ChazStandard Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 7 hours ago, CWood21 said: Let me preface this by saying I'm not trying to discredit Patriots fans, but I think you'd be lying to yourself if you didn't say you didn't benefit from a mediocre division. Since 2001, the Dolphins have had 6 winning seasons in 18 years including 2 playoff trips. Since 2001, the Bills have had 3 winning seasons and gone to the playoffs once. Since 2001, the Jets have had 8 winning seasons including six playoff appearances. Patriots winning % against AFCE: .794 Patriots winning % against NFL: .755 Patriots winning % in postseason: .738 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
childofpudding Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 20 hours ago, CWood21 said: No doubt. The only point of comparison I have is with my Packers. Since 2006 (when the Packers hired Mike McCarthy), the Vikings have had 6 winning seasons and gone to the playoffs 5 times. Since 2006, the Bears have 5 winning seasons and gone to the playoffs 3 times. Since 2006, the Lions have 4 winning seasons and gone to the playoffs 3 times. In the 39 combined seasons, the Lions/Bears/Vikings have gone to the playoffs 11 times which is 28% of the time. Of the 54 combined seasons, the Dolphins/Jets/Bills have gone to the playoffs a combined 9 times, which is 17% of the time. The level of futility in the AFC East has helped. The usual cyclical nature of the NFL hasn't happened in the AFC East. I mean, who was the best QB over those years? Ryan Tannehill is probably the best QB the Dolphins have had, the best Jets' QB has been Chad Pennington, and I honestly couldn't decide for the Bills. Meanwhile, the Bears had Jay Cutler, the Lions have Matthew Stafford, and the Vikings had a slew of solid QBs. Since 2001, the Patriots have a .782 win% vs. the Bills, Dolphins and Jets. The Packers have a .667 win% vs. those teams. Since 2001, the Patriots have a .933 win% vs. the Bears, Lions and Vikings. The Packers have a .657 win% vs. those teams. So really, I think the Patriots have benefited from being a dominant team more than just being in the AFC East. Your point about the playoffs is a good one. However, I'd respond by saying that the Dolphins/Jets/Bills have hovered closer to .500, even in their bad seasons, than the Vikings/Lions/Bears have in theirs. And a major reason why they haven't made the playoffs is precisely because the Patriots are in their division and they have to face them twice a year. Some info around that: Since 2001, the Dolphins/Jets/Bills are 384-480-0, a .444 win%. Back out their games vs. the Patriots, and their record is 360-396-0, a .476 win%. Since 2006, the Bears/Lions/Vikings are 292-330-2, a .470 win%. Back out their games vs. the Packers, and their record is 267-279-0, a .489 win%. So yes, I'd say that the Bears/Lions/Vikings were better in the McCarthy era than the Bills/Jets/Dolphins in the Brady era, but it's pretty darn close. This common narrative about the rest of the AFC East being a dumpster fire (and yeah, I know those aren't your words) is a bit of a fallacy, though I would say they have been middle of the pack or a bit below average in the Brady era, and the Patriots have benefited some from that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asciimo Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 On 1/14/2019 at 10:42 PM, CWood21 said: Let me preface this by saying I'm not trying to discredit Patriots fans, but I think you'd be lying to yourself if you didn't say you didn't benefit from a mediocre division. Since 2001, the Dolphins have had 6 winning seasons in 18 years including 2 playoff trips. Since 2001, the Bills have had 3 winning seasons and gone to the playoffs once. Since 2001, the Jets have had 8 winning seasons including six playoff appearances. okay but lets be honest.. theres only 1 or 2 divisions that the pats wouldn't crush every year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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