Everyone remembers the New England Patriots being shellacked by the Kansas City Chiefs 41-14 in front of a national “Monday Night Football” audience.
But how about before that game?
ESPN analysts and former NFL quarterbacks Steve Young and Trent Dilfer blasted the 2-1 Patriots and how they had built their roster. Young said the Patriots were in transition mode, while Dilfer argued they were content just getting to the playoffs and weren’t interested in “attacking” a Super Bowl.
Those in the media say dumb things all the time — especially on television. When writing a column, it’s easy to hit the delete key on a read-through (so I have no excuse here). Delete doesn’t exist on TV or the radio, so I’m not interested in harping on Young or Dilfer, both of whom I consider among the better players-turned-analysts in the business.
Dilfer’s statement was particularly wrong about the 2014 Patriots, however. For just the second time in the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era, the Patriots did appear to be specifically attacking a Super Bowl. In 2007, that came when the Patriots traded for receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker. The rest of the pieces were in place, especially on defense, either through savvy draft picks or free-agent signings, and Moss and Welker finished what was almost a perfect puzzle.
The 2007-era of the Patriots wound up having a short shelf life, and they had to go into a semi-rebuild mode. Key players like Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison departed, and the Patriots tried their best to fill in pieces on defense as they went along.
Most teams suffer through 5-11 seasons during a rebuilding era;Â the Patriots won divisions and lost a Super Bowl.
The rebuild finally was complete entering the 2014 season, but they were missing just two final pieces. Enter Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, the 2014 versions of Moss and Welker. The Patriots once again were all-in, and they proved it by ponying up and spending money they might not usually spend.
The 2014 team, like the 2007 team, is much too good to flounder in the AFC Championship Game.
They have All-Pros at quarterback, tight end, right tackle, defensive tackle, cornerback, safety and on special teams. They have first-round-pick starters at defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker and safety. They have a balanced roster with few weaknesses, and they’re facing a team that they already beat 42-20 on the road.
The 2014 Patriots defense wasn’t built by mistake, it was handcrafted, and the offense, despite some flaws, has proven to be more than high-powered enough to hold its own, mostly because of a healthy Rob Gronkowski and still-elite Brady.
If the Patriots lose to the Colts, there is no excuse. Yes, the Patriots are likely going to be without starting center Bryan Stork, and the Colts will have defensive lineman Arthur Jones back. No offense to either player, but neither is worth a 22-point swing. Let’s not forget that Arthur’s brother, Chandler Jones — one of those first-round-pick starters — also didn’t play in Week 11, and he’s back and coming off a highly productive (disruption in production, mind you) divisional round.
The 2013 Patriots felt like a team of destiny, but they wound up being a squad that suffered five too many injuries and somehow willed its way through them until being steamrolled by a much better, and healthier, Denver Broncos team. The 2013 Patriots played over their heads and had built-in excuses. The 2014 Patriots, if anything, haven’t played up to their full potential even in double-digit blowouts over playoff teams.
Patriots fans expect to win a Super Bowl every season. From 2009 to 2013, those probably were too lofty of expectations. But if the 2014 Patriots don’t even make the Super Bowl, then the season has been a disappointment. These Patriots shouldn’t be content “making the tournament,” as Dilfer said back in September. They’re far too talented to not go all the way.
Thumbnail photo via Charles Krupa/Associated Press
