The Colts with Peyton Manning had a TON of success, they were consistent, played hard, were well coached, and yet never cheated. They put together a string of seasons that rivals some of the best teams the league has ever seen.
At the completion of the 2009 season, the Colts had finished the first decade of the 2000s (2000–2009) with the most regular season wins (115) and highest winning percentage (.719) of any team in the NFL during that span.
The 2010 team compiled a 10–6 record, the first time the Colts did not win 12 games since 2002, and lost to the New York Jets in the wild card round of the playoffs. The loss to the Jets would be the last game for Peyton Manning as a Colt.
Both teams benefited from weak divisions, as neither has had a team that was much of a threat for the last decade or more (the Jets flirted with success for a few years but then bombed right back to earth. Same could be said for the Texans).
When you look at the success that Belicheat had BEFORE the Patriots it's clear to see he is not the football genius that so many claim him to be. His attitude, the smugness, his excuses when he is caught skirting the rules... there's more reasons to hate the Patriots than their "success". He even circumvents the league rules for sideline attire by wearing a league sanctioned hoodie that he cuts up. People complain about Tomlin's press conferences, have you ever watched one of Belicheats?
I'm sorry, success is not the reason the Patriots are hated. It's their cheating ways, their attitude, the arrogance, and they way they CONSISTENTLY get away with the cheating. Had Goodell actually released the evidence from Spygate instead of destroying it, I guarantee the Patriots would be looked at in a MUCH different light. There would have been IMMENSE pressure for a much harsher punishment than what they received. And the fact that Belicheat got an extension and a raise of the EXACT total of his fine, shows that the owner is just fine with his cheating ways. Like I said, WAY more reasons to hate them.
