Are the New England Patriots emerging as an NFL football dynasty?

Yes

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by francios

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There are many cases easily made on why the New England Patriots are an NFL dynasty: 3 Super Bowls in 4 years, undefeated regular season, future Hall of Famer head coach and quarter back. While these are universal givens, here are some reasons why the Patriots are a dynasty in spite of any arguments against.

1) Winning in the free agency and salary cap era. While the NFL has pushed for parity, and by and large has acquired it (expansion teams Jacksonville AND Carolina in the conference championships in their second year), no team has successfully figured out how to string together an organization that can accomplish winning over the long haul. When GM Scott Pioli and head coach Bill Bilichek teamed up together in 2000, they devised a 4-year plan to get the Pats to be Super Bowl Champs. They not only did that in 2003 (and 2004), but also snuck one in during 2001.

2) They devised a system that promotes team work, football fundamentals, winning, and unselfishness. Are all of the Patriots well-behaved saints? Certainly not. However, all the players and coaches are all about the business at hand, staying extremely focused, and not making a media circus of the organization, like so many other players and teams do. They have a job to do, and that is only to win the next scheduled game. No Super Bowl Shuffle. No distractions. No pomp and circumstance. Just do our job, and that is win.

3) They win in spite of a stacked schedule in the NFL against strong teams. The schedule is devised as such: win this year, get penalized with the toughest schedule next year. This is established to foster competition and level the playing field. But they still make the playoffs, and win, each year.

4) For the last 6 years, they have had a huge target on their backs. Multiple championships, always beating the Colts, and having pathetic coaches cry "Cheaters" (which all teams do, the NFL just made an example of the Pats - as many former NFL players have testified on TV this year) have branded this team as Public Enemy #1. Whether your a playoff-caliber team or a floundering franchise, if you beat the Pats, you've made your season. While every body has gunned for them since 2001, they keep pushing the bar further. If you're gonna win, you better bring your "A" game, and some luck.

5) Doing more with less. Previous dynasties have won with many great Hall of Famers, and while the Pats have a few to be sure, they do not have the roster depth that, say, the Steelers or the Niners had. Deion Branch? Not very effective in Seattle. Adam Vinateiri? Suddenly became human in Indy. Randy Moss? Resurrected his career in NE. Tom Brady? 199th six-round draft pick. Troy Brown? Most versatile and underrated player in NFL. New England can scout them, provides the system and environment, and turns them into winners. No other team can claim that.

The Patriots have proven this year that they can raise the bar. They have beaten losing and determined teams (Ravens, Eagles, NY Giants), as well as the best in the league (Colts, Steelers, Cowboys) this year. People want to prove them cheaters, want to disrupt their winning streak. But the New England Patriots have something that no one has seen since Lombardi's Packer dynasty of the 60's. They are determined to beat you. And if you by some chance beat them today, you will definitely lose tomorrow.

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