The New England Patriots were the most dominant franchises in NFL history, building a dynasty that lasted for 2 decades. Under the guidance of head coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the team won six Super Bowls. However, like all dynasties, it eventually came to an end. This article will detail how they gained their powerhouse status, and how it all came crashing down.
The Patriots success began in 2000 when the Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, hired Bill Belickick as head coach. That same year the Patriots would go on to select Tom Brady during the sixth round in the NFL draft. In 2001, Brady became the starting quarterback after Drew Beldsoe suffered an injury. Though fans doubted the young player, Brady would lead the Patriots to win Super Bowl 36.
Over the next three years the Patriots would go on to win three more championships, defeating the Rams in 2001, Panthers in 2003, and Eagles in 2004. During this same period the team set the record for the most consecutive wins across two seasons, winning 21 games in a row.
After a short championship drought, the Patriots returned with an incredible season in 2007. They had managed to get their hands on superstar wide receiver Randy Moss, and Brady would go on to throw 50 touchdowns that season; a record breaking feat at the time. The team went 16 – 0 in the regular season and once again arrived in the Super Bowl where they’d receive a heartbreaking loss to the Eli Manning led Giants.
Many say that the 2007 season was the beginning of the end of the dynasty, as for over a decade, the team wouldn’t attain a single championship. That was until 2014 when they would find glory once again defeating the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. The final play of this game would be embedded in the minds of all NFL fans forever as the Seahawks had 26 seconds left to score with 1 timeout on the patriots 1 yard line. Instead of running the ball to arguably the greatest powerback of all time Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, head coach Pete Carroll decided to throw the ball which ultimately lead to an interception from cornerback Malcolm Butler, and a Patriots victory.
In the following 5 years the team would go on to win 2 more Super Bowls in 2016, and 2018. By 2019, Belichick and Brady had secured 6 championships together, but disputes were growing over contracts and personal tension between the two. This would ultimately lead to Bradys departure in 2020 where he would go on to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and win another Super Bowl the following year, then retire.
Brady’s exit would be what truly led to the downfall of the team. The Patriots struggled regarding quarterbacks and made an attempt at experimenting with Cam Newton, who wasn’t capable of taking the team to the playoffs. In 2021, they would draft quarterback Mac Jones who showed promise, but couldn’t remain consistent. Without Brady, the Patriots offense would develop into one of the worst in the league. This condition has remained, and frankly it doesn’t seem like there’ll be any significant changes soon.
