The Patriots have a lot to be proud of this season.  Finishing with an 11-5 record while starting a qb who hadn't played since high school and a severely injury-depleted defense is quite a feat.  It was only terrible luck that made us miss the playoffs.

This season reaffirmed a few things about our team and football in general:

1.) Belichick is the greatest coach of all times.  Hands down.  Not up for debate.

2.) Our talent scouts know better than anyone.  I was ready to throw Cassell (sp?  probably, but I'm a mathematician so shut up) under the bus with most of Patriots nation by week 3, but the staff's belief in him proved to be very much founded.  He was one of the top quarterbacks in the league this year.  I might have said THE top qb in the league if not for PM's late season resurgence.

3.) We are well-disciplined (probably a subset of number 1).  We set an NFL record for fewest penalties this season.  The one lowlight of this might have been Dave Thomas' personal foul at the end of the Colts game which I believe probably cost us that game (and susbequently one possible route to a playoff run).

4.)  There is no substitute for good defense.  We need only look as far as our SB teams and this year's Steelers, Giants, Titans and Panthers to see this.  A look at the games we lost would also demonstrate this quite clearly. 

5.) Play to win every game.  Intensity lags kill teams.  I think the Titans' 31-0 loss to the Colts the other day was the wrong way to enter the playoffs.  The Colts know that better than anyone.  It's a fine line between protecting starters and being flat in the playoffs.  Especially after a week one bye.

6.) Damn, football is fun to watch.

On that note, we yield to Boston winter sports and for the first time in my cognizant life, the Bruins are a legitimate cup contender!  Holy moly are they good.  I recommend everyone watch that team.  Hockey might be the greatest sport there is.  So fast, so brutal, so action-packed.  Also, go Celtics.

AND... YANKEES SUCK!