NE Patriots: Your AFC East Champs & #2 Seed

[SeoulSoxFan]

Hats and shirts day folks. 
 
Sure it seems like an almost meaningless step towards another run at the Lombardi, but with all the injuries and rookies playing for this team, I suggest this is no small feat. 
 
1 H&S day in hand, 2 more go to.
 

 

[Ed Hillel]

THE STREAK CONTINUES!!!!!

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

It's a team sport, but I really want to see Tom get 4 to Peyton's 1.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

This team is just a juggernaut year after year. Get new era on the phone and tell them to just make the 2014 hats now.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

 
When was the last time anyone here bought an "Patriots AFC East Champs" shirt?  That's like buying a "4-0 in the Pre-Season" shirt.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

 
When was the last time anyone here bought an "Patriots AFC East Champs" shirt?  That's like buying a "4-0 in the Pre-Season" shirt.

 
I think that's going a bit far.
 
Ask a Bills or Lions fan about division titles.  Neither has won shit in like 20 years.  And don't even bring up the Browns, they're working on 25 years.

 

[Ed Hillel]

 
When was the last time anyone here bought an "Patriots AFC East Champs" shirt?  That's like buying a "4-0 in the Pre-Season" shirt.

 
I know we like to think we're entitled to win division titles, but given the issues this team has faced this season, and the competence of the Dolphins overall, this is no small feat. Maybe nobody is buying the gear, but 11-12 wins for this team is really tremendous.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

 
I think that's going a bit far.
 
Ask a Bills or Lions fan about division titles.  Neither has won shit in like 20 years.  And don't even bring up the Browns, they're working on 25 years.

 
Yeah, I know, but my point is that they've won so many lately it's not like anyone is rushing out to buy a shirt to celebrate the AFC East title.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

 
I think that's going a bit far.
 
Ask a Bills or Lions fan about division titles.  Neither has won shit in like 20 years.  And don't even bring up the Browns, they're working on 25 years.

 
Yup I remember being pretty f*cking happy in 1986 after a 7 year drought, and in 1996 after a 9 year drought.
 
Since then, 11 AFCE titles in 13 years, with only 2002 (still had tied Miami and Jets with a 9-7 record) and of course 2008 (with a 11-5 record with Cassel at the helm) being the exceptions.
 
Also think EH also pretty much nailed it. For this team to clinch AFCE in game 15 is very satisfying. 

 

[Ferm Sheller]

 
I know we like to think we're entitled to win division titles, but given the issues this team has faced this season, and the competence of the Dolphins overall, this is no small feat. Maybe nobody is buying the gear, but 11-12 wins for this team is really tremendous.

 
My question was literal: Who's buying the gear?  I wasn't downplaying the accomplishment to taking it for granted.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

5 straight. 11 out of 13 and the 13th overall during Kraft's tenure (2 in the 33 years before Kraft bought the team).

Also the Pats just broke a tie with Miami for most AFC East titles with 15.

Truly amazing.

 

[Ed Hillel]

 
My question was literal: Who's buying the gear?  I wasn't downplaying the accomplishment to taking it for granted.

 
Ok, wasn't quite sure. Apologies.
 
I just hope people appreciate this season, because I think there are a lot of people that just kind of assume Brady/Belichick = 11 wins and a divisional title. Given the other issues they have faced, starting with that fuckhead Hernandez, this season has been really incredible looking back. We are so lucky.

 

[triniSox]

Like BB always says, winning the division is the first goal for the team and he makes it a point of emphasis especially for the young players. People may nitpick BB's individual draft misses and trade-downs and unwillingness to spend big on free-agents, but there's little doubt his overall team-building strategy has helped the Patriots win this many division titles even in seasons with significant injuries.

 

[dcmissle]

Well that was fun.
 
Did we get out of tonight's game without additional significant injury?
 
