Recent history suggests that Super Bowl losers implode the next season and usually miss the Playoffs. Could this possibly hold true for the Patriots or are they good enough to escape this curse? Nobody has made a thread about this yet so I will offer it up.

__________________
Sports Outlaw Fantasy Football League Champion 2007 - Maelstrom

Even though they lost the SB, I will expect they will have a "bullseye" on their back after such a dominating season. Teams will be amped up to play against the Pats and I expect to see teams playing over their head when facing them.
Personel changes will be a factor with the possable loss' of Randy Moss or Daunte Stallworth, the possable retirement of Teddy Bruschi, Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison. It will be interesting to see who the Patriots can bring in to replace any of these guys should they be gone.
Patriots will be fatigued mentally as well with all the Spygate/videotape scandle still going strong.

It will be hard for them to miss the playoffs in such a weak division but likely will have 4 or 5 losses when they get there. (Not all close games will go in their favor 2 years in a row)

I have to agree with GlennsPatroits assessment that the Pats will avoid the curse. As he mentioned there might be a lot happening in offseason but the Pats have a lot going for them. They always make key Free Agent grabs players that are a good fit and avoid overpaying for top players. They also have some great picks in the draft this year.

Another point that GP mentioned is the relative lack of strength of the AFC East. There is not much of a challenge being offered up right now by the division. So the Pats should make the Playoffs and a season with more bumps in it may make them mentally tougher.

I think they will be okay. They will have a coaching staff in place, as opposed to replacing OC or DC as before. Most players will be back. I think as pointed out by Glenn, that since they went undefeated in reg season..they will be a target regardless of losing the superbowl, so the edge will still be there.

Only time will tell though

__________________
Expert on nothing, opinionated on everything...

a curse is a curse. theyre screwed. the pats dynasty as we know it is over.

__________________
Hired Guns: Wheaton Thunder
SO CFFL: Royale with Cheese
CFA: Wheaton Thunder

I don't know... I mean, the Bills managed to lose four Super Bowls in a row. Thing is, losing out two years in a row on Super Bowls they were supposed to have locked up is probably going to get to them.

Boston is always good for 80+ years for every curse.

I think much will depend not so much on what happens regarding the roster, but what happens during the offseason with spygate. Spygate could be over and done with rather quickly, or it could get really ugly and really put a mental drain on Belichick.

I will say this now. Regardless what happens with the Patriots, they will not be the best team in the AFC next season. The Colts look to have the best team in the league going into 2008, with or without Marvin Harrison being able to play at a pro bowl level.

Other factors.

Miami Dolphins - Yeah, the team stinks, but Parcells will be working to make this team competitive next season. Don't be surprised if the Dolphins take one from the Patriots.

Jets - I don't think the Patriots can sweep the Jets again in 2008. This team will be significantly better.

Buffalo - The team is finally coming to grips with the fact that Losman and Lee Evans won't be the guys that lead this team into the future. This team will be better in 2008, and could very possibly take one from the Patriots.

So, the AFC East doesn't look as bad to me as most seem to think it will be, and I see 2 losses coming in the division, and very possibly 3-4.

Pittsburgh will be a very tough home game, and if St. Louis can manage to be healthy, that could be yet another very tough game.

Two more losses on the road coming against the Chargers and the Colts and possibly another tough one against Seattle

I will put the Patriots down for 10-6, maybe 9-7. Could be worse if spygate takes much of a toll.

12-4 Division Champs

__________________
2008 Black Knights Football

Ligaments: Wrecking your fantasy team since 2008

I don't think there's any question whether or not they're going to be division champs, but they're looking at a very old defense, which proved it really wasn't all that special, seeing its average age get older by way of young players leaving and old players advancing a year.

Honestly wouldn't surprise me in the least, since that's the norm in recent history. This past year was a fluke.

That defense doesnt have to be special. We're not talking about a team that has to hold someone under 10 points to have a chance to win a game (Ravens).

They hold a team in the 17-20 point range and the Patriots will win 9 out of 10 times. They won 13 out of 14 this year. One could say 14 out of 15 given the fact Miami scored 21 points in garbage time after falling behind 42-7 at the half.

They should have beaten New York. They held them to 17 points. A herculean effort and severe underachieving on the hands of Brady and Co cost them eternity. Shame on Bellicheck for failing to take advantage of Aaron Ross like countless other teams did this season against New York.

That offense and defense can easily go 12-4 in that division.

My question to you Patriot fans is will your team show up hungry this year after what happened to them in the Super Bowl?

I have to agree with Double D on this point. Just about everything that could have went wrong in 07 did go wrong.

this is the main point here for me. they are gonna be a year older and more hurtin and with a bullseye on their back i just don't see them being the team they were this year. too many question marks for the off season too be answered to make a descion right now

Out of division Home Games

Broncos
Cardinals
Chiefs
Rams
Steelers

Out of division Road Games

Chargers
Colts
49ers
Raiders
Seahawks

chargers and the colts are the only two realistically i see can beat them from that list. the steelers have a long shot in doing it.