But with the latest video of Gronk body-slamming a friend while dancing shirtless at a club in Las Vegas, it begs the question of whether the Pro Bowl tight end is having too much fun for his own good.

As most Patriots fans know, Gronkowski re-broke his forearm early in the team’s AFC Championship loss to the Ravens on Jan. 20, and many feel a little uneasy about one of their best players performing wrestling moves with a cast on his left arm. The 23-year-old also spent most of Super Bowl week frequenting the bars and clubs of New Orleans, returning him to the TMZ fame that famously peaked during last year’s so-called “Summer of Gronk.”

At just 23, some may argue that Gronkowski so openly enjoying himself is a breath of fresh air in a sports world that has become too serious. However, others contest that, as a highly paid and highly valuable part of New England’s success, he must tone down the partying and keep his focus more on the game.

So what do you think? Is Gronk being Gronk still harmless fun, or is it time for last call? Share your opinion in the poll below.

Bill Belichick

Belichick, who was somewhat defensive and succinct in his postgame news conference, skipped out on an interview with CBS following Sunday’s AFC Championship loss, which Shannon Sharpe called “unacceptable.” Sharpe said that you can’t win all time and that Belichick acts like a poor sport when the Patriots stumble.

This isn’t the first time Belichick has drawn criticism for how he acts in the wake of defeat. The Patriots’ head coach is often seen as a bit of a sore loser, which really speaks to how much he truly hates losing. Perhaps no group of people is more susceptible to feeling Belichick’s wrath than the media, though.

While Belichick rarely displays raw emotion, and he isn’t one to get all fiery when addressing the media, there are times when he becomes very passive-aggressive. Whether it’s providing mundane responses, showing a complete lack of interest during news conferences or taking a shot at a reporter’s question, Belichick often comes off as uncooperative with the media.

Football is an emotional game, and no one likes to lose, so from that standpoint, it’s understandable that Belichick can sometimes get a little hot under the collar. But is his hostility misdirected?

Click here to read a transcript of Bill Belichick’s news conference following Sunday’s loss >>

When New England and Houston matched up in Foxboro in Week 14, the Patriots were just 5 1/2-point favorites before beating the Texans 42-14. This week, the Patriots are 9 1/2-point favorites over Houston, but is that enough?

Since New England embarrassed the Texans on Dec. 9, the Patriots have only gotten stronger with Rob Gronkowski back from a broken forearm. There’s barely any tape of Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez on the field at the same time from this season, so it will be tough for Houston to prepare for a Josh McDaniels-led unit with both star tight ends.

Of course, the Patriots also played a nearly perfect game against the Texans the first time around. Houston was also playing without outside linebacker Brooks Reed, though you’d be hard-pressed to argue that he’s more important to the Texans than Gronkowski is to the Patriots. With a game under their belt, though, Houston should be able to prepare better this week than they did in Week 14.

It would be very difficult for New England to beat Houston by 28 points again, and 9 1/2 is a very large point spread for a playoff game, but these are roughly the same teams that played in December. Will the Patriots cover the spread? Will they win with the Texans covering the spread? Or will Houston be able to pull off the upset? Vote below.

The Oregonian implied that Kelly may be waiting for his dream job to come along before moving to the pros. As a New Hampshire native, Kelly’s dream job may be that of New England Patriots head coach. There’s no telling when Bill Belichick may be ready to retire, but would you like to see Kelly replace the five-time Super Bowl champ one day?

Kelly visited the Patriots over the summer, and New England added some elements of the Oregon offense to theirs. Kelly would bring a spread offense that relies heavily on the no huddle. Belichick obviously would approve of Kelly if he had the confidence to use parts of his scheme, but is he a perfect fit for the Patriots?

One part of Kelly’s game that doesn’t fit New England is that he needs a mobile quarterback to make his read option work. Tom Brady certainly doesn’t have the legs to do it, and neither does his successor in Ryan Mallett. We’ve seen elements of the option work in Washington, Seattle and San Francisco this season, but finding the right player to man the read option in the NFL may not be so easy.

So what do you think, is Kelly a good fit in New England once Belichick retires?

Click here to read why Chip Kelly would be a good fit in New England>>

Click here to read why Chip Kelly’s offense would not work with the Patriots>>

Unless the Texans or Broncos fall flat on their faces this weekend — which is possible considering Houston’s visit to Indianapolis and Denver’s struggles with Kansas City earlier this season — there will be football at Gillette Stadium next weekend. So, that means either the Cincinnati Bengals or Indianapolis Colts will be making the trip to New England.

