1. The team’s motivation is going to be at an all-time high going into next season.
After completing a 13-3 season, winning 10 straight games and coming up four points short of winning it all, New England should come back hungry in 2012. I’m not counting on the two first and two second round draft picks (they’ll probably trade up or down and end up with just two of those four picks). I’m not counting on what happens in free agency (although Deion Branch and Wes Welker coming back would be huge). The veterans of this team will want to re-establish the greatness and the aura that comes with winning three titles in four years, and going to five Super Bowls in 11. I think this game will energize them to get some swag back. Continue reading
