This post is not a bragging post. I just would like to put somethings in perspective about the patriots since their SB run began.
If your going to look back to 03 and 04 and then compare that with 05 and 06 and say we got worse you have to look at all the changes that went on over that time. We have had to replaced the OC once and the DC twice. Over this time we have seen the likes of
Milloy, Law, Andrusi, Woody McGuinest, Johnson, Vaniteri, Branch, Givens leave along with many other good players. We've seen Harrision go down in week 4 last season for the season and he's been out most of this season with injury also Bruschi goes down with a stroke that many said he would never return from. Since Belichick's 2nd season as our head coach he has faced an enormous amount of lost games to injuries to the starting teams with the Pats starting 40-41 different players each season.
We watched Crennel and Weis leave and then Mangini after his one year stint as DC. Each time a DC left he took players with him. I would think that after losing all these key players 12-4 is quite an accomplishment and get this just from the short list I provided we have been with out 5 defensive players 3 of which are pro bowl calibur yet the defensive stats this season are the best in patriots history, a team record. Belichick has set up one hell of a system and along with Pioli have done an excellent job on the player personnel front. I would offer the challange to any team out there to lose all that the pats have over these past 4 years plus deal with all the injuries and still be able to win the division and on to the 2nd round of the playoffs. Most would be lucky just to finish at 8-8.