Both teams clinched their playoff berths with wins last Sunday and are on scorching hot streaks right now.

The Bengals have won six of their last seven, including a nail-biting victory over the division rival Steelers on Sunday in a game that had a playoff feel to it. Andy Dalton has played well lately, scoring 15 total touchdowns (12 passing, three rushing) and throwing five interceptions over their past seven games. Meanwhile, the Cincy defense has really kicked it up a notch, allowing just 12 points per game over that seven-game stretch.

As for the Colts, they’ve pulled out four of their last five games and eight of their last 10. Andrew Luck looks like Rookie of the Year royalty, Reggie Wayne has seen a youthful resurgence and the return of head coach Chuck Pagano from leukemia can only serve to further inspire this team.

So, if the Patriots must play a game in New England next weekend, who would you rather see on the other sideline?

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

The Patriots gave up 41 points on defense, their most since Week 4, 2009, and just looked completely overmatched against Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore and the Niners’ balanced offense.

On the other side of the ball, the Patriots near record-setting offense struggled to score for much of the night, taking just three points into the locker room at halftime and not getting their first touchdown until midway through the third quarter. At that point, New England trailed by four scores (28 points), which only complicated things.

The Patriots need to find see some improvement in a few areas over the final few weeks of the season in order to feel comfortable heading into the playoffs.

Tom Brady threw for over 440 yards and accounted for two of the Patriots’ touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air, but he also turned the ball over twice. One interception wasn’t necessarily his fault, as Aaron Hernandez let a bobbled ball end up in the 49ers’ hands, but Brady needs to better protect the football and get the offense off to a faster start than we saw against San Francisco.

Stevan Ridley let go of a costly fumble — as well as another one that was overturned on review — and gained just 23 yards on nine carries. His hard-nosed running is key for the Patriots’ offensive balance, and if he can’t be trusted with the ball then there will be no such thing as balance.

Over on defense, Aqib Talib struggled to cover Randy Moss early in the game, which helped the 49ers jump out to such a commanding lead. His play on the outside has been iffy, even given the pick-six in his Patriots debut, and he really needs to lock down on other teams’ No. 1 options in order to allow the rest of the defense to continue with that aggressive style.

The special teams struggles also played a big part in Sunday’s loss. Matthew Slater, as captain of that unit, took full responsibility for the letdown and said his group was taking it as a learning opportunity. Three holding penalties on punt returns cost the Patriots 60 yards in field position, and that 62-yard kick return by LaMichael James sucked the wind right out of the Patriots’ sails. Slater needs to get his special teamers back up to par in time for the playoffs, otherwise the Patriots could be in big trouble.

So, with an underwhelming performance by nearly the entire team, at least throughout most of the game, which player needs to step up most over the final two weeks of the season?

Coming into this season, Alex Smith was viewed as a quarterback finally on the rise. He led — and I use that term lightly, because the defense was unreal — the 49ers to within minutes of their first Super Bowl berth in more than 15 years. He then followed that up this season by leading the NFL with a 70 percent completion percentage through nine games. But even that couldn’t sustain the former No. 1 overall pick’s starting job.

Once Smith went down with a concussion in Week 11′s dreadful tie with the Rams, Jim Harbaugh almost immediately handed the keys over to Colin Kaepernick and told him to run wild — maybe even literally.

Since the switch, Kaepernick has actually improved the 49ers’ offensive attack. In his four games as starter, Kaepernick has the 49ers’ passing game gaining better than 10 more yards per game and the offense as a whole scoring at least two more points per. It’s no surprise that San Francisco is 3-1 with Kaepernick behind center, either, not that Smith’s 6-2-1 record was anything to turn your nose at. But Kaepernick’s mobility adds just another element to an already dangerous 49ers offense.

While Smith’s 70 percent leads the NFL in completion percentage, Kaepernick has been very accurate in his own right, completing 67 percent of his passes. Similarly, Smith threw 15 touchdowns to just five interceptions on the season before his injury, and Kaepernick has now thrown three touchdowns and just one interception. The only real difference comes on the ground, where Kaepernick has rushed for 351 yards and five scores while Smith has gained just 134 yards running the football and has yet to find the end zone.

