Why New England Patriots' Super Bowl Hopes Are Realistic in 2012

It’s always tough to bounce back from a devastating defeat. But that’s exactly what the New England Patriots will be trying to do this season after suffering a slim 21-17 Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.

Super Bowl losers have not historically done great the season after losing the big game. Since the 1997 season, eight teams have missed the playoffs the year after losing the Super Bowl.  

However, the 2012-2013 New England Patriots seem different. Barring an injury, this team should be expected to once again make a Super Bowl run.  

Fans of opposing AFC teams must be tired of the Patriots success ever since their Super Bowl victory over the Rams back in 2002. Including that season, the team has secured three Super Bowl victories, five AFC crowns, nine AFC East titles and have won 11 or more games eight different times.

The Patriots finished last season with the AFC’s best record and once again represented the conference in the Super Bowl.

The team’s that will provide the most competition for the Patriots this coming season have done very little to upgrade their rosters.

The Ravens needed to add another receiver who can spread the field and give Joe Flacco a reliable target. They failed to do so and will rely on an aging defense to win them games.

The Pittsburgh Steelers also have an old team with a number of banged up veterans. The team did improve their offensive line through the draft, but still have players on the defensive side who are at the tail end of their careers.

The Houston Texans emerged last season as a legitimate contender in the AFC. The team will get back quarterback Matt Schaub who missed the playoffs last season, but they have little playoff experience and lost Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans and didn't add a player of any significance.  

The Patriots on the other hand have made major upgrades to an already loaded roster.

The Patriots already had Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez catching passes from quarterback Tom Brady who threw career high passing yards last season.

Still, the team added Brandon Lloyd, who will spread the field and make big plays, as well as Jabar Gaffney, a reliable target who had over 900 receiving yards last season and already has a comfort level with his former team.

The Patriots much maligned defense from a season ago will also be much improved. The team used their first two draft picks on defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Dont’a Hightower.

Jones is a highly talented pass rusher who some experts had as the drafts premier defensive player. Hightower will provide versatility to a team that prides itself on finding players who can do a variety of things on the field.

Just the fact that the team’s young defense is a year older and has another year of coaching from Belichick and his staff under their belt should equate to them making major strides this season.

The NFL has become a passing league. If a team wants any shot at winning a Super Bowl they need a reliable and prolific quarterback running the show.

Tom Brady is more than reliable. He is one of the best quarterbacks in league history and is coming off one of the best seasons of his entire career.

Brady will be 35 at the start of the 2012-2013 NFL season. Some may say the quarterbacks best days are behind him. If throwing for 5,235 yards and 39 touchdowns, as Brady did last season, is being past your prime, then most quarterbacks would give anything to be past their primes.  

When you have a quarterback of Brady’s caliber on your roster, a Super Bowl berth is always expected.

Recent rule changes have swung the NFL in favor of elite offenses. Just look at the past three Super Bowl winners. The Saints, Packers, and Giants each had explosive offenses filled with playmakers across the board.

No team has an array of weapons quite like the Patriots passing game. Just look at the names, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney. The team’s fifth option is a player who nearly had 1000 receiving yards last season.

How can an opposing defense possibly account for all the weapons they possess?

The New England Patriots have a great chance at making another Super Bowl this upcoming season. The team’s prolific offense has added more weapons and their defense will be much improved.

Many teams struggle the season after losing the Super Bowl. However, the Patriots should be expected to once again be the AFC’s premier team.