Who is the better team this year? (07-08) (1 Viewer)

[Sweeper]

I don't think that anyone is disputing that one of these two teams is going to go all the way and there has always been a bit of a rivalry between the teams.

In the past, when NE won, they simply outplayed a more talented team. This year, the Pats have caught up talent wise.

This has nothing to do with cameragate (or whatever you want to call it) it's just all football. On the field, who is going to win the conference, win a head to head match up and possibly win the Super Bowl.

Judging from the first 3 games, we are looking at two pretty amazing teams.

My vote (biased: homer): Patriots

 

[Chase Stuart]

I don't think that anyone is disputing that one of these two teams is going to go all the way and there has always been a bit of a rivalry between the teams. In the past, when NE won, they simply outplayed a more talented team. This year, the Pats have caught up talent wise. This has nothing to do with cameragate (or whatever you want to call it) it's just all football. On the field, who is going to win the conference, win a head to head match up and possibly win the Super Bowl. Judging from the first 3 games, we are looking at two pretty amazing teams. My vote (biased: homer): Patriots

I think almost every time these two teams have played, the better team won, with the possible exception of last year. This year, the Patriots are much better than every other team in the league, Indianapolis included. NE isn't likely to go 16-0, but they're going to have one of the most impressive seasons in regular season history unless something crazy happens.

 

[Pat Patriot]

I don't think that anyone is disputing that one of these two teams is going to go all the way and there has always been a bit of a rivalry between the teams. In the past, when NE won, they simply outplayed a more talented team. This year, the Pats have caught up talent wise. This has nothing to do with cameragate (or whatever you want to call it) it's just all football. On the field, who is going to win the conference, win a head to head match up and possibly win the Super Bowl. Judging from the first 3 games, we are looking at two pretty amazing teams. My vote (biased: homer): Patriots

I think almost every time these two teams have played, the better team won, with the possible exception of last year. This year, the Patriots are much better than every other team in the league, Indianapolis included. NE isn't likely to go 16-0, but they're going to have one of the most impressive seasons in regular season history unless something crazy happens.

Big misconception is that the Patriots have always "outcoached" and "outsmarted" other teams. The Patriots fashioned 3 upsets (actually I think the Pats were slight favorites over the Raiders) on their way to the SB title in 2001 with the SB win beng a historic upset. That team was not nearly as talented as those they played in the playoffs and SB.However, both of the last 2 Patriots SB teams went 14-2 in the regular season. They blew out the 15-1 Steelers that year in the playoffs. Those 2 teams were VERY talented.This years team is taking it to a new level so far. I still think we dont know how good this team will be until they play Pittsburgh and Indy. A little luster has come off that SD victory after SD lost to GB today. Norv Turner might have really messed up SD bad.

 

[djcolts]

You have to vote Pats right now, and I don't see the Pats going worse than 13-3. But, the being the best team in September, or even during the whole regular season doesn't guarantee anything.

 

[Sweeper]

They have a few challenges over the next few weeks that outta be good. The Bengals @ Cincy should be a good game and they play, what now looks to be a very tough and talented Dallas team two weeks after that.

I'm looking forward to see how they handle those teams and those games.

 

[djcolts]

They have a few challenges over the next few weeks that outta be good. The Bengals @ Cincy should be a good game and they play, what now looks to be a very tough and talented Dallas team two weeks after that. I'm looking forward to see how they handle those teams and those games.

I think they'll whip the Bengals badly. The Cowboys will probably be a good game - better than some expect.

 

[pizzatyme]

In hopes of getting some reverse positive mojo going, I voted the Patriots.

In all seriousness, I think it comes down to the game at Indy this year. Whoever wins that one might get HFA throughout the playoffs and that is what matters most in this rivalry today. IMO

 

[Workhorse]

I'm giddy about the Patriots. They've scored 38 points every game and actually LEFT points on the field with slowdown playcalling in the 4th quarter of blowouts. The defense has been decent without Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison. Hell, they've barely even worked Dante Stallworth into the offense yet.

This team is SCARY good.

On the other side, Colts fans have got to be happy being 3-0 and not even playing that well yet. Addai is proving to be a top line RB and the defense is much improved.

This year's inevitable playoff matchup is going to be fun to watch.

