Every title is like a child. There's a whole glorious narrative around each one. Like some others, I would never trade one, never mind two, for a near miss season of any kind.
That said, the Pats and 2007 are not like the Red Sox for me where the most dispiriting loss -- 2003 (even worse than 75, 78 and 86, partially because I was at the Can with my family and was largely self-inflicted) -- was erased the very next season to the very same team, and an even more humiliating manner. I can honestly say that part of me is glad that the Grady Boner happened because (a) it got rid of that moron and (b) critically, it made 2004 sweeter; hell, it partially defined 2004.
The 2007 ending, by contrast, still sucks massively given the one-two-three gut punch of (1) the loss being to a mediocre team with a horseshoe up his ass QB, (2) it combining with 2011 to give NY sports fans something to unfurl at will -- "whatevah, the Pats never beat us" and (3) of course, the end of perfection and the chance for so many beloved Pats to get their only ring.
And all that being said, no one will or should cry for Pats fans. The five titles since the 2001 season are unspeakably awesome. And so is the fact that our team has been a title contender and part of the conversation in every season since 2001 except, ironically, the very next season. Sure, they missed the playoffs in 2008 but 11 wins meant they were being discussed until the very end and the Jets played like the Jets. The sustained relevance, and being able to root for a team that has a legitimate shot year after year, is the ultimate celebration in my book.
