Yes, that is what things have become in Foxboro.
Tom Brady is still great. Maybe not as great as he was in the Super Bowl years or 2007 (50 TD) or even a year ago (36 TD against 4 INT) but he is still one of the best at his position. Brady gives the Patriots a chance to win every time he takes the field but the problem is that he doesn't have enough help to elevate his team into the stratosphere of legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Larry Bird ran into a similar problem in the 1991-92 NBA season. Injuries had removed Bird from the discussion of the games best players but like Brady now, Larry Legend gave the Celtics a chance to win every time he took the court (when he was relatively healthy) but he also lacked the supporting cast he needed to win another title.
That Celtics team did have Kevin McHale, Reggie Lewis, and Robert Parish - like Brady having Wes Welker, Vince Wilfork, and Rob Gronkowski - but they were also stuck with Joe Kleine, Stojko Vrankovic, Rickey Green, Ed Pinckney, and Tony Massenburg.
I'm sure Bird can empathize with Brady having to rely on the likes of Gary Guyton, Sergio Brown - who made the critical pass interference penalty that basically handed the game to the Giants - and Chad Ochocinco to win. On days when you are not your best (Brady threw for 342 yards and 2 TD's but also tossed 2 INT's), it's hard for even the greatest of players to pull out a win.
Larry Bird found that out in 1992.
Tom Brady is learning that in 2011.
Patriots fans need to realize this season will not end with Brady hoisting a fourth Lombardi Trophy and a Duck Boat parade through Downtown Boston. It's just not going to happen.
The reality is that the Patriots will be in a fight with the Bills and Jets to simply earn a playoff berth and then they will lose to the Steelers, Ravens, Texans, or Chargers and waste another year of Brady's career.
Embrace that situation and simply enjoy watching Tom Brady.
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