I cannot rememebr a time this disheartening or disappointing, since the 2007 season and the following year, when Brady went down with the same undefeated team against the easiest schedule.

To think of the SB loss and then knowing in 08 we would have been right back there, only to see us miss the playoffs, and then lose Bruschi, Harrison, Vrabel, etc.. Knowing an era had ended with so much opportunity on the line.
This team has largely rebuilt itself without losing a step. Worked hard in the draft and to make personell moves, although losing Gronk was key. And to think that Tom would have been only QB ever with 2 back-to-back SB appearances, with many more AFC Championship game appearances I’m sure.

Even if he wins more SBs, its not alsways how many, but taking control of things and winning at the right opporunnities, at the right time which is what they made the most of with the old teams.

Another thing that wasn’t mentioned is Brady’s failure to put a move on Ngata, while scrambling out of the pocket on 3rd and 4. I know it has been a few years since Brady “juked” Urlacher, but Tom has to pick-up that first down with his legs.

I’m not sure why people are being so dismissive of the Patriots now – saying the window is closed and what not. Sometimes I think teams are better off if they just miss out on the playoffs in terms of how the public views them.

The window isn’t closed on the Patriots, my god they went to the Super Bowl last year and made the AFC Championship game this year what about that says that the Patriots window has closed?

Until Brady’s play starts to drop of significantly or the AFC East produces a better than 7-9 team the Patriots will contend. I’m not sure if they’ll win another Super Bowl before Brady and Belichick go but if they don’t they’ll most likely be right there in the end.

Every single year the Patriots lose in the playoffs we hear this but the AFC as a whole is down and you might as well just give the AFC East to the Patriots right now. Outside of Brady, Wilfork, and Welker the Patriots’ best players are all really young as long as they can avoid the Ravens they could be playing at Metlife Stadium next year you never know.

You might need to remind me who won it though.

As a Patriots fan I think I know what happened.

The Ravens had a better defensive game plan, a smart idea to be physical with receivers all over the field, since “boys will be boys” contact is allowed in the playoffs. On the other side of the ball, guys like Bolden and Pitta fought through that contact with no problem. With no Talib, it was just a matter of throwing it up there and the stronger, more aggressive guy would get it.