2009 vs. another year in the 2000's
 

2009 most reminded me of 2002. A team that showed some promise and got us excited now and then, but also with some major deficiencies that ultimately derailed it. I think what we saw yesterday is what we would have seen if the 2002 team made the playoffs.

Any thoughts on that?

Anyway, all I know if I felt much less bad after the 2002 and 2009 seasons than the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Maybe in 20 years I'll come to appreciate 2007.

Re: 2009 vs another year in the 2000's
 

I've also always found it much easier to deal with clearly being beat by the better team than letting a game (in our case a AFC Championship & Super Bowl) you should of won slip away.

Re: 2009 vs another year in the 2000's
 

I agree 150% on your point that the season's end was easier to accept this year than in 2006 and 2007. In those years the Patriots lost games in such dramatic fashion that they couldn't help but leave you stunned with a sense of "WTF?!?" or "WHAT IF, they were SOOOO close". I mean, the difference between failure and a championship in those seasons was SOOO small that it was extremely frustrating to lose.

This year the season came to a crashing halt, but I don't think many of us were shocked. Perhaps we were stunned by the degree in which we lost, but I think many of us realized that winning the Super Bowl was not a liklihood (even if we did get by the Ravens).

Re: 2009 vs another year in the 2000's
 

After the 2006 championship game, I remember actually questioning if I would watch the Super Bowl or not. I recall being absolutely devastated. I don't have that feeling this year, and I'm already looking forward to watching the upcoming weekend's games.

I harbor now ill-will towards the Ravens even though it is natural to develop a hatred for the team that eliminated your team. I suppose it helps that they are playing the Colts.

Re: 2009 vs another year in the 2000's
 

I had trouble watching the playoffs last year knowing the 11-5 Patriots coming off a perfect December were not going to be able to contend.

Made me sick to my stomach. Then to see the Dolphins performance? :mad:

Re: 2009 vs another year in the 2000's
 

I didn't watch it.

Re: 2009 vs another year in the 2000's
 

I agree with the 2002 comparison. They were both flawed teams that were eventually unable to hide their weaknesses. They also played down the stretch with an injured Brady - reportedly a seperated shoulder in 2002 and now the ribs, finger, shoulder in 2009.

BB went out and overhauled that team after that season because he knew it just wasn't good enough to contend. I'd expect to see the same this off-season.

Re: 2009 vs another year in the 2000's
 

Since the year following 2002 was a Superbowl win, I'm hoping this year was like 2002.

Re: 2009 vs another year in the 2000's
 

Neither did I. It was too soon after the AFFCG debacle and my gut still ached from the feeling of blowing a huge lead.

Looking back, I realize how great the performance by the Colts/Manning was in that game. We were in a similar situation last week as far as "huge early deficit at home in the playoffs," but we decided to lie down. Manning overcame Brady and all his demons to beat us in that game, and we couldn't stop a Rutgers graduate and a guy who has a Tom Brady poster hanging in his bedroom.

This season was more disappointing that any other in the 2000's for me:

Comparing the end of this season to the "non-ring" years of the last decade, the big difference is the optimism moving forward.
In 2002, we were just coming off a amazingly improbable SB victory and I did not know if we would ever get back there again. Plus, Brady's shoulder was about to fall off by the end of the Miami game - a game which capped a terrific ending to a tough season.

The loss to Denver at Mile High was tough because we never had control of that game...but Watson's play left me believing he'd come back the following year as the next Gates/Gonzalez...and we'd win SB#3.

The 18-1 season made me physically ill...but heck, we went 18-1! I really thought we'd destroy people the following year...all the way up until Bernard Pollard happened.
Last season, I was left with the optimism of a team that took a career nobody and went 11-5! The stage was set for this year...THAT is why I am so disappointed.

Re: 2009 vs another year in the 2000's
 

Yes, but the "half-empty" in me would can't help but think we WON the SB in a year PRIOR to 2001. Regardless, I hope you are right.