The Path to their 4th Superbowl Is Now Wide Open for the Patriots

[Yavin4]

Given the results of the playoffs so far this year, the Pats are pretty much a slam dunk for their 4th Superbowl title. First, their nemesis, Eli Manning, doesn't even make the playoffs. Second, they nab the second seed in the AFC on the last weekend of the regular season.

Now, with both the Broncos and Packers losing, Brady is the lone elite QB left in the playoffs, and they have home field throughout the playoffs.

Yep. The path to their 4th Superbowl title in 13 seasons is wide open and within sight.

[Renew Deal]

1. I agree

They have to be the favorite, though the 49ers looked pretty damn good tonight. The Seahawks are also very good. It won't be easy, but I think they're the favorite.

[intaglio]

2. I think there's a young man by the name of Kaepernick

Who might have words to say on that ...

[Berlum]

4. Nice play!

?w=300&h=300

[Berlum]

3. Excelsior

[TBF]

5. My husband loves them -

we'll be having a superbowl party here ...

[Auggie]

6. Bookmarked

[mythology]

7. Considering they lost to 3 of the 5 remaining teams

I wouldn't book the after party just yet. Although as I recall from last year Rob Gronkowski will be at the after party no matter what.

San Francisco, Seattle and Baltimore all beat the Patriots who still don't have a consistent quality defense.

Additionally Houston and Atlanta have some elite difference makers in J.J. Watt and Arian Foster and Julie Jones and Roddy White respectively. I'm even tempted to toss Andre Johnson in there because of how bad the Patriots' defense can be.

[bluedigger]

9. All good reasons why I am rooting for the Niners.

Victory will be so much sweeter.

[n2doc]

8. No, Path to a third loss in a row...

They are on their way to becoming the Broncos/Bills of the new century.

Their only hope is that Atlanta wins in the NFC. 49'ers or Seahawks have already beaten them, and would do so again.

[joeybee12]

10. If they beat Baltimore, I think they play Atlanta in the SB...

Everyone is still over-looking them.

[madinmaryland]

13. Sounds like you and El Supremo will be rooting for Ray Lewis in the SB against...

Upton's team.

i.e. the Harbaugh Bowl. Imagine the **zz fest ESPN will have with that one!!

[joeybee12]

14. Tough call if it's Baltimore v SF...But I think I loathe Ray Lewis more

than Jim Harbaugh, so I will root in abstentia for SF.

[madinmaryland]

15. That's funny...

My Dad is a lifelong Steeler's fan and the only team that he hates (he is a retired minister) is the Baltimore Ravens. If he were to swear it would involve the Ravens!!

Of course when your other divisional competition are the Bungles and Browns, I guess that only leaves the Ravens!!

[TheBadWolf]

11. The Broncos probably thought the same thing.

[JonLP24]

12. No one is calling Kaepernick

an elite QB but he certainly is playing like one. I wonder which one I would rather have? I QB that's elite, or a QB that plays at an elite level.

[Auggie]

16. I was listening to former 49ers center Jeremy Newberry

and back-up tight end Delanie Walker on the postgame wrap last weekend. Kaepernick is in an ideal position right now with the option because, according to them, there's virtually no way a zone defense can stop it. On those option running plays you'll notice there's a little delay before Kaep hands the ball off to running back Frank Gore. That delay gives him the opportunity to react to how the defense is moving -- he can decide to complete the handoff or run with the ball. That's how he was able to peel off so much yardage against Green Bay. It was made more effective by having an excellent running attack in Gore and a very good O-line.

If the defense switches to man to keep another defender in the box then the 49ers will pass the ball. Kaepernick is, so far, proving to be pretty capable at that too. That's what makes him and Seattle's Russell Wilson so effective.

I think we'll see an evolution in the NFL to counter these option-type QBs. I think we'll see a new breed of outside linebacker ... faster, more nimble -- essentially a strong safety assigned to the QB and running back. He'd be a specialist, playing mostly on running downs, but could drop into coverage if need be.