Over the last few seasons - including an aggregate 8-26 the last two years - the aura of intimidation that had surrounded the Patriots had vanished. No longer did opponents fear them, and Gillette Stadium was no longer viewed as a challenging road venue. Mike Vrabel has yet to coach a regular-season game in Foxborough, but his presence is yielding a breath of fresh air.
That's a good start for an organization hungry to regain respectability. Fans are certainly clamoring for a championship team again - after all, this is Boston - but going from 4-13 to the Super Bowl is a challenging task.