Surprised 2004 is not seeing any love. Repeating as champs is an amazing feat...between avoiding the champion hangover, getting everyone's best game every week (the proverbial "bullseye on your back") and meeting a very high bar set by everyone's expectations, it's no wonder repeat champs are rare.
Then add in the particular circumstances of that year: Pats had their usual bout with injuries (No Ty Law, 40+ guys started during the year*) and one of the most impressive post-season runs ever** and 2004 was a season for the ages. A lot of that credit goes to BB and his staff.
* Both the '03 & '04 Pats met this criteria. Not only did they win the SBs with 40+ different starters, but I remember seeing a stat that every other team that started that many guys didn't even have winning seasons.
** Pats beat the 13-4 Colts, the 16-1 Steelers and 15-3 Eagles...that's 44-8 right there. Then factor in that the Colts and Steelers laid down for their last regular-season games (Pittsburgh won anyway, but I'll still take it out for consistency's sake) and the Eagles laid down for their last TWO regular season games and that puts the playoff opponents' collective record at 43-5. And how the Pats beat those teams was unreal, particularly the 1st two: Holding Manning and his 49 TD pass-offense completely out of the endzone, putting up 41 on a great Steelers D in Heinz Field, then finally knocking off the undisputed best team in the NFC.
Regards,
Chris