Extraordinarily well done.  Best coaching effort since "01 imo

 

[Stitch01]

Helped to play the worst non Jets offense they've played all year

 

[Grimace-HS]

What a feat.....11 of the past 13 AFC East titles.  "Hat and t-shirt" days have just seemed like a regular part of the calendar for such a long time...It has been so long, I still had a suitcase car phone that had to be plugged into the cigarette lighter at that first one; couldn't even receive calls.  After so many years of futility, or an encouraging season followed by two steps back, every moment of this run is enjoyed.
 
Although this is not the best squad over this stretch, nothing would surprise me the way they played today.  Baltimore isn't a dominant team, but they are solid.  If a first round bye can be secured, then that gives them a home game and good shot of getting to the AFC Championship game.  One thing we do know is that this team has been in every game and will never give up.  If the 2001-2002 team could win a Super Bowl, then I wouldn't bet against this team.
 
Congrats....keep it up so we can play "Dirty Water" in "Dirty Jersey" in February!

 

[quint]

Helped to play the worst non Jets offense they've played all year

Did it help Baltimore to be playing one of the league's poorer statistical defenses? Conversely, did it hinder New England's offense to be squaring off against one of the league's top units?

I get where you're going with this post, I just don't believe it's as a salient a point as you're attempting to make.

 

[Stitch01]

Pats played great, best effort of the year, just easier to play against a dogshit offense that's all.

 

[Mooch]

I don't know where the "nobody hi five Brady" thing came from this year but I'm sensing that it's the Patriots equivalent of the Sox Beard Brigade this season. Happened again today.

 

[PedraMartina]

This season has been so much fun, with game after game coming down to a super-tense final few minutes.  In that sense it reminds me of the early '00 teams -- in '01, to win the division and get the bye we had to win our last six or seven games and get a LOT of help, and it all broke for us with one after another crazy, game saving play (like Patten fumbling the game away against Buffalo but the fumble getting overturned because his knocked-out head was out of bounds).  And even the '03-04 teams that we remember as being so dominant tended to pull out those wins in the final plays/minutes.  
 
It is fun (and frankly sort of a relief) to be heading into the playoffs knowing that we won't be the favorite and it won't be that big a shock if we don't manage to win it all, but still feeling like we have a real chance to make a run (with the weird twist of a cold weather SB beckoning if we can make it).  
 
Youngsters, appreciate this incredible run; this is not normal and you won't ever see anything like it again when it's over.

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

Extraordinarily well done.  Best coaching effort since "01 imo

 
Nothing will ever top 2008 for me.  Take away his future-HOF, possibly-best-of-all-time quarterback and linchpin of the team?  11 wins.

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

This season has been so much fun, with game after game coming down to a super-tense final few minutes.  In that sense it reminds me of the early '00 teams -- in '01, to win the division and get the bye we had to win our last six or seven games and get a LOT of help, and it all broke for us with one after another crazy, game saving play (like Patten fumbling the game away against Buffalo but the fumble getting overturned because his knocked-out head was out of bounds).  And even the '03-04 teams that we remember as being so dominant tended to pull out those wins in the final plays/minutes.  
 
It is fun (and frankly sort of a relief) to be heading into the playoffs knowing that we won't be the favorite and it won't be that big a shock if we don't manage to win it all, but still feeling like we have a real chance to make a run (with the weird twist of a cold weather SB beckoning if we can make it).  
 
Youngsters, appreciate this incredible run; this is not normal and you won't ever see anything like it again when it's over.

 
Wait, the first part of your post was detail about how this run reminds you of the '01 team's run and then you last sentence was to appreciate this because we might never see it again? :lol:
 
Or do you mean that in a larger 13 years of dominance context?

 

[crystalline]

Well that was fun.
 
Did we get out of tonight's game without additional significant injury?
 
Extraordinarily well done.  Best coaching effort since "01 imo

McCourty left with a concussion and did not return.

 

[tims4wins]

Vereen left with a groin injury too. Significant or not?

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

I haven't seen any reports saying that Vereen was walking through the locker room after the game.  That doesn't necessarily mean anything in and of itself, but generally it's thought of as a good sign if they are available to the press.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

5 straight. 11 out of 13 and the 13th overall during Kraft's tenure (2 in the 33 years before Kraft bought the team).

