Congrats and thanks for a great reg season

[Ronin]

Awesome team with great determination and heart............wow! Bill Belichick is the man!

 

[dalero]

Seeing teams like the Bears and Vikes stumbling into the playoffs is just sad when you see what this decimated team has done when it counts.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Thanks for a gritty, magical, and inspiring season Pats, even if it is the end (can't believe I'm saying that! )

Why this negative phrase at the end? Season has still not finished until after the 4.15 games are over.

Have confidence my dear lady, everything will work out the way it is supposed to.

Lord Favre will give us something to cheer about.

 

[PrairiePat]

What a great ride this has been, one of my favorite seasons ever for the Pats, regardless of the late games outcomes.

 

[stcjones]

I am so proud of this team right now....

Absolutely INCREDIBLE season considering everything this team has had to face this year. To go 11-5 with all the injuries and crap this team has had to deal with, is a credit to every single player, and every coach we have. How BB could be left out of the COY award this year is beyond me.....maybe because he won it last year? No one has done MORE with less.....and adjusted better to absolute horrific injuries and problems than BB this year......Greatest coach of all time. Matt Cassel has been a true warrior and a incredible competitor. This kind of fire and guts is hard to find in a player....and he HAS it. Not sure where he will go from here, or how successful he will be as a starter for another franchise, but he has been a pleasure to watch, and has certainly overachieved most of our expectations........BB of course knew how good the kid could be,and that he could manage a game and lead this team to a winning season.

I am so very proud of this team......GO PATS!!!!

Now lets hope that the Jests will play the game of their lives and SQUISH THOSE F'ING FISH!!!!!!!

 

[Bella*chick]

Seeing teams like the Bears and Vikes stumbling into the playoffs is just sad when you see what this decimated team has done when it counts.

And in some crazy conditions.

Can you believe Tampa Bay? I mean, come on, look at our team fighting when they may get eliminated anyway compared to their team just folding and losing a playoff berth. At home.

I know people hate our team, but it is very hard for me to understand when our guys play so hard.

 

[Mike the Brit]

My ten-year-old daughter and I have been following the game by the play-by-play over a crappy internet connection in a French ski resort. When it was clear that the Patriots were going to beat the Bills she went to sleep with a smile on her face. This is the season when she has started to understand the game and it's a true pleasure to share my enthusiasm for the team with her. We both appreciate how much the team has achieved in tough, tough circumstances. Whatever happens later today, that won't be lost.

So, yes: congratulations and thanks.

 

[NYPatsFan]

I am more proud of this Patriots team than I was of the 2007 team, and it has nothing to do with losing the Super Bowl.

Having lost NFL MVP Tom Brady in the first quarter of the first game of the season, this team had every reason to quit, but they didn't.

How many other teams could lose a Hall of Fame QB and still end up with an 11-5 record and a chance to make the playoffs? I can't think of one. It's not like we all knew Matt Cassel would be this good, if only he had the chance to play. We all thought Cassel sucked, especially after his horrible play in preseason. Matt Cassel played great. How many different players did the Pats lose to injury? And yet, they have a chance to make the playoffs.

I am so proud of this team. Way to go guys!!

 

[Angry Man]

Regardless of how the Jets/Dolphins game ends up I am very proud of how the Patriots did this season. This has been a very up and down season but very exciting to see people such as Matt Cassel stand up and tell everyone else that the Patriots are FAR from gone.

I am very proud of this team.

 

[DarrylS]

Was thinking on the way home we have won 27 games in 2 years.. what an incredible run, incredible team.. started off this year lukewarm(SB burnout)... but am now as enthused as ever..

 

[JoeSixPat]

Tremendous season. What these guys accomplished makes me feel almost as good as winning previous Super Bowls. I'm actually pretty zen with the fact that they're not going to the playoffs.

 

[PATSNUTme]

With all the losses to injury we had and finishing 11-5 is just amazing.Great job by the coaches and player.

The Chargers might make it at 8-8 and the Broncos may be 9-7 and make it.

Who ever said life is fair?

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Im a little frustrated, but this team did more than most would expect this team to do.. Im proud but its just a depressing day, the holidays being over, then to have this day turn out this way.. Im a football fan, and now we have a longer offseason then most.. Im glad that both the jets and cowboys will not be in the playoffs, they did not deserve it, and hope both coaches get the ax..

Im thankful to Matt cassel, scott pioli and josh mcdaniels all 3 who may not be back next year..

I will never consider Brett Farve, Tony Romo great QB's they are overated media hogs that dont come up in the big game..

