by Joseph Whalen

Created on: January 07, 2008   Last Updated: July 25, 2011

The New England Patriots are not emerging as an NFL football dynasty, they've already emerged and cemented their place in NFL history.

It is difficult to argue that not only have the Patriots already emerged as a dynasty but established themselves as one of the most impressive of dynasties in the history of the NFL. Putting aside their record-setting year this year, they have a history of the past few years as being the dominant team in the game. Despite the few controversies that have lingered in the shadows with the team, the player and coaching talent is second to none.

Granted, if they fail to capture the championship this year it will cast a pall on their perfect season. However, I don't suspect they are going to be remembered so infamously as the Bills of the Jim Kelly era with multiple back to back runs to the big game with nothing to show for it. If the Patriots fail to capture the big prize, and that's a very big if, it will only diminish their standing as a dynasty mildly. Any team that wins three Superbowl championships two of which were back to back need not prove anything to anyone.

Their post season play since the arrival of Bill Belichick has been nothing short of spectacular. Reaching the playoffs six out of seven years since his reign as head coach is an impressive feat. Three of those years being Superbowl wins and one being an undefeated season. These statistics alone leave little doubt that the New England Patriots have established themselves as an NFL dynasty for the ages.

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