The year is over! Twilight of the dynasty! End of an era! These were the first sentences I considered writing Sunday night. All of them felt appropriate. But they also felt reactionary. Do I really want to write off the most successful dynasty in football history over losing a road game to a playoff team? This remains a 9-5 team that is bound for a division win. By predicting the Patriots demise this season am I being a prisoner of the moment? I think the answer is both yes and no.
Yes, it is foolish to write off a team as successful as the Patriots.