The Patriots Are Back (Sort of)

bleacherreport.com

Coming into sunday’s AFC championship matchup, not many knew what to expect. Tom Brady was playing for a chance to go to a record sixth superbowl, while Andrew Luck was playing to prove that he was the real deal.

Unfortunately for Luck and the Colts, the Patriots came ready to play. To really understand just how much this win means, you need to take a look back to the first four weeks of the NFL season. The Patriots were playing the worst football that anyone had seen from them in the Brady era, and doubt was beginning to creep in. After the team’s week one loss in Miami, people may have brushed it off as a fluke, especially after their romping of the Vikings in week two.

However, when they barely squeaked out a win in week three, people began wondering again if the struggles could be real. After the Chiefs handed the Patriots their second loss, in the ugliest game many can remember for the Patriots, some people began to close the door on this once great dynasty. Experts and analysts were saying that it was time for Tom Brady to go and for rookie quarterback Jimmy Garropolo to step in. Others saying that the dynasty had officially ended.

The Patriots had a different view on it though. They looked on it as a chance to prove themselves, and they did just that. They won 10 of their last 12 games on their way to the #1 seed in the AFC. They won many tough games including impressive wins against Cincinnati, Denver and Indianapolis, but their toughest test was yet to come.

In the AFC divisional round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, the Patriots knew that it could be their last chance in the Tom Brady era to really make a run in the playoffs. The Patriots overcame a 14 point deficit in the first half, trying to put themselves up by two touchdowns late in the second quarter. However, Tom Brady threw an awful interception, giving the ball back to Flacco and letting him tie the game up.

The Patriots dropped down by 14 once again, making it seem nearly impossible to come back. But come back they did. Down by three with exactly 5:13 seconds left on the clock, Brady delivered the throw of the game to Brandon LaFell to take the lead by four points, showing all of the critics that once again, the comeback kid still lives. Duron Harmon made the play of the game on the next possession though, picking off Joe Flacco to all but seal the game. The win against the Ravens meant more than a trip to their ninth AFC title game since 2000, it was about showing everybody that they still had it.

Today, the Patriots came into the AFC Championship game with even more swagger than before, knowing good and well that it could be their last under legendary quarterback Tom Brady. Needless to say, they made the most of it. Tom Brady went 23-35, gaining 226 yards along with three touchdowns and an interception. He wasn’t at his best, but when his team needed him, he was there. Running back LeGarrette Blount rushed for 148 yards on 30 carries to go along with three touchdown runs. The defense even chipped in two picks courtesy of Darrelle Revis and Jamie Collins. This 45-7 thrashing was the cherry on top of the cake that should prove to everyone if they didn’t already believe it, that the Patriots are far from being done.

The Pat0riots will now travel into Glendale, Arizona for their sixth superbowl since 2000, against the reigning Superbowl champs, the Seattle Seahawks. Should Brady and the Patriots win this game, it would give them a 4-2 record in superbowls since 2000. Not to take away from the rest of the team, but let’s look at this for a minute. If Brady wins this superbowl, he has as many superbowl wins as Joe Montana, who is considered by most to be the greatest of all time. Winning this fourth ring would no doubt put him in everyone’s discussion for greatest of all time. Now does Brady care about that? The answer is a resounding no. He cares about winning, and winning alone. It would be pretty awesome for us Pats fans though.