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Fact-checking Patriots' 18-year NFL dynasty: What's real, what's a myth
ESPN ^ | 18 Jan 2019 | Bill Barnwell

Posted on 01/18/2019 9:52:52 AM PST by Rummyfan

We are 18 years into the New England Patriots dynasty. A run that started during the 2001 regular season is likely going to stretch into its third decade, which would be unprecedented in most sports and seems downright unfathomable in the modern NFL, where attrition and the salary cap conspire to strike down promising teams before they grow comfortable atop their divisions. There might never be a team like the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick Patriots again.

By virtue of that 18-year reign, though, the Patriots have amassed what amounts to a popular folklore. There are stories and arguments about how the Patriots perform and what they do to win games, and while some of them are true, plenty aren't. Some of the ideas might have been true at one time but haven't been the case in years. Others were built upon an insufficient sample, with one play or one game used to tell a broader story without any tests or support.

NFL scores, standings and more

Everything you need this week: • 2018 playoffs coverage » • Full schedule » | Full standings » • 2019 draft order: Top 28 picks » More NFL coverage »

I wrote about myths for all of last week's eight playoff teams. With the Patriots, I found that a common claim held up with regard to New England simply isn't accurate. Despite what you might hear during Pats games, there's no evidence that the Patriots consistently sport a bend-but-don't-break defense. Belichick doesn't tell his defense to suddenly figure things out in the red zone because that doesn't make any sense. Great defenses are great all over the field.

(Excerpt) Read more at espn.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: nfl
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NFL haters please refrain from commenting. I thought this interesting. It is difficult, in any endeavor, to sustain such excellence over such a long period. Especially in such a dynamic and fluid field such as professional sports.
1 posted on 01/18/2019 9:52:52 AM PST by Rummyfan
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To: Rummyfan

Which QB has the most wins in the Bills Ralph Wilson Stadium in the last 20 years?

Its not a Bills QB - its Tom Brady.


2 posted on 01/18/2019 9:55:54 AM PST by PGR88
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To: Rummyfan

A shorter ‘dynasty’ was the Bill’s 4 consecutive Super Bowls. A record that will never be beat. Would have been nice to win one of them.


3 posted on 01/18/2019 9:59:19 AM PST by FatherofFive (Islam is EVIL and needs to be eradicated)
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To: PGR88

Yup, the Bills, The Dolphins and the Jets. Beating those teams consistently for the past 20 years makes the Patriots... well, like any other team not from Cleveland.


4 posted on 01/18/2019 9:59:37 AM PST by Hatteras
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To: Rummyfan

5 posted on 01/18/2019 10:01:36 AM PST by FroedrickVonFreepenstein
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To: Rummyfan

What’s a myth?


The oppothite of a hit.


6 posted on 01/18/2019 10:03:45 AM PST by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: Rummyfan

One of the best Super Bowls ever was when a wild card team, the NY Giants, beat NE, spoiling what would have been a perfect season. It was glorious, just like Trump busting the shoo-in Hillary.


7 posted on 01/18/2019 10:06:12 AM PST by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: sparklite2
One of the best Super Bowls ever was when a wild card team, the NY Giants, beat NE, spoiling what would have been a perfect season. It was glorious, just like Trump busting the shoo-in Hillary.


8 posted on 01/18/2019 10:07:35 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: sparklite2

Bet the champagne tasted especially nice that year for the Miami Dolphins players who were part of the one and only perfect team in 1973.


9 posted on 01/18/2019 10:08:01 AM PST by OttawaFreeper ("The Gardens was founded by men-sportsmen-who fought for their country" Conn Smythe, 1966)
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To: OttawaFreeper

I’ll bet it did.


10 posted on 01/18/2019 10:08:37 AM PST by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: OttawaFreeper
Bet the champagne tasted especially nice that year for the Miami Dolphins players who were part of the one and only perfect team in 1973.

RIP Bob Kuechenberg, my favorite player from those great Dolphins' team.

11 posted on 01/18/2019 10:13:14 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator
ROTFL!
12 posted on 01/18/2019 10:16:31 AM PST by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: Hatteras

Right on. Why they so often have home field advantage in the playoffs.
Their away record in playoffs not quite as impressive. From a Broncos fan.


13 posted on 01/18/2019 10:20:04 AM PST by Delphster
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To: Rummyfan
Interesting article, but this bit is nonsense - bend but don't break is a well established defensive strategy (whether it's a sound one is a different question):

"bend-but-don't-break defense. Belichick doesn't tell his defense to suddenly figure things out in the red zone because that doesn't make any sense. Great defenses are great all over the field."

14 posted on 01/18/2019 10:20:40 AM PST by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: sparklite2
One of the best Super Bowls ever was when a wild card team, the NY Giants, beat NE, spoiling what would have been a perfect season. It was glorious, just like Trump busting the shoo-in Hillary.

I concur.

15 posted on 01/18/2019 10:22:57 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: dfwgator

That’s a great picture. I saw someone at Disney wearing a perfect season AFC champions shirt that listed all the scores on the back. It just left out the Giants winning the Super Bowl. I think if I was a Pats fan I would have left that one home in the drawer.


16 posted on 01/18/2019 10:25:08 AM PST by freefdny
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To: dfwgator

Did they ship the shirts to a third world country after the Super Bowl loss? Hilarious!


17 posted on 01/18/2019 10:38:45 AM PST by Sans-Culotte (Time to get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US!)
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To: Delphster; Hatteras
Yup, the Bills, The Dolphins and the Jets. Beating those teams consistently for the past 20 years makes the Patriots... well, like any other team not from Cleveland.

You can only beat the teams you play. Why have not the Bills - Dolphins - Jets improved over the last twenty years?! Coaching, management, ownership, personnel... They have had the same opportunities as the rest of the league.

I'm no Patriots fan per se. But one has to admire the sustained level of accomplishment.

18 posted on 01/18/2019 10:42:07 AM PST by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
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To: Rummyfan

Myth: Belichick causes the headsets of opposing teams to become disabled.


19 posted on 01/18/2019 10:42:25 AM PST by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: Sans-Culotte
Did they ship the shirts to a third world country after the Super Bowl loss? Hilarious!

They always do that. Not knowing who will win the games, two types of shirts and hats are prepared. The wrong one gets donated to charity.

20 posted on 01/18/2019 10:44:09 AM PST by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
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