Here is to a good 2008 short but good season.. And here is to a healthy Tom Brady and a prospourous 2009.. 210 days till training camp..

 

[hambone1818]

Well, it's official. I can't say I'm not disappointed right now, but this team had a hell of a run.

Four months ago, on a sad Sunday in a game against Redskins, people had already given up on the season. A backup who hadn't started a game in almost a decade, who hadn't been under center as a starter since his high school days, was charged with taking the Patriots to the playoffs. It was seen by most that there was no way it'd happen...and yet it was this close to coming to fruition.

They lost defensive stalwarts, they lost their top three running backs--at the same time--and yet the team continued to battle. Some impressive wins were sprinkled around some horrifying losses, and yet they continued to battle. And over the last month, when they knew they couldn't slip up once, they played their best football of the season, to the point where people started to whisper that they'd hate to see this team in the playoffs. Despite losing the best player in the NFL their offense was among the league leaders, and despite injuries to most of their best and most important peices on defense they finished in the top 10 on that side of the ball as well.

It goes without saying that there are two individuals who made this season one of the most exciting I can remember: Belichick and Cassel. One was tabbed as a coach who succeeded because of one player, the other was tabbed as...well, a terrible backup. Both of those claims have now been debunked, as Belichick had, imo, his most impressive season as a head coach, while Cassel will be the most sought after free agent in the league.

No playoffs? Terribly depressing, and hard to fathom looking at their record. But with the exception of the amazing 2001 team I've never been more impressed with a football team than I am with this squad.

Now wait till 2009...it's on!

 

[NJPatsfan26]

Well, it's official. I can't say I'm not disappointed right now, but this team had a hell of a run.

Four months ago, on a sad Sunday in a game against Redskins, people had already given up on the season. A backup who hadn't started a game in almost a decade, who hadn't been under center as a starter since his high school days, was charged with taking the Patriots to the playoffs. It was seen by most that there was no way it'd happen...and yet it was this close to coming to fruition.

They lost defensive stalwarts, they lost their top three running backs--at the same time--and yet the team continued to battle. Some impressive wins were sprinkled around some horrifying losses, and yet they continued to battle. And over the last month, when they knew they couldn't slip up once, they played their best football of the season, to the point where people started to whisper that they'd hate to see this team in the playoffs. Despite losing the best player in the NFL their offense was among the league leaders, and despite injuries to most of their best and most important peices on defense they finished in the top 10 on that side of the ball as well.

It goes without saying that there are two individuals who made this season one of the most exciting I can remember: Belichick and Cassel. One was tabbed as a coach who succeeded because of one player, the other was tabbed as...well, a terrible backup. Both of those claims have now been debunked, as Belichick had, imo, his most impressive season as a head coach, while Cassel will be the most sought after free agent in the league.

No playoffs? Terribly depressing, and hard to fathom looking at their record. But with the exception of the amazing 2001 team I've never been more impressed with a football team than I am with this squad.

Now wait till 2009...it's on!

Very well said.

This has been one wild ride.

Thank you for all the great memories this season.

2009 cant come soon enough.....

 

[Horace's Ivories]

i'm sorry but not making the playoffs at 11-5 is very, very sad and frustrating. First time since 1985 and only the second time since the early 60's... I would have rather finished 10-6 or 9-7..

 

[LuthierJr]

Crappy ending to a very positive season.

I'll admit I thought we were utterly screwed when Brady went down. The way Cassel played in preseason left me very little room for optimism. Then right before our eyes we all got to find out, despite massive injuries, what a great coach NE has, and what incredible depth they have as well.

Not the ending we all wanted, but plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future in New England.

Now lets go back to hating the Jets......them bastards.

 

[spacecrime]

I believe we all thought the season was over in the first quarter of the first game.

You believe wrong. Some of us have been Cassel believers since day one.

But....point taken. Most fans and talking heads wanted Gutierrez.

CarolinaTony predicted 0-16 if Brady went down and Cassel had to come in. THere were other non-believers.

Now we have to see Cassel's future.

There will be NO franchise and trade, though with Brady's recovery not going well, there could be a franchise and play. Man would I love that!

 

[Angry Man]

Now wait till 2009...it's on!

I cut your post short due to length but you pretty much nailed it dead on about this season. 2009 is going to be a great epic season as well and I for one will be looking VERY forward to it. This off season will be interesting to see what happens with the draft, Brady/Cassel, and free agency pick ups.

 

[spook75]

Thanks for the great games this crazy crazy season. I have hopes for 09-10. season but man will it be a looooong wait. Even though I dont think it will happen I hope that me and my wife get to see a pats game in real life next year