Oh, how times are changing. That can not only be said for the entire world, but the NFL world as well. Dynasties starting, and dynasties ending. There’s one particular dynasty that most sports fans will have no problem leaving to die. The New England Patriots; The most infamous NFL team ever. After years of tormenting the other 31 teams and having constant success, it’s over, and that’s fine with me. But how did the dynasty die?
Replacing the G.O.A.T
The Tom Brady effect is real. This was not only proven with his Super Bowl run in Tampa Bay, but how he left the Patriots to crash and burn. After bringing major success to the franchise for nearly two decades, the legendary quarterback wanted a change of scenery. This clearly worked out for Tom but for New England… not so much. So this left the team with the question: Who can replace Tom Brady? This wasn’t answered for a while. Then, Cam Newton signed with the team in early July. Fans were excited to see Cam play again and hoped that the move would pay off.
The Pandemic Ruins Things, Again
After being able to work through the Covid-19 pandemic, the NFL finally hit a bump in the road. Not every player would be comfortable with playing through the pandemic, so players had the option to opt-out of the 2020 season. It just so happens for the Patriots that eight of their players wanted to opt-out. Two of those include standout defensive players in safety Patrick Chung and linebacker Dont’a Hightower. This definitely affected the Patriots.
A Disappointing Season
This season was a new experience for Patriots fans. They did not do very good. They finished with a record of 7-9, missing the playoffs and coming third in the AFC East. They had numerous problems throughout the season. For starters, Cam Newton was not the answer to the quarterback problem. He did great for the first few weeks, but played very poorly afterwards. If he was aiming for the turf then he did well I suppose. Not entirely his fault however. The lack of talent at the wide receiver position was evident and the offensive play calling by Josh McDaniels helped drag down the offense. The defense was nowhere near as elite as it was last year. While J.C. Jackson had a breakout season, a defense that previously stifled any opponent could no longer do so. 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore also vanished. The team had a mediocre season. It’s weird to say that. What do they do now?
Patriots Fans Learn What Rebuilding Means
So the Patriots obviously have to regroup and get down to business. The Brady era is over and the Belichick era is soon to be over. There are multiple problems to address. It starts with free agency and the draft. They won’t be able to do it all in one shot, but that’s why it’s called a rebuilding process. A great start would be drafting a quarterback with the 15th pick in the draft, such as Mac Jones or maybe Trey Lance if he’s available. The bottom line is this: The New England Patriots will be a normal team again, and will have to go through things that normal teams endure.
New Times in New England
Times have changed. The dynasty of the New England Patriots has crumbled. The rest of the league rejoices in peace and harmony. The team had a mediocre season and is ready to rebuild. There are steps to take and moves to make, but what will be the New England Patriots’ fate?