That was then: Celebrating what was

Papelbon's Poutine

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I highly recommend watching the locker room celebration if only to see how fucking thankful Brandin Cooks is to be on the team. A few aren't on the bandwagon after his first season due to some pretty lofty expectations, but in reality he came in and had one of the best first seasons of any traded for/drafted wide receivers in this run (after Moss / Welker) and put up, basically, his standard season. Hell, it wasn't long ago that threads here were dedicated to pondering as to why players like Chad Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, and others weren't as successful here.

Obviously the role Welker and Cooks play(ed) in the offense is just massively different and they're hard to compare, but I would consider his first campaign with Tom a resounding success.

Wes Welker: 122 rec, 1175 yards, 8TD
Brandin Cooks: 65 rec, 1082 yards, 7TD
Imagine what could have been if we had #11? Coulda been magic. Sigh...next year I guess.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Dec 4, 2005
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Someone who does not get excited when our opponents are making big plays, and someone who displays his passion for football only when the Patriots are kicking ass. That’s the sad answer./[/URL]
I seriously have to think this is the accurate answer.

He’s been fantastic I think since he’s gotten in the booth. He’s 100x more knowledgeable than any other announcer - as noted he can anticipate better than anyone. It’s like he’s linked into the OC’s head set. He’s got a boyish enthusiasm, gets excited on big plays and is honest and insightful. He knows the rules better than most coaches probably do. Can appreciate great plays that normally go unnoticed, like a block or a chip or a coverage or a check down, etc.

I can see some not liking his ‘ooooh Jim, we need to see a replay....wow!’ But fuck, it’s his first season and even if he doesn’t cut back on that, I’d rather have that than Collinsworth telling me how he looked into Brady’s eyes or Simms/Nance being the equivalent of unbuttered toast.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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A Scud Away from Hell
Just can't enjoy this more. James Harrison's kids decked out in Pats gear and Harrison keep saying "we" in talking about his once-hated rival:

 

lars10

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I seriously have to think this is the accurate answer.

He’s been fantastic I think since he’s gotten in the booth. He’s 100x more knowledgeable than any other announcer - as noted he can anticipate better than anyone. It’s like he’s linked into the OC’s head set. He’s got a boyish enthusiasm, gets excited on big plays and is honest and insightful. He knows the rules better than most coaches probably do. Can appreciate great plays that normally go unnoticed, like a block or a chip or a coverage or a check down, etc.

I can see some not liking his ‘ooooh Jim, we need to see a replay....wow!’ But fuck, it’s his first season and even if he doesn’t cut back on that, I’d rather have that than Collinsworth telling me how he looked into Brady’s eyes or Simms/Nance being the equivalent of unbuttered toast.
I think one can like parts of what Romo does and not like other parts. I do find him super interesting in how he looks at the offense and describes it in ways that no other announcer really has. He does bring knowledge to most plays. But he does need to talk less, cut it out with the oohs and has and also maybe not try to find a bobble or suggest that there's possibly something fishy on every replay. He is far better than Collinsworth of course, but there's definitely room for improvement.

I also do appreciate it more when he says that a certain offense is high level play and such. His opinion as an ex-player is sort of refreshing.
 

uk_sox_fan

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I think this list (and the others) are all solid and defensible. I might quibble with a few games ( for instance - I think regular season wins are generally underappreciated - I would struggle to keep the intentional safety or McGinest goal line stand games off the list). But my larger point was how yesterday's game - which as great as it was still probably ranks somewhere closer to 10 than 1 on most peoples list, would be considered the first or second most dramatic win ever for many franchises. If you exclude "historic" wins from the equation (yes, the Bucs did win a Super Bowl - it was a shite game) the number goes even higher. My list, on quick reflection and only considering wins - Buffalo, San Diego, Arizona, Detroit, Atlanta, Jax, NYJ, Philly, NO, Tampa, Cleveland, maybe Tenn. - and I'm probably missing some obvious ones ( oh yeah - Houston). All these fan bases would right now be saying "our greatest win ever, or at least a close second". Here it's absolutely appreciated but context realistically demands that we have to consider whether it makes the top dozen or not.
C'mon - strike Buffalo off your list. This was a nice comeback but if it were the Bills it wouldn't come close to Frank Reich's comeback win 25 years ago. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/buffalo-bills-pull-off-greatest-comeback-in-nfl-history

It's also a vastly different type of 'greatest win' but their 51-3 shredding of Art Shell's Raiders in the 1990/91 AFC Championship game to go to their 1st Superbowl (and thus before they accumulated the baggage to come) would have to be their next best IMO.
 

