The 2015 Super Bowl creates a dynasty, no matter the outcome. But which dynasty is greater? The Seattle Seahawks’ has been short, the New England Patriots’ over a decade long. Only one shall rule them all. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL TD Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate the NFL and sports.
TODD:
If the New England Patriots take home the Super Bowl 49 title, we know they are in rarefied air, book-ending a decade-plus of AFC East and playoff domination.
But if Seattle tops them for the championship, which team has had the better run, the short-lived yet fierce Seahawks or the extended dynastic Patriots of the last 10 years?
For Seattle, we can’t count the early 2000s success in this because that was a different team, a seemingly totally different franchise. After the string of four straight NFC West titles came to a close (which included one Super Bowl berth), the Seahawks managed just nine total victories in the next two seasons combined. Things hit bottom fast.
Enter Pete Carroll.
Seattle has now made the playoffs four out of the last five years, including this one. Three of those seasons included division titles and two ended in Super Bowl berths. For the purpose of this comparison, we are making it two Super Bowl victories, with the latter obviously being a successful defense of the title.
That’s one hell of a mini-run in this day and age.
On the other hand, this extended Pats run, AKA the Bill Belichick era, has been unparalleled, prolonged success, albeit without the ultimate prize most seasons.
The three Super Bowl titles came from 2001-2004. By including those in this discussion, the argument becomes moot…
But in the 10 subsequent seasons, again including this one with a hypothetical SB loss, New England has made the playoffs nine times and won its division nine times.
It also made three more championships in that span, though (hypothetically) lost all three.
So, which is the preferable streak to be on? Narrowing down the scope of the question, are back-to-back Super Bowl titles worth more than a decade of success without that ring?
It’s an interesting comparison of what should be valued more. Arguably, making it year after year is the harder feat. After all, as wildcard team success has proven, all you need is a chance. After that, a lot of it is luck.
This is not to say Seattle was purely lucky to win two straight championships, but we can all agree luck played a large part. The effect random chance has on a team is lessened when just considering playoff berths and sustained dominance.
I’m torn on this. The ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl, so it’s hard to argue with that. But NE seems to have done something more special here, even if 10 years passes without the pinnacle being reached.
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DAN:
Back to back Super Bowl titles is infinitely more impressive and challenging than a decade of dominance without a championship. Assuming a Seahawks’ victory, the fact they were able to defend their title, in a stacked NFC and with multiple hall of fame quarterbacks in their way, is out of this world. Defeating Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady would be unprecedented.
Another Super Bowl loss would be a major thorn in the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick legacy. Early championships followed by a decade of AFC dominance, only to consistently loose to NFC opponents in the Super Bowl, leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Having Eli Manning as your kryptonite is one thing, but losing another Super Bowl to the NFC downright sucks.
I place the current Seahawks’ dynasty, with back to back titles, ahead of a decade of success by the Patriots. Other teams, like the Aaron Rodgers led Packers and Peyton Manning led Colts, found similar success over that span.
Now for the flip side, which you so smoothly glossed over. A New England Patriots’ victory crowns Tom Brady and Bill Belichick as the greatest of all-time. Two straight Super Bowl titles at the beginning and at least one title at the end, with complete dominance and two Super Bowl losses in the middle. That is a super dynasty. That is unprecedented. It is an all out blitz of the NFL, never to be seen again.
To win this Super Bowl the Patriots defeated the current NFC dynasty. To win this Super Bowl the Seahawks defeated the current AFC dynasty. Both statements are true, depending on the outcome of the 2015 Super Bowl.
Two dynasties enter. Only one leaves untarnished.