Even with all their losses, the Patriots still have Tom Brady at quarterback. Al Tielemans/SI
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WESTMINSTER, Md. -- The Ravens opened training camp here last night in the middle of Maryland and the Super Bowl wasn't far from their minds. The offensive minds, at least.

Late Sunday night, after his first meeting with his offense and after going over today's play-installation with his quarterbacks, new offensive coordinator Jim Fassel talked about why everyone else was still chasing the Patriots, despite their turbulent offseason.

He told his team during its first meeting that when you watch the Patriots, what jumps out is how the opposition loses the game as much as New England wins it. "They wait for you to make a mistake and eventually that's what happens,'' Fassel said. "I don't see that changing, even with everything that's happened to them.''

So far I've had glimpses of Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Detroit and the Giants, and I'll see the Ravens on the practice field here today. And whether I'm sitting around with writers, talking with players or chatting up coaches and team officials, the conversation most often comes around to one thing: Have the Patriots been too wounded by this brutal offseason to win their fourth Super Bowl in five years?

God knows they've been battered. Both inside linebackers are gone, after Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson each surprised the team by saying they won't play this year. The best cover guy, Ty Law, is gone. The two coordinators, Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis are gone, with the prospect of the head coach taking over the offensive play-calling. The best current defensive player, Richard Seymour, is holding out in a contract dispute. You look at this team and find yourself asking: When's the last time any NFL team had this many preseason crises and won a Super Bowl? The Bucs fired a beloved coach, Tony Dungy, and won with Jon Gruden. The Cowboys survived some contract fusses. The Raiders had some mayhem going on when they won. San Francisco survived the Montana-Young jousting and won. Long ago, the Chiefs won despite player gambling accusations. But I can't think of a team so embattled before the season begins.

I got the perspective of two players who've battled the Patriots, mostly on losing terms, over the past few years. One, new Detroit tight end Marcus Pollard, still thought New England was the team to beat. The other, new Giants wideout Plaxico Burress, didn't want to coronate anyone, but he likes the team I'm visiting right now -- the Ravens.

"Bruschi's a huge loss,'' said Pollard, the longtime Colt. "I think the Patriots losing Tedy is the equivalent of the Colts losing Peyton [Manning]. That's how much he meant to that defense. I wish I could talk to him. If you see him, tell him I wish him well. I admire him so much and how he plays. Their defense is really remarkable. I always thought if you compared the Colts' offense to their offense, we were better. But if you compare our defense to theirs, I'd pick them. And that's what wins championships. They beat us up, cold. They literally were so physical that we never got our offense going when we played them. They're a lesser team without Tedy and Ted Johnson. But I can't count out Bill Belichick. They still got Tom Brady, who's a great player, and you know it's so important to have that quarterback who can win games. I think it's going to be really tough to beat them, even with everything that's happened.''

"Indy can't be great till they win in Foxboro,'' I said.

"I know,'' Pollard said. "But you get there late in the year, and it's so cold, and it's home for them. And they're so physical. Pretty tough place to play.''