I think that was the best Pat's team ever. I may be wrong, but that team might have been the first team ever to win a Super Bowl after losing their two starting CBs to injuries. A 2nd year 4th round corner (Assante Sanuel ) and a rookie free agent (Randall Gay) took over for Ty Law and Tyrone Poole, both wound up on IR. That to me is mind boggling. And also made Corey Dillon an important factor due to his great running (and clock killin) helped keep that defense fresh.
Had some great defensive players to help make up for the loss of those 2 corners. Beating Indy 20-3 in the 1st playoff game, a team who scored the most points ever in an NFL season (up to that point), just shocking. Then to march into Pittsburgh and crush them by putting up 34 points + a pick 6 by Rodney Harrison, wow. I remember Brady was absolutely deadly in that game, hitting Branch all game including a perfect throw on a bomb pass for a TD. That team was the best Patriot's team, hands down, followed up by the 2003 team (which started 2-2 then won 15 games in a row !!), then the 2014 team, then the 2001 team. I don't count the 2007 team. I don't care about ELO (great band) or whatever the hell this article is talking about.
Think about those 2003 and 2004 teams, a combined record of 34-4. Holy schnickes, that is ridiculously dominant.