Also the Pats just broke a tie with Miami for most AFC East titles with 15.

Truly amazing.

 
And just look at some of other "power" franchises around the league. Even teams considered very well-run have their ups and downs:
 
Pittsburgh is going to be, at best, an 8-8 team for the second straight year.
The Colts crashed and burned when Manning got hurt (unlike the Pats when Brady got hurt)
Baltimore's made the playoffs 5 straight years but might not this year, and has gone from 12 wins to 10 to 9 at most this year.
Just 4 years ago Denver was 4-12., and had missed the playoffs 5 years in a row.
Green Bay might miss this year and will win a max of 8 games.
The Giants are all over the place: Win a SB, lose in the 1st round, miss twice, win SB, miss twice.
SF stunk for years before their recent renaissance.
 
The Patriots, and ONLY the Patriots, have had a relentless run of superior play, year after year after year. Look at these regular-season win totals: 11, 9, 14, 14, 10, 12, 16, 11, 10, 14, 13, 12, 11. That's excellence for you. There's NEVER a let up.
 
The sad thing is that due to that excellence they get taken for granted, and media assholes like CHB actively look for reasons to say they're not as good as they appear to be ("tomato can division.")
 
We are lucky to be witnessing football greatness. If you don't appreciate this, you can go suck it. This year has been amazing given the adversity they've faced with injuries.

 

[tims4wins]

 
And just look at some of other "power" franchises around the league. Even teams considered very well-run have their ups and downs:
 
Pittsburgh is going to be, at best, an 8-8 team for the second straight year.
The Colts crashed and burned when Manning got hurt (unlike the Pats when Brady got hurt)
Baltimore's made the playoffs 5 straight years but might not this year, and has gone from 12 wins to 10 to 9 at most this year.
Just 4 years ago Denver was 4-12., and had missed the playoffs 5 years in a row.
Green Bay might miss this year and will win a max of 8 games.
The Giants are all over the place: Win a SB, lose in the 1st round, miss twice, win SB, miss twice.
SF stunk for years before their recent renaissance.
 
The Patriots, and ONLY the Patriots, have had a relentless run of superior play, year after year after year. Look at these regular-season win totals: 11, 9, 14, 14, 10, 12, 16, 11, 10, 14, 13, 12, 11. That's excellence for you. There's NEVER a let up.
 
The sad thing is that due to that excellence they get taken for granted, and media assholes like CHB actively look for reasons to say they're not as good as they appear to be ("tomato can division.")
 
We are lucky to be witnessing football greatness. If you don't appreciate this, you can go suck it. This year has been amazing given the adversity they've faced with injuries.

 
Great post. I think a lot of the negative vibes have come from them blowing a chance at the elusive 4th title - 2006, 2007, 2011. Some (dumb) fans and media members scream "they need to go for it now! Trade up in the draft for a blue chipper and maximize Brady's greatness!" Seems like (some) folks would "trade" a down year or two for a title.
 
But if the Pats had #4 in the bag, I don't think anyone would feel this way. I for one love that the Pats give themselves a chance EVERY SINGLE YEAR. They don't have 6-10 seasons or even 8-8 seasons. There is no rebuilding. They are in the conversation each and every season, and I wouldn't trade a hypothetical/mythical 4th guaranteed title for a few years of suck. I love watching them too much each year.

 

[Stitch01]

Yup.  Made the divisional round of the playoffs or better 10 times in 13 seasons if they beat the Bills at home Sunday.  Have gone to the AFCCG at least 7 times in 13 years.  If they win the conference this year they've gone to the Super Bowl more than half the time.
 