 

[djcolts]

In hopes of getting some reverse positive mojo going, I voted the Patriots.In all seriousness, I think it comes down to the game at Indy this year. Whoever wins that one might get HFA throughout the playoffs and that is what matters most in this rivalry today. IMO

I sort of agree, but I think Indy HAS to win to have any hope at HFA, while NE can lose at Indy and still get HFA. Look at the remaining schedules of both:NE

4 Mon, Oct 1 at Cincinnati Tickets ESPN 8:30 PM 5 Sun, Oct 7 Cleveland Tickets CBS 1:00 PM 6 Sun, Oct 14 at Dallas Tickets CBS 4:15 PM 7 Sun, Oct 21 at Miami Tickets CBS 1:00 PM 8 Sun, Oct 28 Washington Tickets FOX 4:15 PM 9 Sun, Nov 4 at Indianapolis Tickets CBS 4:15 PM 10 BYE WEEK 11 Sun, Nov 18 at Buffalo Tickets CBS 1:00 PM 12 Sun, Nov 25 Philadelphia Tickets NBC 8:15 PM 13 Mon, Dec 3 at Baltimore Tickets ESPN 8:30 PM 14 Sun, Dec 9 Pittsburgh Tickets CBS 1:00 PM 15 Sun, Dec 16 NY Jets Tickets CBS 1:00 PM 16 Sun, Dec 23 Miami Tickets CBS 1:00 PM 17 Sat, Dec 29 at NY Giants Tickets NFL 8:15 PM

Indy

4 Sun, Sep 30 Denver Tickets CBS 4:15 PM 5 Sun, Oct 7 Tampa Bay Tickets FOX 4:05 PM 6 BYE WEEK 7 Mon, Oct 22 at Jacksonville Tickets ESPN 8:30 PM 8 Sun, Oct 28 at Carolina Tickets CBS 1:00 PM 9 Sun, Nov 4 New England Tickets CBS 4:15 PM 10 Sun, Nov 11 at San Diego Tickets NBC 8:15 PM 11 Sun, Nov 18 Kansas City Tickets CBS 1:00 PM 12 Thu, Nov 22 at Atlanta Tickets NFL 8:15 PM 13 Sun, Dec 2 Jacksonville Tickets CBS 1:00 PM 14 Sun, Dec 9 at Baltimore Tickets NBC 8:15 PM 15 Sun, Dec 16 at Oakland Tickets CBS 4:05 PM 16 Sun, Dec 23 Houston Tickets CBS 1:00 PM 17 Sun, Dec 30 Tennessee Tickets CBS 1:00 PM

Let me put it this way - I can't see NE going worse than 13-3, and I'm having trouble seeing the Colts going any better than 13-3.

 

[Workhorse]

Dj, those 4 games post-bye are BRUTAL.

At Jax

At Car

vs. NE

at SD

That's a really tough stretch right there. Quality opponents and an ugly travel schedule.

 

[djcolts]

Dj, those 4 games post-bye are BRUTAL.At JaxAt Carvs. NEat SDThat's a really tough stretch right there. Quality opponents and an ugly travel schedule.

Yep. That was the 4-game stretch that stood out like a sore thumb when the schedule was released. That's why the Colts needed a quick start this season.

 

[Chase Stuart]

I actually think the Pats might be better off in RCA than in NWE this year. With the Patriots new-found air attack (and a weaker running attack than the '04 team), combined with the Colts newfound run D and solid running game, a game in windy Foxboro might be to the Patriots' disadvantage. I think in a dome, NE will be even tougher to beat. Additionally, bad weather favors the weaker team.

I know it's unconventional and it's probably wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if NE was better off in the playoffs playing outside of Foxboro. And it's not like NE has been unbeatable at home the past couple of years, anyway.

 

[bostonfred]

I actually think the Pats might be better off in RCA than in NWE this year. With the Patriots new-found air attack (and a weaker running attack than the '04 team), combined with the Colts newfound run D and solid running game, a game in windy Foxboro might be to the Patriots' disadvantage. I think in a dome, NE will be even tougher to beat. Additionally, bad weather favors the weaker team.I know it's unconventional and it's probably wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if NE was better off in the playoffs playing outside of Foxboro. And it's not like NE has been unbeatable at home the past couple of years, anyway.

If the Patriots were a one sided team, I would agree with that. But it's not like Maroney, Morris and Faulk haven't looked good, too. They're all averaging over 4.5/carry. The only back who isn't is Evans, and that's because he's been their short yardage back. Maroney has averaged 18 carries per game so far at 4.7 yards per carry. The Patriots as a whole have 444 yards on the ground on 99 attempts, and 887 yards through the air on 88 attempts. So they are actually have a 54/46 run/pass ratio. It's just that the highlight reel plays have mostly been through the air.

 

[phthalatemagic]

The Patriots are better, but if the two teams were to play each other I think the Colts would win.

 

[bostonfred]

The Patriots are better, but if the two teams were to play each other I think the Colts would win.

What will be interesting is that the teams won't play each other until week 9, at which point they should have Seymour and Harrison back. What sucks is that both teams will have had some injuries between now and then that make this argument moot.