They did - but then your original point kicked ! While this year has sucked in the W/L column, I'm heartened by the way they are rebuilding this time. Got hopes for Jimmy G but will wait til next season before starting to assess him. Many players from many positions have looked great inside BB's systems and failed to shine after leaving the Pats
Can't complain though. My "second" team was always NE (all of my US sports allegiances bar the '49ers are Boston - Celtics, Sox etc) so I've had them to follow in playoffs while SF have been rubbish. Which is cool as they play each other so infrequently. As the Conference champ games of 2012/13 loomed I thought my loyalty might be tested if both won but by the time the first game began I knew my heart was San Francisco.
Funny how in NFL you can "like" a number of teams where as in AFL you love your own & pretty much hate everyone else