The "Perfect Season" hangover or the "Super Bowl loss" hangover?
Personally, if we have any shot at a Lombardi in 2008, it's going to be with the "SB loss" hangover. I don't think the team will be as talented as 2007, the D is going to take its lumps early on in the year, but I think the 2008 edition is going to be more of the classic Patriot "building a team" version rather than the 2007 "already-built team gradually wearing down" version (like in 2002).
If we had gone 19-0, I could guarantee our shot at the Lombardi in 2008 would be slim-to-none. Playing in the shadow of THAT team would have been pretty hard. But the 2008 team has hope to outdo the 2007 squad without breaking a single record or going undefeated. No matter how many losses they have, they can get to the Super Bowl and WIN, and I think that takes a lot of pressure off the team as far as winning EVERY game goes.
If I've learned any lesson over the past 3 seasons, it's that momentum, teamwork and naysayers go along way to forging a champion. The Steelers, Colts and Giants won their titles reversing years of dubious playoff exits, and hopefully the Pats have been "down" enough where people can actually doubt them (like in 2001, 2003, 2004) and they can forge ahead as a team and become NFL Champions.
Personally, if we have any shot at a Lombardi in 2008, it's going to be with the "SB loss" hangover. I don't think the team will be as talented as 2007, the D is going to take its lumps early on in the year, but I think the 2008 edition is going to be more of the classic Patriot "building a team" version rather than the 2007 "already-built team gradually wearing down" version (like in 2002).
If we had gone 19-0, I could guarantee our shot at the Lombardi in 2008 would be slim-to-none. Playing in the shadow of THAT team would have been pretty hard. But the 2008 team has hope to outdo the 2007 squad without breaking a single record or going undefeated. No matter how many losses they have, they can get to the Super Bowl and WIN, and I think that takes a lot of pressure off the team as far as winning EVERY game goes.
If I've learned any lesson over the past 3 seasons, it's that momentum, teamwork and naysayers go along way to forging a champion. The Steelers, Colts and Giants won their titles reversing years of dubious playoff exits, and hopefully the Pats have been "down" enough where people can actually doubt them (like in 2001, 2003, 2004) and they can forge ahead as a team and become NFL Champions.