While the numbers may point in Kaepernick’s favor for the time being, he’s working with a very small sample size. Smith obviously was very effective in his own right, and is clearly the far more experienced quarterback, both in regular and postseason games.

So, with the 49ers headed for Gillette Stadium and a Sunday night showdown on the horizon, who would you rather see taking snaps against the Patriots on Sunday? Cast your vote and let your voice be heard in the box below.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Tom Brady is down two of his favorite targets, and to make matters worse, he’ll have to deal with J.J. Watt and an extremely aggressive Texans pass rush on Monday night. Even without his full offensive arsenal, though, Brady did get an old friend back this week.

Donte Stallworth, who was with the Patriots in 2007 and again in training camp earlier this year, re-signed with the team earlier in the week and figures to fill Edelman’s void in the offense. At 32 years old, he’s not quite as dynamic a playmaker as he once was, or as Edelman had proven to be in recent weeks, but Stallworth knows the system well and is working hard to catch up by Monday’s kickoff.

While there are plenty of questions remaining on offense, the defense has looked surprisingly stout of late. The Patriots have allowed just under 20 points per game over their last three contests, and the addition of Aqib Talib in the secondary has worked wonders so far. With Talib strengthening one side of the field, rookie Alfonzo Dennard has made great strides, and even Kyle Arrington looks good working out of the slot.

Talib has definitely taken a lot of pressure off the secondary, but he hasn’t exactly been flawless since debuting for New England three weeks ago. And with one of the NFL’s elite receivers in Andre Johnson coming to Gillette Stadium this week, Talib will have to be at his best.

Up front, Vince Wilfork and the defensive line also have a tough task ahead. Arian Foster has developed into one of the best running backs in football, and Matt Schaub continues to seem comfortable and confident in the pocket on a weekly basis. The Patriots’ line needs to disrupt both Foster’s and Schaub’s rhythms in order to keep Houston from controlling the clock.

With so many variables on the table, which Patriots player do you think will be most vital to a win on Monday night?

With the Red Sox welcoming the Minnesota Twins to Fenway Park for a four-game series, what better time to honor those former Twin City athletes?

Let's start with Randy Moss. Moss was far from a fan favorite when he left the Minnesota Vikings in 2005, and after two years with the Oakland Raiders, Moss came to Foxboro in 2007.

But Bill Belichick has a way of rejuvenating troubled players, and Moss was no different. Critics called him an outdated talent, but Moss was able to prove them wrong and quickly became Tom Brady's favorite pair of hands.

In his first season with the Pats, Moss broke the NFL's single-season touchdown record previously held by Jerry Rice as well as the Patriots franchise record for highest receiving yardage total with 1,493. Moss was not only a big gamer, but also an exciting player to watch.

Then there's Papi. One of the most beloved Boston sports figures of all time, David Ortiz has been a presence on the field and off. A two-time World Series champ, eight-time All-Star and clutch hitter extraordinaire, he is truly an icon in Boston.

Ortiz came to the Sox from the Minnesota Twins, where he was essentially a nobody. But once he was given a chance, Papi took off.

Last but by no means least is Celtics big man Kevin Garnett, more affectionately referred to as KG. Garnett was a standout on the Timberwolves and came over to Boston as the final part of the Big Three, as he joined superstars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. A 2008 NBA champion, 2004 NBA MVP and a 14-time NBA All-Star, Garnett has been nothing short of incredible while donning the Celtics green and white.

Boston has certainly made the best of Minnesota's talent over the past few years, but which athlete has been the most enjoyable to watch in a Boston uniform?

Which former Minnesota player have you most enjoyed having on a Boston team?

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are ready for their primetime rematch against the New York Giants, and Patriots fans everywhere are praying to the football gods that Brady can end the Patriots’ two-game losing streak against Eli Manning and the Giants.

It’s no secret that Brady has had an incredibly successful career. With three Super Bowl rings and two MVP Awards, his name is up there with some of the greatest quarterbacks in history. However this Sunday, Brady has a chance to become the greatest of all-time.

If Brady can defeat the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI — knock on wood — he will tie Terry Bradshaw for most Super Bowl wins by a quarterback and he will also hold the record for most wins in NFL playoff history by a quarterback at 17. He is also just one Super Bowl MVP Award from tying Joe Montana‘s record at three.

Is a Super Bowl XLVI win enough to vault Brady to G.O.A.T. status? Enter your votes below.

Would You Consider Tom Brady Greatest Quarterback of All Time With Super Bowl XLVI Win?

Tiquan Underwood

The Patriots released Underwood on Saturday, less than 24 hours before their Super Bowl showdown with the Giants. New England then promoted defensive end Alex Silvestro to the 53-man roster.

Underwood's release is shocking, mostly because of its timing. The 24-year-old wideout saw limited action with the Pats this season, but it's bizarre to see a player let go on the eve of the biggest game of the year, no matter what that player's role is on the team.

The Patriots have let go of players on the night before games in the past, but none of those transactions garnered the attention that Underwood's release has. The cut even led to speculation as to whether the move was disciplinary, although that doesn't seem to be the case.

Underwood's agent, Ethan Lock, told NESN.com's Jeff Howe that New England didn't provide an explanation as to why his client was cut. It could just be that the team felt an extra defensive lineman will be more valuable in this particular game. And with the focus solely on winning, the Patriots — as they always do — did what they felt was the best decision from a football standpoint.

Even though football is a business, though, it's tough to see a player who's worked so hard to help get the team to where it is get cut before the biggest game in all of sports — even if that player only caught three passes all year.

Adding more intrigue to the move is Underwood's recent haircut. The receiver had the Patriots' "Flying Elvis" logo shaved into the back of his head, which he then tweeted out to all of his Twitter followers.

Underwood also took to Twitter on Saturday to acknowledge the Patriots' decision to cut him. And while most would be fuming after such a move, Underwood handled it with nothing but class.

"Good Luck To The New [England] Organization, The Coaches, & All My Teammates… #PatsNation," he tweeted about a half hour after his release.

What do you think of the Patriots' decision to release Tiquan Underwood on the eve of Super Bowl XLVI?

Although Gronkowski practiced with the Pats on Friday and says he will play, he is still listed as questionable on the injury report and frankly, so is the expected impact he’ll have on the field come Sunday. 

There’s no doubt that Gronk had one of the best seasons for a tight end in NFL history in 2011, practically rewriting the book on how to play the position in the process. His 17 touchdown receptions led the league and were good for fifth on the single-season record list. He and fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez combined for 169 receptions 24 touchdowns and 2,237 receiving yards. Dubbed “The Boston TE Party,” the two provided depth in New England’s receiving core and even more weapons for quarterback Tom Brady.

Aside from his talents as a receiver, Gronkowski’s physicality is a large part of his game, which makes the 6-foot-6, 265-pound tight end an intimidating presence on the field. When he’s not being thrown to, he’s providing extra blocks for Patriots running backs, a task that does not go unnoticed.

Gronkowski has become somewhat of a cult hero among Patriots fans, and his “Yo Soy Fiesta” catchphrase could soon be used in New England as frequently as “Roll Tide” is down South.

So as gametime in Indianapolis quickly approaches, will Gronkowski be back in his usual dominating form, or will his high ankle sprain put a damper on the Pats’ gameplan?

Well, if the Pats win, Curt Schilling could now have some competition in Boston in the “Best Championship Performance on an Injured Ankle” category.

How big of an impact will Rob Gronkowski have for the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI?

The Ravens are a physical, defensive-minded team that has a history of stirring things up off the field with some trash talk. The Patriots, meanwhile, have relied on their offense to get to where they are, and are generally a more reserved team.

No matter how you slice it, though, things are sure to be interesting at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. The Pats head into the battle as seven-point favorites.

In the ultimate offense versus defense battle, Tom Brady and Co. will look to continue its torrid pace. The Pats are just one win away from heading to their fifth Super Bowl in 11 years, but in order to make reservations for the big game in Indianapolis, they'll have to overcome their toughest challenge yet.

The Ravens were fourth overall in term's of pass defense during the regular season, and second in the league in run defense. The Pats' offense is going to have its hands full when it comes to trying to drive down the field at the same clip the unit has all season.

Baltimore is stacked with playmakers on defense, including Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed. Brady will truly have to be on top of his game to ensure New England doesn't give Baltimore any free points.

The Patriots' defense is much less impressive, but it showed last week that it can get stingy at times, as the unit held Tim Tebow and the Broncos in check for all four quarters.