Dollar

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I seriously have to think this is the accurate answer.

He’s been fantastic I think since he’s gotten in the booth. He’s 100x more knowledgeable than any other announcer - as noted he can anticipate better than anyone. It’s like he’s linked into the OC’s head set. He’s got a boyish enthusiasm, gets excited on big plays and is honest and insightful. He knows the rules better than most coaches probably do. Can appreciate great plays that normally go unnoticed, like a block or a chip or a coverage or a check down, etc.

I can see some not liking his ‘ooooh Jim, we need to see a replay....wow!’ But fuck, it’s his first season and even if he doesn’t cut back on that, I’d rather have that than Collinsworth telling me how he looked into Brady’s eyes or Simms/Nance being the equivalent of unbuttered toast.
I never thought I'd say this a decade ago, but I'd take Troy Aikman hands down over pretty much any other commentator. He has the right mix of insight and accurate observations, and occasionally has a great emotional reaction to watching a play (loved his "oh my GOD" comment after the Edelman catch.) He can be a little robotic at times but he usually gets the calls right on close plays/replays too. An Al Michaels/Troy Aikman combo is a dream announcing booth for me right now.

I'd put Romo in my upper tier of commentators because I enjoy his love of the game and the way he breaks down plays, but I think I'll like him more in a few years when he settles down a little.
 
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bigsid05

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I highly recommend watching the locker room celebration if only to see how fucking thankful Brandin Cooks is to be on the team. A few aren't on the bandwagon after his first season due to some pretty lofty expectations, but in reality he came in and had one of the best first seasons of any traded for/drafted wide receivers in this run (after Moss / Welker) and put up, basically, his standard season. Hell, it wasn't long ago that threads here were dedicated to pondering as to why players like Chad Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, and others weren't as successful here.

Obviously the role Welker and Cooks play(ed) in the offense is just massively different and they're hard to compare, but I would consider his first campaign with Tom a resounding success.

Wes Welker: 122 rec, 1175 yards, 8TD
Brandin Cooks: 65 rec, 1082 yards, 7TD
The guy doesn't get nearly enough love, he was fantastic this season. In addition to the 1,000+ yards receiving, he drew 5 DPIs for 141 yards, which is right behind Antonio Brown and DeAndre Hopkins (according to FO).
 

Ralphwiggum

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I think this list (and the others) are all solid and defensible. I might quibble with a few games ( for instance - I think regular season wins are generally underappreciated - I would struggle to keep the intentional safety or McGinest goal line stand games off the list). But my larger point was how yesterday's game - which as great as it was still probably ranks somewhere closer to 10 than 1 on most peoples list, would be considered the first or second most dramatic win ever for many franchises. If you exclude "historic" wins from the equation (yes, the Bucs did win a Super Bowl - it was a shite game) the number goes even higher. My list, on quick reflection and only considering wins - Buffalo, San Diego, Arizona, Detroit, Atlanta, Jax, NYJ, Philly, NO, Tampa, Cleveland, maybe Tenn. - and I'm probably missing some obvious ones ( oh yeah - Houston). All these fan bases would right now be saying "our greatest win ever, or at least a close second". Here it's absolutely appreciated but context realistically demands that we have to consider whether it makes the top dozen or not.
If you are talking about dramatic wins only (and not historic), Tennessee had the Music City Miracle which I think tops yesterday, and New Orleans' Super Bowl win was more dramatic and more important obviously. Philly had that crazy playoff game with the 4th and a million conversion. The Jets win over the Pats in the divisional round in 2011 might be more dramatic, not that the game was decided on the last play or anything, but beating your hated rival in their own stadium in the playoffs is pretty dramatic. And didn't Arizona have a crazy playoff victory over the Packers on their way to their only Super Bowl?

Your point is solid, but I think you are overstating it in reference to the other franchises on your list.
 

