Patriots

[legion]

I've often thought that the whole reason Brady and Belichick are so dominate in a league designed to even things out must be because of cheating--reinforced by the fact they've been caught cheating.

This is a good article that offers a different explanation.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/29/bill-belichick-new-england-patriots-strategy-nfl-super-bowl-liii

One of the most staggering things about the New England Patriots’ two decades of domination in the NFL is that, Tom Brady aside, their success isn’t built on a raft of superstars. That’s not say they haven’t had fine players: Randy Moss and the late Junior Seau are already in the NFL Hall of Fame and Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Adam Vinatieri will probably join them. But more than anything, the Pats’ five titles since 2001 have been about the team as a whole. And that’s down to the single most important person in the NFL: Bill Belichick.
The head coach’s ability to zig while others zag has kept New England ahead of every team in the league for 18 years, and led to a mindboggling period of sustained success that should be impossible in a league that is designed for parity through a salary cap and draft system. Belichick’s genius lies in his refusal to wed himself to one overriding philosophy. He’s a shape-shifter, constantly evolving his team’s style – and that flexibility has been on show this season. As modern schemes have expanded the field and the focus has been on the dominance of quarterbacks and smaller, more mobile defensive players, Belichick has returned to an old-school, power running system

[Noah930]

Go Pats!

I like Belichick's old-school approach to the game. Beyond his brilliant football mind, I think that is one of the secrets to the Pats' success.

[KFC911]

If everybody could cheat as good as Brady....everybody will have six SB rings soon.

He doesn't suck...jmho

[astrochex]

I hope Sunday is the worst game of their career.

Go Rams!!

[stevej37]

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by astrochex

I hope Sunday is the worst game of their career.

Go Rams!!

Rams would still lose ....

As usual, I just want to see a well played, exciting... and likely a poorly officiated game

[Tobra]

Lost interest in NFL football

[vash]

i'll be landing in Fontana CA just before kickoff.

i'll find a Hooters or something similar to sip a beer and watch.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by legion

I've often thought that the whole reason Brady and Belichick are so dominate in a league designed to even things out must be because of cheating--reinforced by the fact they've been caught cheating.

I am confused that a bunch of car guys are so obsessed with 'cheating' in ball sports when Motorsports has a long history of race teams skirting the rules to gain an advantage.

Go Rams!

[ckelly78z]

Belichick didn't do anything for Cleveland, other than help move the team to Baltimore after a playoff 11-5 season in Cleveland.

[sammyg2]

I've been a patriots fan since Parcells and Bledsoe.
I don't know if they'll beat the Lams on Sunday but I'll be wearing my patriots beanie and cheering them on.


That got me thinking about superbowl XXXCVXIIISM30C oh screw it, superbowl 36. Why do they insist on using roman numerals? I've never even met a Roman.

Anywho, SB 36. the first SB for Tom Brady. 2001.
The Patriots defeated the Rams by the score of 20–17.
That was 17 years ago.
Since then Brady, Bilicheck and the patriots have won lots more superbowls. I loose count but it's lots.
But IIRC the Lams haven't made to to another superbowl? Until this year I mean.
Once every 17 years ain't bad, that's pretty good compared to lots of teams.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXVI

[71T Targa]

I'm not sure who's going to win on Sunday. But I am sure it will be the 'greatest comeback in Superbowl history'

That's the only way to keep viewers around to the end and ad revenue up. (It is a for profit business after all)

[scottmandue]

I'm not a huge NFL fan but being a native Los Angeleno I have to support the Rams.

The odds makers have Patriots by a bit so should be an interesting game.

[sammyg2]

Didja know the patriots did not have a first round pick in 2009, 2013, 2016 or 2017, yet they still went to the AFC championship game the last 8 years in a row and won 5 of them?

[rattlsnak]

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

Gonna be one sad country....six, six I tell ya!

[cabmandone]

My take: The only offense the Patriots faced that compares to the Rams is KC. The Rams have a better D than KC did. Rams win by 10

[rfuerst911sc]

Like all big games it all comes down to execution by offense/defense/special teams for 60 minutes . Add to that the quality of making coaching changes if/when the original plan is not working . Have seen many high powered offenses fizzle due to nerves and poor execution . Weather is not going to be an issue so let them play and let the best team win . Would love to be a fly on the wall for the pre-game meeting the officiating crew will conduct

[astrochex]

^That is absolutely true. Mistakes will be killer in this game.

I hope for an unusually unbiased and lucid officiating crew.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

....Would love to be a fly on the wall for the pre-game meeting the officiating crew will conduct

An "official" Super Bowl blindfold would be cool....grab one for me too