The Patriots were this close to their fourth Super Bowl since the 2001 season. Depending on your perspective, Tom Brady's slightly off-target throw or Wes Welker's ill-timed case of butter fingers did New England in at the worst possible moment. The reality is that a handful of plays led to the Giants' continued mastery of the Pats.

Either way, the 2011 season is officially in the books and the rejiggering process for 2012 has begun. But it's not like this was the last shot at greatness for a team on the decline. In fact, moments after Brady's Hail Mary fell to the turf, Vegas had New England as 5-1 favorites to win next year's Super Bowl.

"I hope we do get back here again. I'd rather keep coming to this game and lose than not get here," quarterback Tom Brady said during his post-game presser. "I hope another opportunity comes."

If history is any guide, the Pats and Brady have a few more runs left in them. First things first: sorting out the roster this offseason.

ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss runs down the top priorities on Belichick's to-do list.

Keeping Welker in New England. Reiss writes that if the sides can't work out an extension before the start of free agency on March 13, the Pats will likely franchise him (that works out to $9.4 million for '12). The biggest holdup: New England may not want to ink a 30-year-old to a long-term deal. Then again, they almost certainly won't let Welker hit the open market.

Addressing needs in the draft. Belichick is something of a wizard when it comes to accumulating draft picks. It's just that there's a fine line between draft-day magic and hoarding. The Pats coach has been criticized for trading picks today for more picks tomorrow. It's a sound strategy, in theory, except that Belichick always seems to do this. And the one time he makes good and actually drafts players, New England ends up with running backs taken with second and third-round picks when there are much bigger roster needs. In April, the Pats will have two first-rounders and two second-rounders. Assuming that Belichick is actually planning to use said selections, New England won't be far from contention again in 2012. Which leads us to...

Focusing on team needs. Reiss points to wide receiver, the secondary and help along the front seven as the most pressing issues. "As the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVI showed, the defense could use a dynamic playmaker at any position, that game-changer that any club covets who can consistently help close out games."

What to do with BenJarvus Green-Ellis? Like Welker, Green-Ellis will be an unrestricted free agent. He scored 11 touchdowns and provided the Patriots some semblance of a running game. The thing is, New England drafted those two running backs last April -- Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley -- and they could be in line for more playing time. Green-Ellis was a cog in the offense, but it's still an offense that starts with Brady. The Pats would like him back but they won't overpay to do so.

And finally…

What's next for Chad Ochocinco? He said all the right things but he couldn't have had a more frustrating experience in New England. He caught just 15 passes during the regular season and a single pass during the postseason. He wasn't nearly the deep threat the Pats had hoped and there was even speculation that he might not be on the Super Bowl active roster.

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