Bergs

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Jul 22, 2005
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I think one can like parts of what Romo does and not like other parts. I do find him super interesting in how he looks at the offense and describes it in ways that no other announcer really has. He does bring knowledge to most plays. But he does need to talk less, cut it out with the oohs and has and also maybe not try to find a bobble or suggest that there's possibly something fishy on every replay. He is far better than Collinsworth of course, but there's definitely room for improvement.

I also do appreciate it more when he says that a certain offense is high level play and such. His opinion as an ex-player is sort of refreshing.
Thanks for saving me the time of typing up a similar response. He just needs to tone don the non-analysis bit, and he'll be great.
 

Bergs

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The guy doesn't get nearly enough love, he was fantastic this season. In addition to the 1,000+ yards receiving, he drew 5 DPIs for 141 yards, which is right behind Antonio Brown and DeAndre Hopkins (according to FO).
I'm as guilty as anyone on this front. He just seems to leave 1 big play out there a game, which can obscure his overall solid contribution. I need to check myself on Cooks from now on.
 

BaseballJones

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I'm as guilty as anyone on this front. He just seems to leave 1 big play out there a game, which can obscure his overall solid contribution. I need to check myself on Cooks from now on.
He really has had a very solid year. Imagine if he's able to NOT leave those big plays out there? Holy smokes.
 

dcmissle

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I never thought I'd say this a decade ago, but I'd take Troy Aikman hands down over pretty much any other commentator. He has the right mix of insight and accurate observations, and occasionally has a great emotional reaction to watching a play (loved his "oh my GOD" comment after the Edelman catch.) He can be a little robotic at times but he usually gets the calls right on close plays/replays too. An Al Michaels/Troy Aikman combo is a dream announcing booth for me right now.

I'd put Romo in my upper tier of commentators because I enjoy his love of the game and the way he breaks down plays, but I think I'll like him more in a few years when he settles down a little.
I like Aikman too. And if somebody thinks Romo gets a bit too excited, I’m not going to quibble because that’s a matter of personal taste.

But I watched the game again last night on NFLN, and Romo brings so much value. And he was excited for both teams — BB is the GOAT, TB is too, and so forth.

In a game thread, balance is treason. Illustrating again that game threads are substantially populated by 8 yr old boys.
 

JimD

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I quibble with 1985 being ahead of 2001 AFC Championship. Because it led to a SB. And the 2015 division game against the Ravens should be in there ahead of the 2012 AFC Championship, because that comeback also led to a SB win.
I get where you're coming from, but the 1985 AFC championship game absolutely deserves a high placement. The Dolphins were the only team to defeat the Chicago Bears during the regular season and were heavily favored to win this game. Meanwhile, the Patriots hadn't won in Miami in 18 years, a streak of futility that was constantly rubbed in the faces of New England fans, and the rise of Dan Marino didn't bode well for a reversal any time soon. The complete domination of Miami that followed was totally unexpected and is still one of the most joyous memories I have as a Boston sports fan.
 

JimD

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But my larger point was how yesterday's game - which as great as it was still probably ranks somewhere closer to 10 than 1 on most peoples list, would be considered the first or second most dramatic win ever for many franchises. If you exclude "historic" wins from the equation (yes, the Bucs did win a Super Bowl - it was a shite game) the number goes even higher. My list, on quick reflection and only considering wins - Buffalo, San Diego, Arizona, Detroit, Atlanta, Jax, NYJ, Philly, NO, Tampa, Cleveland, maybe Tenn. - and I'm probably missing some obvious ones ( oh yeah - Houston). All these fan bases would right now be saying "our greatest win ever, or at least a close second". Here it's absolutely appreciated but context realistically demands that we have to consider whether it makes the top dozen or not.
Um, I think the Jets have a pretty dramatic win of their own that eclipses Sunday's game. Took place in a Super Bowl, even.
 

Captaincoop

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I get where you're coming from, but the 1985 AFC championship game absolutely deserves a high placement. The Dolphins were the only team to defeat the Chicago Bears during the regular season and were heavily favored to win this game. Meanwhile, the Patriots hadn't won in Miami in 18 years, a streak of futility that was constantly rubbed in the faces of New England fans, and the rise of Dan Marino didn't bode well for a reversal any time soon. The complete domination of Miami that followed was totally unexpected and is still one of the most joyous memories I have as a Boston sports fan.
That game was amazing. Basically, a bunch of coked-up misfits went down to Miami and ruined America's desired Super Bowl matchup. I don't think Miami would have been able to beat the Bears again, but who knows. That could have changed Marino's legacy forever. And F Dan Marino.
 

