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Colin Cowherd is usually a talk show host I like. I most certainly do NOT always agree with, but I respect that he provides a reason for his insight. And he often makes solid points that I can see his point of view.
Last week, he made a comparison between the Steelers and the Patriots and why the Patriots have been more successful – BY COMPARING DIVISIONS.
The fact is luck and the bouncing of the ball goes a long way into winning a championship – and the 2005 Steelers team did get the benefit of the close calls (which were correct but could have easily been ruled the other way) to beat Seattle. On the same token, the Patriots were outright beaten by Pittsburgh last year and have never faced the Steelers at full strength – never facing Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell (this year Conner) healthy.
And while the Patriots have seemingly caught the Steelers on that single week where they are under-manned; we won’t dispute the Patriots have been more successful – even if they cheated to do it through the 2000s decade and have avoided the Steelers big guns the last 4 years.
However, Cowherd went off the reservation when comparing Divisions.
He compared the NY Jets to the Baltimore Ravens because Mark Sanchez was able to go into Foxboro and win a playoff game; while the Ravens were forged in fire by playing the Steelers 2007-2010 and managed only two slim wins with Ben Roethlisberger injured; by 2011 the Iron sharped Iron and the team that seemed to give the Patriots the most trouble over the years beat the Patriots twice in Foxboro and the other two losses came from a combined 7 points including a bizarre missed FG. Least we mention since Brady and Belichick have been together those Ravens have won 2 Super Bowls and 10 playoff wins…more than the rest of the AFC East combined.
Cowherd is on some serious drugs if he thinks the Patriots would have won the AFC East hands down if they had to play Baltimore every year.
He compared Miami to Cincinnati and gave Miami the edge, because they won “a playoff game”. Never mind the Bengals made it to the post-season 5 consecutive years. It might have been prudent to mention that playoff win was back in 2000 (also they have been outscored 121-51 in said games). Otherwise, the Dolphins have been knocked out by Baltimore twice and Pittsburgh once. And the Jets, also knocked out by Pittsburgh twice.
The best QB the Patriots have had to face has been Chad Pennington and his shoulder fell apart back in 2003. The Steelers have dealt with Carson Palmer who was a rising star until Cincinnati burned him out, Joe Flacco and even Derek Anderson’s career year. Buffalo and Cleveland have been doormats – at least Cleveland made a game of it vs. Pittsburgh and didn’t wet the bed with an anemic 10-3 loss (how did Buffalo make the playoffs last year anyway?)
That pathetic division has made New England’s run to the Super Bowl the last few years a joke considering how easy it’s been. The joke that the Titans were and the over-rated Jaguars last year; against a 4th string QB in Houston then against the under-manned Steelers in 2016. That team has had a magic carpet ride of the weakest division over 20 years in NFL history leading to the luckiest breaks in playoff match-ups.
The numbers speak for themselves Colin, don’t try to compare that pathetic division to the most competitive division in the NFL over 2 decades.
Last week, he made a comparison between the Steelers and the Patriots and why the Patriots have been more successful – BY COMPARING DIVISIONS.
The fact is luck and the bouncing of the ball goes a long way into winning a championship – and the 2005 Steelers team did get the benefit of the close calls (which were correct but could have easily been ruled the other way) to beat Seattle. On the same token, the Patriots were outright beaten by Pittsburgh last year and have never faced the Steelers at full strength – never facing Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell (this year Conner) healthy.
And while the Patriots have seemingly caught the Steelers on that single week where they are under-manned; we won’t dispute the Patriots have been more successful – even if they cheated to do it through the 2000s decade and have avoided the Steelers big guns the last 4 years.
However, Cowherd went off the reservation when comparing Divisions.
He compared the NY Jets to the Baltimore Ravens because Mark Sanchez was able to go into Foxboro and win a playoff game; while the Ravens were forged in fire by playing the Steelers 2007-2010 and managed only two slim wins with Ben Roethlisberger injured; by 2011 the Iron sharped Iron and the team that seemed to give the Patriots the most trouble over the years beat the Patriots twice in Foxboro and the other two losses came from a combined 7 points including a bizarre missed FG. Least we mention since Brady and Belichick have been together those Ravens have won 2 Super Bowls and 10 playoff wins…more than the rest of the AFC East combined.
Cowherd is on some serious drugs if he thinks the Patriots would have won the AFC East hands down if they had to play Baltimore every year.
He compared Miami to Cincinnati and gave Miami the edge, because they won “a playoff game”. Never mind the Bengals made it to the post-season 5 consecutive years. It might have been prudent to mention that playoff win was back in 2000 (also they have been outscored 121-51 in said games). Otherwise, the Dolphins have been knocked out by Baltimore twice and Pittsburgh once. And the Jets, also knocked out by Pittsburgh twice.
The best QB the Patriots have had to face has been Chad Pennington and his shoulder fell apart back in 2003. The Steelers have dealt with Carson Palmer who was a rising star until Cincinnati burned him out, Joe Flacco and even Derek Anderson’s career year. Buffalo and Cleveland have been doormats – at least Cleveland made a game of it vs. Pittsburgh and didn’t wet the bed with an anemic 10-3 loss (how did Buffalo make the playoffs last year anyway?)
That pathetic division has made New England’s run to the Super Bowl the last few years a joke considering how easy it’s been. The joke that the Titans were and the over-rated Jaguars last year; against a 4th string QB in Houston then against the under-manned Steelers in 2016. That team has had a magic carpet ride of the weakest division over 20 years in NFL history leading to the luckiest breaks in playoff match-ups.
The numbers speak for themselves Colin, don’t try to compare that pathetic division to the most competitive division in the NFL over 2 decades.
