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NOW WE DEFEND THE PATS #1 RANKING? -
Snoogins Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Aug 10, 2006
	May 13, 2008 4:18 pm Score: 93
	This is your argument. That 2 of your guys are barely younger than Ray Lewis? By the way, I wouldn't brag about AD. You guys got robbed on that deal and the Ravens fans thought it was pretty funny. Talk about your system players. Look it up and you see AD's picture. So, you're saying that Ray Lewis is a mummy then? He's hurting the Ravens defense by refusing to hang em up? And I guess you weren't paying much attention last season... Otherwise, I have no diea why you're saying the Patriots "got robbed" we got everything we asked for out of Thomas... He played out of position in the second half of the season after Colvin got hurt and did a great job.. Try following the Patriots if you want to talk about them..
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NOW WE DEFEND THE PATS #1 RANKING? -
Snoogins Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Aug 10, 2006
	May 13, 2008 4:23 pm Score: 91
	TO be more specific, I'm talking about the play where Elli threw a pass to Smith and it bounced off of Smith's hands into Hobbs' hands within 5 yards of the goalline. LOL... I guess in Baltimore, the 11 yard line = "within 5 yards of the goalline" Eli threw a crappy pass that a below average receiver couldn't handle... would have taken a phenomonal catch for him to come down with it... Not the same as a ball that hits an all-pro DB right in the hands, now is it..
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NOW WE DEFEND THE PATS #1 RANKING? -
disasterskip Reputation:98 Level:Superstar Since:Aug 19, 2006
	May 13, 2008 4:32 pm Score: 102
	Will the Pats be one of the leading scorers in the league next season? Probably. Will they make the postseason? Barring an injury to Brady and/or Moss most likely. Are they good enough on defense to win when it matters? Not for the last two years and with a group that looks like they could have played for Landry and Lombardi not as likely. The Pats near losses during the regular season to the Ravens, Giants and Eagles and to a lesser extent the Cowboys game showed that a great defense would allow a team with even a sub par offense to hang in with the Pats. In the playoffs the defenses also kept games very close. And in the Super Bowl the superior D won, as is usually the case. If you look at the way offensive minded teams fare in the postseason here is the reality for the leading scorers in each of the last 10 seasons: 2007 Pats lost SB 2006 Saints lost NFC Championship 2005 Seahawks lost SB 2004 Chiefs missed playoffs 2003 Chiefs lost divisional playoff 2002 Chiefs missed playoffs 2001 Rams lost SB 2000 Rams lost in wild card 1999 Rams won SB 1998 Vikings lost in NFC Championship 4 SB appearances 1 win. Go further back and the 10% number remains very similar. Great teams and all of the NFL's dynasties have had great running games along with top tier defenses. The Steelers and Cowboys of the 70s, the 49ers and NFC East teams of the 80's, the Cowboys of the 90's, and even the Pats at the turn of the century were all teams based on that philosphy. The Pats understanding that they were aging on defense elected to spend heavily on offense in order to offset that reality and it worked very well during the regular season for them. However when it counted the team with the better defense won the title. The last three teams to shatter the points scored record (NE 2007, MINN 1998, and WASH 1983) have all fallen short of the Lombardi Trophy. With the defense they have this season I think the axiom that defense wins championships will be borne out. My top 10 power rankings in terms of teams that can finish (read great defense with a power running game, or an offense that can offset a mediocre defense) would be as follows: 1. Chargers: The prototypical Super Bowl winner the Chargers have a perennial Pro Bowl RB, an up and coming QB who has matured over the last season but still has a ways to go and a defense that continues to improve. If Cromartie and Rivers take the next step this will be a very difficult team to beat come the postseason. 2. Cowboys: The Cowboys have a chance to rival the Pats in scoring and they have a very solid defense. If Tony Romo learns to throw the ball away when there is nothing there and they can get production from Barber and Felix Jones this team could win it all, but after this season the window will be closing for a team which enters FA hell in 2009 (TO, DeMarcus Ware, Terrence Newman, Marion Barber all in final year of their contracts) 3. Steelers: The addition of Mendelhall to compliment FWP and a defense which dominates will make this a definite contender. 4. Colts: With the return of Dominic Rhodes this team is once again very stacked in the running game particularly since no teams will stack the box against them because of Peyton Manning's ability. An up and coming defense which was 3rd in the league last season in points allowed along with a head coach who understands when to push and when to punt. 5. Giants: A great rushing offense with a QB who has shown he is capable of beating teams when they stack 8 in the box along with the best pass rush in the league. If the secondary can show improvement from last season this team could repeat. 6. Patriots: The offense is undeniably exceptional, although they struggled last season against elite defenses. The defense on the other hand has many question marks and will in my opinion prevent them from being successful in the postseason. 7. Jaguars: An exceptional 1-2 punch at RB with an intelligent QB and a great defense, could end up knocking off 4 division winning teams in the postseason next season much like the Giants did this season. 8. Browns: I believe this will be the team that has a chance to outscore the Patriots, but like the Pats their lack of a top tier defense will prevent them from taking home a title 9. Packers: Even with the loss of Favre this team has a great defense and if they can develop a running game similar to the one they showed at the end of the season they could be competitive in the postseason. 10. Redskins: The darkhorse candidate in the NFC East the Redskins have a very good defense and if Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts can remain healthy they have enough to make an impression come playoff time.
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NOW WE DEFEND THE PATS #1 RANKING? -
ravens_R_#1 Reputation:98 Level:Superstar Since:Dec 21, 2006
	May 13, 2008 4:36 pm Score: 94
	I said that the guy who tried to call the timeout obviously didn't know the rule any better than the ref did... Incorrect. What you said was: *It's also lucky that the Ravens own coach didn't understand the rule.* But seeing as how you're a Pats fan, I'm sure there was a misinterpretation somewhere along the line. How do you misinterpret(sp?) yourself? LOL... I guess in Baltimore, the 11 yard line = "within 5 yards of the goalline" You can remember what yard line this happened on months ago but as seen from my above quotes, you can't remember what you said within 2 hours. Unlike you, I can admit and accept that I was wrong. Eli threw a crappy pass that a below average receiver couldn't handle... would have taken a phenomonal catch for him to come down with it... Not the same as a ball that hits an all-pro DB right in the hands, now is it.. Eli threw two bad passes, one bounced of the arms of his receiver because the receiver turned to try and make the play before he actually had the ball, the other bounced of a defenders hands because he was probably also to ready to make a play. Yet, according to you these two things are not the same? Even though both would have changed the game from there respective standpoints? Now who's talking semantics?
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