Perhaps the biggest X factor in this game, though, is Joe Flacco. We'll get to see whether the Ravens quarterback can elevate his game enough to propel his team into the big game.

With so many storylines, and so many angles to analyze, it's tough to predict this one. But hey, why not give it a shot?

What will be the outcome of Sunday's Patriots-Ravens AFC Championship game?

For a franchise that had zero Super Bowl wins before he took over as quarterback, it’d be nearly impossible to make the case against Tom Brady as the greatest Patriots player in history.

So who’s second-best?

The franchise had a number of down years but still has plenty of talent in its history.

From the dynasty era, there was overachieving linebacker Tedy Bruschi, jack of all trades Troy Brown and future Hall of Famer Ty Law.

Before them there were no championships but there were great players like like Gino Cappelletti and Hall of Famers Andre Tippett, Mike Haynes, and John Hannah.

Who is the greatest Patriots player of all time besides Tom Brady?

Ty Law, Tedy Bruschi, Troy Brown and Drew Bledsoe will take the field before kickoff, offering a strong representation of the franchise’s recent success.

Law is tied with Raymond Clayborn for the franchise record for most career interceptions with 36. Always one to step in clutch situations, Law was an integral part of the Patriots’ three Super Bowl wins.

The five time Pro Bowler picked off Kurt Warner in Super Bowl XXXVI for a 47-yard touchdown and personally victimized Peyton Manning during the 2003 AFC Championship Game, where he picked off the Colts’ quarterback three times.

Bruschi was the heart and soul for the Patriots during their title runs. A fierce and passionate player, Bruschi was a force during his time as linebacker. Another strong postseason performer, Bruschi was clutch in the big moments, perfectly exemplified during the 2004 divisional round against the Colts, ripping the ball out of Dominic Rhodes’ hands during the 20-3 victory.

The passion for football was shown after Bruschi suffered a stroke in 2005. The defensive captain made a miraculous return to the field and won Comeback Player of the Year.

Before Wes Welker was Tom Brady’s favorite target, no one was more dependable than Troy Brown.  Brown is currently the Patriots’ all-time leader in receptions and held most of the records for receiving before Welker arrived.

Brown was the definition of reliable and was one of the most versatile players that Bill Belichick has ever had. Not only was Brown a great receiver, but he was also played defense and returned punts, including a vital punt return against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2001 AFC Championship Game, which proved to be the winning margin.

Brady has been on the warpath as he destroys nearly every passing record in Patriots history. Those records were once held by Drew Bledsoe, who for nearly a decade was the face of the franchise.

Taken No. 1 in the 1993 NFL Draft, Bledsoe was a vital ingredient in making the Patriots a respectable franchise.  Bledsoe led the Pats to a Super Bowl berth against the Green Bay Packers, but lost to the tough tandem of Brett Favre and Reggie White.  

All four players were on the teams that lost to the Packers and defeated the Rams and now they will reunite on Sunday.

With such a strong representation of the franchise on display, the question could be asked: Which honorary captain, in his prime, could the Patriots use most this weekend against the Ravens?

Which honorary captain, in his prime, could the Patriots use most this weekend against the Ravens?

The two teams met in the 2009 playoffs during wild-card weekend. The Patriots finished 10-6 and grabbed the No. 3 seed while the Ravens finished 9-7 and grabbed the sixth and final playoff spot.

At that point, the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick combination had not lost a playoff game at home and confidence was high that the trend would continue.

Unfortunately, the Ravens didn't care for past trends.

Baltimore set the tone early when Ray Rice took the handoff on the first play from scrimmage and ran 83 yards for an opening score. After Brady was strip-sacked by Terrell Suggs on the next possession, the Ravens punched in another touchdown and the Pats were down two scores before two minutes had passed.

Brady threw two picks in the first quarter, which led to the Ravens opening up a 24-0 lead on their way to a 33-14 rout.

The difficult loss has weighed heavily on the Patriots, but on Sunday they will finally get their shot at revenge.

But how much should the Patriots look into that loss?

The Patriots have gone through a major overhaul since that loss. Brady has more weapons at his disposal this time around with the additions of tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The Patriots will also have Wes Welker this time around, as an ACL tear ended his season the week before the 2009 matchup with the Ravens.

Taking a look at the weapons Brady had in 2009, it might be obvious why the Patriots struggled. Randy Moss was the only real threat the Pats had, and any time a receiver such as Sam Aiken gets six targets, trouble is bound to occur. The running game also has improved, solely with the absence of Laurence Maroney.

