They did it... Again.
The New England Patriots, for the sixth consecutive year, finished with the best record in the AFC East. It's quite an impressive feat in and of itself, but this fifth division championship (they lost a "best record against common opponents" tie-breaker with the Jets in 2002) carries with it the distinction of being the hardest to come by. This year began with a flawed team, and ended with one that was even more depleted thanks to some injuries. Thanks to the multiple hardships overcome and the stiff competition by the surprising Jets, the Patriots' most recent run to the top of the standings should hold a special place in franchise history. Because for the first time in a long time, taking the division was more than a mere formality. This one took heart.
The big knock on the Patriots this year was that they let a lot of key players walk because they didn't want to shell out for a big contract. The departures of Adam Vinatieri, Deion Branch, David Givens, and Willie McGinnest all left gaping holes in this team. And when the Patriots failed to go after any big names to fill them and left a bunch of cap room on the shelf to boot, the critics were quick to do their thing. I was right there along side them.
Now I never thought for a second that the Patriots would fail to make the post-season. But I knew that we had taken a season where a signing here or there would have made it a cakewalk to the Super Bowl, and turned it into an all-out battle for survival. There would be no #55 to make the biggest of big plays when our defense needed it the most. There would be no money kicker to fall back on when games got close. And with nobody who qualified to be a true #1 receiver, Tom Brady would have to take his game to a higher level than ever before just to scrape by.
No, the Patriots certainly didn't make things easy on themselves.And though they made the playoffs with a comfortable cushion, it may still cost them more than the first-round bye and home field advantage they gave up by not making those moves. Junior Seau's out for the season. Rodney Harrison has been banged up all year and will miss at least the first game agains the Jets. Vince Wilfork and Benjamin Watson are both questionable. Laurence Maroney has just come back from several weeks out. While all those injuries certainly aren't a direct result of this team's sluggish off-season, one can't help but wonder if perhaps several of these sidelinings could have been avoided if the the players weren't stretched so thin.
Getting to the Super Bowl in spite of all those setbacks would have been an monumental feat itself, but I forgot to mention the biggest question mark of all: Tom Brady. Although nothing has ever officially been documented, word on the street is that #12 is nursing some wounds himself. For several weeks Brady has been uncharacteristically overthrowing his receivers, a classic sign that a QB's not feeling quite right. And that hit he took against Jacksonville two weeks ago was just devastating. When you add those physical ailments to the emotional toll that this difficult season has taken on him, it begs the question of whether or not Tom Brady has enough left in his tank for four grueling playoff matches.
If this Patriots team is going to capture its fourth Super Bowl title in six years, Tom Brady will have to. Football may be the ultimate team sport, but the fate of this team's season rests most heavily on the shoulders of its quarterback. Though this roster may have been stripped to the bone, the Patriots have always had one constant to rely on - they were being led by the best QB in football. If New England is going to feel the glory of post-season success, Tom Brady will have to once again prove that he is just that.
The Patriots road to the Super Bowl will begin against a surging New York Jets team that has nothing to lose and everything to gain. If they survive that test, it would likely have to be followed by back to back road trips against the swarming defense of Baltimore and the record-shattering offense of San Diego. It's an absolutely punishing slate of games, and the Patriots only hope of survival is Tom Brady returning to that super-human form.
The Patriots franchise is at a crucial turning point. Another Super Bowl title will bring the dynasty surging back to life, where a playoff defeat will downgrade the Pats to "just another good team". Whichever status the Patriots ultimately receive will be a direct result of their quarterback's ability to bring this team to a higher level. Will we see another five turnover implosion from the team or a Belichickian masterpiece capped by another clutch game-winning drive? It's a question that only Tom Brady can answer.
Yes, the fate of the franchise rests on one man. But I can't think of a better set of hands for the Patriots to be in.
Prediction Wrap-Up:
While my pre-season playoff predictions weren't spectacular, I at least held serve with last season by ending up 6/12. Had I not let Bill Simmons talk me into substituting the Steelers for the Ravens and the Rams for the Seahawks, I would have been a very impressive 8/12. Next year I'm going on my own gut alone. My good picks: Patriots, Colts, Chargers, Eagles, Bears, and Cowboys. My bad picks: Broncos, Steelers, Dolphins, Panthers, Rams, and Buccaneers.
And as for the "no more than seven teams can return to the post-season rule"? It's still intact as only the Patriots, Colts, Giants, Seahawks, and Bears are back.
As for my Week 2 predictions, the notions that 0-2 Carolina would make the playoffs and that the Jags would take the Colts to the wire for the AFC South weren't too smart. But my premonitions that the defending champion Steelers and the 2-0 Vikings would be left out of the post-season were dead on. So was my prediction that both the Bills and 49ers would be in the playoff hunt come Week 16. As for my Patriots/Bears Super Bowl, that's yet to be determined. But at least it's still a real possibility.
NFC Playoffs:
Wild-Card Round:
Eagles over Giants, Seahawks over Cowboys
Divisional Round:
Saints over Eagles, Seahawks over Bears
NFC Championship:
Saints over Seahawks
AFC Playoffs:
Wild-Card Round:
Chiefs over Colts, Patriots over Jets
Divisional Round:
Ravens over Patriots, Chargers over Chiefs
AFC Championship:
Ravens over Chargers
Toilet Bowl XLI:
Ravens over Saints