Even extending beyond the BB era they've had two dog seasons in 20 years ('95 and '00).  Other than when they already have wrapped up playoff seeding, they havent played a meaningless game of football in 13 seasons.  Theyve only lost by more than one score twice in the last four seasons and seven times in seven seasons, so there's really no meaningless football within the games.  The entertainment value has been off the charts, and they win the vast majority of the time
 
Its incredible.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

 
Great post. I think a lot of the negative vibes have come from them blowing a chance at the elusive 4th title - 2006, 2007, 2011. Some (dumb) fans and media members scream "they need to go for it now! Trade up in the draft for a blue chipper and maximize Brady's greatness!" Seems like (some) folks would "trade" a down year or two for a title.
 
But if the Pats had #4 in the bag, I don't think anyone would feel this way. I for one love that the Pats give themselves a chance EVERY SINGLE YEAR. They don't have 6-10 seasons or even 8-8 seasons. There is no rebuilding. They are in the conversation each and every season, and I wouldn't trade a hypothetical/mythical 4th guaranteed title for a few years of suck. I love watching them too much each year.

 
Even if the Pats didn't have #4 already, if they had spaced out the 3 SB wins throughout this run instead of 3 in 4 years at the beginning of it, people would have a far more positive view of this franchise today IMHO. I hear far too much of "they haven't won a SB in 8 years" (as if they haven't had great chances the entire time, and as if they had been swimming in Lombardis in the 40 years prior to Belichick's arrival there) and far too little of "what this franchise has accomplished may be unparallelled in modern NFL (ie salary-cap era) history."
 
We better fucking appreciate this now.

 

[ShaneTrot]

Plus NE was 8-2 outside the division this year, the AFC East has actually been sneaky good this year. Buffalo beat Carolina, Jets beat the Saints, Miami beat Indy and the Bengals. The Pats are only 3-2 in the division, and all the games have been tight, NE is only +8 in point differential in division games, +92 points overall.

 

[tims4wins]

 
Even if the Pats didn't have #4 already, if they had spaced out the 3 SB wins throughout this run instead of 3 in 4 years at the beginning of it, people would have a far more positive view of this franchise today IMHO. I hear far too much of "they haven't won a SB in 8 years" (as if they haven't had great chances the entire time, and as if they had been swimming in Lombardis in the 40 years prior to Belichick's arrival there) and far too little of "what this franchise has accomplished may be unparallelled in modern NFL (ie salary-cap era) history."
 
We better fucking appreciate this now.

 
Agree entirely. Swap the 2003 Panthers game with the 2011 Giants game and everyone looks at it differently.

 

[PedraMartina]

 
Wait, the first part of your post was detail about how this run reminds you of the '01 team's run and then you last sentence was to appreciate this because we might never see it again? :lol:
 
Or do you mean that in a larger 13 years of dominance context?

 
Right.  I was talking about this particular year/team, but then got all misty-eyed about the consistency (as articulated very well by others in ensuing posts).

 

[singaporesoxfan]

 I hear far too much of "they haven't won a SB in 8 years".

Well, you know, they _are_ the Boston-area team with the longest championship drought...

 

[bluefenderstrat]

It's goddamn HARD to win the Super Bowl and it seems only the Patriots are judged by that standard.    The consistent entertainment value this franchise has provided since Kraft took over the team is incredible.   The fact that Borges and his ilk absolutely hate Belichick is just a bonus.

 

[dbn]

When was the last time anyone here bought an "Patriots AFC East Champs" shirt? That's like buying a "4-0 in the Pre-Season" shirt.


If, by some chance, the Patriots didn't win the division and they hadn't printed up shirts, what would the children of Bangladesh wear?

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Curran delivers a terrific curbstomping today:
 

 
They win with guys other teams don’t want. They win with guys nobody else wanted to draft. They win with guys who then leave and don’t do jack elsewhere. They win, they win, they win.
 
When they lose? Hell, it’s torches and pitchforks. Lose in the conference championship – which they’ve done twice – or the Super Bowl (also twice) and the mutters and moans about changes needing to be made begin.
 
It will change. In due time it will. And then the slog back to mediocrity and cartwheels over potential playoff berths will be the standard. Barring catastrophe befalling either the head coach or quarterback, that’s not happening anytime soon.
 
