Very Proud of the Pats

[Ring 6]

I am very proud of the Patriots.
I know there will be a bunch of negativity posted on this board. Palycalling, coaching, knocking players, etc, etc.
But to win 3 SBs in 4 years, 5 divisions in 6 years, and get to a 4th AFCC is a tremenduos accomplishment.
I am grateful for everything this team has given me as a fan over the last 6 years, and think it is moronic to tarnish it with negativity over ONLY getting 3 and half minutes away from yet another SB.
This team plays like a Champion. Tonight the team on the other side also played like a Champion and we came up short.
I don't think you could be a fan of any team, in any era and have gotten more pride out of being one than this team over the last 6 years.
Tonight the better team won. They werent better by much, and we will be back to challenge them next year.
I have absolutely no doubt there are more Championships in this run.
3 times we were the best team in the NFL. This time we happened to be the 2nd best.

You can't win everyone and when you have absolutely nothing to do with the success that you take pride in as a fan I can think of nothing that is more distasteful that ripping the team, organization, players, coaches, or anything else to do with the team that came up one play short of going to get #4. I hope that doesnt happen on this board.

Congratulations Colts. And I must say if we had to lose to the Colts, it feels a little better after they finally realized that running the football and playing the run rather than ignoring it to rush the QB is what wins.

On to next year, and the priority must be to get homefield advantage in the playoffs on the way to ring #4.

 

[brdmaverick]

I am proud of the Pats as well.

They made it further they I had actually predicted them going.

I really thought they had it though, and I am still stunned at the turn of events that have transpired.

It's like reliving Aaron Boone all over again, except this is worse, because this time it happened to the Pats.

 

[SoCal Bong]

I'm starting to realize how spoiled we've become.

This was a good season. Only one team wins the whole kaboodle.

 

[Ring 6]

I expected us to win too, right up until the end.
The key to the end of the game, IMO, was the clock. At the end, the Colts had 2:20 or so dwon by 3. Needing 80 yards and a TD in 59 seconds is a different world.
I think the biggest killers to us were not getting the TD on our last scoring drive, then not converting on the drive that started with a penalty. Had we gottne one first down, we would have eaten clock, and the Colts best case was long field, and very little time. We probably could have run it down to about a minute, and they would have had no time outs, just with 1 more first down. I do agree by the way with throwing in that situation to get the first first down, because 3 runs wouldnt have impacted the clock enough.
In the end, we had the chances, and they made more plays.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

This will go down as a special year, I don't care if we got there or not. We won 14 games, knocked New York and SD out and took the Colts to the wire. It was a great journey and I can't wait to see how this roster shakes out over the next six months.

 

[fitch]

I am proud of this team too. It is clear they are transition and took a very difficult road to try to get back to the Super Bowl.


With two number 1 picks, some improvement in the WR position, and some younger LBs this team can and will get better.

The real goal for the regular season should be to get a bye next year.......that makes all the difference in the world. Granted the Colts didn't have one but it was clear the San Diego game took it's toll on us.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

This will go down as a special year, I don't care if we got there or not. We won 14 games, knocked New York and SD out and took the Colts to the wire. It was a great journey and I can't wait to see how this roster shakes out over the next six months.

Ditto. Win or lose, this is still the best franchise in any sport. Will take the winning again, though, all the way through the super bowl, hopefully next year.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I am proud of the Pats as well.

They made it further they I had actually predicted them going.

I really thought they had it though, and I am still stunned at the turn of events that have transpired.

It's like reliving Aaron Boone all over again, except this is worse, because this time it happened to the Pats.

Please spare us the baseball analogy - getting beat for the 86th time vs. losing out on the prize for the second time in 6 seasons during which you've won half of all the championships awarded - no comparison except in the eyes of a spoiled rotten fan base.

A lot of folks got giddy early, but this team was always on a wing and a prayer and on some level you have to appreciate that. No knock on the new guys who helped as best they could, but they too are what they are - even if they outperform previous expectations from time to time.

I always feel bad, but I feel worse for these players. What they go through to do this is just mind numbing. And the FO doesn't always make it easy. They ask so much of them and they often won't give an inch. Yet these players play for them and us and each other and leave it all out on that field.

Tonight the Colts had more horses to leave on that field than we did, so they won. We'll reload and we do have lots of ammo to do that with. But we may lose some players who will be tough to replace - including Tedy who just ain't gonna talk about it until he thinks it through. Losing a couple of our heart and soul vets would make me a lot sadder than losing this game.

 

[cubedoggy]

I'm starting to realize how spoiled we've become.

This was a good season. Only one team wins the whole kaboodle.

This kind of goes against your "woulda, shoulda, coulda" post in this thread.

 

[brdmaverick]

what is disappointing is to realize all the hard work, time, and good luck it will take just to make it back to the point were we were just at just hours earlier today (in the AFC Championship Game)

 

[cubedoggy]

Losing a couple of our heart and soul vets would make me a lot sadder than losing this game.

Yes, and anticipation of that, which may not come until August, makes it that much more dreadful, in the true sense of the word.

 

[chunkypony]

A lot of folks got giddy early, but this team was always on a wing and a prayer and on some level you have to appreciate that. No knock on the new guys who helped as best they could, but they too are what they are - even if they outperform previous expectations from time to time.

I agree, I totally felt that we were playing on house money at the outset of the chargers game; this team exceeded my expectations in both that game and this game, the only difference was they couldnt hang on tonight the way they did last week.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Yup this team came SO CLOSE that losing it obviously hurts a lot. But if we reload properly and some of the young guys on this team learn from the experience, maybe the Pats will lift that Lombardi again. It just goes to show you can't take anything for granted. Even with a 15 point lead going into the half.

 

[Seneschal2]

A play here or there, and we would have won it. Questioning the playcalling by the OC is ridiculous as usual. And it's currently in progress...

All QBs need a supporting cast -- but Faulk's absence was a killer. He's an MVP for BB, Brady, and the OC. And how he'd be used in a game-ending drive -- we can only imagine. No excuses at all...you play the hand you're dealt.

We'll return strong next season with a core intact. They'll be some new faces for sure...and I look forward to supporting them.

A tough and hard season has been completed. I still feel fortunate to be a Pats fan.

 

[Seymour93]

I am proud of this team too. It is clear they are transition and took a very difficult road to try to get back to the Super Bowl.


With two number 1 picks, some improvement in the WR position, and some younger LBs this team can and will get better.

The real goal for the regular season should be to get a bye next year.......that makes all the difference in the world. Granted the Colts didn't have one but it was clear the San Diego game took it's toll on us.

I think you're spot on here. Flying across the country and beating a great team like SD in that fashion really takes its toll. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to at least secure the #2 spot in the AFC.