What ifs: Could the Patriots have beaten Seattle?

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Ah, the "What Ifs?" We all love to talk about them after the season ends in failure. "What if my team was healthy?" Etc, etc, etc. Well, today's "What if" question of the day: What if the Patriots were facing Seattle in Metlife Stadium in a couple of weeks instead of Denver? Could they have beaten Seattle?

The answer to that question is no. Maybe they would have had a chance with a healthy roster, but that was one luxury the Patriots did not have this year. The team that played Denver would have no chance against the best defense in the league. Not only because they didn't show up against Denver, but because the team that played Denver didn't have the weapons to break through the Seattle defense enough to put more points on the board than Seattle. Tell me, could any of us see Julian Edelman or Danny Amendola beating Richard Sherman or Earl Thomas? Could the offensive line protect Tom Brady? Could any of our backs get any yardage against the Seattle front line? I don't think so - and that would mean trouble.

While Seattle's offense isn't the most potent, they still have Marshawn Lynch, who would probably run the Pats defense ragged. So would Russell Wilson, for that matter. Plus, with Aqib Talib banged up, Doug Baldwin and Golden Tate would have torn us to shreds, I think. The Seahawks still have enough weapons to beat a banged up Patriots defense while Seattle's D would have shut us down for the most part.

Sorry, Pats fans. I wish it had turned out differently in Denver. I really do. I wish we were playing Seattle and not Denver. Realistically, though, I don't think we would have had much of a chance if we had been in the Super Bowl instead of Denver. Too many injuries to key players to overcome against a really good Seattle football team.