Until then, they will continue to win more with less and add to a post-salary cap legacy that won’t be matched. Won’t. Be. Matched.

 
 

 
On Sunday, they walked into Baltimore – a team that’s been their perfect foil – with their left guard at left tackle, guys nobody drafted at left guard, center and right guard and a right tackle they selected in the fifth round because he came down with lymphoma in his final season in college.
 
Sixth-round pick at quarterback. Two undrafted wideouts. Two undrafted running backs. A fifth-round tight end whose name nobody can pronounce. An undrafted fullback. Three undrafted defensive tackles. An undrafted slot corner. A seventh-round pick at another corner. An unwanted malcontent as their shutdown corner. A whole bunch of other guys that we couldn’t find in our draft guides when the Patriots drafted them (arrogance!).

 
 

 
I don’t know if they’re going to win a championship. I don’t know if they’ll win a playoff game. I don’t know if this is Bill Belichick’s best coaching performance. But I know that if you determined the worst of the seasons I mentioned a few paragraphs back and gave it to some other coach, he’d parlay it into an analysts spot and TV paychecks for a decade.
 
This season stacks up with any in terms of the Patriots having to crawl through a drain pipe full of excrement in order to reach their division title.

 

[Corsi]

If, by some chance, the Patriots didn't win the division and they hadn't printed up shirts, what would the children of Bangladesh wear?

 

 

[dbn]

Nice. Would have been even funnier if you could have found an image of a "New York Jets: 2013 AFC runner-ups" tee-shirt.

 

[twibnotes]

These are the good old days. Need to remind ourselves to smell the roses.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Curran delivers a terrific curbstomping today:

Great piece. I'd also add that, at the beginning of the year, this was the youngest Patriots team of the BB era by average age, and that's before losing veteran mainstays like Wilfork, Kelly, Mayo, and Vollmer. You look at the team that just waxed Baltimore and the only guys over 28 who played significant roles were Brady (36), Mankins (31), Nink (29), Ghost (29), Connolly (31), and Gregory (30).

Replacing Brady is impossible and an issue unto itself, but this is a really young team with a very bright future.

 

[DJnVa]

 
. Some (dumb) fans and media members scream "they need to go for it now! Trade up in the draft for a blue chipper and maximize Brady's greatness!" Seems like (some) folks would "trade" a down year or two for a title.

 
Jonathan Coachman on ESPN Radio this morning--said the Pats had wasted some of Brady's prime years because they never had a Fitzgerald, Megatron, or Andre Johnson.
 
I was dying for his cohost to ask when any of those players were available, but alas.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

The string of 11 straight years of at least 10 wins is pretty amazing as well. And a win on Sunday and they'll have 5 straight of 12 or more. This is a team that never won 12 regular season games in it's history until 2003.

Also the two times they have not won the division in the last 13 years they have lost on tiebreakers. So no team in the AFC East has finished with more wins than the Pats since the last days of the Clinton administration.

Just an amazing run.

 

[Stitch01]

HOF receivers grow on trees when you draft in the low 20's every year, should have just gone to the HOF receiver store and acquired one.
 
I mean besides the one they did steal with a 4th rounder obviously

 

[DJnVa]

The string of 11 straight years of at least 10 wins is pretty amazing as well. And a win on Sunday and they'll have 5 straight of 12 or more.

 
Four straight, not 5. It goes 14, 13, 12, and hopefully 12.

 

[dbn]

Jonathan Coachman on ESPN Radio this morning--said the Pats had wasted some of Brady's prime years because they never had a Fitzgerald, Megatron, or Andre Johnson.
 
I was dying for his cohost to ask when any of those players were available, but alas.

 
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyZpPAzHUKE[/media]

 

[Hendu for Kutch]

This took a long time, but I'm more than happy to do it when stuck in the office on Christmas week with nothing to do.  I thought it'd be interesting to get a snapshot of the league since the BB-Brady duo came together in 2001.  We're measuring all sorts of things, from how often teams suck all the way to how often they win a championship.  It's amazing to see not only how much the Patriots win, but conversely, how infrequently they don't.  I know those go directly hand-in-hand, but hopefully you catch my drift.  

