Define success

Here's the question of the day: What would constitute a successful and satisfying season for you as a Patriots fan? With all that's happened this season, would it be disappointing if the Patriots bowed out early in the playoffs? Would they have to get to the AFC Championship game? Would they have to win it? Would they have to get to the Super Bowl? Would they have to win the Super Bowl?

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The bar has been set pretty high after the '01 Super Bowl championship. Not making the playoffs last season was terribly disappointing to many of you. The team has overcome a potentially devastating Opening Day loss to Buffalo, has won 10 out of 11 games and eight straight. They have overcome a multitude of injuries to the point where this week's injury report was as short as it's been all season.

With most of the players back (with the exception of Rosevelt Colvin, David Patten and Mike Compton all of whom are on injured reserve) and the rookies all gaining valuable experience, it would appear, in my opinion, that the Patriots would have to at least get to the Super Bowl for the majority of fans to be fully satisfied with the season.

What do you think?

I'd love to hear your responses after the Miami game.

I must say before I go on to Miami, that the Indy-Pats game was one of the most entertaining games I've watched in a long time. I would have felt that way win or lose. The Colts are going to be tough to beat in the playoffs because of their ability to comeback from any deficit. But once again the Patriots' resiliency and calm and collectedness prevailed. I must say, the players on this team should stand up and take a bow. You can't coach what they do. They have a tremendous feel for the game and the moment.

On to Miami:

If the weather conditions are as severe as the meteorologists suggest, heavy winds (up to 30 mph), snow and frigid air, then who does that favor? You'd think New England because they live in this stuff. I've certainly come around to the notion that the Patriots don't need a running game to win out and go to the Super Bowl, but if the conditions are what they say they are, having Ricky Williams has to be a tremendous advantage. We saw the damage Williams did to Buffalo last season in blizzard-like conditions at Orchard Park. We saw what Williams did to the Patriots last year when he ran for 185 yards in the season-finale which Dave Wannstedt and Norv Turner botched for the Dolphins by not giving Williams the ball. Therefore, in those conditions, I would guess it would favor the Dolphins. But halt, right there. How about the Snow Bowl? Yes, another check to the Patriots.   Continued...