ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated NE
 

The season is 2 weeks old and ESPN just led off NFL by asking if the Pats can go undefeated. Even for ESPN, this is astonishingly absurd.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

Wow...I guess at least if they are 13-0 or something later on, they can come back and say, "we told you during week 2 that this Patriots team had the potential to go undefeated."

This is retarded to talk about until at least week 10.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

what else are they gonna talk about

theyre prob like 15-1 at this point (maybe im way off?) so its something to think about

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated NE
 

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The season is 2 weeks old and ESPN just led off NFL by asking if the Pats can go undefeated. Even for ESPN, this is astonishingly absurd.

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I still think in early 06 when they were declaring the USC team the best ever and having polls of USC vs former champs every day was more absurd, especially since they lost the bowl game a few days later.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated NE
 

Yeah but nobody knew yet that Vince had healing powers.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

Not so absurd. ESPN said the same about Red Sox at 2-0...

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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what else are they gonna talk about

theyre prob like 15-1 at this point (maybe im way off?) so its something to think about

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do you think they are like 82.5% to win each game? that's roughly what their average game win% would need to be to be 15/1 against

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

I think I watched the same thing. The exact question was: Which is more likely, a 0-16 team or 16-0 team? A fairly legit filler question.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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The season is 2 weeks old and ESPN just led off NFL by asking if the Pats can go undefeated. Even for ESPN, this is astonishingly absurd.

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I guess you missed their preseason Notre Dame analysis.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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I think I watched the same thing. The exact question was: Which is more likely, a 0-16 team or 16-0 team? A fairly legit filler question.

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That was the 2nd time they brought it up in the show.

The first time started with a reporter asking Belichick if they could go 16-0 to which he obviously said they were only concerned with Buffalo right now.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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I think I watched the same thing. The exact question was: Which is more likely, a 0-16 team or 16-0 team? A fairly legit filler question.

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That was the 2nd time they brought it up in the show.

The first time started with a reporter asking Belichick if they could go 16-0 to which he obviously said they were only concerned with Buffalo right now.

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He should have just said, "Of course we can go 16-0." Just to see if he can be more hated than he is right now.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

pats are going 16-0, i am calling it right now

me and ESPN are totally right

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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I think I watched the same thing. The exact question was: Which is more likely, a 0-16 team or 16-0 team? A fairly legit filler question.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Giants and the Pats are working on answering the question.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated NE
 

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The season is 2 weeks old and ESPN just led off NFL by asking if the Pats can go undefeated. Even for ESPN, this is astonishingly absurd.

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Isn't this more along the lines of maintaining their standards?

Since when has ESPN raised the bar from the gutter they've been in?

b

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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The first time started with a reporter asking Belichick if they could go 16-0

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and people wonder why Barry Bonds is a dick to the media

jesus most sportswriters have a 100stupid to 1legit question ratio

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

I really don't understand why anyone other than a 12 year old kid would watch ESPN other than the actual games broadcasted on the station.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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The first time started with a reporter asking Belichick if they could go 16-0

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and people wonder why Barry Bonds is a dick to the media

jesus most sportswriters have a 100stupid to 1legit question ratio

[/ QUOTE ]

Barry Bonds is a dick in general and it has nothing to do with the media.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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I think I watched the same thing. The exact question was: Which is more likely, a 0-16 team or 16-0 team? A fairly legit filler question.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Giants and the Pats are working on answering the question.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do the Falcons get a game against a high school team?

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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The first time started with a reporter asking Belichick if they could go 16-0

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and people wonder why Barry Bonds is a dick to the media

jesus most sportswriters have a 100stupid to 1legit question ratio

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Barry Bonds is a dick in general and it has nothing to do with the media.

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curious, rough estimate on the number of minutes you have spent talking to Barry Bonds

or examples of dickish things he has done to you, or someone you know well

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

I heard CNN already announced the outcome of the 2008 election.


And by CNN, I of course mean Diebold...

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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jesus most sportswriters have a 100stupid to 1legit question ratio

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That's being generous.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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I really don't understand why anyone other than a 12 year old kid would watch ESPN other than the actual games broadcasted on the station.

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I think the heads from ATH and PTI are pretty amusing [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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The first time started with a reporter asking Belichick if they could go 16-0

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and people wonder why Barry Bonds is a dick to the media

jesus most sportswriters have a 100stupid to 1legit question ratio

[/ QUOTE ]

Barry Bonds is a dick in general and it has nothing to do with the media.

