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From 2001 to 2018, the New England Patriots were defined by 13 AFC Championship games, including one in each of the last eight seasons in that span.
After six seasons without making it back to the title game and a stretch of falling to near the bottom, the Patriots are back to what feels like home.
The Patriots, with Bo Nix’s injury, are the favorites to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time in the post-Tom Brady era, which is impressive in itself.
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel talks with Drake Maye #10 during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on September 7, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
However, no one could have predicted this after what had happened in recent years.
In the first three seasons after Brady left, the Pats went 7-9, 10-7 (went to the playoffs with rookie Mac Jones) and 8-9. But the 2023 and 2024 seasons both ended with 4-13 records.
The first of those was under Bill Belichick in his final season with the team after 24 years. After Belichick left, Jerod Mayo got the job, but he wasn’t successful.
Mayo got the short end of the stick and was let go after one season, a move that caused some controversy. However, it seems to be totally worth it.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel discusses the team’s latest free agent additions with the media at Gillette Stadium on March 13, 2025. (Eric Canha-Imagn photos)
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The Pats then brought in Mike Vrabel, who has put himself in the Coach of the Year conversation after previous success with the Tennessee Titans.
The “1” in 4-13 was moved several places to the left as the Pats went 14-3, their highest win total since 2016, which was a Super Bowl-winning campaign.
Only four teams have won the Super Bowl in just one season after finishing in last place in their division: St. Louis Rams 1999, 2001 Patriots, 2009 New Orleans Saints and 2017 Philadelphia Eagles.
These Rams are also the only team to go from four wins one season to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy the next. However, playing only a 16-game season, the Pats could become the first team to lose 13 games and follow up with a Super Bowl victory.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye passes the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England has opened as a 5.5-point favorite with Jarrett Stidham taking over for Nix, who suffered a broken ankle in their 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills last week.
