Cold medicine had my math off, but point still stands. Pats have an easy as shit division and huge hometown perks. Christ, half the fucking NFL rule changes have been to cater to Brady and when he doesn't get a call he is all over the refs worse than a DB called for PI. Seriously half the new rules in the last decade have come about specifically because of incidents involving Brady (Tuck Rule, all the ridiculous pro offense changes). The main effect that the spygate crackdown had was on their Defense, anyhow, not Brady. Its a lot harder to cover teams you do not typically face in the playoffs when you don't know their playbook, for sure. Simply put, they have not won a playoff game outside their own house since spygate broke, probably because of the extra scrutiny that comes with this sort of scandal. The best part of this is that Bellicheat got out of being punnished by playing dumb... and this is a guy who's entire reputation is built on how shrewd he is. Pats also used to get sweet deals in the FA market because it was a place where vets felt they could go get their SB ring before hanging it up, but not so much in the last half decade.
I would also argue that a decade of weak as hell competition has dulled them somewhat. If anything the Packers and Niners are stronger teams because their divisions have much better competition. The lousey ass Bears posted ten wins would have won that shithole division with ease and maybe even a bye, but it wasn't enough to even get them in the door in the NFC. If all the Pats did was broom their pathetic division and win their home games, they still have a two game cusion on the closest team behind them in the AFC East. Compare that to the NFC where teams were still clawing for spots and seeding right up until the end of the season. I think that the lack of strong competition is a big reason why the Pats cannot seem to beat the Giants (along with matchup/style issues) and struggle to beat real physical teams, in general. This is also why I do not see them beating Denver in the inevitable AFC Conferance Championship showdown, because Denver is a much more physical team and had to fight off a bad start to get to where they are. Playing in Mile High really sucks for the visitor in the later part of the season, as well, as I really doubt the Pats recievers are going to want to go deep every fucking play in that altitude. Brady does have better weapons on offense, though.
All that said, Brady IS an amazing passer and will be in the HOF. Cheating or not, he is easily one of the five best of all time (the order of which is open to a lot of debate), but he is not one of the more exiting QBs to ever play the game and I think their are active QBs in the game right now that are currently better than he is (though not than he was at his prime), like Rodgers, Brees, and maybe Wilson (when he is at home). Thats all debateable, really, and Brees was certainly the benneficiary of some illicit activity.
And for the record, Packers are my home team, but I am realistic. I think the Vikes game is a coinflip, as Peterson tends to get fumblitus outside and in playoff games (thanks for coughing it up four times and ruining Favres last run, asshole) and Woodsen will be back. I think if we make it past the Vikes, it will be steadily easier from that point on, given the current rockiness of San Fran and the well known choking of Atlanta. My biggest fear, beyond the Vikes, is if the Redskins make it to the Championship game, because I honestly feel we would lose to them at home in that situation. Were we to make it to the SB, I think we would lose to Denver, mostly because Manning would pick our secondary apart. If the Packers do not make it to San Fran (and they iron out the jitters) then I see them winning it all, because they match up a lot better against Denver and can control the clock.
