At the end of the day the Patriots 12 wins this season did nothing for them except getting them bounced by a team they should have beaten in the first round. So, for 2019, you're beloved Pats are no better than Miami.
And if any prayers in the nation are ever answered this is finally the end of a long, dark nightmare.
If you go by the theory that SB or nothing than yeah, Patriots didn't have a better season than Miami or the Bengals. By that logic Dan Marino's performance in 1984 was just as futile and nothing better than what Dan Orlovsky did for the Lions in 2008. Of course that was the theory espoused around here in 2007 claiming that Patriots and Dolphin's season were even.
I don't agree with that. Marino's performance in 1984 was better than Orlovsky's in 2008. The also view the Bills run as the only team to ever win their conference four consecutive seasons in a row as an accomplishment not the butt of a joke. In my opinion 1990-1993 was a much better stretch for the Bills than NE, but by your logic they were equal.
But if you want to hold that opinion that is fine.....my team has been successful a league leading 6 times (including last year), yours only twice.