You've been constantly trashing them as a no chance team and after seeing it for the tenth time I just had to say it feels like you haven't really watched the Patriots and are running on dislike of them instead of being objective about how they got here. Their defense is top tier, better than almost any team Seattle has played except for Houston's, and that's with Milton Williams missing 1/4 of the season, when he's on they may be in the top 3. Outside the NFC West their schedule is only marginally better than the Patriots. I just don't see them winning by multiple touchdowns against the Pats defense which is far better than the Rams. Unless they get 14+ from defense I don't see them getting more than 3 TDs against a defense that averages 2.25 per game. The Pats had two ugly games in the snow and a third below freezing with 30+ MPH winds so of course Drake looked terrible comparatively. No, he does not have as many weapons as the Rams but there's a reason he was one of the two favorites for the MVP along with Stafford. Everyone has been saying this entire time "oh this is the week the Pats are exposed" and then after the game saying they only won because they got to play a bad QB, as if Herbert and Stroud weren't regarded as high upside young QBs and Bo Nix, who has never played a single game in anything like the conditions last Sunday, would have been the difference maker and not struggled in the same conditions that impacted Drake. I don't think there is any question who the be
Seattle's a really good team and I don't like to pick games when
Oh and of course if they win I can already see how instead of giving the Pats their flowers everyone will say its because Darnold sucks and they'd have never beat the Rams.
Yes its the Patriots yet again - pretty tiresome - too early for another SuperBowl appearance ..... 18+ years is a long f#$%n time. 6 years is not long enough to break back into neutrality. Closer, but 8 or 10 maybe. It took a long while to get over the Lakers after 2010 - Bryant was still playing for 5 or 6 seasons, and the 2020 finals was a dumb asterisk year and didn't bother me...........
I've watched a handful of Patriots regular season games and the playoff games. They certainly have taken advantage of their luck and schedule in the playoffs - good for them, but cheap - they didn't have to play better offenses Bills or Jaguars, and drawing Denver's poorish 2nd String QB, and clearly injured Herbert. That leaves one impressive win over the Texans............. I expect the Patriots defense to keep it fairly close the 1st half - I hope not another boring a@# defensive game.......back to the QBs - Herbert was clearly bothered by his baroken wrist and caste-thing, plus an beat-up Charger Oline. NIx is a good fearless runner and leader - reminds of Drew Brees - markedly better than Stidham so yes the Patriots got 1 bad QB and 1 hurt QB/OL - its true. My guess is Stroud contract resigning is now less certain next season - that was the single worst QB performance in these playoffs - alot on him too.
I think most other-team NFL fans wanted the Bills there, and have to suffer *yet another* Patsies appearance though double whammied with the Seahawks for 49ers fans...., this time blindsided more like it. I dont mind the Patriots current team/players, but am annoyed to see them in the SB on the turn of events.. Maye is a good QB - reminds me of a young Ryan Tannehill.
The Patriots have a good defense, maybe a bit better than the Rams, but not far better - no way - and the Rams offense with the best core receivers and RBs, better than the Patriots and for that matter the Seahawks offenses - Rams special teams spotted the Seahawks a crushing shortfield TD. and their coach McVeigh blew it on 2 could've been FGs on 4th downs in a 4 pt loss. I generally agree with folks who said NFC championship game was the defacto Superbowl. Anyway the Patiots would've been underdogs vs the Rams too, I'd have picked the Rams versus the Patriots.
It pains me to say the Seahawks are the class of the NFL this year, but too early for the Patriots to count em neutral again - its the 2015 Superbowl again with neither team desirable - I almost wouldn't mind the Patriots beating the Seahawks - it could happen maybe give it 4/10 .......At least there was no Chiefs in the Playoffs this year, which was something. It'll be an outdoor Superbowl too - hopefully good weather.