Originally posted by DrAstroZoom
First, there is no quantifiable way you can say we have "Top 5 talent." According to whom?
Second, this year in the AFC was an aberration. If you go 10-6 in the league, you have something like a 90% chance of making the playoffs. We were very nearly 12-4, but we barely came out on the short end of two close contests against the eventual Super Bowl champ -- a team which strung off 15 victories in a row.
Did the team not meet expectations? Sure. Did it underachieve? Very hard to say, but I would argue "no."