Two part question. (Opinion based)

1) Are the Patriots the best team that we will play this year?

If not, who is/was better?

2) How many points will we need to put on the board, to win SB49?

I think the NFC in general is tougher. So no, not the toughest we've faced.

1) Since the Patriots have upped their game as far as being a powerful team in the AFC this year, I'd say yes.

2) 25+.

1. Yes. I think Green Bay and Dallas are close behind but right now New England is a better team.

2. If we can get 24 we win. Might be able to get away with 17 though.

1 yes, but we've only played 2 games this year.
2. More than the patriots.

At this point I would say they are the best team we've faced this season. They are peaking at the right time.

I think we need to score at least 24 points.

HawkFan72":ixislcmc said:

At this point I would say they are the best team we've faced this season. They are peaking at the right time.

I think we need to score at least 24 points.

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Yeah, this was exactly my thinking, too.

1. I'd say yes because they're balanced like Dallas but better defensively.
2. 24 points should make it a slam dunk but 21 points is likely enough also.

I feel like Dallas was better.

24 points, as many have said

1. No. I think Green Bay was playing better than NE at the time of the NFC Championship. But close.

2. I'd say 24+.

Without Belichick, NE is Miami with a better QB, and at this point not even that much better.

I think if we score:
>30 we win 100% of the time
25...ish we win >50% of the time
<20 we almost cirtainly lose.

Fortunatly for us we have:

An offense that uses the run to set up everything else, which aids us greatly in controling the clock.

A Defense that will keep the ball in front of them and physically abusing the opposing offense.

A "special" team that can change the game...

NE will not score more than 25 unless the Hawks give it away, however I would be shocked if we hold this team with that coach to less than 20.

Either way, should be a great game.

RolandDeschain":3cimmk8z said:

1) Since the Patriots have upped their game as far as being a powerful team in the AFC this year, I'd say yes.

2) 25+.

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Agreed.

Uncle Si":336jo9da said:

I feel like Dallas was better.

24 points, as many have said

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I agree with my uncle.

pmedic920":tbjgnsd0 said:

1) Are the Patriots the best team that we will play this year?

If not, who is/was better?

2) How many points will we need to put on the board, to win SB49?

Click to expand...

1. Yes.

2. 21 points

No. Denver was flirting with historical greatness (by DVOA) in the first two months of the season, and Seattle beat them in week 3. This is back when Manning was still a stud and the Broncos had the #2 defense in the NFL. That early season Denver team is probably the best opponent the Hawks have ever beaten, it was on pace for a 2007 Patriots type season in DVOA before Manning got injured and started playing like a 60 year old.

I'd also argue that Dallas was tougher. If it were possible to play Dallas in the SB I would much rather face the Patriots than Dallas.

The Patriots are going to feel a bit like the Eagles, but just a bit better.

The Patriots are going to throw and throw A LOT. They will have more offensive success than the Eagles had, but they will feel similarly one dimensional. Only the 2013 Colts went one dimensional on Seattle's D and found success, and that offense is drastically different than New England's.

The Patriots Defense reminds me of the Eagles in the sense that it is better than people think, but still slow in the areas that matter most for stopping Seattle's read option. Wilson and Lynch kicked the crap out of a pretty good Eagles defense because of the matchups, and I think New England will have some matchup struggles for the same reasons (a lack of 4.4 and 4.5 speed LBs).

I think Seattle will need 24 points to win. I think they'll get it.

Like Kip says, when we played them, Denver was the best team.

Dallas played the best on the day we played them, though.

And I think 20 points is enough to take this game.

1. No, I feel like the Cowboys are better.
2. 24+

1. No, Rodgers is the more accurate QB with a way better RB and set of WR. NFC CG was always going to be the toughest, whether Dallas or GB.
Bump and run their pedestrian WR on outside and shadowing/dc Gronk will be easier

2. 20 points should do it. A low a +3/FG for being on the road, when we were allowing 17 at home, seems right to me.
I expect at least one pick, and some turnovers from our front 4, as we will PENETRATE the weak Patriots interior of OL!

Key to game is 3WR sets, burning them in slot, against nickel corner (they don't have 3 good cb like Packers) with Baldwin along with some read option.
It will be hard to run Lynch unless in 3 wr set, their run d is good.

pmedic920":2ilwzu9n said:

1) Are the Patriots the best team that we will play this year?

If not, who is/was better?

2) How many points will we need to put on the board, to win SB49?

Click to expand...

1) The only similar team New England faced was Green Bay:

Green Bay has a physical running attack (so do we)
Green Bay had 130 yards rushing against the Pats**.
Can't wait to see what we do.

Green Bay has a mediocre secondary and D line and yet, The Pats** were only able to muster 84 yards rushing and 236 passing.

If we get north of 130 yards rushing we will win the game.

The Pats** have struggled against physical teams (Jets 2x. Playing the Seahawks is a shock to the system.

Pats** total 320 Pack 478.

Jets and Green Bay are the only physical teams they played and they struggled mightily.

We beat Green Bay surrendering 5 turnovers.

2) 24 points should do!!!

Dallas....... and they waxed us at home.