Tell Me I’m Crazy (Part 1)

Okay, I have been away for a while now (planning a wedding 500 miles away is not exactly easy), so I probably have a bunch of pent-up opinions just itching to get ignored.  In fact, I have a three-part version of “Tell Me I’m Crazy” to unload because, well, I am not really smart.

I understand that the goal of every NFL team every season is to win the Super Bowl.  In the end, when it comes to American football, every franchise, every player, every coach, every stadium, every city, every generation of fans is defined by one thing and one thing only–how many Super Bowls have you won? 

I also understand that the ends justify the means in this vein.  In other words, it does not matter–at all–how you accomplish this.  The Super Bowl champion is the most successful franchise each and every year.

With all of that being said, tell me I’m crazy.  I think that, if I were the Patriots, I would rather lose the Super Bowl than any of the regular season games.  I know that I am probably in a minority of one here, but I really think that the undefeated regular season is accomplishment enough to warrant jeopardizing a Super Bowl title.

Now, obviously, the Patriots did not have to make that choice because they have a very good chance to get both.  However, I think that in the annals of NFL history, a 16-0 season without a Super Bowl title will be more historical, more memorable and, dare I say, more impressive than a 15-1 season with the Super Bowl title.  I will try and make the case for each

1). More Historical–This is an easy case to make.  There have been 41 years in the Super Bowl era.  Forty-one times has a team won the Super Bowl.  Two times has a team had an undefeated regular season.  I recognize the arguments against this.  I recognize that catcher’s interference, though extraordinarily more rare, is not preferable to a home run.  Either way, this undefeated season, obviously, is something for the record books.

2). More Memorable–History, in itself, is memorable.  But, over and above the historical significance, this accomplishment is utterly more memorable than a non-undefeated team winning a Super Bowl.  This should be another obvious point, but in case you do not agree, think to yourself:  Who won the Super Bowl ten years ago?  What about twenty?  Thirty?  Now, think about ten, twenty, even thirty years from now, is there ANY chance that you do not remember that the Patriots were the team that went 16-0 in 2007?  I doubt it.

3). More impressive–This is the tough one and the crux of the entire debate.  I do, however, believe that winning 16 regular season games is a more impressive season than winning the Super Bowl, despite a loss–and a lot of why I think this is because of the above.  Why do you want to win the Super Bowl?  Why is it the ultimate accomplishment?  Because you strive for history.  You strive to be “the best.”  I think the 16-0 shows that more than winning three straight in January.  It shows that you showed up every week and played.  It shows that you defeated any adversity.  And, it shows that for 17 straight weeks, you were the best.  Someone wins the Super Bowl every year.  A team goes undefeated about once every 25 years.

Tell me I’m crazy…

This entry was posted in Tell Me I'm Crazy and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Tell Me I’m Crazy (Part 1)

  1. Mac says:

    Not sure if it is more important than the SB, but I think it deserved more play than it got. It is really important and comes in close to the SB to go 16-0. What I don’t think got enough attention was the NYG’s part in this. Assuming they don’t win the SB (not likely), this game was their chance to make history. They would have been remembered as much as any non-Super Bowl winning team in history. Take you back to 1985 and the Chicago Bears magical 18-1 season. Who did they lose to on Monday night? Everyone knows it was the Dolphins. That team basically choked in the AFC championship, but everyone remembers the Bears win.

  2. Doogan says:

    You’re crazy. I definitely disagree. If you go ask any guy on that ’85 Bears team, do you think any of them would even consider trading a win in that regular season Dolphins game for the Super Bowl win? No way. Also, if the Patriots don’t win the Super Bowl this year, they’re going to be known as “The Team that Went 16-0 but Choked in the Playoffs”.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *