01:00 AM EST on Sunday, January 15, 2006

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

DENVER -- Because the run at a third straight Super Bowl had ended, there was a feeling of finality or closure to last night's 27-13 Patriots loss.

After 10 straight playoff wins and three Super Bowl victories in four seasons, it was as if something more than a season had ended.

That feeling did not permeate the Patriots locker room. Asked if the run was over, Tedy Bruschi snapped at a Denver radio reporter.

"Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?" he asked, his voice low and steady like Clint Eastwood. "Think about that question and then think about the people in this locker room. Then take that question and stick it. That's enough."

With that, Bruschi ended the interview and rebuffed all other requests.

When a question posed to Kevin Faulk began with the words, "Some people look at this as the end of a run," Faulk said, "That's the last thing on our minds right now, a run. We lost a football game. A run is the last thing we even think about it. We come here to win games."

In the immediate aftermath of the game, postscripts, epitaphs and forecasts were left to those who didn't compete. For the players, the contest itself was too fresh.

"I think I'll realize it more tomorrow morning when I wake up (that the season's over)," said Christian Fauria. "I'm really in disbelief at how quickly things can end and how fortunes can change. They're continuing on and our season's done while we get ready for next season."

Said Richard Seymour, "When you look back you can always say three super bowls in four years is always great. It's still disappointing to lose and that's where we're at. A tough loss. But as a competitor, as a player, as a man you just have to accept that. You can't say, 'Oh, we did it to ourselves, let's not give them credit.' They did it. They beat us. It's just what it is. If you can't accept a loss what kind of person really are you?"

So is it the end of anything?

"It's the end of (a game in) Denver," said Seymour. "I can't get into next year and the following. I hope we can maintain our same group of guys. If we can do that we have as good a chance as anybody."

"This team will be around again," said quarterback Tom Brady. "Most of our players aren't going anywhere. The coach isn't going anywhere."