I...didn't think they were out of the conversation for winning the super bowl this year. Even when they had a few clunkers during the season.
I know I keep pounding the table for the Brady/Sex Offender/Ray Lewis/Manning 4 headed Hydra..but it's pretty much Pittsburgh and New England's conference until either
a.) Belichick retires.
b.) Brady retires
c.) Sex Offender Retires
d.) All of the above
You can pretty much follow a flow chart in that regard to determine who was going to be in the Super Bowl from our conference. With the yinzers not in the conversation? Wasn't going to be anybody else but New England.
Which is why I didn't believe Kansas City really had a shot at the damn thing. You are not beating Belichick's cyborg brain and you are not beating the league which has done quite a bit to protect Brady's career (Remember the "Roughing the Passer" call?)
There is no question that Brady does have a diminished talent set...who wouldn't at age 41? However...I can guarantee the combo of the league's stance on protecting QB's and having Belichick mask his faults really does work in his favor. His mental acumen is also very strong thus allowing him to survive past quite a few QB's I think.
And before the guy with the username of one of my favorite vikings player chimes in? I don't know how much longer this guy can play at this age. You'd be foolish to believe that. If he had a few clunkers next year? It's not without merit to say that this could be it. That's not a "NO ONE BELIEVED IN US" message. That's stating the facts.