coolguy

Rivers playing in the afc championship on a broken leg was impressive.

furley

Honestly, before the season, I did what most would do and picked out the presumed losses on the schedule. But, once I looked closer at the schedule, I began the believe that New England could finish the regular season 12-4. That prediction was put to the test once Moss was traded. But, I'm surprised by the team's play on the road. It was here where I saw the losses.

I'll say, the win that surprised me the most was versus San Diego, and the loss that surprised me the most was versus Cleveland. Clearly, the Cleveland game has become the formula to which teams are trying to defeat New England. Run the ball. The idea is to keep Brady off the field. Green Bay and Buffalo also employed this tactic to a resounding effect.

I'm not surprised that they've earn a playoff bye. But, I didn't foresee them being the top seed. Given my concerns about the defense, having home field advantage throughout the playoffs makes me feel a lot better. That is, Belichick has more time to game plan for potential opponents. And playing at home can be good for young players (helps to build confidence and build momentum) with little to no playoff experience. Players such as McCourty, Spikes, Cunningham and Chung in particular.

convertedpatsfan

I'm a bit surprised. I thought we'd have one of the best teams come play-off time, but I thought we'd struggle way more in the first half more as the young guys learned on the job. To be 6-2 at the halfway point was amazing, and I certainly wasn't expecting to run off 7 wins after that either. Just a really great season so far.

Oceanviewer1

Are you kidding? I had this team at 9-7 when the season started. Mankins holding out, backfield by commitee, shaky D-line, porous secondary,BB taking over the all the coaching jobs, new punter, rookie tight eands? I thought they would be luck to be 9-7. As the season has gone on, I am absolutely amazed at what BB has done to re-tool this team with FA's, rookies and veterans with character (Alge Crumpler). I defy anyone to compare the job he has done to revbuild the team while while continuing to field a top tier team. Can you think of anyone who has been able to do that in the modern era? I can't.

Brady_to_Moss

I must say..Brady has really put his team on his back and i love it

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BrainTrust66

I've been a Pats fan for 35 years and I can say that I was only more surprised in 2001 and in 1985. Given the schedule, the uncertainty of the young defense, and the early injuries (Warren, Bodden) I had predicted 9-7 with 10-6 at the outside if things went well.

Anyone who says that they weren't suprised is either a ridiculous fanboy/fangirl or wasn't really paying to how many holes this team had at the end of last year.

As Clark said in Christmas Vacation, "If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now"

That being said, I'm loving every second of it!

Uncle Rico

I think you're arguing semantics and have a half-valid point. I agree, the change isn't necessarily in Brady's approach, it's in who he has. But I'd disagree he's not "spreading the ball." With five guys he can trust, he's spreading it very nicely.

Anyway - -fun thread. My most optimistic assessment of the team pre-season was to say they might be like the 1995 team, with the mix of veterans and first-through-third-year players. I thought they might gel late like that team did, get in the playoffs hot at the right time and see what happens. But really, the way they've done it is well beyond that team. And if they do get to Dallas, they won't be nearly as wide-eyed as that team.

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"If they sought to intimidate us, to terrorize us, to shake us from ... the values that make us who we are, as Americans -- well, it should be pretty clear by now that they picked the wrong city to do it. Not here in Boston. Not here in Boston."
—President Barack Obama, April 18, 2013



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PatsWickedPissah

Surprised. Had them at 11-5 after attending training camp. I was optimistic that the D would mature later in the season and that we would go on a run after some early mid-season losses against the best teams. Although Brady was over the top intense in training camp I failed to connect the dots on his incredible season. My bad.

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Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck." RAH

denverpatsfan

Surprised??!! I am disgusted. BB is killing our draft. This is supposed to be an 7-9 rebuilding year. The team will not get a top 10 pick.

Terrible job.

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NewFeep

I'm shocked, pleased and proud, but shocked more than anything.....