SumnerH

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Um, I think the Jets have a pretty dramatic win of their own that eclipses Sunday's game. Took place in a Super Bowl, even.
For sure better than Sunday's game:
Buffalo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Comeback_(American_football)

Probable:
Chargers: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199501080sdg.htm

Arguable:
Atlanta: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901170min.htm
Eagles: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200401110phi.htm
 

dcmissle

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I'd suggest this may be the Chargers most exciting/biggest game ever:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198201020mia.htm
Spectacular. Has a claim to the best game in NFL history, and definitely the most exciting. Fouts was unconscious, as he often was. Winslow had to be carried off the field, not because of injury but because of near death from exhaustion.

Coryell > Shula = Grant > Lee

Reminds me again that it is criminal that Coryell is not in Canton.
 

thehitcat

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Spectacular. Has a claim to the best game in NFL history, and definitely the most exciting. Fouts was unconscious, as he often was. Winslow had to be carried off the field, not because of injury but because of near death from exhaustion.

Coryell > Shula = Grant > Lee

Reminds me again that it is criminal that Coryell is not in Canton.
Best football game I ever watched without question. Those Chargers teams were dynamite. Chuck Muncie toting the rock with Wes Chandler Charlie Joiner going deep. 4 o'clock games with the Chargers were must watch TV.
 

Phil Plantier

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Best football game I ever watched without question. Those Chargers teams were dynamite. Chuck Muncie toting the rock with Wes Chandler Charlie Joiner going deep. 4 o'clock games with the Chargers were must watch TV.
I watched the end of this game while my family was waiting for 60 Minutes to come on. One of the big reasons I'm a football fan.
 

BaseballJones

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If anyone is interested in watching that Chargers-Dolphins game, NFL has it up on Youtube:


Extraordinary. I LOVED those Chargers teams and HATED those Dolphins teams, so that was one of my favorite games ever for lots of reasons.
 

Captaincoop

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Just watched a chunk of that...I forgot that NFL football used to be played at a normal human speed. In a way it was more fun to watch like that, easier for the eye to process what's going on.
 

Anthologos

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I think Miami fumbled 5 or 6 times in that game. They clearly weren't prepared to take the Pats seriously.
Fumbled 5 times, lost 4. 6 turnovers in total for Miami. And NE had two fumbles as well...what a crazy sloppy game in that respect.

That was definitely one of the coolest moments in my youthful fandom.

Edit: I didnt know those stats, had to look them up. Until SJH mentioned it, I had forgotten about all the fumbles. I just remembered loving the running game.
 

BaseballJones

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During that SB run in 1985-86, here were the turnovers in those games...

WC round, at NYJ: Pats 0, NYJ 4
Div round, at LA: Pats 2, LA 6
AFCCG, at Mia: Pats 2, Mia 6
TOTALS: Pats 4, Opp 16

I mean, are you kidding me? 16 turnovers by their opponents in 3 games? That's crazy.

Of course, in the Super Bowl, that game started with a Payton fumble and a Pats recovery. Eason missed Stanley Morgan on a slant that would have put them up 7-0, kicked a FG instead to go up 3-0, and then promptly got absolutely buried under a Chicago avalanche. In the SB, Chicago had 2 turnovers and the Pats had 6.
 

sheamonu

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If you are talking about dramatic wins only (and not historic), Tennessee had the Music City Miracle which I think tops yesterday, and New Orleans' Super Bowl win was more dramatic and more important obviously. Philly had that crazy playoff game with the 4th and a million conversion. The Jets win over the Pats in the divisional round in 2011 might be more dramatic, not that the game was decided on the last play or anything, but beating your hated rival in their own stadium in the playoffs is pretty dramatic. And didn't Arizona have a crazy playoff victory over the Packers on their way to their only Super Bowl?

