Pats will be back next year. I really hope in the draft and free agency that the Pats will go after a vertical deep threat WR, tweak o-line, and get a dependable RB. Out of all the years I've watched, this RB committee they sent out today was by far the worst I've ever seen.
I thought Brady played like crap the entire game due to the consistent pressure from 3 to 4 pass-rushers Denver was sending, like Von Miller won that game for Denver. That extra guy in coverage for Denver also really minimized Pats' slot guys like Amendola and Edelman. I give Manning a ton of credit too for managing the game.
I think Panthers are the most complete team Denver will face all season, so Super Bowl should be fun and at the very least competitive.