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Team Confident After Playoff Loss. Even Quaterback Drew Bledsoe admitted that forgetting the loss was a difficult task. It hurt the team. It hurt even more because they had something to prove with new head coach Pete Carroll, it was their turn to go to the Super Bowl without Parcells, and it was a chance for Bledsoe to prove that he is a big-game quarterback that can win. Only 1 point separated the Patriots from a return trip to the AFC Championship and a regular-season rematch with the Denver Broncos, which the Patriots have never beaten in regular-season play since 1980. No matter how much the loss lingered for Drew and the team, it serves as motivation than anything else. NBC commentator Randy Cross was heard saying that the Patriots mentality was "we have so many tools and so many weapons...we can get it done, don't worry." That mentality hurt
With all the lows of last season, the Patriots can look up now, to bigger things...a rebirth into the Super Bowl. The Patriots brought in offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese to replace Larry Kennan, which took the heat for most of the offensive troubles last year. Zampese was said to be the biggest offseason acquisition for the Patriots and he'll have a chance to prove that. He has 22 years of NFL experience and can lead a team to the Super Bowl like he did with the Dallas Cowboys. Bledsoe is motivated most of all and Ted Johnson is confident in his upstart defense. DB Tebucky Jones is doing a remarkable job recovering and Carroll expects him back soon. More than likely he'll be in camp when it opens in Mid-July. The loss to the Steelers was the last game the Pats played and that's the last thing they remember. Until the team hits the field this fall, they'll be concentrating on one thing, the Super Bowl. The hurt the Steelers gave the Pats is nothing compared to the hurt the Pats hope to give opponents this season. Many things have gone to the Patriots favor, but some things are still uncertain, whether or not the running game can produce efficiently, can the defense can continue the awesome performance and maybe step it up some more, and if DB Tebucky Jones recovers completely, can he develop into a full time starter? All those questions will be answered in a matter of weeks. |
