I happen to disagree that the Pats had a better than deserved record (you can only win the games you play), but I like the post, because there was some good luck last year and we would be silly to discount it. I wouldn't call it ridiculously good fortune, at least not on par with being the AFC East at a time when the other three team owners couldn't cope with the fact that Brady put the Patriots at another level and then panicked every few years and scrapped what their coaching staffs had built. Imagine what might have happened in Buffalo if Brady hadn't signed with the Bucs. I could see one more season where they came-up short in the playoffs and blew the whole thing up, rather than growing into the best team in the AFC today. The way they got smacked by that team was shameful, but it was no shame to lose to them, but they won the games they could while rebuilding. If they can get the offensive line working, they will be in a good place to be better this year, even if the schedule is likely to be a bit harder.
The fact is, the competition level is going up in the NFL, as more teams adopt the more professional approach of the modern era and avoid management by knee-jerk reaction. To be sure, there are giant clown shows out there, too, but those are becoming the exception. Neither the chicken littles nor the true homers see this, but I'm sure it's perfectly clear at Patriots Place. Whether the Pats' approach to team building, their coaching and execution, and, yes, their luck are up for growing into a Superbowl contender remains to be seen. I'm happy to cheer them on in the meantime.