No playoffs in 2008

You can point to many reasons why the New England Patriots became the second team since the NFL adopted a 16 game schedule in 1978 to miss the playoffs with an 11-5 record, joining the 1985 Denver Broncos.

I can think of three reasons. #1 would be injuries. Not olny reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady's season ending knee injury in the first quarter of the first game of the season, but all of the season ending injuries that would be suffered by many of the Patriots front line players. #2 and #3 would be three point losses at Indianapolis and vs. the New York Jets in overtime. Win either of those games and the Pats would be division champs and in the playoffs again.

However, as I'm sure Coach Bill Belichick will say, "We don't make excuses, it's football" and "It is what it is."

Honestly though, if you had told me during training camp that the star QB would go down with an injury (in the first quarter of the first game no less) and a backup who hadn't played meaningful football in seven years would come in and lead the team to an 11-5 record and a shot at the division title, I wouldn't have believed you.

When Tom Brady got hurt, I was thinking more realistically at a record of somewhere between 7-9 and 9-7 to consider this a successful season. Small consolation for a team that in recent years, has had it's playoff ticket punched well before week seventeen.

Now Patriots fans can look forward to 2009, when the schedule will include home and away games vs Buffalo Bills, NY Jets and Miami Dolphins. Home games vs. Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. Away games vs. Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which will be played at Wembley Stadium in London, England on October 25^th.

I'll have my Wild Card Weekend playoff predictions for you on Friday, January 2^nd.