Weaknesses Addressed

You mean the offense that couldn't score in the first half, and the QB who threw a pick 6 in the SB? Their defense kept them in that game and won it for them. Nothing about that game was shootout. Put just about any other defense out there instead, and NE gets blown out.

 

Yeah, there's a reason the Packers and Saints aren't good anymore. You're obviously not too familiar with the Super Bowl winning teams, especially the Patriots. Saying they havn't/don't have a great defense...that's laughable. The Patriots have put forth a fantastic defense year after year, including last year. Losing great players doesn't make a defense weak either, because a great defensive team knows how to replace them as NE continuously does.

Also, they had Moss for like a year. Branch isn't that good. Gronk is always injured. The Patriots have never had an abundance of offensive weapons, and they certainly weren't good because of it. The Patriots have been good because they have a great QB, an offensive line to protect him, a great coach to scheme, and a great defense. Those are the four keys to success. Great scheming and a QB/O-Line can make the rest on the offense look great. Anything past that is just a luxury.

We currently have two, maybe three of those things depending on how Mularkey turns out. If we keep giving up 30 points in our 7 losses like we did last year, we aren't going to very far just because we have some flashy players on offense.

 

I think it is silly to claim there is "one way" to win championships.

Some teams have won them with almost all defense and little offense. (Ravens, bucaneers, bears, Seattle)

Other teams with great defenses failed (titans come to mind)

Some teams won them with great offense and little defense (packers, saints, rams).

Some teams with that build have also failed (15-1 pats, many saints, colts, and packers teams, falcons).

Most teams win with some combination of two.

In any event, it takes a good bit of luck.

 

And the pessimist in me says THAT is the problem!

 

Are you aware that the Pats DEFENSE gave up the fewest points per game last year. Is the #1 defense for points allowed (the most important defensive stat) what you call 'serviceable?'

And two of the Super Bowls the Pats LOST were when they had amazing offense and less defense. The team with the better defense won. Which also happened this year thanks to the Falcons playcalling, the Pats D, and the Pats offense.

Considering we have to go thru the Pats to get to a Super Bowl, we better have a good-great D! Trying to outscore them in a shootout with lesser coaching is not a recipe for success!

 

If Robertson was healthy and Bishop didn't get hurt during the game, we win that Super Bowl. We smacked that new offense in the mouth during the regular season when we healthy and could play our scheme. We could not run our scheme like we wanted with our S's out and a special teamer starting at S! Every game also depends on matchup, health and a few other things (luck included).

All defensive teams win more than all offensive teams.

 

What are you talking about? The Packers, Saints, and Rams all had top-tier defenses. Once again proving my point.