In the early 2000’s, the New England Patriots seemed destined to be the team of the decade. With three Super Bowl wins in four years, the dynamic duo of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady could not, as it seemed, be stopped. But an upset loss in Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants derailed their hopes at an undefeated season as well as a chance at their fourth Super Bowl of the decade. The following season, a devastating knee injury to Brady in the season opener put their hopes at a title on the back burner yet again.
To these Patriots, another matchup against the Giants this year in Super Bowl XLVI, is as much about reclaiming their dynasty of the 2000’s as it is about starting a new one this decade. Brady and company are out to show that the team that tore through the league like tissue paper in the early part of this century is back at it again. A win in this year’s Super Bowl would bring some closure to the angst and underachievement that have haunted this team ever since they were upset just 4 years ago. Until this post-season, the Patriots had not won a single playoff game since the 2007 season’s AFC Championship game, despite having stellar regular season records. For Patriots fans, just reaching the Super Bowl this season might seem like an unlikely accomplishment, but one more Super Bowl-less season could wipe the last remaining bit of mystique off this franchise.
Since the turn of the century, Patriots fans have been spoiled, not only with regular season success, but Super Bowl victories. While it may seem like just yesterday that the Patriots were beating the Eagles en-route to their third Championship in four years, the truth of the matter is that this team who has achieved so much since then, has not hoisted the Lombardi trophy in nearly a decade. How much longer can New England fans, spoiled as they are, be content with playoff appearances and nothing more?
While it’s tough to say that the Patriots, led by an aging yet still at the top of his game, Tom Brady can start a dynasty anew and kick off a string of multiple Super Bowl victories in a short span of years; we do know that they will not go gentle into that good night. The window of opportunity for the Patriots is closing and one of the greatest chapters in NFL history might be coming to an end, but not before the Patriots get one more chance to redeem the dynasty that they began over a decade ago.