pherein

I agree Badluck, this place really went south after the Jets loss. But all of the old timers tried to fight that off and knew you had a decent shot. I dont think anyone knew you were this good.

But I give kudos to the faithful.. you know who you are
KontradictioN, ausbacker, convertedpatsfan, Patspsycho, DarrylS, eagle eye, Holy Diver, Joker, Patriot_in_NY, PatsSox363804,PatsFanSince74, Patsjew to name a few

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Time to make the DOMENuts!!!!

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TealSox

Where to start with my list of "surprises".....

1. The performance of the rookies: Hernandez, Gronk, Cunningham, Spikes and McCourty.

2. BJGE and the 928 rushing yards.

3. Danny Woodhead. Signed out of nowhere and tallying more than 900 total yards.

4. Randy Moss being traded.

5. Re-acquiring Deion Branch.

5a. Branch surpassing 700 yards and scoring 5 TDs.

6. Winning without Bodden and Ty Warren... and Moss.

7. Not only making the playoffs, but winning the AFC East and gaining HF advantage.

What doesn't surprise me...

is that Belichick has his team prepared to play nearly every Sunday and Brady is competing as if he has something to prove to the world. When you add those two ingredients to any team, your going to win a few games. Fortunately, the pieces came together and bought into the system.

Sadly, the first round pick from the Raiders won't be as high as I expected.

My low expectations of this team during it's rebuilding phase has been grossly surpassed.

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"It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up."Vince Lombardi


Pats fan since 1993

Patsgirl_DK

I´m not surprised to see the team play at this level except Brady is having an even better year then I expected.

Having said that I´m very surprised that the Pats have the #1 seed locked up. Now shoot me if you want but I don´t think this team is as good as the other SB-teams the Pats have fielded over the past decade especially on D (I know they are not in the SB yet but looking at the competition I think the have a very good shot). Before the season started I didn´t think the level that the Pats have been playing at would have been nearly good enough to get the # 1 seed - maybe 10 or 11 wins and maybe a division title depending on how the Jets would perform. I think the level of the whole league have been down this season with everybody beating everybody. It took a long time for a caliberteam to emerge but since the Cleveland game this Pats team seem to have been just that.

Anyway I´m very happy with the team this years. BB, the players and all the other coaches have done a fantastic job but thats kind of what you expect out of a BB lead team. I just didn´t think they would get this far. The resent draft might have been one af the best for the Pats in a long time.

Calciumee

I didn't expect #1 seed! I expected #3 or #4! nevermind a bye and homefield advantage!

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Bostonian1962

No I didn't expect this. I love my team, but when before the season started they lost Ty Warren and Leigh Bodden for the year, I expected a year full of injuries. I realize they've won Super Bowls with heavily injured teams, but this was different.

This was a team where half the team were rookies or second year players. Go ahead, look at the roster.

What happened besides Brady having his best year ever? Patriots' brass got rid of Thomas, and Springs, and Moss, and Burgess, and Maroney. They replaced those types of non-locker room friendly players with no less than FIVE college team captain draft picks, and with Crumpler, and other team players, and great locker room guys. Several other vets said they must become leaders and did (Brady and Wilfolk were the most vocal on this). None of this can be underestimated.

Oh, and my prediction on injuries.......well, lets just say the opposite happened. They lost their share, but many of the injured are back or will be.

The stars are aligned. The team is hungry with youth and great leading veterans. I never saw this coming, but am beyond happy that it did.