Thoughts on next season potentially being Brady’s swansong and last major shot at a fourth ring? With big players returning from injury, a defense that will arguably be even better and the new cogs on offense having a whole year of experience under their belt, is 2014 the Pats best shot at another SB with Brady before the inevitable decline?

Well, why limit it to next year? And what if Talib walks? Will it still be the “better than ever” defense? I try to follow a Belichickian code of blogging here…not getting too high or too low over the course of the season and especially not looking to next year when we’re in the middle of a campaign, but let’s talk 2014 for a second…

There’s no question the rookies who are playing a lot should all improve, and if Gronk gets a healthy offseason, he should be a beast next year, and I think Brady has another few years in him. Still there’s so many unknowns.

If the Pats peak at the end of the year and put together a strong playoff push/run despite all the injuries they’ve had, there’s no question they’ll be get a lot of love in the offseason given the guys they’ll get back.

But if they fade and the injuries catch up with them? There will be the injury excuse, but there will be plenty of questions about whether they have enough weapons, if Brady’s is almost done, etc.

So, let’s just enjoy this year for now. As always there will be plenty to talk about in 2014 about 2014.