pats DO fuck shit up.
obviously, when its playoff time, you cannot count on a defensive score, ST fumble recovery or whatever, but they play good on all phases and probably were never better at running/stuffing the run over the last few years, both things that bode well for any team in january and february.
the saints won the superbowl when they had an opportunistic, not great D, and a above-average rungame. the packers rungame, when they won the superbowl, was absolute horseshit during the regular season, but got going in the playoffs, same with the giants last year.