I'd actually be really interested in a post mortem of those 3 quarters. Obviously that's what the rest of the league will be focused on as well. On the offensive side, how much was Brady, how much was game planning, how much was good defense on their part, and how much was just random stuff like the Blount fumble?
I do not see it as so complicated. With Gronk out, only Edelman needed a double team. Bennett, Amendola, Hogan, and to some extent Mitchell, can all be covered 1-on-1 with success. Cook should help with that, and hopefully Mitchell and Hogan in their second year with Brady will blossom a bit more. Cook could have a learning curve with Brady so we have to watch that. Trading a first round pick for two years of Cook was BB tipping his hand IMO. We needed a second guy that could not be covered 1-on-1. If we have Edelman, Gronk, and Cook on the field at the same time then someone is open every play.
Also the running game was not great. Blount fizzled as the season wore on, so again BB tipped his hand getting both Gillislee and Burkhead plus paying White to stay. There is another thread noting our increase in spending on the RB position.
In the first three quarters we saw that the Pats running game was limited and 1-on-1 we had difficulty getting guys open in the passing game. So we resorted to scheming guys open, most noticeably White and Amendola, plus Mitchell got open a bit.
In the playoffs and Super Bowl a lot more holding and bumping is allowed, so having the physical speed and agility becomes more important. Based on the Super Bowl's first three quarters, BB went out and signed speed and agility at the RB and WR position. That is what I think happened - Brady was not in decline, we just needed to get younger, faster and quicker, and BB did it on the offensive side of the ball. Now we only have to watch the injuries and if Gronk can come back.
Not that complicated IMO ...............................................
