Shaughnessy: Loss At Miami Cost Patriots Chance At Super Bowl

BOSTON (CBS) --- The Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy joined Zolak & Bertrand to discuss the Patriots' AFC Championship Game loss.

When Shaughnessy joined the show last week, he wasn't optimistic about the Patriots' chances in Denver.

"I wish this game were here as far as the Patriots go," said Shaughnessy a week ago. "I don't like 2-6 lifetime career in Denver. I don't like 0-2 in the playoffs in Denver. It's a hard place to win."

After the loss, his stance certainly didn't change.

While he didn't like the road matchup, Shaughnessy had no doubt that New England would have defeated Denver in Foxboro.

"If that game on Sunday is in Gillette, they win that game," said Shaughnessy. "I don't care about the O-line and all that. They lost by two points despite all the stuff that happened. We all know even in Vegas, home field [is worth] three points. And with the crowd noise and the history there and all the stuff going on, they win that game at home. I'm sorry."

Rather than putting the blame simply on the players' execution on Sunday, he questioned the Patriots' play down the stretch of the regular season.

In Shaughnessy's opinion, Sunday's loss came in large part due to the loss at Miami in Week 17, which cost the team home-field advantage.

"It goes back to January 3rd," said Shaughnessy. "What were they doing?"

According to Shaughnessy, had New England gone all-out and won in Miami Week 17, the Patriots would once again be heading to the Super Bowl.

"It's a waste of a season," Shaughnessy said. "That team was 10-0, they were the best team in the AFC in my view. They should have been able to get to the Super Bowl -- I'm not saying win the Super Bowl, but they should have been able to get to the Super Bowl. It was all there."