Despite those additions, the Ravens' defense is still as stout as ever, with Suggs, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis headlining a defensive unit that was ranked third during the regular season.

So should the Patriots be concerned about their past encounter with the Ravens?

Does Patriots' loss to Ravens in 2009 playoffs have any impact on Sunday's game?

He is Tom Brady, and the "six" in this instance is the number of touchdowns he threw last week in the Patriots' playoff opener, tying the record for most postseason touchdowns in NFL playoff history. And he did it in just 33:08.

This week, he'll have a bit of a more difficult task, featuring the vaunted Ravens defense and the always-dangerous Ed Reed. Comparitively, the Broncos' defense allowed 232 passing yards per game (18th in NFL), while the Ravens allowed 196 passing yards per game (fourth-fewest).

The Ravens also allowed just 11 passing touchdowns all year long, so it might be a bit much to expect him to come close to repeating last week's feats.

But, do you really want to be in the business of doubting Tom Brady?

How many touchdowns will Tom Brady throw against the Ravens?

The Patriots and Broncos have been fortunate to avoid much inclement weather so far, and by both city’s traditionally frigid standards Saturday night registers as a mild evening. The temperature in Foxboro is forecasted to be around 23 degrees at kickoff, falling to 19 degrees by the time the game ends.

The Broncos may wish they were back in Mile High, where the thermometer is expected to hit a high of 54 degrees on Saturday and fall to a mere 38 degrees overnight. Set in the mountains and forests of Colorado, however, the Broncos are used to a wintry mix.

When the wind blows and the chill gets in their bones, one team will put on an extra layer and fight through it while another one will slink to the sideline and fight for a spot in front of the heater.

Which one will it be?

Which team has a bigger advantage playing in cold weather?

Despite some more Tebow magic against Pittsburgh, however, the Pats are currently 13 1/2-point favorites for Saturday's divisional round game.

The Patriots' defense has been a question mark all season, and Tebow's accuracy and playmaking ability was top notch last week, but the oddsmakers apparently like Tom Brady's chances of lighting up the scoreboard in chilly Foxboro.

After all, Brady and Co. did do so in the teams' Week 15 matchup in Denver, when the Pats overcame an early nine-point deficit to secure a 41-23 win.

Brady completed 23 of 34 passes in that game for 320 yards and two touchdowns, while tight end Aaron Hernandez put together a career day with nine catches for 129 yards and a score.

Tebow, meanwhile, performed well on the ground, but the Broncos were unable to keep up with the potent New England offense. Saturday's matchup could once again come down to Denver's ability to contain the Patriots' high-flying attack, as it might not have the offensive capability to trade blows with New England in a shootout.

As mentioned, though, Tebow's been counted out many times before, and that seems to be when he plays his best football. So is that 13 1/2-spread too high, too low or is it right where it should be?

Share your thoughts and predictions below.

What will be the outcome of Saturday's Patriots-Broncos divisional round playoff game?

Bill Belichick

The Patriots have a playoff spot well in hand and could lock up the AFC's No. 1 seed with a win over the Bills on Sunday. If the Pats are able to secure the top seed in the AFC, they could end up with a favorable road to the Super Bowl, as it would go through Foxboro, where the Pats are even tougher to defeat.

It remains to be seen who the Pats will be matched up against in the postseason, but with Tom Brady at the helm and Belichick on the sideline, a trip to the Super Bowl is never out of the question. And given the way the team has played for the most part this season, the Pats could again be the favorites to represent the AFC on the last weekend of the football year.

However, after watching New England falter in its first playoff game last season against the Jets after a 14-2 regular season, Patriots fans know nothing is a sure thing. And with teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers standing in the way, the Pats will have to fight hard in order to punch their ticket to Indianapolis.

In fact, last season's loss to the Jets could benefit the Patriots this season, as they'll surely want to avoid the heartache that accompanies a loss this time around. What it likely all boils down to, though, is whether the New England offense can continue its dominance and whether the defense can make enough key plays.

Playoff football is certainly different. We'll see if the Pats have what it takes. It's been seven years since the Lombardi Trophy has come home to New England. Pats fans are hungry for another title.

Click here to see the AFC playoff scenarios >>

Will the Patriots represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLVI?