Definitely sad we're not moving on, but strangely, not devastated!

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

The Pats, what can you say?

They just weren't the better team in the second half in the AFC Championship.

There have been times in our recent history where a 21-6 lead @ halftime was reason to fold the tents and call it a victory, but not with this game.

But, as I sit here reliving the whole thing, how mad can I really be, when as a Pats fan, I am blessed with a team that gives me what this team gives me every season - a chance to be in it and have a real chance to win it!

Losing a classic AFC Championship by 4 points on the last drive of the game is not exactly suffering.

We could be Bills or Dolphins fans, fahchrissakes! Now THAT'S suffering!

Up 21-6 at the half, I thought the Pats were bending the Colts over for an old-fashioned arse-whooping, but the Pats defense just couldn't hold 'em down in the second half - 32 points in two quarters! Wow!

I could recount all the bad plays or the injuries or the calls, but the bottom line is this: we got outplayed when it mattered most.

So what?

We cannot win them all and we've sent lots of teams' fans home feeling like some of us might feel now!

All that said, on their final offensive possession, all the Pats needed were two first downs and they win the game 34-31. But, they couldn't muster them up.

Then, all they needed was the defense to stop the Colts on one drive, starting at the Colts 20 yard line. But, the defense could not hold serve and the Colts marched right down the field for the game winning TD. 80 yards, 7 points. 1:00 left. Ballgame.

(BTW, I must be getting soft in my old age, but I was actually kind of happy for Peyton Manning! He had his head down on the Pats last offensive drive like he was EXPECTING us to score and the roof to cave in! LOL! We've scarred that boy for life! He's like a dog that got beaten as a puppy. Everytime somebody yells "Brady!" he cowers in the corner!)

As far our boys, I look back on a very enjoyable season, but think about some holes we have to fill in the offseason (linebacker, secondary, wide receiver).

For now, though, let's just sit back and raise our glasses to all the fun, surprise, effort, swagger, pride, heartbreak, injury and mess that was the 2006 Patriots.

Rest in peace, lads! In the end, you just didn't have enough, but you gave us all you had!

A sincere thank you!

Pitchers and catchers report in 3 weeks! Go Sox!

ADPF

 

[SoonerPatriot]

Couldn't care less about baseball right now, but Ill be fired up by late March for the start of the MLB season.

I'm with you. We had a helluva run and just ran out of gas. We'll be back and watching the team assemble the pieces to make that happen is interesting, and very much a part of the ride.

I'm even finding a newfound respect for Manning, which is weird.

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

Couldn't care less about baseball right now, but Ill be fired up by late March for the start of the MLB season.

I'm with you. We had a helluva run and just ran out of gas. We'll be back and watching the team assemble the pieces to make that happen is interesting, and very much a part of the ride.

I'm even finding a newfound respect for Manning, which is weird.

Yeah, I'm not really revved up about baseball yet either...

Back in the day, when the Pats used to lose a lot, me & my brother would be talking to each other in oh, say, November, and the Pats would already be out of it, and we'd say to each other, "Pitchers and catchers report in 14 weeks!", kind of as a joke.

Now, it's usually only a few weeks! Times have gotten better in Patriot Nation!

ADPF

 

[waspie (UK)]

I know where you're coming from. We went further than most of us expected to this year, and we were outplayed by a better team in the second half. Maybe a more experienced wide receiver would have hung onto those catches, maybe a stronger secondary wouldn't have given up big yardage. Maybe the decision to let so much experience walk eventually caught up with us. But few of us could have seen that team getting this close to the Super Bowl.
I'm almost left wishing we hadn't beaten San Diego. It wouldn't have hurt as much as this does; to realise just how close we came to stopping Manning and Vinatieri and going all the way again. It's going to be tough rooting for the Bears next month.

 

[g-fresh]

Im in the same boat. When I look at the season as a whole I'm quite pleased as they really overachieved quite a bit all things considered. Looking at the past game though, it's heartbreaking because there were so many chances to win the game going down the stretch but everything went against them in the fourth quarter.

I honestly believe that the flu cost them this game, they have played hurry up teams this season and they never looked anywhere close to as gassed as they did this game. When you've got Eric Alexander and Rashad Baker in for a significant number of plays because others are cramping badly and completely out of energy you're not going to hold any teams, especially not the colts.

It's too bad, but top 4 in the NFL is pretty good. We've got a lot of cap space next year, a boatload of draft picks, and the best management in football, I can't wait for next season.

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

It's too bad, but top 4 in the NFL is pretty good.

No doubt.

I know we've gotten spoiled in Patriot Nation and the bar has been raised and for the most part, that's a good thing, but still - 4 points from winning the AFC is good stuff!

We've got a lot of cap space next year, a boatload of draft picks, and the best management in football, I can't wait for next season.

Another great point. I wouldn't be surprised if Pioli & Belichick meet today to discuss offseason plans and holes to fill.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

No doubt.

I know we've gotten spoiled in Patriot Nation and the bar has been raised and for the most part, that's a good thing, but still - 4 points from winning the AFC is good stuff!



Another great point. I wouldn't be surprised if Pioli & Belichick meet today to discuss offseason plans and holes to fill.

Absolutely. That is, of course, if BB takes time away from his AFC Pro Bowl coaching responsibilities. How best to use LT and all that...

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

Absolutely. That is, of course, if BB takes time away from his AFC Pro Bowl coaching responsibilities. How best to use LT and all that...

Wouldn't it be funny if BB and his staff basically benched all the San Diego players?

I know it won't happen, but I would love it if it did!