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Conference Championship Weekend

Jangler

By Jangler,
in Carolina Panthers

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ed bell Newbie

ed bell

Posted
Posted

I like watching these Championship games over any other playoff game for the simple reason that there is a lot to be learned about what it takes for franchises to reach this game, and/or keep playing at a high level for multiple years in a row. These two are a great examples. A few points on each team:

Patriots have coaching and all-world QB play that has kept them in the upper echelons for just over 10 years now. Not much success over the second half of the past decade, but they haven't missed out on the post-season with the exception of 2002 and the weird 11-5 season in 2008 when Brady was out and it wasn't a good enough record for a wild-card. Haven't had the complete package since the 16-0 season where they choked against the surging Giants in the SB. Always have a high quality FG kicker. Window is closing on the Brady years.

Baltimore has been up and down a little more often, but they have one thing that has stayed the same, a feared defense with rock solid team leadership. They have had some quality running personnel and believed that they had turned the corner at QB with Flacco, but that is more than up in the air. Window is closing on the D with Lewis and Reed nearing the end of their careers. It will be interesting to see if the leadership baton is passed to others. It will be tough filling that void.

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