Looking Back on the New England Patriots Dynasty
Philip Calhoun has worked in various engineering and manufacturing roles over the course of his two decade career in the auto industry. Away from his professional responsibilities, Philip Calhoun is an avid sports fan. He spent two years as a semi-professional football player and enjoys following New England Patriots football.
Between 2001 and 2019 coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to become arguably the greatest dynasty the National Football League (NFL) has ever seen. During this period, the Patriots increased their total number of Super Bowl appearances from 2 to 11 while winning their first six NFL championships, tying New England with the Pittsburgh Steelers for most Super Bowl wins.
The dynasty began in unusual fashion, with a season ending injury to Drew Bledsoe, New England’s longtime quarterback who had led the team to the Super Bowl in 1996. Brady started the remainder of the season, which saw the Patriots win 11 of 16 games and advance to Super Bowl XXXVI. New England won 20–17 over the St. Louis Rams, thanks to a memorable drive by Brady in the closing seconds of the game.
The following season New England stumbled, winning just nine games and failing to reach the playoffs. However, Brady would again lead the team to Super Bowl wins in 2003 and 2004, as well as a 16–0 record in the 2007 regular season, which ended in a Super Bowl defeat against the New York Giants.
The 2008 Patriots went 11–5, but lost Brady to injury early and failed to reach the playoffs. It would be the last time New England would fail to achieve a post season berth in the Brady-Belichick era. From 2009 through 2018, the team recorded a regular season record of 123–37 and reached seven straight conference championship games between 2012 and 2018. The team lost Super Bowl games in 2011 and 2017, with victories coming in 2014, 2016, and 2018.