[/ QUOTE ]

curious, rough estimate on the number of minutes you have spent talking to Barry Bonds

or examples of dickish things he has done to you, or someone you know well

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He was a dick to one of my good friend's little sister back when he played for Pittsburgh. I don't dislike him because of that. I dislike him because he eats babies.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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I think I watched the same thing. The exact question was: Which is more likely, a 0-16 team or 16-0 team? A fairly legit filler question.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Giants and the Pats are working on answering the question.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do the Falcons get a game against a high school team?

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If you count the Giants.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

Sun 9/9 at NY Jets W 38-14
Sun 9/16 San Diego W 38-14
Sun 9/23 Buffalo 1:00 pm
Mon 10/1 at Cincinnati 8:30 pm
Sun 10/7 Cleveland 1:00 pm
Sun 10/14 at Dallas 4:15 pm
Sun 10/21 at Miami 1:00 pm
Sun 10/28 Washington 4:15 pm
Sun 11/4 at Indianapolis 4:15 pm
bye
Sun 11/18 at Buffalo 1:00 pm
Sun 11/25 Philadelphia 8:15 pm
Mon 12/3 at Baltimore 8:30 pm
Sun 12/9 Pittsburgh 1:00 pm
Sun 12/16 NY Jets 1:00 pm
Sun 12/23 Miami 1:00 pm
Sat 12/29 at NY Giants 8:15 pm


If they go undefeated then they're the best team of all time imho.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

Some of you guys take this espn expert analysis stuff too seriously. They're just goofing around and trying to get attention.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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Some of you guys take this espn expert analysis stuff too seriously. They're just goofing around and trying to get attention.

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i agree, but the problem is they trivialize any sports accomplishment with their endless blabber. by the time anyone actually does anything remarkable, it's already become hackneyed. if NE actually does go undefeated, we'd've heard ESPN talking for the last 7 weeks of the season just how amazing it would be if NE went undefeated and hyping all of their games.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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Some of you guys take this espn expert analysis stuff too seriously. They're just goofing around and trying to get attention.

[/ QUOTE ]It's the same thing when they do a top xyz of all time and include one ridiculous ranking just to draw attention and get traffic on the site.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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Sun 9/9 at NY Jets W 38-14
Sun 9/16 San Diego W 38-14
Sun 9/23 Buffalo 1:00 pm
Mon 10/1 at Cincinnati 8:30 pm
Sun 10/7 Cleveland 1:00 pm
Sun 10/14 at Dallas 4:15 pm
Sun 10/21 at Miami 1:00 pm
Sun 10/28 Washington 4:15 pm
Sun 11/4 at Indianapolis 4:15 pm
bye
Sun 11/18 at Buffalo 1:00 pm
Sun 11/25 Philadelphia 8:15 pm
Mon 12/3 at Baltimore 8:30 pm
Sun 12/9 Pittsburgh 1:00 pm
Sun 12/16 NY Jets 1:00 pm
Sun 12/23 Miami 1:00 pm
Sat 12/29 at NY Giants 8:15 pm


If they go undefeated then they're the best team of all time imho.

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at Dallas, Indy, Baltimore
i doubt they go undefeated

i think there was a team that went undefeated once .... hmm who could it be ...

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Sun 9/9 at NY Jets W 38-14
Sun 9/16 San Diego W 38-14
Sun 9/23 Buffalo 1:00 pm
Mon 10/1 at Cincinnati 8:30 pm
Sun 10/7 Cleveland 1:00 pm
Sun 10/14 at Dallas 4:15 pm
Sun 10/21 at Miami 1:00 pm
Sun 10/28 Washington 4:15 pm
Sun 11/4 at Indianapolis 4:15 pm
bye
Sun 11/18 at Buffalo 1:00 pm
Sun 11/25 Philadelphia 8:15 pm
Mon 12/3 at Baltimore 8:30 pm
Sun 12/9 Pittsburgh 1:00 pm
Sun 12/16 NY Jets 1:00 pm
Sun 12/23 Miami 1:00 pm
Sat 12/29 at NY Giants 8:15 pm


If they go undefeated then they're the best team of all time imho.

