That was then: Celebrating what was

DJnVa

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Dec 16, 2010
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Yeah, that gap would be like #7 on the list. The gap is larger than the number of wins that Tom Landry and Roger Staubach had together.
 

Ralphwiggum

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The 16 division titles since 2001 are more than any other AFC East team has ever. Miami is 2nd with 14.a

10 straight division titles are as many as Buffalo has in their history.
 

TFP

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It’d be 18’straight as well if a few tie breakers broke their way as well.
This. I say it every year but the most impressive stat is that no team in the AFC East has finished with a better record than them since 2000. Incredible.
 

Mystic Merlin

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I'm not sure what's the most unbreakable record of the belichick/brady era, but that might do it. Or the 8 straight years of 12 or more wins.
Getting 9 byes in a row might do it.

No one has had more than FOUR in a row since post-merger: ‘12-15 Broncos, ‘87-‘90 Niners, ‘92-‘95 Niners, ‘92-‘95 Cowboys. Eagles did it three years in a row from ‘02-‘04.

Niners from the late 80s to mid 90s were the closest, which is really saying something since most of that run was pre-cap era.
 

InstaFace

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well they're going to be 1 playoff game away from 8 consecutive conference championship games. going 8-0 in the divisional round might be nearly as impressive than getting all those byes.
 

SMU_Sox

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11-5 and the 2 seed is a down year. Just remember that while the Steelers are playing golf come Jan 1
I keep thinking this team has so many flaws but here we are at 10-5 with a good chance for 11-5 and a bye. It’s incredible. Thankful and grateful here. If they fizzle out this year I won’t be disappointed because it just doesn’t feel like this is their year. But if they somehow pull it off?

Takeaway: 2018 draft and UDFA class looks like it is a huge win. Michel and JC are the two studs now. Bentley was doing well and Wynn should be a very good OL. If they can get 4 good starters from this class that will go a long way for rebuilding.

Obi and Duke Dawson would only add to the wealth if they pan out (I know technically Obi was not part of the class). The situation isn’t as dire as it was.
We also have no idea if they can get anything out of Berrios, Izzo, or Sam. I was bullish on Berrios and Sam but they were 6th rounders for a reason. Still, I’m excited for the future. Hope you all are too!
 

johnmd20

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I keep thinking this team has so many flaws but here we are at 10-5 with a good chance for 11-5 and a bye. It’s incredible. Thankful and grateful here. If they fizzle out this year I won’t be disappointed because it just doesn’t feel like this is their year. But if they somehow pull it off?

Takeaway: 2018 draft and UDFA class looks like it is a huge win. Michel and JC are the two studs now. Bentley was doing well and Wynn should be a very good OL. If they can get 4 good starters from this class that will go a long way for rebuilding.

Obi and Duke Dawson would only add to the wealth if they pan out (I know technically Obi was not part of the class). The situation isn’t as dire as it was.
We also have no idea if they can get anything out of Berrios, Izzo, or Sam. I was bullish on Berrios and Sam but they were 6th rounders for a reason. Still, I’m excited for the future. Hope you all are too!
Patriots/New Orleans super bowl could be epic.
 

minischwab

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Aug 1, 2006
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Since 2011, teams to beat the Patriots at home are 5-13 overall and 5-13 against the spread in their next game that season. Basically, if a team beats the Patriots at home, you can make good money betting on them to lose their next game. Steelers did cover yesterday (+6.5) but pattern is clear.
 

Joe D Reid

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Depending on results next week, there's a chance the Pats will have beaten 5 of the 11 other playoff teams (HOU, KC, CHI, IND*, MIN*). In retrospect, the nondivisional schedule was harder than I'd assumed.
 

tims4wins

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Oh by the way with two more wins that makes eight straight AFC championship games. Talk about an untouchable, unapproachable record.
 

BigSoxFan

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Oh by the way with two more wins that makes eight straight AFC championship games. Talk about an untouchable, unapproachable record.
Really is remarkable when you think about it. In January 2011, we had a 33 year-old Brady on a 14-2 squad lose a home divisional round game to the freaking Rex Ryan Jets. After that game, I started to wonder if Brady would ever get another shot at #4. And then they just went ahead and made 7 straight AFCCG and 4 SBs.

Here we are in almost 2019 and the team just needs to beat the Jets and probably Texans at home to do it once again.
 

Blue Monkey

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well they're going to be 1 playoff game away from 8 consecutive conference championship games. going 8-0 in the divisional round might be nearly as impressive than getting all those byes.
Well there were those games against the Jets and broncos? Or you’re just talking about last 8 years?
 

InstaFace

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yes. two wins will have them in the AFCCG for an 8th consecutive year, meaning they will have won 8 consecutive divisional playoff games, which is pretty absurd. Hell, even if they were in nonconsecutive years, that'd be pretty absurd.

As said earlier, the Niners came close to matching the byes, but not the playoff consistency. From 1987-1995 they were seed #s 1, 2, 1, 1, [missed playoffs on a tiebreaker], 1, 2, 1, 2, so 8 out of 9 years, all but the last 2 being pre-salary cap. In those 8 playoff years where they got a bye to the divisional round, they went 6-2 in the Divisional, 3-3 in the Conf Champ, and 3-0 in the SB.

