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I really find it hard to believe that the Pats would beat the Giants without Brady. Could they, yes. That’s the same as saying the Giants could beat the Pats with Brady in the lineup. But is it likely that the Pats could win without Brady? No.

The main reason for this being, no other Pats QB has taken enough meaningful reps over the past two or even three years to be ready to take that stage and shine. If Testaverde or Flutie or a Dilfer or some proven veteran type player were the back up, I may feel different. But to put that much on Gonzalez or Cassell is too much.

[...] patriots, new york giants, nfl, sports, super bowl, tom brady So,  Bill Burt asks whether the New England Patriots could still beat the New York Giants in the Super Bowl without the services of one Tom Brady.  As we know and have been beaten to death [...]

I ask this for two reasons:
1. The 1990 Giants won without Phil Simms, who got hurt just before the playoffs.
2. The 1972 Dolphins won without their star QB Bob Griese.
The point is could these Patriots finagle a way, for one game, to win.
Also, are the Patriots a “great” team if they can’t beat good teams without Tom Brady?

Yes I believe they could. Maroney and Faulk have shown in the playoffs that the Pats can play ball control if they need to. If the D can keep the Giants to field goals, I can see Cassell being able to throw screens effectively and short passes. However, I would feel more confident if Vinny T was still with the team and was able to come in and manage the game!!

Great call on the two examples Bill. I guess the question is “are the Pats backups the quality of a Hostetler”? My big problem is, I don’t know, because we haven’t seen enough of them in real situations to be able to tell?

Overall…your point is well taken. They are a good enough team that they “could”. But is it likely?

I almost believe that a bunch of Pats players would welcome the opportunity.
This is not to say that Brady isn’t the best, maybe all-time, but you get my point.
As for the Super Bowl, you want to go with your best. History doesn’t ask for excuses or injuries. It says who won the game and the loser is usually forgotten.
An interesting top nonetheless.

Eli took the giants to the bowl and he is only a little above average as a QB. We really dont know about Cassell except that he is being taught by the best. The Pats are much better at every other position…so i would have to say that the pats would still win w/out Brady…but lets not try it!

Could they beat the Giants? Of course they could. They wouldn’t be the favorite, but of all the teams with annonymous backup quarterbacks, the Pats are best equipped. With receivers like Moss and Welker and one of the best offensive lines in the league, any NFL backup would feel pretty comfortable stepping in.

The pats would probably win without Brady. They have too many good players to lose to the Giants. But no, if the Patriots didn’t have Brady they would definatly not be a great team. To tell you the truth, I think that the Pats would go 8-8 or 9-7 without Brady.

Max
I’d just like to see how good this team is, in other areas, without Brady. It might be a good test next season, though he appears to be on a Brett Favre run (never missed a start). I know guys like Mike Vrabel would love the challenge.

And unless they had a lousy quarterback, I believe they would be better than 8-8 or 9-7. I think with the offense they have they would be 11-5 at worst with a decent QB and 8-8 with me at QB.

Let’s take a trip in the Wayback Machine, set for 4 weeks ago. The question is: can the Patriots beat the Giants WITH Tom Brady?
The answer is: barely.

Here’s hoping for another exciting game.

Jason
This is not so much a knock on the Giants, though I guess it could be perceived that way from the south of Hartford perspective, but rather a look at the Patriots.
Is it all about Tom Brady? Is this an 8-8 team without Tom Brady?
It is an interesting debate.
My guess if Brady wasn’t playing, Las Vegas would put the game at about even. My guess.

Well maybe Matt Cassel is a lousy quarterback. We haven’t had a lot of time to look at him. If he is in the Patriots orginazation than he probably isn’t that bad but you never know.

From what I’ve seen of Cassel he can play, albiet not at the level of Brady.

We’re kind of assuming Brady may not play in the Superbowl here – I don’t buy that; I think he’ll be there healed up enough that his mechanics won’t hurt him.