All numbers are the frequency of occurence over the past 13 seasons, except for playoff results which are over 12 seasons.  If the matter is not decided for this season, the team gets a .5.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Awful seasons (10 or more losses):

10 - Browns, Lions
9 - Raiders
8 -
7.5 - Bills
7 - Cardinals, Jaguars, Reskins
6 - Texans, Vikings
5 - Chiefs, Rams, Buccaneers
4.5- Titans
4 - Bengals, Cowboys, Dolphins, Jets, 49ers
3 - Falcons, Panthers
2.5 - Giants
2 - Ravens, Bears, Packers, Colts, Eagles, Chargers, Seahawks
1 - Broncos, Saints, Steelers
0 - Patriots

--------------------------------------------------------------

Irrelevant seasons (.500 or worse):

12 - Bills, Lions
11 - Browns, Raiders, Rams
10 - Cardinals, Jaguars, Redskins
9 - Panthers, Texans
8 - Bengals, Chiefs, Vikings, 49ers, Titans
7.5 - Dolphins
7 - Saints, Buccaneers
6.5 - Bears, Cowboys, Chargers
6 - Falcons, Broncos, Giants, Jets
5 - Seahawks
4 - Eagles, Steelers
3.5 - Ravens, Packers
3 -
2 - Colts
1 -
0 - Patriots


--------------------------------------------------------------

Contending seasons (10 or more wins):

0 - Bills
1 - Browns, Lions
2 - Cardinals, Texans, Jaguars, Raiders, Rams, Redskins
3 - Cowboys, Dolphins, Vikings, Buccaneers
4 - Panthers, Bengals, Chiefs, Jets, Chargers, Titans
5 - Falcons, Bears, Broncos, Saints, Giants, 49ers, Seahawks
6 -
7 - Ravens
7.5 - Eagles
8 - Steelers
9 - Packers
10 -
11 - Colts
12 - Patriots

--------------------------------------------------------------

Elite seasons (12 or more wins):

0 - Cardinals, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Lions, Dolphins, Jets, Raiders, Redskins
1 - Cowboys, Texans, Jaguars, Vikings, Giants, Buccaneers
1.5 - Panthers, Chiefs
2 - Falcons, Bears, Saints, 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Titans
3 - Ravens, Broncos, Eagles, Chargers
4 - Packers
5 - Steelers
6 -
7 - Colts
7.5 - Patriots

--------------------------------------------------------------

Historic seasons (14 or more wins):

0 - 26 teams
1 - Packers, Steelers, Chargers, Rams
2 - Colts
3 -
4 - Patriots

--------------------------------------------------------------

Playoff appearances (counting this year):

0 - Bills
1 - Browns, Lions
2 - Texans, Jaguars, Raiders
2.5 - Cardinals, Dolphins
3 - Rams, Redskins
4 - Panthers, Chiefs, Vikings, Buccaneers, Titans
4.5 - Bears, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers
5 - Bengals
5.5 - Chargers
6 - Falcons, Broncos, Giants, Jets
7 - Seahawks
8 -
8.5 - Ravens, Steelers, Eagles
9 -
9.5 - Packers
10 -
11 - Colts, Patriots

--------------------------------------------------------------

Division Championships:

0 - Bills, Browns, Lions
1 - Jets, Dolphins
2 - Raiders, Chiefs, Titans, Texans, Vikings, Rams, Cardinals
2.5 - Cowboys, Panthers
3 - Bengals, Giants, Buccaneers, Falcons
3.5 - 49ers, Saints
4 - Ravens, Broncos
4.5 - Bears
5 - Chargers
5.5 - Seahawks
6 - Steelers
6.5 - Packers, Eagles
7 -
8 - Colts
9 -
10 -
11 - Patriots

--------------------------------------------------------------

Divisional Round appearances:

