they try to get a downfield target every year

last year they went with Ocho

this year they got Lloyd

I agree they need to find a 'Torrey Smith' but those don't grow on trees

they were 8 point favorites and lost, it was embarrassing, and Brady played poorly.

At least Manning gave himself an opportunity to choke. Brady couldn't even do that.

@SI_PeterKing: Playoff records since 2008: John Harbaugh 8-4, Belichick 3-4.

@ProFootballWkly: RT @SportsCenter: In his first 10 career postseason starts, Tom Brady won 3 Super Bowls (10-0). Since then, he's 7-7 (0-2 in Super Bowls).

Cheating must really help.

If you're consistent enough to get to those points in the season you're always going to be a major threat to win it all.

Funny how people all of a sudden think the Patriots suck just because they don't win the SB every year and have lost their last 2 SB's.

People obviously don't understand how hard it is to win in the NFL on a consistent basis.

Hate all you want. They are a dynasty! They have consistently picked low in the draft and coached the talent to the max. Tell me another team that has done the same without high draft picks! It is starting to catch up with them though. They are aging. They need a pass rusher and another playmaking WR on offense.

While you're in 1986, could you look up 1986 Bob Dole and tell him not to get married to that woman?

Brady could retire tomorrow and still be a top 3 QB of all-time; arguably the best.

I would laugh my balls of if Brady just says "you know what?...I'm going to go out on top. I'm retiring"...just to see the train wreck and the end of the Patriot Way.....er, I mean the Brady way.

How would retiring after that game be considered going out on top?

They haven't won a SB in 8 yrs it's not that hard.

I picked them because I thought (and still think) the Ravens are a mediocre over-the-hill (on D at least) team that I was shocked made it to the game in the first place. I underestimated Rice and Flacco, however.

How is the book?

Their defense is ascending, ever since the move to a 4-3. Needs some work, but the progress is there. Bellichick is still a terrific coach. He'll build a team that can win without Brady. However, the new realities of the league are that unless you have a clear franchise QB (more significantly, an elite QB), you're always going to have an outside chance at a Super Bowl. The answer to how Bellichick will do after Brady will depend on how stubborn he will be about the Parcells/Patriot Way of trying to find late round QB steals.

I actually think Bellichick is one of the only in that stupid Parcells tree who has been open to changing philosophy. So it'll be curious to see how they plan to replace Brady. Maybe it's possible Mallett is better than I would have pegged him to be.

Flacco has been really good in the playoffs the last few years after a shaky first 3 years or so. He would be going to the SB for the 2nd year in a row if not for Lee Evans. Hes just now entering his prime.