2011 Colts and 2008 Patriots had a lot more going on than just the quality of the backup QB's. Colts offensive system was unique to Manning, he goes down, you can't run what you know.
We had also gradually lost a lot of unsung but important guys like our interior OL and LB's. Even back to 2009, Manning and the passing O was carrying the team. Undefeated team that ranked bottom of the league in rushing, run defense, TOP... same in 2010, and then 2011 had no passing O to help.
Chris Polian was three years in and we had a bunch of younger, weaker players replacing.
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Meanwhile, the Patriots were one season removed from undefeated. Matt Cassel wasn't great but he wasn't trash. The main thing is that, yes, there was a downgrade in QB quality... but the Patriots offensive system didn't have to go back to formula when Brady went down.
Aside from QB, the little turnover they had included Richard fucking Seymour coming back and Roosevelt Colvin being replaced by top-10 draft pick Jerod Mayo. Their top-4 defense dropped to top-8.
The thing people tend to forget is that in 2009 when Brady came back... Patriots finished 10-6 with Brady, but that happened to be good enough for a division title unlike the 11-5 they posted with Cassel.
The only offensive change was adding Edelman and on defense they replaced Bruschi and Vrabel, but even Vrabel's replacement (Banta-Cain) had 10 sacks in 10 games and the defense was still 5th in scoring, 11th overall.
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