So, clearly the most compelling run prior to the Patriots, fueled by a pre-cap landscape tilted in their favor, and they couldn't pull it off. Couldn't even come close - made it to the NFCCG 6 out of 7 years from '88-94, that's as impressive as anyone's done. The Cowboys made it to the NFCCG 5 out of 6 years on 2 separate occasions ('70-75, '77-82). Raiders made 5 straight AFCCGs and 9 out of 11. The Browns made 10 straight AAFC/NFL championship games, winning 7, from 1946-1955.
 

Grimace-HS

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This was mentioned up-thread, but one that I love is that the Patriots still have not played a meaningless (out of contention) game since December 2000. What an amazing run this is.
 

Al Zarilla

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yes. two wins will have them in the AFCCG for an 8th consecutive year, meaning they will have won 8 consecutive divisional playoff games, which is pretty absurd. Hell, even if they were in nonconsecutive years, that'd be pretty absurd.

As said earlier, the Niners came close to matching the byes, but not the playoff consistency. From 1987-1995 they were seed #s 1, 2, 1, 1, [missed playoffs on a tiebreaker], 1, 2, 1, 2, so 8 out of 9 years, all but the last 2 being pre-salary cap. In those 8 playoff years where they got a bye to the divisional round, they went 6-2 in the Divisional, 3-3 in the Conf Champ, and 3-0 in the SB.

So, clearly the most compelling run prior to the Patriots, fueled by a pre-cap landscape tilted in their favor, and they couldn't pull it off. Couldn't even come close - made it to the NFCCG 6 out of 7 years from '88-94, that's as impressive as anyone's done. The Cowboys made it to the NFCCG 5 out of 6 years on 2 separate occasions ('70-75, '77-82). Raiders made 5 straight AFCCGs and 9 out of 11. The Browns made 10 straight AAFC/NFL championship games, winning 7, from 1946-1955.
I’ve never seen a 49er dynasty recap that didn’t include the super bowl wins after the 81 and 84 seasons. They also finished first in their division 4 times 81 - 86. Maybe this is about conference championship game appearances, but the 2 early 49er SB wins have to be worth a lot of them. Kind of like the Red Sox finishing last 3 times but winning 2 World Series very close by.
 

snowmanny

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Dec 8, 2005
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12/17 CCG appearances (and 12/16 for Brady) and 8 in a row would be nuts. Let’s get there. No weekends off for the fans.
 

InstaFace

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I’ve never seen a 49er dynasty recap that didn’t include the super bowl wins after the 81 and 84 seasons. They also finished first in their division 4 times 81 - 86. Maybe this is about conference championship game appearances, but the 2 early 49er SB wins have to be worth a lot of them. Kind of like the Red Sox finishing last 3 times but winning 2 World Series very close by.
Sure, but I was talking about the streak of CCG appearances, and byes, which are surely two of the most remarkable aspects of the Patriots' run.
 

snowmanny

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I messed up in my post. They are of course currently 12 of their last 17 (and 12/16 for Brady). 8 wins, losses to BAL, DEN, DEN, IND. B&B would obviously be in AFCCG #13 after two more wins.
 

BigSoxFan

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I messed up in my post. They are of course currently 12 of their last 17 (and 12/16 for Brady). 8 wins, losses to BAL, DEN, DEN, IND. B&B would obviously be in AFCCG #13 after two more wins.
Brady will likely retire with the longest AFCCG drought of his career being 2 years (2009-2010), which I think is pretty nuts.
 

Red Averages

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Brady will likely retire with the longest AFCCG drought of his career being 2 years (2009-2010), which I think is pretty nuts.
And he bracketed both of those with super bowl appearances, including an 18-0 record. And we’ll just stop right there without discussing those events!
 

BigSoxFan

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And he bracketed both of those with super bowl appearances, including an 18-0 record. And we’ll just stop right there without discussing those events!
2006-2013: The dark days of wondering if he’ll ever get #4

2017-2018+: The dark days of wondering if he’ll ever get #6
 

E5 Yaz

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2006-2013: The dark days of wondering if he’ll ever get #4

2017-2018+: The dark days of wondering if he’ll ever get #6
Well, he does have the worst record of any QB to go to 8 super bowls
 
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jaytftwofive

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Jan 20, 2013
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Only In Boston‏ @OnlyInBOS 26m26 minutes ago
2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 The Patriots are the 2018 AFC East Champions! 10 straight division titles! 16 division titles for Bill Belichick & Tom Brady! First team in NFL history to make the playoffs 10 straight seasons!
And to add to that they have finished in first place 18 straight seasons. 2002 and 2008 they tied for first but lost the division on a tiebreaker(11-5 in 08 without Brady) Pretty good, pretty, pretty good!!
 

5dice

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I don't about you but I think I'd rather have the Pats face the Steelers then the Ravens. I dislike the Steelers worse but the Ravens look a better then the Steelers right now and.........they just always seem to have our number.
What part of 10-3 in the rivalry means always has our number?