PatsPropaganda

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How Do Patriots Get Three-Out-Of-Four, Twice?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6XfJbE6GVI

The Patriots have won two of the last three Super Bowls and all is right with the world. But slowly, my focus has shifted to the 2017 season and just what is at stake.

New England cemented their dynasty in 2004 by winning three-out-of-four Super Bowls and now are staring down the opportunity to do it again, 13 years later. I found myself looking back at the 2004 America’s Game episode above and remembering how the crown jewel of the NFL stayed focused and hungry enough to repeat as champions.

It sure won’t be easy. The target on the Patriots’ backs will be even bigger in 2017 than it was in 2004, as if we ever thought that would be possible. Any bit of the mystique that they lost in Super Bowl defeats or other season-enders is very much gone. That’s what overcoming a 25-point hole on the biggest of stages can do. If the Pats lacked the magic in 2007 and 2011, they certainly got it back in 2014 and 2016, and now they could put their franchise into another stratosphere by winning Super Bowl 52. And there are 31 teams that will be dying for a shot at them.

Here are my thoughts on what the 2004 did right and how the 2017 Patriots can learn from their successful season.

1. Stay Ahead – The headline of the 2004 offseason was the acquisition of Corey Dillon. Dillon put up a career-best 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns at age 30 to re-define the Patriots’ offense from what it was in 2003. This was classic staying-ahead-of-the-curve by Belichick. This offseason the addition of Brandin Cooks has the potential to again re-define an offense that just won a Super Bowl. While different from Dillon, Cooks’ impact on the offense could be just as significant given his explosive playmaking ability and fit in New England’s system. The passing game didn’t need a lot of help in 2016, but if Cooks stays on the field it’s hard to see them not being even better in 2017.

2. Stay Healthy – Sometimes I think 90 percent of this blog is basically “NO ONE GET HURT.” That’s what the NFL is now. We saw it in 2016, when the Patriots had just one significant injury loss all season in Gronk and that meant they didn’t have to tap their low-end depth players to move into significant roles. Look back at all the seasons the Patriots failed to win a Super Bowl, most notably 2013 and 2015, and it’s pretty easy to point to certain injuries that played a major factor in it. Still, the Pats can’t expect 2014 or 2016’s injury luck to happen in 2017. The 2004 had good injury luck outside of the cornerback position. Ty Law and Tyrone Poole were lost for the season, thrusting undrafted rookie Randall Gay and wide receiver Troy Brown into action. The 2017 Patriots must be ready to overcome that kind of adversity and they can do so by building good depth now in the offseason.

3. Stay Grounded – There are a couple good stories from 2004 that are featured in the America’s Game episode. The first came in preseason when Belichick re-inserted his starters into the second half of a sloppy preseason game. The message was clear in August — this isn’t 2003 anymore and we’re at the bottom of the mountain like everyone else. The other was their win-streak-breaking loss to the Steelers. Every year, no matter how strong a team they are, the Pats have a sloppy game or two that they lose (unless it’s 2007 when they win the sloppy games like they did against Baltimore). Those games are really quite useful, and I still believe a loss in Baltimore might been just what the 2007 Patriots needed to re-focus and re-adjust to win SB42. We can count on Belichick to keep the 2017 team from getting too full of themselves. And with a tough schedule that, wouldn’t you know it, includes a trip to Pittsburgh, the Pats should see plenty of challenges.

4. Stay Merciless – The 2004 Patriots never lost their fire. Maybe that’s a testament to their leaders, it’s definitely one to Belichick, but it will be up to Tom Brady, Dont’a Hightower and the rest of the veterans to keep the 2017 Patriots with that underdog mentality that Rodney Harrison perfected. Did anyone really doubt the Patriots could win the Super Bowl in 2004 after winning two of the previous three? Rodney certainly thought so and it was that kind of “us against the world” mentality that kept the fire burning hot. Can the 2017 still take on that perspective? Now that Deflategate has been “avenged”? This might be the biggest question for the 2017 Pats. How do they keep the chip on their shoulder?