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at Dallas, Indy, Baltimore
i doubt they go undefeated

i think there was a team that went undefeated once .... hmm who could it be ...

[/ QUOTE ]

You missed Pittsburgh.

If the season ends and no one goes 19-0, we'll figure out what team what undefeated by watching some 70 year olds sip crappy champagne on TV.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

ya pitt is a really tough game... especially since they will probably be banged up from playing baltimore the previous monday

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

[ QUOTE ]
Sun 9/9 at NY Jets W 38-14
Sun 9/16 San Diego W 38-14
Sun 9/23 Buffalo 1:00 pm
Mon 10/1 at Cincinnati 8:30 pm
Sun 10/7 Cleveland 1:00 pm
Sun 10/14 at Dallas 4:15 pm
Sun 10/21 at Miami 1:00 pm
Sun 10/28 Washington 4:15 pm
Sun 11/4 at Indianapolis 4:15 pm
bye
Sun 11/18 at Buffalo 1:00 pm
Sun 11/25 Philadelphia 8:15 pm
Mon 12/3 at Baltimore 8:30 pm
Sun 12/9 Pittsburgh 1:00 pm
Sun 12/16 NY Jets 1:00 pm
Sun 12/23 Miami 1:00 pm
Sat 12/29 at NY Giants 8:15 pm


If they go undefeated then they're the best team of all time imho.

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away games @ Cinci, Baltimore, Indy, Dallas, and the NYJ
home games vs San Diego and Pittsburgh, plus Philly and Washington

I think 15-1 or maybe 14-2, combined with a SB win, would make this team the best ever.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

I'm waiting for Randy Moss to pull a Randy Moss.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

away games @ Cinci, Baltimore, Indy, Dallas, and the NYJ

Any particular reason you included the Jets here? I agreed with most of your analysis but this is f'ed up! I'd bet my pokerstars BR that the Patriots go in to NY and administer a serious beat down.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated NE
 

ESPN is not alone. Half the analysts on the talk shows (radio and TV) in Boston are predicting an undefeated season as well. These are pretty much the same analysts that declared the Yankees dead and gave the Red Sox the division way back in May.

My guess assuming they stay healthy is 14-2.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated NE
 

Some of the teams being mentioned here as problems are hilarious. I don't know what everyone else sees in Baltimore, but I think they suck. Same with Cincy. Philly, Washington, Dallas...whole NFC East division is awful.

They're going 19-0 straight up and against the spread. I'm starting with $10 this week on them and parlaying it until I'll be able to pay for my Super Bowl trip and put $150K in the bank.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

The 2003 Pats went 14-2. They lost to the 6-10 Bills and the 5-11 Redskins.

The 2004 Pats went 14-2. They lost to the 15-1 Steelers and the 4-12 Dolphins.

Its not just the good teams that they have to worry about. They are very likely to slip up and blow a game to a crappy team along the way.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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The 2003 Pats went 14-2. They lost to the 6-10 Bills and the 5-11 Redskins.

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yes, but both those games were early in the season, when the team wasn't near 'midseason form'

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The 2004 Pats went 14-2. They lost to the 15-1 Steelers and the 4-12 Dolphins.

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that was an excellent steelers team. and the dolphins were cheating ! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I agree in principle that it's not just the good teams you need to worry about. but, I think the Pats are better in this regards than most good teams. In Pro Football Prospectus this year they had a little feature called "Do Trap Games Exist?". a trap game was defined as playing a sub .500 team sandwiched between 2 better than .500 teams. in general, teams played as expected, but Belichiks teams were even better: they were 17-0 in "trap agames". I suspect his obsessive approach to "1 game at a team" has something to do with this.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

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away games @ Cinci, Baltimore, Indy, Dallas, and the NYJ

Any particular reason you included the Jets here? I agreed with most of your analysis but this is f'ed up! I'd bet my pokerstars BR that the Patriots go in to NY and administer a serious beat down.

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you mean, like the beatdown they gave in New York last year [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] ?

the NYJ made the playoffs last year, and though they aren't a great team, road games against decent divisional opponents are far from gimmes. exhibit A would be NYJ 17, NE 14 last year.

Re: ESPN sets new standard for premature analysis. Talk of undefeated
 

KBZ:

c'mon. are you saying that bill belichick is the only coach who takes it one game at a time? the definition of trap game was rather narrow, too.