Soul_Survivor88
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Really insightful read on the legacy of the Kansas City debacle. Chris also includes a bit on the similarities between today's team and 2004. Really worth reading!
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/f...09/29/one-year-later-lessons-learned-kansas-c
[......]
In 2004, the Patriots quickly righted that ship after losing to the Steelers, and would go on to post back-to-back Super Bowl wins. Could the 2014-15 team be remembered in similar fashion? There are plenty of similarities on both cases, including the presence of a healthy Brady, an unparalleled offensive difference-maker (the 2004 team had Corey Dillon, the 2015 bunch has Rob Gronkowski) and plenty of very good complementary pieces (Julian Edelman and Dion Lewis are evolving into Troy Brown and Kevin Faulk for a new generation) around the quarterback.
And on the other side of the ball, there’s an equally talented front seven that needs to provide some help for the secondary if New England is going to continue to win. (The 2004 team lost perennial All-Pro cornerback Ty Law in that October loss to Pittsburgh, but was able to win with a group that included Earthward Moreland, Hank Poteat and Randall “Blue” Gay taking significant snaps at corner over the course of the season and into the playoffs.)
In the end, the legacy of the 2015 Patriots is still to be determined, but it’s clear that the mental toughness that was forged one year ago Tuesday in Kansas City has played a significant role in their success last year, as well as the first three games of this season.
Ultimately, the 2003 and 2004 teams have certainly provided this squad with a template for success. Going undefeated would be a remarkable accomplishment, but if they can follow the blueprint laid out by those squads, it could provide a far happier ending for New England than what the team encountered in 2007.
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/f...09/29/one-year-later-lessons-learned-kansas-c
[......]
In 2004, the Patriots quickly righted that ship after losing to the Steelers, and would go on to post back-to-back Super Bowl wins. Could the 2014-15 team be remembered in similar fashion? There are plenty of similarities on both cases, including the presence of a healthy Brady, an unparalleled offensive difference-maker (the 2004 team had Corey Dillon, the 2015 bunch has Rob Gronkowski) and plenty of very good complementary pieces (Julian Edelman and Dion Lewis are evolving into Troy Brown and Kevin Faulk for a new generation) around the quarterback.
And on the other side of the ball, there’s an equally talented front seven that needs to provide some help for the secondary if New England is going to continue to win. (The 2004 team lost perennial All-Pro cornerback Ty Law in that October loss to Pittsburgh, but was able to win with a group that included Earthward Moreland, Hank Poteat and Randall “Blue” Gay taking significant snaps at corner over the course of the season and into the playoffs.)
In the end, the legacy of the 2015 Patriots is still to be determined, but it’s clear that the mental toughness that was forged one year ago Tuesday in Kansas City has played a significant role in their success last year, as well as the first three games of this season.
Ultimately, the 2003 and 2004 teams have certainly provided this squad with a template for success. Going undefeated would be a remarkable accomplishment, but if they can follow the blueprint laid out by those squads, it could provide a far happier ending for New England than what the team encountered in 2007.