In
the wake of the biggest upset of in Super Bowl history, the New England
Patriots were not content to sit back and wonder "what might've been?" Despite losing their MVP, Tom Brady, the Patriots proved more
hungry and determined than ever before. The high-flying, record-breaking
performance of the previous year certainly would not be matched, but the team displayed a true grit and and refused to make excuses and take the easy way out. In the end they surprised all the nay-sayers and finished 11-5. The backup quarterback who hadn't started since high school had turned into a legitimate leader. The team that had once lit the scoreboard on fire had returned to old form and was griding games out with defense and pure toughness. The Patriots once again looked like Super Bowl contenders. Unfortunately the rules and math were not on their side as they ended 2008 as the best team in NFL histroy to never make the playoffs.
