Curse Of The Super Bowl Loser Could Do Unthinkable: Claim the Patriots

There has been a neat little stat (or something) that has been bandied around over the past few weeks: Only one team this millenium has lost a Super Bowl and gone back to the playoffs the next season.

That team was the 2006 Seattle Seahawks. The 2000 Giants, 2001 Rams, 2002 Raiders, 2003 Panthers, 2004 Eagles and 2006 Bears all failed to make the postseason the year after they lost the biggest game of the year. You can also add the 1998 Falcons and 1997 Packers ... then 8 of the last 10 Super Bowl losers couldn't get back into the playoffs.

We always threw that fact out there because it just threw a little doubt in the Patriots' dominance. I mean, the 2007 New England Patriots aren't just any Super Bowl loser. This team went 16-0 during the season and won both its AFC playoff games before losing to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

Pretty much the same team is back with a big ol' chip on their shoulder. The other contenders in the AFC (Colts, Steelers, Chargers) had some sort of issue heading into the season and they had a relatively easy schedule.

That was all before Tom Brady injured his left knee against the Chiefs and knocked him out for the year.

Could the Patriots actually miss the playoffs? Well ...

You have to look at the AFC East. The Dolphins are rebuilding, so they aren't a threat. Buffalo could be (they sure looked good today against Seattle). The New York Jets could be, in some eyes, the favorite to win the East. That's good an all ... but they struggled against Miami today.

Still, it is fathomable that the Pats could not win the division. That brings us to the Wildcard spots.

There are lots of good teams in the AFC and New England may need 10 wins to get one of those berths. They have one already (with the win over KC) and ... as I said ... have a relatively easy schedule. Much more so than teams like the Colts, Jaguars, Titans, Browns and Broncos -- the most likely competitors for a spot.

And, of course, you have to look at the Patriots without Brady. Matt Cassel isn't Tom Brady but he isn't chopped liver. This is one of the best coached teams in the NFL and they will have the offense set to Cassel's strengths and weaknesses. There is talent still all over the field ... at least enough to get them into the playoffs.

The point is that what was nearly certain last week no longer is.