0 - Bills, Bengals, Browns, Lions, Dolphins
1 - Jaguars, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Redskins
2 - Cardinals, Cowboys, Texans, Vikings, Raiders
3 - Panthers, Broncos, Saints, Giants, 49ers, Rams, Titans
4 - Falcons, Bears, Jets, Chargers
5 - Seahawks
6 - Packers, Colts, Eagles, Steelers
7 - Ravens
8 -
9 - Patriots

--------------------------------------------------------------

Conference Championship Game appearances:

0 - Bills, Bengals, Browns, Cowboys, Lions, Texans, Jaguars, Chiefs, Dolphins, Redskins
1 - Broncos, Raiders, Chargers, Titans, Cardinals, Vikings. Seahawks, Rams, Buccaneers
2 - Jets, Falcons, Panthers, Bears, Packers, Saints, Giants, 49ers
3 - Ravens, Colts
4 -
5 - Steelers, Eagles
6 -
7 - Patriots

--------------------------------------------------------------

Super Bowl appearances:

0 - 16 teams
1 - Cardinals, Ravens, Panthers, Bears, Packers, Saints, Raiders, Eagles, 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Buccaneers
2 - Colts, Giants
3 - Steelers
4 -
5 - Patriots

--------------------------------------------------------------

Championships:

0 - 24 teams
1 - Ravens, Packers, Colts, Saints, Buccaneers
2 - Giants, Steelers
3 - Patriots

 

[Ralphwiggum]

 
Four straight, not 5. It goes 14, 13, 12, and hopefully 12.

 
Right, shit, I forgot they won the division with 10 wins in '09.

 

[dcmissle]

Curran delivers a terrific curbstomping today:
 
 
 
 
 

 
This is NFL reality: 
 
 

 
 
It will change. In due time it will. And then the slog back to mediocrity and cartwheels over potential playoff berths will be the standard.
 

 
Even the most appreciative of us do not appreciate the accomplishments enough.  I've been a fan long enough to be over-the-top thrilled by a 9 and 5 season and winning the East.
 
Here is the view from the seat of football dysfunction, communicated late yesterday afternoon on DC sports radio:
 
S. Czaban:  "They are unbelieveable ... incredible.  11 of 13, always in the SB hunt.  And this year, they are playing back-ups. No beast in the middle of the d-line with Wilfork out.  No Mayo.  Two best receivers out.  Half of the o-line gone ..."
 
Chris Cooley (recently retired from the Redskins, long time TE and excellent radio host):  "To get anything like that here, you have to replicate their organization. It starts from the top.  BB does not give an "s" about your Combine times.  They care only about one thing -- are you a FOOTBALL player?  If so, we have a place for you ... It's the bottom third of their roster.  They have FOOTBALL players ..."

 

[loshjott]

 
This is NFL reality: 
 
 
 
Even the most appreciative of us do not appreciate the accomplishments enough.  I've been a fan long enough to be over-the-top thrilled by a 9 and 5 season and winning the East.
 
Here is the view from the seat of football dysfunction, communicated late yesterday afternoon on DC sports radio:
 
S. Czaban:  "They are unbelieveable ... incredible.  11 of 13, always in the SB hunt.  And this year, they are playing back-ups. No beast in the middle of the d-line with Wilfork out.  No Mayo.  Two best receivers out.  Half of the o-line gone ..."
 
Chris Cooley (recently retired from the Redskins, long time TE and excellent radio host):  "To get anything like that here, you have to replicate their organization. It starts from the top.  BB does not give an "s" about your Combine times.  They care only about one thing -- are you a FOOTBALL player?  If so, we have a place for you ... It's the bottom third of their roster.  They have FOOTBALL players ..."

 
I also live in the DC area and I've been here long enough to remember the excitement surrounding the last Skins Super Bowl win.
 
DC presents a chilling possible future for New England, in that everyone remembers when they were really good and pines for the old days. The old players from the glory years like Riggins and Theismann are (or were) everywhere, on commercials, talk radio, etc., criticizing the new guys. I guess it's not so different than the Pitino years but it really could suck for the Pats in 10 yrs.