A look back at what we got right and wrong.
It's hard to believe the NFL regular season is already in the books. It seems like mere weeks ago we were debating what impact Jabar Gaffney and Donte' Stallworth would have on the New England Patriots.
The only guy who probably feels like four months have passed since training camp is ex-Eagles coach Andy Reid, who must've felt like he was fired, hired and re-fired approximately 47 times this season. News of his actual dismissal Monday morning hit with about the same impact as a "Bill Belichick to coach Patriots in playoffs" headline.
Anyway, now that we've reached the finish line – and with two weeks before playoff football hits New England – this is as good a time as any to look back at my preseason predictions and see where I went wrong.
Tom Brady will pass for 4,000 yards
I really put myself out there on this one, huh? Considering Brady reached this mark in three of his last four full seasons, and came just 100 yards short in the other, this one was a lock. Brady had another great year, completing 63 percent of his passes for 4,827 yards, 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions. It's easy to take his brilliance for granted, but his season should garner some MVP consideration.
Rob Gronkowski falls short of 2011, gains 1,100 yards with 12 touchdowns
His forearm injury took the drama out of this one, but 55 catches for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns over 11 games isn't too shabby. If he could have stayed healthy and produced at his season rates (5 catches per game, 14.4 yards per reception), he would have finished with 1,150 yards. That figure's still short of the 1,327 he gained last season, but it's also really, really good.
Aaron Hernandez breaks through
As I mentioned at the midway point of the season, this prediction was more about Hernandez staying healthy. For the third consecutive year, he failed to play 16 games and finished with 483 yards and five touchdowns.
Chandler Jones leads team in sacks
He likely could have accomplished this task if not for an ankle injury that sidelined him for two games and slowed him later in the season. Jones ultimately came up two shy of Rob Ninkovich (eight). Still, not bad for a player labeled as a project coming out of the draft.
Stevan Ridley scores 10 touchdowns
This was one of the more ambitious projections prior to the season, yet Ridley blew it away by reaching the end zone 12 times. There was concern after running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis signed elsewhere in the offseason, but the future seems to be in good hands with Ridley, who became the fifth New England player to rush for 1,200 yards.
Wes Welker falls short of 110 receptions
Welker caught 118 passes for 1,354 yards and six touchdowns. Is there any way New England can let this guy walk? Pay him.
Defense becomes respectable
I think it would be fair to say the defense reached respectability by the end of the season. Things aren't perfect, but the group has come up with some timely stops and turnovers when the offense has been in need of assistance.
Brandon Lloyd flirts with 1,000
Gaining 911 yards qualifies as flirting, doesn't it? Still, it's hard not to feel Lloyd could have done more this season.
Kyle Arrington remains interception leader
Zero. Arrington had zero interceptions. Devin McCourty led the way with five.
Patriots win 13 games
We missed by one on this one, as New England finished 12-4. It's hard not to feel the Pats could have finished with just one or two losses after seeing them drop three of those early in the season to Arizona, Baltimore and Seattle by a combined four points.