1976.
Like your first kiss, 1974 was a warning shot to the sports world that the Patriots were not just good, but for real. The media did their usual best to dismiss them, ignore their success and promise, and trumpet any uncomplimentary episode or incident that made them look bad, in their ongoing, endless, unsuccessful (to anyone with a brain) attempt to make the team as silly as their owner.
Two years later, the Patriots did not experience a rash of injuries, and thus won. Local media grudgingly hopped aboard the bandwagon as the wins piled up. National media ignored them with one exception: Howard Cosell, who, while projecting ahead in the season on MNF, shared the Patriots' belief that they could in fact go into Baltimore and win the rematch with the Colts, to position themselves for the playoffs, which they did in dominant fashion.
After the turnover filled loss in the opener, besides the annual dud at Miami the only other loss was in Pontiac to the lowly Lions, and Assistant special teams coach Bill Belichick.
The similarities between the Patriots' 1976 and 2001 seasons are striking. Naturally, had Ben Dreith officiated any of the '01 team's playoff games, there would have been no title. Further, the chain reaction could have been similar to what happened 25 years earlier: Without the experience of playing in, and winning, the Super Bowl, there is that unaccomplished barrier mentally, not to mention would Harrison and Dillon have come here, etc.
Anyway, media treated the Patriots in 1976 as an afterthought, and the absurdity of the debacle in Oakland made no difference. The Patriots were dispatched, as expected, and everyone got on with their lives.
The very next year, an inferior Denver Broncos team was given the royal treatment by national media throughout the season, the first year that franchise ever did anything.
That 1976 season was a blast. Too many big plays on special teams and defense to count. Not to mention the offense.
The regular season finale at winless Tampa was fun. A long pick six from lumbering Sam Hunt, and a successful extra point kick by Steve Zabel.
Six days later, the team did its job on the first step to glory.
And the officials did theirs too, making sure the better team did not win.
