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Here is some interesting info I have found in researching the game next week between New England and Baltimore.
New England seems to be the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl now that the Saints and Packers are out of it. But looking more closely at the Pats, they may in fact be a paper tiger. Since their last Supoer Bowl win in 2004 they have been a team that dominates in the regular season but gets bounced in the playoffs when facing better teams. The 2006 Pats went 12-4 and dominated the Colts in the first half before they collapsed in the second half and lost to Indy. In 2007 they go 16-0 and lose to the Giants in the Superbowl. In 2009 they go 10-6 and lose to the Ravens in the wild card round. In 2010 they are 14-2 and lose to the Jets in the Divisional round.
Now on to 2011. If there is one reason to doubt the Pats despite their 13-3 record is their schedule. They have played one cream puff after another winning 13 times. However they did not beat one team with a winning record in 2011. The only teams with a winning record that they played were Pittsburgh and the Giants and guess what. They lost both of them. Granted New England could only play the teams on their schedule so it's not their fault their 13 wins came against teams who were 500 or lower. But the fact is New England benefited from a very soft schedule. The Pats played one team whose defense finished in the top 10 for total yards allowed the Jets whom they went 2-0 against.
Contrast the Ravens this year. Including the game today, the Ravens have played 7 games against teams who went to the playoffs. They are 7-0 in those games. The Ravens and the underachieving Flacco have played 12 games against teams whose defense finished in the top ten. They went 10-2 in those games. I find in somewhat ironic that despite making the NFL an offensive minded league, 3 of the final 4 teams are more known for their defense than their offense right now, with the Pats being the only high powered offense, although I guess you can debate whether the Giants are more of an offensive or a defensive team
One last interesting stat I came across. Since 1996 teams who have scored 40 plus points in a playoff game are 3-18 against the spread the next game. Probably because the books inflate the lines after a blowout win. Will post more info in this thread as I come across it.
New England seems to be the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl now that the Saints and Packers are out of it. But looking more closely at the Pats, they may in fact be a paper tiger. Since their last Supoer Bowl win in 2004 they have been a team that dominates in the regular season but gets bounced in the playoffs when facing better teams. The 2006 Pats went 12-4 and dominated the Colts in the first half before they collapsed in the second half and lost to Indy. In 2007 they go 16-0 and lose to the Giants in the Superbowl. In 2009 they go 10-6 and lose to the Ravens in the wild card round. In 2010 they are 14-2 and lose to the Jets in the Divisional round.
Now on to 2011. If there is one reason to doubt the Pats despite their 13-3 record is their schedule. They have played one cream puff after another winning 13 times. However they did not beat one team with a winning record in 2011. The only teams with a winning record that they played were Pittsburgh and the Giants and guess what. They lost both of them. Granted New England could only play the teams on their schedule so it's not their fault their 13 wins came against teams who were 500 or lower. But the fact is New England benefited from a very soft schedule. The Pats played one team whose defense finished in the top 10 for total yards allowed the Jets whom they went 2-0 against.
Contrast the Ravens this year. Including the game today, the Ravens have played 7 games against teams who went to the playoffs. They are 7-0 in those games. The Ravens and the underachieving Flacco have played 12 games against teams whose defense finished in the top ten. They went 10-2 in those games. I find in somewhat ironic that despite making the NFL an offensive minded league, 3 of the final 4 teams are more known for their defense than their offense right now, with the Pats being the only high powered offense, although I guess you can debate whether the Giants are more of an offensive or a defensive team
One last interesting stat I came across. Since 1996 teams who have scored 40 plus points in a playoff game are 3-18 against the spread the next game. Probably because the books inflate the lines after a blowout win. Will post more info in this thread as I come across it.
can not and will not bet against the ICE COOL BRADY!!!
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