This year the Patriots don’t have a better chance….

For a decade now the AFC Title Game has been called the Patriot’s Invitational!

Usually the New England Patriots have a great chance to go to the AFC Championship Game and continue on to the Super Bowl. Usually that chance is also supported by the odds makers in Vegas. Usually the Patriots have a better chance than the other play-off teams, often securing home field for the duration of the play-offs leading up to the Super Bowl. This year is different.

The Patriots by most standards had a great season, but by Patriots standards they had a mediocre season at best. Yes they have a first round by and a home field second round play-off game. Yes they still have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. But this year the 11-5 New England Patriots are mortal. Sure they could win the Super Bowl but yes they could just as easily lose in the AFC Championship game or worse. This year the Patriots don’t have a better chance – instead they have the same chance as the other contenders.

This year the Pats don’t have a deep threat, a strong pass rusher, a second receiver worth a damn or an All Pro linebacker. Sure they still have James White and have added Sony Michel at running back, and sure Julian Edelman has made it all the way back from ACL surgery. Dont'a Hightower still barks out the defensive signals on most plays and Devin McCourty is joined by his brother Jason in the backfield. But this team is not special. It didn’t dominate in any phase of the game. This year the Patriots are just another play-off team with hopes and aspirations, but no clear cut edge.

This team has tested the resolve of Patriots fans everywhere during the regular season and hard as it is, the fandom is trying to put that resolve into perspective for the play-offs. Sure the diehards still think we have a better chance, but those grounded in reality realize our chances in this season’s tournament are equal at best to most of the other teams.