1. Moss was on the "Dream team" and didn't win. Patriots had possibly the best team on paper that year in NFL history.

2. The Patriots would've won if they scored more than 17 points. Too bad Randy moss didn't do much.

3. It's not the player's skill, but their attitude. T.O. had great stats, but he was cancer in the locker room causing the team to fall apart. 

#1: Rice was on the 1987 49ers, who, had they won the SB, likely would have been considered the best 49er team ever and one of the best teams of all time. Insane 206 point differential. Incredibly explosive offense that finished with 3000 yards passing and 1500 yards rushing, an amazing combination for the rules of that age. To this day, they're one of only two teams ever to finish #1 in offense and in defense in a season. They lost in the divisional round.

Shit happens in the NFL. Sometimes the "better" team doesn't win, especially in a one and done situation where you only need one bad day to have an entire season go down the drain. There's an element of randomness that makes things unpredictable, which is great as far as entertainment value goes (NBA playoffs are boring as hell imo), but also means that judging a team based on one game, let alone a player, is foolish.

#2: Having gone over that game way more than I'd ever like to, Randy Moss actually contributed quite a bit. He and Welker were one of the few bright spots of the day, combining for over 75% of New England's offense. Moss was also responsible for half of New England's points. Our offensive line got blown up all day long, Brady didn't handle pressure well, and everything else crumbled as a result. Pinning that on Moss is just silly.

#3: Moss' attitude was fine from 07-09. Plenty of interviews have attested to that fact. Issues arose in 2010, at which point he was traded, but to argue that the Patriots somehow didn't make a smart investment on Moss from 07-09 is asinine. And even if you disregard Moss purely because "no rings," there's a variety of examples of Patriots bringing in players with supposed "character issues" from other teams and winning championships with them playing a significant role (Corey Dillon, Rodney Harrison, Darelle Revis, Michael Bennett, etc.).

1. Yes, because the 49ers got cocky. Which prove my point about having a great attitude goes a long way.

2. Moss wasn't the only problem, but when you are the "Best Receiver" with the best "Quarter Back" you should mustard more than 14 points.

3. Moss attitude was never fine. Did you not see is attitude problem with the Raiders. 

4. HOW ABOUT DEM COWBOYS.

The '07 Patriots literally re-wrote the record books and are still the only 18 win team in history, and you're trying to say they were a failure?
Brady doesn't break his leg in '08, Moss gets at least one if not two Super Bowl rings, on top of the one he should've got in '07 after the biggest fluke player ever.
Patriots won the Super Bowl last year scoring only 13 points against the Rams who had a top two offense and defense for the entire year. Games aren't about how you should win, it's about what actually happens in the game and how players adjust in the crucial moments. Moss scored the touchdown that should've been the game-ender, and the Giants pulled off a miracle. Shit happens. That's sport.

Yes they were a failure because it's all about the super bowl win, which I will admit Patriots have been doing a good job in that regard. The Ram's offense was embarrassing in that game.