And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

From USA Today sports
 (http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/tom-brady-jimmy-garoppolo-congratulate-td-pass-benching)

WOSC reaction article after Patriots Monday Night loss to KC Chiefs (41-14) The Morning After
WOSC reaction article after Patriots Sunday Night win over Cincinnati Bengals (43-17) Will the real Tom Brady please stand up?


Waking up on September 30th, 2014, the world seemed to be falling apart for the Patriots. Coming off one of the worst losses in the Brady/Belichick era on Monday Night Football, the NFL world thought the great dynasty was finally over. I had a hard time with the loss and wrote The Morning After. In it I wrote "What do the Patriots do from here? They do what they always do, bounce back. I have complete faith in Bill Belichick and Tom Brady because they are a scary duo that can not be predicted." 
Looking back, I'm so glad I didn't completely rip apart the Patriots like the rest of the media. Let's be honest, this team looked incredibly far from reaching Super Bowl 49 let alone winning it. Yet here I am writing an article that the New England Patriots just won Super Bowl 49. How in the world they did it is what I care about.

The first four games of the season were a roller coaster for the Patriots. New England started off the season losing to Miami on the road and it wasn't the best fought game by the Patriots. The Patriots got a huge jolt from the defense and special team when they won week two in Minnesota. Then some panic began as the Patriots barley came out on top against the Raiders with a fumble recovery by Vince Wilfork with 51 seconds left.

And then the walls came tumbling down on the city that we loved (a little Bastille reference for you). The night of September 29th appeared to be nothing special. The Patriots were 2-1 after a rough start to the season but they were winning. The Patriots were just sloppy and were outplayed by the 1-2 Kansas City Chiefs. The legendary Tom Brady was even benched after throwing 2 interceptions and fumbling the ball. If there was ever a more obvious turning point in a season for a team than this game, I'm listening.

I'm assuming Bill Belichick made everyone read and watch what the media was saying about the Patriots. He probably stopped letting them eat Wheaties every morning after that. I don't know what he did or what happened that week, but what I do know is, it was the greatest thing that could have happened.

The following week the Patriots were playing on Sunday Night Football, a prime time game for the 2nd straight week. It was time for a statement.
New England unleashed everything they had for the, then undefeated, Cincinnati Bengals. They were close to having two, 100 yard rushers. They finally let Rob Gronkoski be himself, and the Patriots won 43-17.

The Patriots now sitting at 3-2 had a long schedule ahead before being back on top. The 2nd turning point in the season was when the 6-1 Denver Broncos came to Foxborough to face the 6-2 New England Patriots. The Broncos were coming off a Super Bowl loss the year before and only one loss in 2014 to the defending champions, Seattle Seahawks. This was a perfect time to resurrect the Brady/P.Manning Debate. The Patriots won 43-21 and took over 1st place in the AFC and never looked back.

The Patriots finished 12-4 which was no where near their 16-0 season they had the last time they reached a Super Bowl in Arizona. The record is the exact reason why this time they won the lombardi trophy.

photo credit, USA Today

Had the Patriots not have been blown out week 4, I can't say they would be celebrating a Super Bowl win. I believe that is what gave the team something to play for. Almost everyone in the country counted the Patriots out. The team had the passion, drive and will to prove to all their critics that they were wrong. Tom Brady always says he has a chip on his shoulder for being passed up in the 2000 draft but the loss to Kansas City made that chip even bigger and allowed the whole Patriots team to feel the same doubt that Brady has felt all these years. The doubt that this team can't and won't accomplish the ultimate goal.

The Patriots have cemented themselves in an elite category. If we have learned anything, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are the scariest QB/coaching combo the NFL has seen. We have seen time after time again, these two guys take unwanted players and win with them. We've seen them adjust throughout games and season like no other team. They have been relevant for the last 14 years. The Patriots are like that neighbor you hate but right when you think you got rid of them, they come over to your house and invite themselves in. We are witnessing history and it's time we appreciate what this organization has done.

Tom Brady will go down as the greatest QB ever and Bill Belichick will go down as the greatest coach ever.