... the first game of the season, the Pats had a surprisingly successful 2008 campaign. Very few teams could survive the loss of their franchise, never mind post an 11-5 record.

The team enters the 2009 NFL season with heightened expectations: they are, after all, a year removed from a 16-0 season. With that in mind, let's examine the four story lines that will determine if this year will be a successful one.

 

1. Tom Brady's knee

Perhaps no joint in recent memory has been as heavily scrutinized as Brady's injured left knee, with good reason: it will likely either make or break the season.

When it was revealed that the surgically-repaired knee had become infected, many media personalities debat...

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