New England Patriots 'homefield throughout' again!?

[Journeyman]

...the Houston Oilers back in the 70's use to say 'the road to the Super Bowl travels thru Pittsburgh'...and they never made it passed the steel city, never coming close to winning @ Pittsburgh...

Heading into '04 New England looks even better on paper this year than last , and will be awfully tough to beat out for home field advantage...Not only have they improved on their only weeknesses, they play in the most lopsided division in football...

With Miami taking two giant steps backwards who will beat the Pats in the division?

The rest of the AFC powerhouses will surely beat each other up in division play, leaving the Pats with homefield once again.

Miami, NYJ, and Buffalo lol?

New England Schedule for 2004;

Week 1 Sep 9, 2004 Indianapolis
Week 2 Sep 19, 2004 @Arizona
Week 3 Bye Week
Week 4 Oct 3, 2004 @Buffalo
Week 5 Oct 10, 2004 Miami
Week 6 Oct 17, 2004 @Buffalo
Week 7 Oct 24, 2004 NY Jets
Week 8 Oct 31, 2004 @Pittsburgh
Week 9 Nov 7, 2004 @St. Louis
Week 10 Nov 14, 2004 Buffalo
Week 11 Nov 22, 2004 @Kansas City
Week 12 Nov 28, 2004 Baltimore
Week 13 Dec 5, 2004 @Cleveland
Week 14 Dec 12, 2004 Cincinnati
Week 15 Dec 20, 2004 @Miami
Week 16 Dec 26, 2004 @NY Jets
Week 17 Jan 2, 2005 San Francisco

another 14-2 very realistic if this team stays hungry and motivated!!!

Corey Dillon adds major punch to the Pats weak ground game...

 

[Dante]

New England Patriots 'homefield throughout' again!?


god I hope not..but you might be right Jman

 

[Journeyman]

In that division Dante..they can't help but be right there...

 

[lander]

What are the odds on :

NOT 14-2 ?

JMan,
I say this every year, but the Bills CAN beat the Pats ... the Bills defense should be top 3 and the last two drafts should help the O not to lose the games.

I think the Bills and Pats split. (assuming Mularkey isn't a dumbass like GreGG Williams was)

 

[Genesispg]

You can guarantee at least 2 losses for Buffalo-the games they play after Miami a decent college team could beat them.

 

[TheGeneral+]

See ya in the Dome

 

[bunyon]

You never know from one year to the next what is or isn't a weak schedule. This time last year the NFC thought the road to the SB went through Tampa.

 

[Journeyman]

Bunyon thats true but you have to agree the East Division is mediocre at best?

 

[jwblue]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Journeyman:
Bunyon thats true but you have to agree the East Division is mediocre at best? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The Jets will be improved. Buffalo might surprise. Dolphins might find a running back.

IS

 

[Journeyman]

And New England is probably more improved than all 3...

 

[REDEYE]

New Engalnd should win division easily,there better then everyone else in Division.With the Division in a down cycle I might have to relook at Patriots win total. Generally Idon't like playing anything over 10 but in this case......

 

We finally don't play these yahoos this year. I'm tired of losing to them.

sb

 

[wilheim]

I have some reservations mainly because of new pass interference interpatation the NFL has this year. They are going to crack down on downfield contact by DBs something the Patriots have used well the last three years. You can call the new "rules" the Patriot pass defense rule. The competition committee felt the refs had been a little lax on the calling of illegal contact beyond five yards. Have to see how this effects Bellichek's aggressive Defense.


wil.

 

[REDEYE]

might affect more then just the Patriots if I understand these rules

 

[wilheim]

Red Eye - no doubt the changes will effect all teams, my point is that the Pats have used very aggresive DBs of late. Some say they got away with to much downfield contact in last years playoffs.

wil.

 

[aceduecetrey]

I agree the Pats look great! It is just so hard to back up a super bowl appearance in the NFL. Last year I got 8 to 1 with a buddy of mine that neither the Bucs or Raiders would make the playoffs. We know what happened there. I am running it back with him this year and I have 10-1 that neither the pats or panthers will make the playoffs. I dont really like it, but history is on my side.

 

[Fezzik]

People just never learn. Year after year it is the same garbage. After the Rams win the SB, they are "unstoppable". People were shocked after the Pats won their 1st SB that they would fade. Everyone talked about how the Bucs were finally over the hump after they won the big one. Now the squares are touting how this NE team is BETTER than any on the SB winners the last 15 years.

NEWS FLASH. The Pats aren't that good they are lined (correctly) around 10.5 wins. They are as good as anyone, but not much better than the other premier teams. A few bad bounces, a few injuries, etc. and they go 8-8 this year, and the squares pile onto whoever starts 9-0 (just like they did on the Chefs last year).

 

[Fezzik]

no.no.no.

The AFC East is The BEST division in football. It is not even close.

The Jets, Mia, and Buf combined are projected to play at or just over .500. Compare this to the division play that teams like Seattle, Den, and KC get to play.

Journeyman, that has got to be the worst stat fact I have ever seen. The AFC East is projected to win 35 games this year, the most in football. And you called them the least talented division. Ming boggling.

I tell you what. You pick your division. I'll take the AFC Eeast. At the end of the year, we will take the records of either

a) all the teams or
b) all the teams excluding the division winner.

The AFC East would be a big favorite vs. any division.

 

[RPM]

I DONT THINK SO. for some reason new england just doesnt impress me that much. i swear it seems like they always get lucky.

 

[Journeyman]

Least talented was not a good description ...but there is no doubt BUf, Mia, and the Jets will not be playoff teams.

Meaning the other 3 east teams are not playoff teams! All decent but none will make playoffs..

New England will walk away with the division...I will admit there are no bad teams in the division but only one great team...

Patriots will a minimum of 12 games...this team wasn't even healthy last year and had no running game....