Are the New England Patriots the greatest NFL team ever?

[jeffh83]

This site asks: "Are the New England Patriots the greatest NFL team ever?"
Well guys, What do you think?
For my opinion, it's not true - Green Bay Packers won more NFL Championships than the Pats...

pollsb.com/polls/poll/5052/are-the-new-england-patriots-the-greatest-nfl-team-ever

[NFL_WIZARD]

Its hard to compare era's, if not impossible. However, it is true that no team has dominated like the Patriots and all their records, so the obvious choice is New England.

[Jay]

The Cowboys, 49ers and Steelers all have more championships than the Patriots ... until they surpass them ... NO

[Roy_Williams318]

Personally I don't think so....people are gonna say I'm biased but here we go anyways....

I think the 92 or 93 Cowboys would beat them down. With that offensive line and running game....what the hell could New England do? When teams get physical with the Patriots pounding them with the run the games are close. The 92 or 93 Cowboys were all about busting you in the damn mouth. Not to mention if you load up the L.O.S. you got the Irvin, Novacek and Harper...with Aikman throwing the ball.

The Cowboys were quick, fast and physical on defense. What you need to be to stop the Patriots offense.

When I said "destroy" I'm talking about playing with the 1992 rule book lol. I think the Cowboys would beat them in todays game too....but it wouldn't be a beating.

(yes we know....I'm biased and the Cowboys best team couldn't hold a candle to the Patriots...yadda yadda yadda. Don't even look at the fact that all the 92-93 Cowboys teams strengths are the Patriots weakness...and the Patriots strength (offensive line) isn't gonna have an advantage over the Cowboys front. It's just me being a homer...again....yadday yadda lol.)







Team isn't the same thing as franchise......if people are talking about franchises than HELL NO!

[NFL_WIZARD]

I could never argue against the early 90's Cowboys. Hall-of-famers all over the place.
I would go:
1- Present-day Patriots
2- Early 90's Cowboys
3- Late 70's Steelers
4- Late 80's 49'ers

I was too young to see Green Bay in their hey-day, so maybe them too.

[JCD]

Hard to say right now. Heck, it is just a matter of opinion anyway.

Like previously mentioned, tough to compare teams from different eras.

That Cowboys team was put together before the cap and then played loose and fast with the rules to keep it together. It couldn't be assembled today.

The Niners were entirely pre-cap.

The Steelers were dominant for their era, but the size/speed of players has changed as have the rules. They would be called for PI on every play today.

All (as well as some I have certainly forgot) are valid.

What we can say is that the Pats have most certainly made themselves part of the conversation. Might not top the list, but definately belong on it somewhere.

[Robvious]

I vote yes.

[permissionslip]

No.

Somebody had already listed a Cowboy team, some have mentioned the Packers. Good choices.

The point has also been made that they are not the greatest frnachise of all-time which is easily correct as well.

Talk about this single 2007 edition of the Patriots though, I believe the 1994 49ers were better on paper and in the field.

Steve Young vs. Tom Brady

I consider this to be a wash. What Brady gains in arm strength, Young makes up for in mobility. Both are very accurate throwers as well.

Ricky Watters vs. Laurence Maroney

Tough to compare because of the limited sampling of Maroney we see but I don't see either back giving either team an advantage since both would be chucking it like crazy.

Jerry Rice/John Taylor vs. Randy Moss/Wes Welker

The 49er group is easily better. Moss and Welker are great players but Rice is the undisputed best ever and was still in his prime at the time. Welker and Taylor is interesting because both are great after the catch. Even if they are a wash, Rice trumps anything the Patriots can field and would have his way with their secondary.

Brent Jones vs. Ben Watson

The evolution of the tight end has transformed Watson into the more athletic of the two but I would contend that Jones plays better in traffic and is a better blocker. This is another position I don't see having a huge effect on the game.

Line vs. Line

The Patriot line is better hands down but I think Young's mobility and escapability makes up the difference. The 9ers were still solid blockers and I don't see the Patriot D-linemen bothering Young too much. I think the 9ers could get to Brady though right up the middle behind Young and Stubblefield. Brady is most effective avoiding blitzes when he can step up. Rarely does he ever run left or right. The 9ers could effectively make him do that which would likely make it a tough day for him. The 9ers defensive front four is better than New England's.

Linebackers

The Patriot linebackers are better but not by much. Seau is in the twilight of his career. He couldn't stop this 9er team in his prime. Vrabel and Bruschi are a lot like Lee Woodall and Gary Plummer in that they are all very good and underrated. Not flashy players, they just do their jobs and they do them well. I feel that Ken Norton Jr. in his prime is the best of all 7 LBs here. Seau in his prime was better but he's not in his prime on the 07 Patriots.

Corners

Primetime is the best of every corner in this match-up. He can definitely match-up with Moss because he can run with him. He was just as good at playing the ball too so Moss would be in tough. I don't care who covers Rice, they would fail. He would eat up Assante Samual and his safety help. I don't think Ellis Hobbs, Randall Gay or Brandon Merriweather could stop John Taylor either. Eric Davis, the other 9er corner is a two-time pro bowler as well. Advantage 49ers.

Safeties

Its funny, Rodney Harrison is the most high profile guy in this group but not because he's the best player. Of the four, Tim Mcdonald and his 6 pro bowls are. Between him and Merton Hanks, there are 10 Pro Bowls and they both went that year. The 9ers are the better group again.

In summary, I tihnk the 9ers would win a game between the two relatively easily. I also feel they are far better on paper than the Pats.

[Goose]

I think they are the most dominant team of their era, but I don't think they could be early 90s Cowboys, late 80s niners, late 70s steelers. The pats are more dominating than any team in history, but those 3 teams I listed were ubbelievably stacked .

[Jay]

If they had a solid run game maybe, but they're too lopsided

[Goose]

Originally Posted by Jay

If they had a solid run game maybe, but they're too lopsided

Not to mention their Rushing Defense couldn't stop 92 Cowboys or 85 Bears. Both teams that would beat this Pats team easily.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Goose

Not to mention their Rushing Defense couldn't stop 92 Cowboys or 85 Bears. Both teams that would beat this Pats team easily.

exactly, a good run team would just run down the clock and own TOP

[MoonLightKnight]

Ladies and Gens

The Pats have the best team ever. Thinking otherwise is ludacris...
Look at the big picture:
1) Are 2007 Formula 1 cars faster then 1997 Formula 1 cars?
2) Are 2007 NHL Goalies better then 1997 NHL Goalies?
3) Are 2007 Tennis players better then 1997 Tennis players?
4) Are 2007 Golfers better then 1997 golfers?

some will find it in them to answer NO..., but the answer to all those questions are YES. New technologies and new training technics make 2007 Athletes better then 1997 Athletes. I'm sorry, but I dont think that in 1972 you had 300 pounds football players running 40 yards under 5 seconds. In 2007 some are. You cannot in your right mind think that 2007 Athletes are not better then 1997 Athletes. I'm not talking about talent, I'm talking about fitness and endurance. So now, if you take the best team now and the best team then, now where Athletes are in a better shape, who you you think would win a football game?...

[Roy_Williams318]

This isn't 1942 we're talking about....players in the 90s were some of the fastest the game has ever seen. Green and Sanders come to mind....the league wasn't as watered down either. Don't sit here and act like athletes were far less conditioned in the 90s when the game was actually tougher.

[Robvious]

Originally Posted by Goose

Not to mention their Rushing Defense couldn't stop 92 Cowboys or 85 Bears. Both teams that would beat this Pats team easily.

And that is a completely unprovable opinion.