Being a Patriots fan is a bittersweet endeavor. We have three historic Super Bowl victories, but none since 2004. We have one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but he’s still overshadowed by Joe Montana. We have one of the greatest NFL coaches of all time, but he’s still overshadowed by Paul Brown, Chuck Noll and Vince Lombardi. And in 2007 we had the opportunity to become the greatest team in sports history, but a crushing loss to the Giants unraveled the dream.
Most teams would kill for this resume, but Boston fans expect more. We have Bobby Orr, Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, Larry Bird and Teddy Ballgame. We want Tom Brady and Bill Belichick on that list. And in a way, they already are. But until the Patriots get another ring, there will always be questions.
The questions won’t come from us, of course, they’ll come from the millions of people who despise Brady and Belichick. Even the most adamant detractors are forced to acknowledge the greatness of Orr and the other guys I just mentioned. But when it comes to the two fellas from New England, the critics are unrelenting in their protest.
It isn’t the presence of Brady and Belichick in the halls of greatness that people will question. It’s their rank. It’s how they’ll stack up against the legends who are already there.
Last year, around this time, Tom Brady was the first unanimous MVP in NFL history, and the whole world was still on the fence about whether or not Aaron Rodgers was an elite quarterback. I knew Rodgers was elite, but most NFL analysts remained skeptical until he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. Now, only one year later, Rodgers is widely regarded as the best quarterback in the game.
I love and respect Aaron Rodgers, but this goes to show how quickly people want to slide Tom Brady out of the top spot. Most critics still bring up “Spy-Gate” when they hear Belichick’s name mentioned. Clips from Super Bowl XLII run on a near-daily basis on ESPN and NFL Network, and the legend of the Patriots is further sunk by the fact that their titles came so soon and so bunched together. The greatest players win at different times, and Tom Brady has thus far only won in the earliest phase of his career.
It should also be noted that the Green Bay Packers stand to do immeasurable damage to the Patriots’ legacy. If the Packers go undefeated and win the Super Bowl this season, it will immediately tie Rodgers and Brady in the history books. It wouldn’t matter that Brady would have three rings to Rodgers’ two, because Rodgers would have the bonus of completing the dream season that Brady couldn’t. For many critics, a tie wouldn’t be enough, and Rodgers would jump past Brady in the ranks of greatness.
I’m of the belief that one more Super Bowl victory for the Patriots would put an end to all the critics and all the questions. But if not now, when? The Packers and the Saints have the potential to exert dominance for the next decade, and the Lions and the 49’ers have enough talent on their rosters to intimidate anybody.
The good news for New England is those four teams are in the NFC. All the Patriots have to do this season is cut through the AFC, and then play sixty minutes of excellent football against one of those NFC squads. It’s possible.
But then again, we haven’t won a playoff game in three years. One year was understandable because Brady didn’t play. Another was slightly acceptable because the Ravens were (and still are) a fantastic team. But last year was devastating. The Jets. Not only was that loss entirely unacceptable, but it’s fodder for further anxiety. That loss tells me we can just as easily lose this season to the Texans, the Broncos, the Steelers, the Bengals, the Ravens, and of course again to the Jets.
If momentum is crucial, then the Packers are unstoppable. But if heart is as significant a quality as momentum, then all bets are off. The Patriots have a shot. Not a great one, but a good one. And if the Giants proved anything, it’s that momentum can be decapitated.
Yeah, it’s slightly important for the Patriots to finish the season on a strong note, but it’s not my biggest concern. We went 16-0 in ‘07, 11-5 in ‘08, 10-6 in ‘09, 14-2 last year, and we got zip. So having a stellar regular season record hasn’t exactly proved to be a magic spell for us in recent years. I’m less concerned with their final tally and more concerned with their spirit in the post-season, with or without a bye, and with or without home field advantage.
Can the Patriots play desperate? I’m thinking about the St. Louis Cardinals being one swing away from losing the World Series. Twice. I’m thinking about an old and courageous Dallas Mavericks team overpowering a young and red hot Miami Heat team. I’m thinking about the Boston Bruins’ improbable leap from misfit status to total NHL dominance.
Can the Patriots play like their entire legacy depends on it? Because, in way, it does.