Your point is solid, but I think you are overstating it in reference to the other franchises on your list.
All conceded but I said "first or second". And I'd give the Jets SBIII before I'd acknowledge that freak playoff win as being greater than the type of win we saw this weekend.
 

bigq

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If anyone is interested in watching that Chargers-Dolphins game, NFL has it up on Youtube:


Extraordinary. I LOVED those Chargers teams and HATED those Dolphins teams, so that was one of my favorite games ever for lots of reasons.
Fantastic game and one of the reasons I thought Kellen Winslow was the best TE of his time.

Just over two minutes in while referring to Fouts, John Brodie says "I don't think there will ever be another quarterback that averages 300 yards per game throughout a 16 game season."

Also Muncie had 19 rushing TDs that season. Not bad.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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I get where you're coming from, but the 1985 AFC championship game absolutely deserves a high placement. The Dolphins were the only team to defeat the Chicago Bears during the regular season and were heavily favored to win this game. Meanwhile, the Patriots hadn't won in Miami in 18 years, a streak of futility that was constantly rubbed in the faces of New England fans, and the rise of Dan Marino didn't bode well for a reversal any time soon. The complete domination of Miami that followed was totally unexpected and is still one of the most joyous memories I have as a Boston sports fan.
It's right up there with the Super Bowl wins to me. The Patriots to me were about one day a year during the regular season when I got my dad to myself -- we woke up in the dark and got home when it was dark and froze our asses off on the metal benches at Sullivan Stadium and had pizza in between. I don't even remember the results most of the time.

But they weren't a team that you associated with the Super Bowl. That was for Green Bay, and Dallas and Pittsburgh. I loved the Super Bowl back then too, and it also was a special day. We'd get good snacks and start watching every pregame minute. But these were seperate things. There were the Patriots. And there was the Super Bowl. Both cool. But different. This amazing feeling when those two things entirely unexpectedly intersected was unforgettable.

Also, just the feeling of the entire region. I was in college and went up to visit friends in New Hampshire for the game. You couldn't go ten feet without a squish the fish sign. Spray painted sheets, liquor store signs, billboards. Kraft, Parcells, and ultimately the moment Vinatieri's kick went right down the pipe changed everything and you can never go back and I'd never want to. But that first feeling of "we're in the club" was really something.
 

Laser Show

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Really surreal listening to Buck at the end of the clip. "And the New England Patriots are the first dynasty of the 21st century."

Hard to believe that was just 4 years in to this incredible run.
 

tims4wins

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Really surreal listening to Buck at the end of the clip. "And the New England Patriots are the first dynasty of the 21st century."

Hard to believe that was just 4 years in to this incredible run.
If they win it all, they will be the first team to win 3 titles this century... AND the second team to win 3 titles this century. Boom.
 

Cuzittt

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Just a reminder... when Tom Brady starts this year's Super Bowl, he will have more Super Bowl appearances than every franchise except Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Denver.

He'll merely have THE SAME number of appearances as those three franchises (8).
 

Hendu for Kutch

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If they win it all, they will be the first team to win 3 titles this century... AND the second team to win 3 titles this century. Boom.
How about Buck listing the team associated with each decade then placing the Patriots as the team of the 2000's...only to have them also be the team of the 2010's too.
 

streeter88

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Brady is 279 passing yards away from 10,000 post season passing yards in his career. Manning in 2nd place is at 7,339.
So how does that change the passing yards totals for the top 5 QBs all time? Hmmm...

upload_2018-1-25_2-2-47.png

Boringly, it just moves Brady ahead of Brees. Which is unsurprising really.

Edit: but it does put Brady in striking distance of Favre (oops) and Manning next year.
 

uk_sox_fan

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Looking at the number of SB appearances by team, it's amazing how homogeneous it was for the 1st 26 Superbowls as opposed to the last 26. Following SB XXVI the leaderboard for those with >2 appearances was:
DAL 5
WAS 5
MIA 5
SF 4
OAK 4
MIN 4
PIT 4
DEN 4

Over the last 26 SBs the appearances leaderboard is:
NE 9
PIT 4
DEN 4
SEA 3
NYG 3
GB 3
DAL 3

It's almost as if one team is crowding out the others ;) though it's noteworthy that no NFC team (unaffected for appearances by the big bully) has more than 3.