the Patriots in terms of seeding for home field.

Good post, BGP.

1976 was a great year in the AFC. The Raiders finished 16-1 and many are convinced that the Steelers would have beaten them in the AFC Championship Game if Harris and Bleier were healthy. However, the best team in the NFL that year was the 11-3 New England Patriots. The Pats won AT Pittsburgh that year 30-27 when everyone was healthy for the Steelers and beat the Raiders the next week at home 48-17. The lost in the playoffs AT Oakland 24-21 on the worst officiating call in the history of the NFL (until it was surpassed by the Tuck Rule call).The Pats were the best team in football in 1976.

 

[Clayton Gray]

The Patriots are an impressive organization, even the staunchest NE haters have to admit that. Getting Randy Moss for a 4th round draft pick? Ridiculous. Oakland is a criminal joke of a franchise.The Raiders basically just traded Randy Moss for Mike Williams and Josh McCown.

Sadly, if Moss was going to give his 2006 effort again this season, then that's a good trade for Oakland.

 

[TheLastDispatch]

They should have won the whole thing last year if Belichick didn't get outcoached so bad by Dungy.Also... don't get your head too far out in front of your skis. Stallworth is going to miss AT LEAST four games next year. Book it!

Is this based on the combined 4 games he's lost over the last 3 seasons (48 games)?

 

[The Jerk]

I wonder how many Superbowls they won in the past because the opponents were sick/under the weather/had an off day/dropped the ball, etc.

They look good for next year, but spare me the alibis.

I don't think the 2001 Patriots were the best team in the NFL that year, but they won it all.I think the 2006 Patriots were the best team in the NFL, but they didn't win it all.

The best team doesn't always win it all.

With a little emphasis that's what the Chargers say about 2006.

Or the Steelers say about 1976. A lot of Steelers fans will tell you that 76 team was the best one of their run in the 1970s. But it was the one that didn't win it.I think the 2006 Patriots were better than the 2006 Chargers though.

Hard to say if it was the best Steelers team in that era, but it is stated a lot by the players themselves, so who's to argue? I agree with the sentiment, and it's hard to beat the defensive statistics of the 1976 Steelers:Final 9 regular season games: 28 points allowed, 5 shutouts, only 1 or 2 TDs allowed (can't find box scores)

Only one team (Oilers with 16) scored more than 3 points in those nine games.

The Steelers traveled to Baltimore and pounded a good Colts team 40-14. However, they lost Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier due to injuries in that game.

In the AFC Championship, Oakland beat the Steelers convincingly 24-7. The Raiders were 16-1 that year and one of the most underrated single season teams in NFL history. Combine a strong opponent with an injured RB crew and the result wasn't even close.

Sorry if I indulged myself too long in the past, but the relevance to 2007 is not too difficult to understand...

What if a team likes the Chargers takes their game up another notch or two? What if the Patriots lose two key players to injury? What if Brady misses significant time (like Bradshaw did) in the regular season? Even if he's 100% come playoff time, an injury to Brady could cost the Patriots in terms of seeding for home field.

Good post, BGP.

1976 was a great year in the AFC. The Raiders finished 16-1 and many are convinced that the Steelers would have beaten them in the AFC Championship Game if Harris and Bleier were healthy. However, the best team in the NFL that year was the 11-3 New England Patriots. The Pats won AT Pittsburgh that year 30-27 when everyone was healthy for the Steelers and beat the Raiders the next week at home 48-17. The lost in the playoffs AT Oakland 24-21 on the worst officiating call in the history of the NFL (until it was surpassed by the Tuck Rule call).The Pats were the best team in football in 1976.

The 1976 Pats followed up those impressive Week 3 and 4 wins by laying an egg at Detroit, losing 30-10.If the "best team in football in 1976" hadn't lost to two 6-8 teams (Miami, Detroit), they would have had home field advantage and hosted the Steelers and probably the Raiders had they beaten Pittsburgh in the divisional round. Maybe the officiating doesn't come into play in that case.

The Patriots of 1976 sound like the 2004 Steelers and the 2005 Colts -- seems as if they peaked too early, poor officiating or not.

It works both ways, Pats fans. The 2001 SB win was helped by officiating, and the 2004 SB win saw the Pats peak at the right time to dominate the Steelers in the AFC Championship by the same margin they lost in Week 8. In each case, the same basic concept worked to help you one time, and hurt you the other.