Great expectations

My drive home from work usually involves listening to DA on 98.5. His is the one sports-talk show I make a point of checking out. I like Dale and Holley and sometimes I enjoy letting Felger entertain me. But when it comes to actual sports talk and analysis, DA's evening show is the place to go.

Last night he was talking about the Pats' season and what, going forward, would be considered a successful one. DA felt that even were the Patriots to lose their last three games and then get knocked out in their first playoff game it would still be a successful season. a good building block year. I couldn't agree with that one. If we were talking about the Chiefs or the Jags, then maybe. But if the Pats lose their next four games it would actually be the low point in the Belichick era. A total disaster. It's not going to happen anyway.

Then I switched to the old WEEI 850 over on AM. Someone was filling in for Mike Adams, who is always good for a few laughs. Not sure who the fill-in guy was but he offered his take on what would be considered a successful season. "If the Pats don't win the Super Bowl this season will be a major disappointment," he said. "Anything less than that would be a failure." The polar opposite opinion. Also one I can't agree with.

So what are the expectations now that the Patriots are sitting at 11-2 after dismantling the Bears in the snow?

Well, if the season doesn't end like last year, when the Ravens handed Brady and Belichick their worst playoff defeat by far, it will be a big improvement. The Patriots are almost sure to get a first-round bye, unlike last year. That means they will be rested and confident coming into their first playoff game at home, unlike last year. One win and the Pats will advance to their sixth AFC title game in a decade. A game that very likely will be at home.

Make it to the AFC title game. That's what I'm hoping for. And expecting. Everything from that point on would be just another joy ride for Pats fans. If the title game is at home the Pats will be the favorite. But it will be against any one of several very good teams... the Steelers, the Colts, the Jets ... or the Ravens. Any of those teams can come into Gillette and knock off the Pats. (Another shot at the Ravens would be sweet -- although they are the team that still scares me the most).

But Brady is playing the best football of his Hall of Fame career and is surrounded by a well-coached, disciplined, focused, aggressive group of teammates on both sides of the ball. It would be hard to imagine them losing in their first playoff game like they did last year. Every team that makes the playoffs (except the NFC West champ) will be a very good team and capable of getting hot and going to Dallas. That said, it's hard to picture the Pats getting upset at home in the second round. They have been tested too many times this year and passed almost all of them.

The team has overcome key injuries, won huge game after huge game in almost every way possible, and very rarely beat itself. They look playoff ready. One home playoff win and me, Shep, Mark, Matt, and Bergs will be getting ready for tailgating at the AFC title game -- again. That would be a successful season in my mind.